After Christmas knitting?

 Hope you had a nice Christmas. I sure did. Tom gave me pearls (I love pearls) and lots of knitting related stuff. This includes a new IPAD. First thing I did was download a app.

Of course it was knitting. Knitting Cam HD. Only been able to play with the program a little, but what fun.

Snowing again

What can you do with two knitting needles, yarn, Pepperoni, a carrot and a cherry twizzler? Why you can make a snowman of course.

Even more Snow!

Looks pretty, but it is COLD!

Freezing in Germany

View from my Office window

Is it Christmas yet?

I've mailed the packages to family and I'm still knitting. At least this time, it's for me (maybe). I intend this to be for me, but as most of my friends know, I seldom keep my knitting for myself. So here's what I think I'm knitting for myself.

 

Christmas Packages Mailed

Because we live in Germany I have to mail the Christmas gifts before 1 Dec if I want them to arrive by 25 Dec.  I spent the weekend packing up 6 boxes.  Of course, there's Beligum chocolate in each box and Gummy Bears. 
I still have one box left to put together, for my best friend, Lucy.  I should have it ready by Monday.  I hope.

It's a German thing, I think

Tom's aunt and uncle spent the weekend with us. Helmut gave Tom another "pin" for his hat. It seems that it's a tradition to buy pins from everywhere you go and put them on a hat. Not just any hat, it has to be a real German hat (not the kind for tourist). Tom always ask Helmut to put it on the hat. So here's a few photos of the hat and pins.

 

 

Knit, knit and knit

For the past few years I’ve been “lurking” (reading not commenting) a knitting blog The Panopticon at http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/  . If you knit you have to check out his 1 November blog. The cartoon is just too funny not to share. I laughed until I had tears in my eyes.


I knit because I love to knit. Sometimes I think that they put something in the pattern ink that makes me crave the pattern and order the book and yarn. Tom said that he thinks that yarn companies are putting additive ingredients in the yarn and that’s why I get so excited when he brings a package home.

My Christmas knitting list seems to get smaller every year. I seldom knit for my kids (and grandkids) that live in Florida anymore. Where and when would they wear it? I’ve knitted them enough hats and scarves to last a lifetime. My Mom doesn’t go out of the house much in the winter so I don't knit for her. I used to knit hats and scarves for my brother “Ro Ro”, grandkids. I still knit a few hats for them, but most of them have now moved way down South, so they don’t need any more knits.

I do still knit for my daughter and her family in TN. In fact, daughter “T” is really the only one that appreciates my knitting. She expects a sweater every Christmas and always gets one. When she worked at the hospital, she often was asked about her sweaters. One of the Doctors asked how long could she go without wearing the same sweater. “T’s” remark that she didn’t know, but it would be months and months.

Currently I have a short sleeve tee in cotton on needles and I’m working on a Cowl in Merino Wool started (gift for co-worker). Gotta go and pick up the yarn I dumped while looking for the Merino.

Knitting basket

My knitting basket has grown and grown and I'm not finished yet.

 

New office furniture

During September our Resource Manager made a walk around the office areas. We had end of years funding and she was checking to see what was needed. Seems my office was a little bare. She order so new furniture for me. I kept my desk (it works so why not), but I got new office chairs and entry area chairs. The German company made us quite a deal, so I ended up with real black leather. Makes me feel important.

Do you realize how close Christmas is?

As we are currently living in Germany, I have to complete my Christmas knitting FAST. I have to have the packages in the mail before Thanksgiving. Mail is S..L..O..W… over here. So I have to knit, knit and knit some more.

Tom cheats, he always shops for the kids on the internet and has it sent to them stateside. Of course, he doesn’t have the wonderful feeling of the yarn and the creativity that goes with knitting.

No it’s off to knitting I go…again…Good think I love to knit.

Is that the Ice Cream Man I hear ringing?

No it's tennitus.  I have had a ringing in my ears for a couple weeks.  Because the military medical center didn't have any appointments, I went to a German "ear" doctor.  He spoke perfect english.  The German Doc checked my ears and sent me to have a hearing test (just down the hall from his office).  I have an inter ear infection, tennitus and some hearing lost. 
The Doc gave me a perscription for the infection  and to help with the ringing.  Had to have it filled by a German pharmacy as the Medical center won't accept a perscription with even one word of German on it. 
As for the hearing lost, guess that goes with getting older.

