Normalcy--Now or Never

Tomorrow is the big day--the silent auction. Let me tell you we are going to breath a sigh of relief around here when that is over. The guest room looks like a boutique exploded. (And the dog would like her "chewing room" back.) I've been so focused on that project, that I think I forgot to tell you that the Tea and Stitch ladies (affectionately known around these parts as "Old Lady Stitching") have donated a decorated Christmas tree. I may have told you that my suggestion last year to make an afghan (with yarn I donated) went over like a lead balloon. So I didn't even bother asking this year. But my nemesis decided It Would Be Done. Two weeks ago, she strong-armed the others into making stuff. And at the end of our meeting she turned to me and said, "You're welcome."
"Did I not thank you?" I asked.
"Yes, but you're welcome."
"Well, thank you again."
"You're welcome."
It was the most hostile display of gratitude perhaps ever.

And in those two weeks they have knit and stitched! We have little stockings and hats and sweaters and scarves and mittens. Last week when the first of the ornaments were delivered, I was an hour late to the meeting. When I arrived, they had a plate of ornaments to show me. I thanked everyone for contributing. Then the nemesis told me I should thank everyone. Remembering last week's hostility, I told her I had.
"Gush a little," she commanded.
"I'm from New England," I replied, "we don't gush."
Later I asked who made each item and told them something I liked about what they had made.

Which was a lot nicer than the nemesis was when the woman sitting next to me showed off something she was knitting. It was somewhere between a poncho and a turtleneck vest. I can't describe it at all. I told her I loved the color. I picked up the yarn, it was wool but soft. "Feel the yarn!" I exclaimed to everyone. (For my cross-stitching readers, those knitters, they touch, but it's okay.)

Nemesis asked to see the pattern. "I don't like it," she declared. My eyes almost bulged from my head. It's not that I don't expect it from the nemesis, but the woman was right there. I turned to my knitting friend and gave her googly eyes. "Like I care," she muttered.  It was insane. Insanely awesome.

Here's what I made for the tree:

I've made something similar before but this time I strung them up. (I made five of various colors.)

This was a project I had screwed up--wrong size fabric--so I cut it up and finished it as an ornament.

This was on the finishing pile. 

I think I had stitched it for an old boss and never did the finishing.

I've got last minute printing to do. I'll be back regularly by Monday--oh I've got Maggie stories for you. Yes I do.