I have begun my Christmas crafting. Yes, I know it’s after Thanksgiving and I have less than a month to do this, but that’s just me. I’ve made two hats from Woolly Wormhead’s pattern Hat of Horns and I’m working on the third now. I have one more of those to do for my daughter, then I’m done with the horny hats. I still have Christmas gifts to finish/start.

Hat Pics:

Tracey’s hat, modeled by Delbert

William’s hat, modeled by the newly bespectacled William

The Christmas Craft List

• Hat for Del in Lion Wool–chocolate or ebony (Toboggan Hat at LionBrand
• Hat for BIL in Lion Wool–chocolate
• Hat for Del’s BIL in Lion Wool–ebony
• Scarf for SIL in Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Worsted–Dancing Poppies Tunisian Scarf (no pattern) in Delft
• Scarf for Del’s SIL in Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Worsted–Dancing Poppies Tunisian Scarf (no pattern) in Spice
• Shopping bags for my mom and 2 sisters–total of 6 (2 each)
• Dishies for my mom and 2 sisters–total of 6 (again, 2 each)

Yarn sources: Wal-Mart (LB Wool), Jimmy Beans Wool (Nashua), personal stash (cotton for shopping bags and dishies)

As you can see, I’m going to be quite busy crafting over the next few weeks!

A fellow Whovian at Ravelry asked about a pattern for the tam worn by Freema Agyeman in the Doctor Who episode, Human Nature. I took on the challenge, made screen caps to study the tam, and wrote up a pattern for my version of Martha’s Tam.

Here’s the side-by-side of my tam and Martha’s:

What do you think? If you’d like the pattern for this inspired design, you can find it on my patterns site: Human Nature Tam

Last night we had parent/teacher conferences at school. I won’t go into details of those because it would be breaching the school’s confidentiality policy. I can, however, tell you that all three of the boys are doing really well and their teachers are all pleased with their progress. I just wish I had written down the correct time for my first conference of the evening….(I was 15 minutes early for the first one)

I packed up my Wrapped in Ribbons Tote and headed off to the school. First teacher I had a conference with was eating when I got there. She told me I had 15 minutes yet (6:00) and so I headed off to the kindergarten teacher’s room to check the time. 6:15. I get back to the fifth grade teacher’s room and she called the third grade teacher to check on the time there. 6:45. I had plenty of time. Fifth grade teacher did our conference a few minutes early.

When I got to the kindergarten teacher’s room, she said she was going to ask where I bought my bag. Then, she saw the Hat of Horns I had stashed in the bag to work on between conferences and decided I must have made the bag. I was starting to get giddy…SHE WANTS TO BUY ONE! YAY! She was especially impressed at the capacity of the purse and would like hers lined.

So, I get to hunt up and order the supplies to make her one of my own designs! I’m so happy!! She asked for the price (gulp! hadn’t thought this one out yet) when the kids return to school after Thanksgiving and then she’ll send the money home for the purse. *happy dance*

I had my eye exam yesterday and the doctor confirmed what I already knew: my glasses weren’t strong enough and needed to be stronger. Yay. Story of my life, really. And, at my prescription (20/525 left, 20/725 right) I have to go in for an annual exam just to be sure my retinas haven’t decided to let go. So, I was dilated and examined, picked out new frames (gotta love insurance that pays 100%) and went back today for my contacts.

Before, with Progressive lenses:	After, with contacts:	New reading glasses:

You’ll have to pardon the bad pics of me. I took them with the mirror to guide. I don’t do good pics of myself.

And take a look at what the mail lady brought me! She still needs a name, as I just got her, but this is my helper for making my Spiral Play hat!

All in all, it’s been a good day. Cold and windy, but good. And there’s snow on the ground.

I’ve been testing patterns for a few designers lately and I’ve enjoyed every pattern out there. Thanks ladies, for letting me test your patterns!

Today I was at Kaleidoscope Yarns in Essex Junction, VT (after a visit to the dentist with the kids) and bought some really really yummy Baby Alpaca (Cascade Yarns) in red and black. I plan on making a freeform spiral hat as seen at woolly wormhead.

I’m working on a couple of new patterns myself right now, one crocheted and one knitted. The crochet pattern is a request from a Whovian at Ravelry and will be posted as soon as I get it done. The knitting pattern is because I want a scarf using Sirdar’s Hug (50% wool/50% polyester) and can’t find a pattern I want to use with the yarn. Good enough reason, right? Thought so.

