The Coming of The Light

I grew up in a Catholic household and was raised to respect all religions. I've always had an interest in myth and legend and the similarities in world religions astound me. I love the blending of traditions from one religion to another.

The celebration of the winter solstice has always been my favourite holiday, call it what you will. The holidays here revolve around our children so much it was fun this morning to open a solstice gift just for me! I've met a great group of fellow Canadians on etsy and since not everyone celebrates Christmas Kritter suggested a solstice gift exchange. I sent a package out to Stringmealong & received one from RikRak. TY, TY! I love it!



In knitting news:



these are drying, need to do a little needlefelting to make them into HP slippers. A jester hat is on the needles & then more slippers.

Off to have coffee with my best friends this morning.

Coming to a Porch near You or Look Out Sam & Linda

There is a tradition at Wortley Road Public School of having a white elephant sale to allow the students to buy gifts. Funds from the sale go to support local families in need in our community. The boys have bought some of the greatest (silver salad tongs for grandma) and funniest (a bar of soap for grandpa) presents ever given or received in our family - well aside from the autographed Police lithograph- which didn't come from the white elephant sale.

Jimmy made all kinds of purchases yesterday & then found he had more items than people, with lots of tape & laughter he & Jake wrote notes & wrapped and are planning to drop this magical box of heaven knows what off on Sam & Linda's front porch this weekend as a Christmas? present?

A warning for Lindsey, I think he got you something too.

Quick Update

3 dogs at our place now - Abby and Annie (my in-laws scotties) have come to stay for Christmas, will try to get a picture tomorrow.

Skully hat in pink is finished & ready to be delivered.

Secret slippers will be on needles tonight.

More vintage patterns will hit the etsy website IF I can get enough light to get decent pictures.

Jake in in The Selfish Giant and Jimmy is in Bugsy Malone at Original Kids next season.

Dan unfortunately has had to withdraw, he was cast in the summer show (Geppetto & Son) but it conflicts with his return to the Stratford Festival's Musical Theatre camp which he found to be a very valuable educational experience & he wants to concentrate on his school show this upcoming semester. He's disappointed not to be able to do the show because his favourite musical song writer has done the songs for this retelling of Pinnochio. Hard choice but it was nice to see him make it - may be hard to watch him live with it as well.

Christmas Craziness Starts!

Well it has been a crazy time. Sorry to disappear.

Knitting a last pirate hat in pink (should be done today) & then I have requests for Harry Potter slippers (Mrs. Claus is supposed to be making these) and a jesters hat before I get on to a set of slippers for my brother & my BIL. How many days until Christmas?

The Velveteen Rabbit opened last night & was great from reports.

The etsy site has been selling daily - very nice for my online shopping dollars, the boys had depleted them with requests.

Tomorrow is Jake's 12th birthday (my baby is going to be 12, ugh) & I need to bake cupcakes for his cast, they're doing two shows tomorrow & having a party in between.

Stratford was fabulous on the weekend, the loft at Bentley's was gorgeous, had everything we needed, sadly I left a bag of cheese & other treats in the little frig. We ate delicious dinners out, relaed, read, shopped & are now prepared for the true craziness.

Car woes last week, multiplied on Friday (of course this was when I was trying to leave town). I drove over something on my way home from shopping & got a flat tire. They couldn't get it in to fix until 4pm. We ended up taking my MILs car to Stratford, luckily she had gotten her snow tires we needed them up there.

Open Wallett, Remove Cash...

It's been one of those weeks but it could have been worse.

• Mark (love that guy) fixed my car after the top of the dipstick broke off & the bottom half fell in when I attempted to get an oil change - this could have been a huge blog story but I simply don't have time to tell it (this was going to cost me lots if I'd had to take it to the shop)
• I bought & paid for Xmas pressies for my Dan & Jim + Jake's Bday pressies
• Finished the Xmas shopping for everyone else
• Bought a new dipstick (only $13)
• Got the oil change + other car necessities
• Gifts for John & Felix at work
• Stocked up on dog food & coffee
• Paid off the Mastercard

Need:

• Jake's Christmas pressies
• Treats for Mark & I, this is our weekend away, love in-laws who move in with your kids so you can get a weekend away (yes I know, I am VERY lucky)

Yet to be paid for:

• That weekend away!

I've got to figure out what I'm taking to knit, read, watch, eat, wear. Good thing I'm off on Friday. Suggestions welcome.

THE VELVETEEN RABBIT: The Musical
Book & Lyrics by George Gray
Music by Chris Talbert
Adapted from the classic children’s book by Margery Williams

Director: Jeffery Crane
Music Director: Jasmine Buckingham
Choreographer: Katie Ferri

Dec. 14, 16 : 6 pm
Dec. 15, 21 : 8 pm
Dec. 19 : 3 pm

Dec. 20, 22 : 1 pm

The Velveteen Rabbit is special because it identifies with children and its message will last as long as people search for love. Both humorous and meaningful, this musical adaptation follows the adventures of the toy rabbit as it tries to become real. On the journey, the rabbit must deal with the Top Banana Nana, the dictator of the play room, and all the other snobby toys, as we move between the worlds of imagination and reality. Filled with lively and touching songs, The Velveteen Rabbit is guaranteed to make you respond with both laughter and also misty eyes. This is a musical for everyone to savor. 75 minutes. (G Rated)

Tickets Available

Jimmy & Jake are 2 of the narrators in this classic childrens story.

Thank You

Thanks to everyone who came out to the sale yesterday.

It was a great day for me, I sold a few things & bought a new hat (not knit) from Paddy . I know there are no hats pictured but she had some really funky ones so contact her & push her to put pictures online!



The library was very pleased (as were Paddy & Cathy who organized the whole thing) with the traffic we had - I've never been to a craft sale (outside the open houses we had) that was so busy. Hopefully we raised a fair amount for St. Martin's school yard inprovement fund.

It was so nice to see so many folks from the neighbourhood just before Christmas. Santa's "ho ho ho" was decidely familiar!

I arrived home (with a massive headache) to a house full of teenagers, who had cleaned up after making french toast but were starving again so we ordered them pizza & then I transported them all home & by 8pm we were all settled in for a quiet night. We had planned to join Adam, Gord & Jen, etc at Palasad for our annual Xmas get together but Mark's sore throat shouldn't be passed on to Abba or anyone with small chidren.