Blogginess!

Check it out--knitting!

I picked up a few skeins of Debbie Bliss Pure Silk, and was compelled to immediately cast on. It's the same leaf lace pattern that I'm using for the black wrap I started a little while ago, but narrower and more scarf-like. This thing is gorgeous. The yarn is incredibly soft and has a beautiful sheen to it. I wish the color were more vibrant, but I love lilacs, and this color reminds me of them, so it still makes me very happy. Click to biggify--it's worth it!


I also snagged a holiday meme for your viewing pleasure.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Both, but I definitely prefer wrapping paper. I find unwrapping much more satisfying that pulling things out of bags, and I try to let other people have that same pleasure.

2. Real tree or artificial?
We always had real trees when I was growing up, and only recently have my parents gone the artificial route--honestly, there are advantages to both. I haven't really had my own tree as an adult; still rocking the folks' place at Christmas, so it doesn't make sense for me to put up a tree and abandon it.

3. Why are you willing to answer these questions?
Fun, and blog filler.

4. When do you take the tree down?
See above, re. no tree.

5. Do you like eggnog?
I do.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
My parents might be bitterly disappointed, because I'm sure there were plenty of amazing gifts that they put a lot more thought into than this one, but the one that really sticks out in my mind was a desk set. It came with stuff like a plastic inbox tray and message pads. I loved that thing.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My dad, paradoxically. He always wants the same things, which should make it easy--but I want to get him some other, extra things as well, and that's always a struggle.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
Probably my mother. I always have tons of ideas for her.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
I think I technically do, in the same sense I have a set of silver--that they're earmarked for me come inheritance time, which is slightly macabre, but my family has never been deterred by the macabre.

10. Do you send your card by mail or e-mail?
I don't do cards; I think they're a waste of time and resources.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I honestly can't really remember any that made me cringe. Oh, wait! Yes I can. When I worked at the car rental place, the store manager made gift bags for all the employees. The men got work gloves, box cutters, and measuring tapes, and the women got cookie-making kits and his church's cookbook. He had no shame regarding his appalling gender bias. Also, who brings 9 box cutters into an airport? Seriously, people.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Charlie Brown Christmas

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
It depends. This year I started ridiculously early, and I still probably won't be done on time.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Not that I recall, except in White Elephant exchanges.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Spritz cookies!

16. Lights on the tree?
Yep. But I prefer all one color lights, not the multicolored strings.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
I love sacred carols, despite not being religious. Musically they blow the secular ones out of the water. At the moment, the winner is probably Adeste Fideles.

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Travel. To home. 600 miles--whee!

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s?
I sure can.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
When I was a kid, we always did Christmas Eve at Grandma's, then Christmas morning at home--at Grandma's we got extended family presents, and at home we got immediate family presents. Best of all, we could open our stockings--which always contained small presents--as soon as we woke up on Christmas morning, without waiting for Mom and Dad. These days, it's pretty much all Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
The fact that it starts earlier and earlier every year.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I do love the silver and white themes, and I also love the underwater theme on my parents' tree.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Several kinds of soups!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Um... sleep?