Post-Christmas, I mean it this time

Ever since my 1st year of college, my high school friends and I got together after we did the family thing for Christmas. BE lives out of state now, so he doesn't come any more. We don't meet 'between semesters' because none of us are in school. Instead we go to JJ's house (it used to move around until JJ and his wife bought a house) overnight or for the weekend of New Years and celebrate together. We exchange gifts, play games, and talk. Our group has grown. I'm with someone, JJ and KL both got married, JJ has a daughter (my namesake), plus they've invited additional friends.

Traditionally, I give KL a calendar. I've doing so for so long now, he doesn't bother to buy one because he knows I'll provide one. It's getting harder to find them, though. The calendar shops and the calendar sections in the bookstores are shrinking.

After I finished the assorted knitting (I finished CD's nephew's neck gaiter on the trip to JJ's house - I just need to get buttons), I started making some of Diane's ice drops. My vintage thread broke on the 1st one I made.  It's just missing 1 chain.

 

I gave three of these to friends at JJ's party. I know two of them are 'tatting worthy' as last year, upon their request, I made and gave them a flying minor Norwegian dragon (in turquoise). 

Mom's tv is not recognizing that there's a VCR/DVD player hooked up to it. So she's limited to whatever is on cable; and that can be surprisingly sparse. I'll be trying a new remote control and see if that's what it takes to fix the problem. If it doesn't, I'll be looking for a new player. Unless the tentative forecast for snow this weekend is correct, I'll be going to see her this weekend. 

Tonight's my date night with C. I forgot, so I didn't put her present in the car. Of course, I need to find it again.

Still hating my cold

It's mostly morning sinus pressure and a recurring cough. My voice sounds very sexy, though.

Christmas delight bobeches

Christmas was lovely, despite my cold. I spent the afternoon with CD's family and had supper with them. The next day, CD and I drove to my father's house. Turns out, two bobeches for my stepmom isn't enough, her table display uses 5 candles. CD's car was acting up, not wanting to start, so we took my car. Sunday evening, CD, RG, and I went to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

I worked the following week, all three days of it. CD ended up having to work half a day on New Year's Eve but then we went to have supper at Casa san Carlo in Raleigh, with RG. Then JJ sent me a message; his brother died.

JJ decided to go through with the New Year's/late Christmas plans. It took his mind off it and gathered people who knew his brother. His brother was only 39.

To remember what I got this year (my list of things given are in a spreadsheet); a decorative basket with a pierced tin ornament, 3 different spice blends, hand lotion, and a pottery dish from my brother and his family; Dad and my stepmom gave me assorted teas, 2 ornaments, a beaded coin purse, a beaded purselet, and a journal; a candy sled from my stepmom; CD gave me an assortment of books (50 Plants that changed the course of History, Necropolis London, Historic Costumes and How to Make Them, Historic Costume in Pictures, and Authentic Victorian Fashion Patterns), all nonfiction; RG gave me a Hobbit movie soundtrack cd (Battle of 5 Armies); AH gave me an adorable Steampunk hat (that goes on with clips); JJ and LJ gave me a space capsule tea infuser and a T-Rex mug; KL and CL gave me a very nice pair of embroidery scissors and a neat thing to keep/hold them; and A and J gave me a book about Manga CrossStitch patterns.

chocolate sled

Played a couple new games over New Year's. Talked, laughed, and enjoyed myself. My namesake liked her new blanket and JJ was really impressed by the new video card; six of us chipped in to get it. One of the people who chipped in was his brother. Now he and namesake can play the video game I recommended, based on someone else's recommendation. A & J asked for a tatted dragon, in dark teal.

