Christmas this year...

There is too much laundry to be done to allow time for writing. I'm not sure how the laundry accumulates but when you decide that all the bedding must be washed immediately, it overflows into every corner, every basket and there is a constant stream of hot, steamy air pouring into my backyard. If I was interested in growing my own personal rain forest there is a 2 foot area at my back door that would be perfect.

So inbetween bed stripping and throwing sheets down the stairs, there are some Christmassy updates.

Christmas socks. These were toe up with an afterthought heel, and they are fabulous. The cuff is too short because I'm still not used to this sock construction but the heel is ridiculously easy and so comfortable. Success is mine and so are these socks.

Christmas biscotti. First time I've ever baked biscotti and I used a recipe from Cook's Illustrated. (They are crazily obsessive over there at CI and the results are always excellent.) These have red cranberries and green pistachios and are suitably festive. And delicious. They are not dry in that nasty bland, why-would-anybody-eat-these-anyhow way, but are crunchy and chewy all at the same time. I have been handing them out like crazy because otherwise I would eat every last one.

Christmas Star Wars. My gifts to the kids included a Chrismas tree ornament for them. They were less excited about these compared with the Lego's, but the grown ups seemed to like them...

And all Christmas gifts were given, and appreciated and now we can pack up and enjoy the unexpected sunshine and the break. I for one am on the last day of a 5 day break and have loved every second of it. There were more things knitted and finished, a new item cast on, goodies baked and a lot of sleep restored. I have a minor cold (read meaningless sniffle but I'm using it as an excuse to stay in pajamas and not put on any make up) but otherwise am happily reading old favorites and getting the afore mentioned laundry done.
There were a few minor upsets. On Christmas day I went to Mass at 8am (my normal Sunday time) and discovered that it was a tuesday (yes, I was genuinely surprised) and that Mass was at 9am. I did get an excellent parking spot but the wait was long and chilly in the car.
And yesterday, when I got in my car I discovered that the battery had died. Those clicking sounds when you turn the key are familiar to me and it is one of the few car diagnoses I can successfully manage. It did mean that my plans had to be cancelled but I ended up cleaning out the garage while I waited for AAA, so maybe it was meant to be.

And so I'm done. Tomorrow starts a crazy 6 day stint at work that will be pretty intense and I'm doing my usual good luck superstitious ritual. Clean sheets and a well made bed, all the laundry packed away and an early night. This is powerful magic in my house, rarely used and only called upon in times of need...