Here’s the view out my windows when I got up this morning:
At 11:00am, the fog hadn’t burned off yet.
Forbidding-looking, no?
All in all, it looks like a good day for drinking hot chocolate from my favorite mug.
I was very industrious yesterday. I gathered up some ingredients:
I made Boeuf Bourguignon. Four different kinds of mushrooms. Yum!
I didn’t use a written-out recipe — it’s in my head. And the results are stored in the fridge for Christmas Dinner.
Oh, and I finished the Pacific Islands Shawl. Here’s a blurry picture:
And a close-up:
Pacific Islands Closeup 122307
As you can see, Lucy approves of it!
She’s made herself quite at home!
To recap, the Pacific Islands shawl is a design by Laura Patterson of Fiberdreams. The pattern is available for purchase at her site (I can’t access it right now, she must be having server problems, but I’ve linked to the site in past entries). I knit mine from Wollmeise laceweight in the “Gewitterhimmel” colorway, purchased from The Loopy Ewe, on 4mm needles.
ETA: Laura is ineed having server issues with her site. If you’d like to buy the Pacific Islands pattern, it costs $5.50 — send her an email at laruaanneATgmailDOTcom and she’ll send you a Paypal invoice and will email you the pdf of the pattern as soon as payment is received.
I’ll now return to the Pinwheel sweater and finish that up, now that I have the extra yarn I need.
But first I’ve got some gifts to wrap . . .
I’ll likely not post again until after Christmas, so I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays, or Happy Solstice, et cetera, or simply a happy Sunday. You pick. Thank you for stopping by to read my blog and admire Lucy!
The shawl looks lovely and Lucy sets it off perfectly. Merry Christmas. I hope it’s a good one for you and yours.
Merry Christmas, Wendy. I hope it’s a day that will provide many happy memories for you and the KOARC. I’m sure Lucy will add to that as well.
Enjoy!
Merry Christmas! The shawl looks gorgeous, and I’m sure it’s because Lucy helped you block it.
Mmm, Boeuf Bourguinon…I’m the only one in my house who likes mushrooms, so I don’t cook mushroomy dishes too often, but that sure looks good!
Happy Christmas to you, KOARC and Lucy! Enjoy your scrumptious dinner on the day and may the new year ahead bring you much joy!
Kim
The shawl is wonderful. That colourway worked so well with the lace pattern. I see dear Lucy is her usual beautiful, charming, supermodel self.
Yummy boeuf bourg–and good on ya for preparing it in advance. I’ve had a turkey thawing ‘safely’ in the fridge since Friday. Except it’s NOT thawing. Grrr….
Lovely weather you’re having! Here we have high winds and horizontal snow squalls (after pushing 60F yesterday!). That’s the wild midwest for ya.
God Jul, Wendy, to you and yours.
I don’t always get to comment, but I do read you every time. Thanks for being here and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.
The shawl is lovely, but what really makes me drool is your Boeuf Bourguignon. Mmmm, what a great Chrismas dinner!
God Jul! I miss seeing the ornament on the tree and the tomten card this year (or similar Swedish goodies!) Many Blessings to you, KOARC and Ms Lucy, my favorite of all kitties next to my Nikki, who meows , “Meowrry Christmas” to All.
Merry Christmas Wendy, KOARC & Lucy!
Kitties are so funny!!! I have a quilt shop so have them in different phases, laid out all the time. The one constant? There is always a kitty cat on the pieces or finished product. I think they have a special creative gene that shines through our projects!!
Merry, Happy Joyous wonderful days ahead!!!
Happy holidays to you too!!
I think I’m coming to your house for dinner! Yummm.
That shawl is fabulous – and Lucy is sweet as ever -
Have a joyous Christmas, dear Wendy. May the year ahead be one to celebrate.
Have yourself & your family a very Merry Christmas. I love your blog! & of course Lucy. Your shawl is wonderful. I have some of that colorway. My friend just ordered from Germany!!! Can’t wait to knit with it
have a lovely christmas!
I’m wishing you, the KOARC, and Lucy a very Merry Christmas from my new home in California. It is 60 degrees, clear and sunny. Wishing you nice days and a Happy New Year. I can’t wait to put up my 2008 Lucy calendar. Love and kisses, MamaLana
Lucy appreciates you knitting a stole that sets off her beautiful blue eyes so nicely.
And I second Ms. kmKat; I love boeuf bourguignon, but enough people at my house wouldn’t eat it, that I can’t justify making it. It looks scrumptious though. I can smell it from here.
Best wishes to you and your family, and a Merry Christmas to all!
Happy Holidays to you and your family. I have enjoyed the past year of reading your blog entries. The summer of socks got me hooked. I am still trying to knit as fast as you. Best wishes for 2008.
I love the stole! What a perfect yarn for it.
Merry Christmas to you, KOTRC, and darling Lucy.
Merry Christmas, Wendy! I discovered your blog about a year ago and have thoroughly enjoyed becoming a faithful reader. You have inspired me to be take more risks in my knitting, allowing me to modify patterns to meet my needs. Have a wonderful holiday break!
Wendy, your shawl is gorgeous! I don’t comment very often but I do look forward to sitting down at my computer after supper every day to read your blog and admire Lucy
Christmas came early last Friday when I rec’d Sheri’s email annoucing that I had a spot at the LE Spring Fling. I can’t wait to meet you … maybe Lucy would enjoy a spring road trip?