I don’t how many more of the test scarves I’ll make, but here’s the one I wore today (I wore the Scarflette) and got LOTS of compliments! Great job, Sylvia on the Dancing Poppies. Everyone asked where to get the pattern, so I sent them to ChezPlum on Etsy.

The other scarf I’m working on is more secretive, as the pattern hasn’t been released yet. I CAN tell you that it’s a wonderful pattern and is a nice scarf for colder autumns. This is part of the scarf I’ve made:

Thanks to C.G. for letting me test this one and several other patterns.

My house has gotten a little furrier in the last three weeks. We adopted two kittens, now 10 weeks, and they are now part of our family. Grayson and Matt(hew) are litter mate short haired Tuxedos and couldn’t be any cuter. They already love helping me knit and crochet, though I’m happy that they haven’t taste tested my yarn.

And, as cats will do, they like to help me with my yarn:

I had my last appointment with the orthopedist on Friday. I had to have one more set of X-rays done, and because the office machine was down, I had to go to the hospital 45 minutes before my appointment. Sami was not happy (and neither was the tech) about having to stand in the equipment area while I had X-rays taken, but she kept herself amused by taking all the sheets off my notepad and leaving a mess of paper in my purse.

Anyway, I carried the films to the Dr. and he went over them with me to let me know what was going on. It seems that when I initially broke my ankle, the bone shifted a bit toward my tibia and left a couple of “spikes” on the fibula on either side of the fracture. He didn’t set the bone because 1) it’s a non-weight bearing bone and 2) the part of the ankle that needs to stay in place was where it needed to be. I was told Friday that the bone is healing well (there’s just a bit of soreness where the spike is) and the new bone is growing nicely. He also told me that the “spikes” will eventually dissolve once the new bone is completely calcified in about a year. No therapy, but I was given exercises for strengthening my ankle and calf muscle.

I’m done with PT for my elbow as well. I only had 5 sessions, but at the last one, my elbow measured out at 180 degrees, so my therapist had to release me (insurance won’t pay once you regain full range of motion) from therapy. My therapist called it “the miracle elbow,” as most people with elbow injuries were still stiff at the 5th session. I told her how I had people all over the world praying for and thinking about me. I was told by the doctor that I was light-years ahead of where most patients are at this point with my elbow. I’m just glad it’s healed. Oh, and all the cracks are healed up as well. No sign of them in Friday’s films.

So, I’m out of the AirCast except when my ankle starts to bother me, only on anti-inflammatories when needed, and cleared to start riding a stationary bike for exercise. I’m not allowed on a two-wheeler yet because of the risk of re-injuring my ankle and elbow. Don’t need to break them again while the bone tissue is still new and hasn’t formed the scar yet. So, once Del gets the stationary bike home, I’ll be riding while watching Doctor Who. David Tennant is SO yummy!

Thanks to all my friends who have lent their prayers, candles and good thoughts to me! It really has made a difference in my recovery. Hugs and kisses to you all!

Everyone has at least one debilitating fear. I have a few, and I thought I’d share them today. I know; I’m late for Halloween and one of my phobias is highly associated with Halloween.

barophobia: the fear of gravity

I think this one is justified by my recent mishap with my bicycle. I’ve always been terrified of falling, to the point that I can’t walk over a grate in the street if I can see through it.

aichmophobia: the fear of needles or pointed objects

This was very strong when I was a kid. I had too many shots and a few botched IVs that helped feed this phobia. I’ve outgrown it, but it was hard to deal with at the time.

clithrophobia: the fear of being locked in an enclosed place

Finally! An answer to why elevators freak me out! I’m always afraid that I’m going to get stuck in one of those damn things and then can’t get out. I’d rather walk up 10 flights of stairs than ride in an elevator.

insectophobia: the fear of insects

I jump every time I see one of these little buggers. I yell too.

spectodomatophobia: the fear of haunted houses

Um….I took two phobias, spectophobia (fear of specters, ghosts) and domatophobia (the fear of houses) and combined them to create the word for the fear of haunted houses. This, by far, is my strongest phobia. I can’t even walk by the stupid inflatable haunted houses for sale without getting sick to my stomach. Never been able to figure it out (the Haunted Mansion ride at WDW is pure torture for me) and my mom thinks it’s hilarious that I’m scared. I’ve explained to her that I know they’re not real, but they still terrify the hell out of me. Walking along the street where a house even looks like a haunted house is very difficult. Thankfully, my hubby understands and is supportive.

Good thing I don’t have hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia! I’d never be able to tell you about that one (fear of long words) without being scared shitless!

Find more phobias and their meanings at The Phobia List

Halloween pics coming soon!