That's A Wrap for 2014

Perfect song to have running through my brain while creating my last post of 2014...it's an oldie but a goodie:

One minute to midnight
One minute to go
One minute to say good-bye
Before we say hello

Let's start the new year right 
Twelve o'clock tonight
When they dim the light
Let's begin
     Kissing the old year out
     Kissing the new year in

Let's watch the old year die
With a fond good-bye
And our hopes as high
As a kite

How can our love go wrong if
We start the new year right?

— Irving Berlin
"Let's Start The New Year Right"

From the movie "Holiday Inn" (1942)

Want to listen? See if this link works for you:  http://youtu.be/GEv5rndSeSA

I never thought I'd say these words, but I'm about footballed-out. We are watching the Orange Bowl with Mississippi State and Georgia Tech. I'm a Rambling Wreck wearing a Yellow Jacket tonight, while Mr. T is pulling for the Bulldogs (although he may be waffling as the score climbs in GTs favor). Truthfully, I was more interested in switching seasons this afternoon and watching my Memphis Tigers beat Houston in basketball. And since they won their bowl game earlier this month (as well as the brawl that broke out after the final whistle...ahem), I'm just an interested bystander for the rest of the games. Still...it will be a l-o-n-g time before I get to see a college football game after the Championship game next week. Pro? Yeah, they will keep going until I'm more than ready for the Super Bowl to be in the history books.

I feel I should be using my time wisely, I suppose, knitting through it all while one game melts into another. But I've developed some kind of tendinitis in my left wrist, and that limits how long I can comfortably click the sticks. I did get an article on Garden Journaling written and submitted this afternoon, so I don't feel too slothful: check it out here: http://guilford.ces.ncsu.edu/2015/01/garden-journaling-keeping-the-record-straight/ . It's just that I really miss uninterrupted fibre marathons.

I did get to move some projects from UFO status to the Finished Objects category and wrapped for Christmas. Here's the wrap on that...

Did you see my crochet project for this year? Snowflakes! Here they are, being blocked before having the ribbons added for hangers.

I didn't get a pic of the hat knitted for Bro T, but here's a dropped stitch scarf for SIL LaD in a Paton's Classic Wool rich purple.

These are the Serenity Bed Slippers, knitted for SIL J, in a sock yarn from Deborah Norville's Garden Yarn.

While I didn't knit this year's "Silly Hat" for Bro J, I did ask him to send me a pic to post when he opened it. (We did get to meet him for lunch last Friday, we missed seeing SIL J who was hosting a serious sinus infection.) Here's Santa!

And this is the Woven Rattan Scarf in Terra's silk and baby alpaca yarn in color "Beet," made for Missy M. Oh wait...seems I didn't snap one of it either, darn it all. I'll have to take one the next time I go to Georgia, and then I can post it along with one of the gift that's still under the tree for N/M/E's BFF AW (I'll see her on Friday to deliver it).

Yes, our tree is still up...and will be until Epiphany, January 6th. I keep most of Momma's traditions, but her insistence on taking the tree down by New Year's has gone to the curb. She grew up when real candles were put on real trees...and lit! Plus, two family houses burned to the ground in her childhood (not from Christmas tree accidents, but still...) So, it's understandable she thought the sooner the cedar was out the door, the better. We made the transition to artificial trees a few years ago, so those concerns have been shelved. (I can't explain her tale about it being "bad luck" to keep a tree in the house after the first day of the year...other than to say she was fond of adding to a story rather than subtracting.) Missy M texted to report this evening that "Nana would be pleased," since M had spent her day off taking down the rest of her decorations (we helped her get her tree down and to the fire station for recycling before we came home on Sunday).

So, are you ready for New Year's Day? I am! I took a tenderloin out of the freezer, so our pork dish will be thawed. I plan on baking it with apples and carrots (from the garden), and serving it with the traditional black-eyed peas (from the garden), turnip greens and collards (from the garden...and just for me; Mr. T will have to settle for getting his "good-luck green" from a salad), and cornbread. I made a pecan pie today, so that should bring us a lot of luck in a real sweet year!

As usual, I plan on following the adage: "as goes the first day, so goes the whole year." I will ignore the laundry, the dust bunnies, the bills, and the emails. I will do those things that I want to do lots of in 2015: reading, knitting (as much as I can), writing in my journals, playing a few games with friends, cooking a nice meal, and gardening. Yes...if the weather cooperates, I hope to get in the garden, if for nothing more than to pull a carrot or two for dinner. Oh, and watching a few more Bowl games...at least until my eyes cross.

Well, it's almost time to make our traditional Mimosas (pictured from last year, above) to toast at the stroke of midnight. I guess it's fitting that we are watching the Orange Bowl, then...heheheheh.

Thank you for being a part of our 2014...and we wish each of you a happy and healthy 2015! 🎉