Christmas blessings to you and those you hold dear.
Merry Christmas!
I’m in love with that shawl and the color you chose especially – I just think of sun on the water in the San Juan Islands in September….mmmmm…I think I may have to try to duplicate that. Anywheres, have a wonderful, happy Christmas. Thank you so much for letting me peek and lurk into your life – it makes me think I might someday have one of my own!
cls
)
Lucy’s good taste in shawl matters is unfailing!
Have a lovely Christmas…
Merry Christmas!
Lucy does such an excellent job of blocking and modeling shawls and her mama does an excellent job of making them
Happy Christmas you you, Lucy and KOARC. Enjoy the Boeuf Bourguignon and the time together.
Of course Lucy loves that shawl – it’s not just gorgeous, it matches her beautiful eyes!
Merry Christmas!!!
(((hugs)))
merry christmas to all of you!
our rescued cats (one saved from a grungy pet shop and one salvaged off the street at halloween) send lucy holiday greetings and wishes for lots of catnip. the younger cat gradually is learning that yarn and needles are MY toys, not his.
even the dog appreciates fine knitting — he loves napping on sweaters.
best wishes for another great year of blogging, knitting and cooking.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Wendy!
Season’s Greetings !
Merry Christmas to you Wendy. Thanks for your wonderful patterns and great blog; it’s a delight to read. And thanks for the Lucy pictures. She definitely qualifies as a cat.
Igor wishes Lucy a holiday filled with delicious treats.
I hope you enjoy your holiday as much as I enjoy reading about the events (knitting and Lucy, as well as many others…) in your life. Thank you for sharing with all of us!
Hi Wendy… love the shawl and the cat blocking “tool” is purrrrect.
In an early post you mentioned being “poo” free.
So have I for over a year. I decided after reading “The Curly Hair Girl Book” (I think that was the title!)
Being shampoo free has surprised me. My hair’s never been curlier. I think you’ll like being poo free.
Have a very lovely warm and comforting Christmas (you got the shawl, the cat and the stew along w/the KOTRC – so should be a purrrfect Christmas)
Tina
Such a pretty shawl. Merry Christmas!
Happy, happy, happy and merry, merry, merry to you, Lucy and the KOARC! Love the blog, love the shawl! It is a fabulous colorway and beautiful pattern! Love Lucy!! Happy holidays to your family (and KOARC’s family) luv.m.
A very Merry Christmas to you, Lucy, and the KOARC. Your shawl is beautiful! I can almost smell those mushrooms over here. Enjoy.
Happy Festivus! My mom used to make that dish. Yours looks delicious.
Merry Christmas!!!
Thank you for making this world a better and more enjoyable place.
Hoping that the new year will bring lots of joy to you and your love ones with both two and four feet.
That is so cool that Lucy helps you block. I had no idea cats could be so useful. I bet her stray hairs offset the lace pattern beautifully too.
PS, I threw away a milk ring yesterday and for a second thought, should I start saving these for Lucy?
Your shawl is gorgeous and suits Lucy beautifully.
Happy Christmas to you both
Merry Christmas, Wendy!! And best wishes to Lucy, KOARC, and your family. I hope that you have a truly wonderful holiday and happy new year!
Merry Christmas Wendy, KOARC and Lucy!! The shawl is absolutely beautiful! I have some Wollmeise Laceweight in queue to be knit up! Looking forward to seeing you again in April at the Spring Fling!! So glad you like your Barn Happy Mug
Merry Christmas Wendy.
Thanks for sharing a little of your life with us over the last year. I wish you and those you love and care about a very Happy 2008 too.
Merry Christmas to you also. Best wishes in the new year.
Merry Christmas Wendy!
I love the stole. It looks very memorizable, for a quick relaxing knit (for lace at least).
Your shawl is gorgeous. I love the color! Lucy apparently agrees!!
Once again I’m at work and can’t see the pics. However, Happy Holidays to the three of you.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for eveything you do to make knitting in cyberspace a fun place to be. Thanks for all the help you give and the very informative and mostly knitting blog. I love the extra stuff too.
I hope that 2008 is pain free and happy for you Wendy!!!!
Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year filled with joy and peace to you, the KOARC, Lucy, and all your loved ones.
Awwww, perfect kitty on a perfectly beautiful shawl! Merry Christmas to you and Lucy, too!
Lucy looks lovely in anything. Merry Christmas to you!
Merry Christmas “girls”! Have a happy holiday!
Hugs from me and the P-Man!
Thank You for sharing your time, life and Lucy with us this yr! Also ThankYou for the knitting instruction/patterns you have so graciously let us see.
Merry Christmas to you and yours
The shawl if lovely. I was trying to think of a shawl that my neighbor might like and I think that would be perfect!
Thanks for the ordering info!
Merry Christmas, Wendy, and thanks to you for a delightful and inspiring blog.
Happy Holidays to you all! Hope it was a wonderful Christmas!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Wendy!
Hope that it was a very Merry Christmas for you and yours, and that the coming year brings you peace, prosperity, and happiness! Thank you so much for your blog.
Late but still wishing you Happy Holidays! Lucy has such a beautiful blankie now! ;o)
Gorgeous projects!!!