Get over it

I'm getting over the lost of the phone and NAV system.  Everyone is entitled to make a careless mistake and I'm marking leaving the VW unlocked as my one carelessness for the year.  I'm still not sure I left the car unlocked, but how else did they get in without any damage?  So I'll take the blame.
Now on to more enjoyable things.
I've been knitting and knitting and knitting.  As you know I finished Trina's sweater.  It turned out BEAUTIFUL, I know she'll love it.
I finished Meghans scarf and hat, a few baby items and I'm working on a baby hat for a co-workers 1 year old son.
It's my goal to clean and organize (again) my knitting room.  I'd better do that soon, as I need to use the knitting machines to make Christmas Stockings, and I need to do that soon.

What's missing from this picture?

You guessed it, the cell phone is missing. 
Well, just call me stupid or maybe just careless. Tonight I noticed that the cell phone in my VW wasn’t working. It wasn’t working because it wasn’t where it was suppose to be. It wasn’t in the car. Because it was Blue tooth and connected through the radio, I never took it out. Not only was the phone missing but evidently I left the NAV system in the glove box. Yeah, it was missing too. Since there was no sign of a break in, I must have left the car unlocked. The phone was an inexpensive pay as you go with only about $10 left on the card. The NAV system was over 4 years old.

Wish I could blame Tom for not locking the car, but he very seldom drives it.


At least there was no damage to the car. Gee, careful thefts.

I'm so important...

 

I got my own stamp.  Gotta love working for the Army,

No knitting photos today

I spent the weekend knitting, but because I'm knitting Christmas gifts, I can't show you... So....Here's a photo Jack-Jack.  He's prepared to play Lego Indiana Jones.

Photo op?

Last week while in Friedberg, I saw a few things that I found amusing.  Thought I’d share a few of them with you.  I loved the old woman knitting.  Not sure why the sheep are wearing boots.



Christmas knitting started

I've finished Trina's Christmas sweater. Can't show you as she might check my blog. Her sweater was knitted out of wool I purchased in Austria. Since moving to Germany, I've gotten hooked on knitting with "natural" yarns, wool, cotton, silk and alpaca mostly. The scarf is made with silk, sequins and beads. Beautiful yarn. The TN orange hat and shawl are knitted with alpaca and wool. Wonder who the TN orange items are for? She'll know.

"Someone take Kathy's camera"

For the past year (almost) I've worked for Mr. M. He's been one of the best leaders I've ever worked for or even seen.  He leads by example.  He has a wicket sence of humor and he really knows his stuff.  And he's retiring this week.  He'll be greatly missed by all the Army HR community. 
Today he called for an "all hands meeting".  He wanted to say good bye and to give out some awards.  Of course I had my camera (the new one).  I was taking photos of the employees getting awards and then I heard "Someone take Kathy's camera".  You know how I get when I take photos!  I figured Mr. M was tired of hearing the "click".  Instead, Mr. M.'s assistant took my camera and Mr. M. called me up to the front of the room. 
I got a letter of appreciation from the Head of Army Civilian Personnel.  Not just Europe, Ms. P. is in charge of all Army HR regions.  The letter was for all the work I've done for the Army Wounded Warrior Program.  In the past 8 months, I've placed 4 Wounded Warriors into jobs here in Germany.  If you don't know about the WW Program, you should check it out.  It takes care of our wounded men and women.
So I got a suprise award and someone took my photo for a change.

My latest project

Yes, I'm knitting.  Here's my proof.  It's Silk Alpaca Babushka.  It's knitted in 50% Alpaca and 50% Silk, from Blue Sky.  I love this yarn.  It's soft and so light.  The pattern is really easy knitting in the Seed Stitch with ruffle around the sides.  Once I finish knitting, I'll have to block it.  Then I'll try to remember to take a photo to share.

Things I learned at the Leadership Conference

If you can’t remember it, then it didn’t happen.

If working outside the box, inside the box or around the box doesn’t work, then it’s a defective box.

Business casual doesn’t mean cut off jeans and flip flops.

You can excel in your job if you excel in getting others to do the work for you.

Sarcasm can be entertaining.

The boss can be wrong, but don’t tell him.

Rainy day walks can be wet.

Even leaders can make mistakes, its how you cover them up that’s important.

Here’s my latest attempt to get organized.

I’m trying to get all my knitting needles together (at least the ones I’ve been using). I love knitting with wood and bamboo needles. I ordered it from Dreamweaversyarn.com. They are one of the few yarn companies/stores that will ship to APO (Overseas) addresses. Namaste Needle and Notions Binder.

Cake time?

This Weekends Road Trip to the Rhine