mittens

This is the post you've waited for ... (hey that sounds like a primary song, can't remember which one... this is the night you've waited for always a ...)

The mittens are finished and have been washed twice. I think they will feel like a coat of armor on, but the fingers will be WARM! My Mother is visiting and the mittens were big on her. Now that they've been felted Andrew can barely squeeze them on. If they are too big I think Tyler could wear them and play in some hot soapy water (they need heat, soap, and agitation to shrink) and they might shrink to fit him. (Try the hot water and soap and then let them dry with the soap in them and then rinse them in cool water.)I'm so excited about them that I can't wait for Christmas. They go to Idaho as soon as I get a cord crocheted for them. I'll need the length from one wrist, up the arm, across the back and down to the next wrist. (hint, hint, Angela).

I'd like to knit another pair but I think I need to see how these fit first.

I'm so grateful that I did not have to raise the sheep, shear them, clean the wool, make the yarn, and dye the yarn. I'm amazed that anyone ever had even one dress! Made me tired just listing the jobs.

My Dad was just told me a story of when he was in the 9th grade (about 1938) and his parents made themselves a wool mattress. In Ariola, Colorado the government sponsored a welfare project of sorts. They supplied the materials and the labor was done by the individuals that wanted a mattress. Years later, when they could afford a new better mattress they sold the wool.

Mom bought some stuff today for the boy's to make something for their grown siblings for Christmas. I think everyone will like them. The boy's loved making them and I had to make them go to bed before they were ready to stop.

I started cutting my 25 pillows out yesterday! So if anyone has a preference for one for their bed let me know. Unfortunately there is no bright blue or yellow fabric.... there is a lime green that would make a pretty pillow if someone has lime green in their room;)

I made 2 kinds of cookies tonight. Drommar and chocolate wafer cookie dough. The Drommar tastes almost just like pecan sandies. Drommar has cardamom in them and the next time I make them I think I'll increase the cardamom and see if we can taste it. Cardamom is an unfamiliar spice to us and even after putting it in these cookies I'm not sure what it tastes like.

Andrew decided to play (after he did his homework and practised 30 minutes on the piano, with no complaints I might add-and I'd told him to practise 15 minutes!) with a math problem and wrote an 11 digit number down and then proceeded to multiply it by another 11 digit number! What fun! What excitement! He was humming while he worked! What a lovely kid!