I have already let myself off the hook that I am not obliging to knit more gifts by the big two-five deadline, as I had last year, and the year before. Besides, I already shipped off one to Nora, who will meet her knitted kitty on that special morning before too long. Well done enough, for this year I figure. Yet I am falling asleep and waking with great worry of not meeting deadlines. I suspect it’s more that I’m ramping up my energy at the starting gate of the New Year, and expectations set upon myself of all that I want to accomplish. About now I need to have a little bit of a distraction by way of eggnog or Irish Coffee, or just good ol’ mug of hot cocoa will do, and get to it with the Christmas cheer, because it’s less than three weeks from today, and to add, I’ve got two Christmas gigs back to back in the next two days to get past. Question: How does a frigid frozen-pipes December happen only eight weeks from  blistering hot Indian Summer?  Answer: A phenomenon called Northern California ! The woodstove is in full roar now, as the mercury is dropping. Anyway, One just can’t complain about hearing Dean Martin holiday albums too early while about town,  I guess. Or maybe One can. It is rather cheery, I’ll admit.  Speaking of Christmas , today the mailbox was packed with goodies sent from afar.  First gift of the season to enter the house, a rather large (book shaped) package from my sweet designer buddy in the North of Scotland ! (Yes, Kelly, it came ! I will be very good and not peek 🙂  … I promise !)

 In the meantime I am working on these prototype Pretty Little Things gloves  . . .

Oh, and there’s a couple of other Must-Not-Mention Knitting Prospects loitering on the sidelines of my conscience too. My hands are in use constantly by the way ~~ if they’re not playing mandolin, or working outside (yeah, like on my knitting trail!) … then they are knitting…. even  while I walk about the mountain with Emma.  My hands are feeling a little sore these days, from a lot of use.  I’m hoping you might all come from the shadows and collectively rope & tie me into a comfortable chair and bring me some hot Irish coffee with gobs of whipped cream, and a give me a much needed hand massage?  Would that be too much to ask? 🙂