Monday, I asked my supervisor for Tuesday off. Tuesday, I went to the visitation and funeral, and then to the parents' house after. The funeral was a graveside service and oh, it was cold. The temperature was in the mid-30's, and windy. I had a blanket, shared with AH. But that didn't protect the back of my legs. The preacher did a good job, and sounded like he knew CJ. At the house, afterward, as usual, there was lots of food. Since I hadn't had much lunch, I dug into it.

funeral dress (and sweater)

I had directions from two different people and got really confused. I ended up touring the back roads and two different counties for about an hour. Finally, I called CD for help. Turned out, I had turned aside about 5 miles too soon, before I hit a main highway.

Last night, I had my monthly date with CC. We both vented and celebrated. One of her sheep died, and her 20-year-old fish died. RG's dog died before Christmas and well, JJ's brother. CC gave me 3 balls of thread, hand-dyed by her. I can't wait to use them. 

the picture is really washed out, the tin is burgundy

I started Jane's TIAS today, using the same thread. I only have 1 wing of the dragon left to do.

TIAS, day 1

pretty sunset

Neko Atsume

Happy New Year (Gregorian reckoning)

It's a new (Gregorian) year and what has changed? Not really much. I'm still tatting, and gaming, and occasionally loom knitting. My niece will be going off to college in the fall and my namesake is a provisional black belt in tai kwon do.

R is running Dragon's Demand, a Pathfinder module, when all the players can't make her Forgotten Realms, DandD 3.5 home game. When her home game is done, I'll run the Pathfinder Adventure Path Skull and Shackles.

Interesting links I've come across recently:
Netflix micro-genres (pay attention to the block at the top)
Body Atlas reveals emotions

I've gotten more involved in Pinterest and in the Google+ community. My mom has recovered, about as much as she's going to, after her broken elbow last year. She just had cataract surgery before Thanksgiving and she says she no longer needs glasses, except to read. Which is disconcerting because she's been wearing glasses for decades.

If I remember, I'll come back and add some pictures from my new iPad. My camera died. Then so did the replacement camera I picked up used. Now my iPad is my only camera. It takes pretty good pictures, but it's a little awkward.

It's quarter to ten and I'm at the Jarrett house near Plyler. No idea where Plyler is? What about New London? Still don't know. Try Albemarle; not the county & not the sound, the town. It's funny. James moved closer, geographically, but it takes longer to get to his house.

Chris & I arrived after 11 pm. He had to work and we ate supper before we left. Our journey was slowed by heavy fog in places, until we got to the river. Keith was already here, and we stayed up talking until after 1 am. Needless to say, we all slept a little late this morning. It's still foggy, by the way.

My big excitement on New Year's Eve was watching Pajama Party & Guns of Navarone. Until 11 pm, when we went to bed, too sleepy to stay up farther.

New Year's Day, we played Living Forgotten Realms. We started a little late because of a miscommunication about where we were playing. We still finished both games by 8 pm. My Tracks character is now 2nd level. She's the 4'1" drow rogue. The entire House Tracks is a family of very short drow. Really. They'll tell you that they're drow.

My namesake really is cute. Not that I'm biased or anything.

As usual the New Years party was fun. It was a little scattered this year. Keith was on call & couldn't arrive until Monday. Our dryer died on Friday, so we had to come back early to try & work on that. Sherry never showed. We opened presents as people showed up. Keith liked his calendar, as usual. Russ liked his sugar free chocolate (& gave out lumps of coal to everyone, carved anthracite). Liz liked her chicken book & saw one bit of info that she wished she'd seen earlier (about chickens taking dirt baths look like they've died). Alisa thought that book that I got her looks interesting (Bless Your Heart, Tramp!). James can always use a hardware store gift card. I gave Shannon (Larry's wife) a tatted snowflake because she admired them & thought that her sister might like to tat. Namesake liked her presents, although I didn't see her unwrap the last one because I left that one for her to unwrap while Sherry's kids unwrapped theirs.

books: But, But.. Barbarians and partially read about 3 others, including Rainbow's End & Heiress for Hire. Read vol 3 of Tactics.

tatting: Up to Gemini Star in tatting book.