Warm Heads, Warm Heart

A group of ladies I work with have banded together to adopt a family on need this Christmas. In fact we adopted our part time cleaning lady who is a single mom with six kids aged 18 to 5. We almost had to pry a useable list from her because she and her family always make do with what they have. Our goal is to collect a couple of presents per person and all the supplies for a grand Christmas dinner!

I thought long and hard about what I was going to contribute…and the I had a flash of genius! Everyone needs a warm head this winter….

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I have three hats and three headbands, so enough for each kid. And I still have time to make something special for momma!

Now their heads will be warm and so is my heart!

Happy Knitting!

Yarn Sale: part two

Next lot up is assorted colors of Sugar N Cream 100% cottons!! At one time I was churning out dishcloths like clockwork. But that urge has faded since I found sweaters and socks. So this cotton yarn needs a good home!

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  • 4.1 oz (about 1 1/2 skeins) of Sage Green dye lot #262435
  • 5.1 oz (a little over 2 skeins) of Red dye lot #HR842
  • 3.5 oz ( about 1 1/2 skeins) of Tan with multi-colored speckles
  • 1.9 oz ( 3/4 of a skein) of Rainbow multicolor
  • 2.9 oz ( 1 3/4 skeins) of Mistletoe dye lot #248006
  • 1.2 oz (partial skein) of Pink (no label)
  • 1.6 oz (oartial skein) of Hot Green dye lot #256963

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All partial skeins have been wound into cakes. Yarn has been stored clean and dry in plastic tubs. My house does include dogs (who don’t mess with my yarn) just in case for those with allergies.

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I’m asking $18 total and that includes shipping costs in the US. If you are interested and are outside the US, email me at atangledyarn@gmail.com to discuss.

If you see something you like, leave a comment with your name and email and I’ll message you about the lot. I will only be accepting payment via Paypal. First come, first served. If someone backs out, I will move on to the next comment email according to time. Don’t leave your address or personal information in a comment. I’ll email you to get specifics so the whole internet doesn’t have to see 🙂

Family Photos

The Mathews household was short on funds this year for the holiday season so we decided to take an alternative approach. A dear friend of mine is an amazing photographer and he agreed to help us out. So on a very cold October day we tromped around a local park to take a few photos. There was a wedding in the same park and at least two photography clubs running around. The dogs were so wound up by all this activity that they were spectacularly uncooperative. We managed to at least get two good family shots, which were then turned into Christmas cards and framed photos for Christmas gifts.

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Not so bad right? The family really loved them as gifts and it was nice to give gifts from the heart (and save a little money)!

We had few minutes of good light left and so I had the photographer snap a few new head shots for my work/linkedin profile/facebook/etc. I haven’t had a head shot taken since I was 18 years old, lol.

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Now I’m off to some knitting and cleaning. I am attending my first meeting of a local crochet/knitting guild and I want to choose some items to donate to their knitting for charity baskets! I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow afternoon!

Happy Knitting!!!

 

Good News!

The husband has a new job!!!!!!

Sorry for the delay in the rest of my Scandinavian Christmas posts, but my hubby got the best Christmas present ever! I still vow to get them out 🙂

We found out the day after Christmas and have been running around like chickens with our heads cut off since, rounding up paperwork, negotiating benefits, changing class schedules, etc. This new job is in IT AND will let him continue to work on his Computer Information Systems degree.

After 8 1/2 months of looking in this terrible economy we both are very excited. I will be sad to lose my housekeeper, crock pot stirrer, and doggy day care that would do wonderful things while I was at work. But the paycheck will be worth catching up on bills!

May your New Year be wonderful! (I’ll be working a 12+ hour day at my big kid accounting job to close out the year…..)

Christmas Morning

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Before we got to peek at what Santa brought we had tea and monkey bread!

Then SANTA!!!

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Santa brought me me lined yarn bags with grommet holes! Lined with knitting sheep fabric and nice wide zipper openings. The photos above are the small cake/skein bag. The photos below are the large skein bag!

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How did Santa know!? Lol, looks like I have some knitting to do!

Merry Christmas to all! Stay tuned for more Swedish Christmas traditions 🙂

Happy Knitting!

Christmas Eve Shinglebread

Growing up Swedish/Norwegian means shinglebread at christmas! It’s a lovely Scandinavian potato tortilla of sorts. For as long as I remember this has been a sugary Christmas treat.

Start with a flat piece and drizzle with Caro syrup….

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Then you roll it up and eat up!

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This dish means family and Christmas and memories of childhood! I am a happy Swede tonight. Now for a little cuddle time in front of the fire before 11pm services out the local Lutheran church!

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Merry Christmas to all!!

The Most Perfect Secret Santa Ever

I received the most bestest unbeatable secret santa gift ever!!!! Drum roll please………………………….

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That’s right ladies and gentleman, it a drum auger/pipe snake. The moment I opened it I knew exactly who my Santa was!

I live a rental house with poor plumbing and I’m always borrowing tools from the maintenance guy at work. He is always helpful, full if great tips, and never makes me feel like a “girl” trying to fix my own problems. And our shower drain problems of late make this auger a perfect Christmas present.

I was touched by the thoughtfulness if his gift and the hilarity of it made laugh until I almost cried. I know very well he went over the money limit too! This gift my dear blog friends has single handedly catapulted me into the holiday spirit. I put a bug in Santa’s ear to put something extra special in his stocking (and it may or may not be some jam from my secret pantry stash)!!

I wish each and every one of you a very Merry and Special Christmas!

T-minus 6 days to Christmas

Christmas Preparations

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My unbelievably wonderful husband decorated our entire house all by himself. I’ll admit to being a little grinchy, but his wonderful surprise helped me beat the grinch! So I did the last of our shopping today, wrapped all our gifts, and cleaned the house.

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As a reward, I treated myself to a homemade mocha, some scarf knitting, and my newest book! So here I sit relaxing under the stockings waiting for Christmas to get here…..

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Are you ready for Christmas?