Socks, I'm sorry to hear about your injury. How did it happen? I hope you're not in too much pain. But more knit/crochet time can't be all bad, can it? I never get sick, but I've often said I wouldn't mind being just sick enough that I had to stay home from work with the ulterior motive being that I could spend my time knitting and crocheting. I'm glad your family is helping out. Try not to stress too much about everything. I just finished the knit round ripple and am rather pleased with myself. Crochet is a walk in the park for me. Any large knitted item is much more of a challenge for me. And it was knit on circular needles and the whole time I kept thinking, "It's not gonna be big enough", because I couldn't stretch it out to look at it. But once I bound off all the stitches and blocked it, I see it's just right. Finished the bonnet last night and hope to start the booties tonight. DH took a picture of the blankie for me, but hasn't posted it to my site yet. You bet I want to show it to you. I also started another crocheted round ripple in the colors of Mary Maxim's Peaceful Pastels. I just happened to have all of the colors in the exact yarn it called for in my stash - except the peach, which of course, is the third color, so I'm at a standstill. Lots of places around here carry Bernat Baby Coordinates, but nobody carries the peach. So I had to order it from Joann's. And how could I order just the peach? I mean, you know, I had to order at least $30 worth to get my free shipping, so I ordered some more yarn. Call it my Christmas present to me! Merry Christmas, everyone!

1. Finishing a crochet baby blanket from 2 years ago (someone I know is pregnant). 2. Finishing a child's poncho, which was going to be a birthdy present in spring, but now will be a Christmas present. 3. Just started a shawl in various cream and soft pink colors. 4. Have yarn and pattern for summer sleeveless top (fat chance on that one). Too busy outside gardening! Cutting wayyy back some junipers from the 1950's to make room for perennials in 99+ heat. Had to take a break inside in the a/c!

My friend gave me a cap and I almost always only wore that one. It was a black yarn with sparkles in it. I loved it and everywhere I went someone would ask me where I got it. My friend couldn't remember where she had bought it and I have looked everywhere for one like it. My SIL was sweet enough to send me a pattern and a loom, but I am just not crafty. If I could find the yarn, my sister could make some for our Cancer Center. We had women who brought knit caps and another group made quilts. I will always cherish my hat and my quilt because I know they were made with love. Just as yours will be. Thank you.

I have splurged on cars. Our first Jaguar sedan was second-hand, then we bought new or nearly new sedans and an untitled XJS second-hand. DH replaced my Austin Healey 3000 that we sold as newlyweds. I'm agree with Minnie about living *below* one's means. I woke up one day and wondered why we were still living in our 'starter' house thirty years later! We'd saved TOO long! DH retired, and we built a new house in a nicer community -- more than an hour from the city, since he no longer had to commute. Our 'starter' and the neighborhood were fine, but...not AS fine. We're only sorry we didn't move sooner. I still delight in driving along the pretty road to our house, ten years on. I'm not sure what 'splurge' means to me. I'll never be the person who charges a vacation because she can't pay for it up front, but I am an advocate of living AT your means, not far below it 'just because'.