FO Real, Tho

Sort of.

I hate to post without pictures, even when they're not so great (which is usually the case over here at Pilkington Place), but I have to download, etc. them. I should have them up by this evening.
I took some pictures of Cocoa Pebbles in her dress yesterday; I think she looks adorable, but then I'm biased. I think it will be blocked and finished in time for Christmas! The Habu workshop was wonderful; Setsuko Torii had some of her gorgeous designs on display and taught us quite a bit about Japanese pattern reading and design in a short time. Each class member got some soft, soft mohair for the class project (a very funky scarf) but this past Monday was *C*O*L*D here in NYC and I don't have any scarves so I double stranded the mohair, added some Koigu Kersti, and the mohair boucle that I got from Inspirations Yarn and made a quick warm looong skinny scarf -- I call it Wrapper's Delight in honour of this great little candy shop in Brooklyn . I did a simple P1, P2tog pattern. I can't believe it's my first scarf since my ill-fated first project -- a cabled scarf for The Kid (short version: it came out great, he loved it, then somehow it got in the laundry, it was Takhi Baby, and it became a snargled mess.

I also knit up a quick hat for The Kid in Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed using Marnie Maclean's pattern, and my sister has a wedding to go to on Sunday so I'm doing a little evening scarfy thing in Karabella Magic. I'm hoping to finish that tonight.
Pictures to come later today, I promise!
Happy holidays to everyone! I've been enjoying blogging so much, and it's because of all of the wonderfully kind, talented, and supportive, entertaining bloggers out there. THANK YOU!
We're taking it easy for Christmas. Remember when I was trying to be all domestic goddess and was more domestic jester? Wanting to churn butter while I mopped the floor and made elaborate gingerbread houses (for everyday use) and spoke with erudition on the events of the day? Still not happening. Got to think of something new for 2005. Like maybe, not to worry about it so much. Anyway, Christmas will be nice and small and relaxed...and quite the multicultural celebration. I'm doing a Nigerian dinner for Christmas Eve and got a "Christmas in Croatia" video for us to watch (a shout out to The Kid's grandfather)...Then Christmas day will be fried dumplings and ackee and saltfish, Jamaican-style. Should I post those recipes? Don't know if people will be interested...I WILL post Mrs. Pilkington's Chocolate and Butterscotch Chip Toll Cottage Candy Cookies, right now:

(adapted from the Nestle Toll House recipe)
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
large dash of cinnamon
small dashes of Jamaican allspice and nutmeg
1 tsp Kahlua
2 eggs
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips
Preheat oven to 375. Combine dry ingredients (minus sugar) in small bowl. Beat butter, sugars, kahlua, and vanilla together in large bowl. Gradually add dry ingredient mixture. Stir in the chips and drop spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 9-11 minutes, until brown. Cool partially then cover if you want the cookies to be soft.
Eat. Eat some more.

Fun holiday photos: Have you seen this mouse ornament? It's the Tuesday, December 21 entry. I keep humming Olivia Newton John's "Physical" when I look at it. And there is glamour and glitz to spare over at Fluffa!, including Christmas decor, disco-style!

UPDATE: As promised...

And The Kid's hat: