Back from the holiday hoopla!

I have to be honest: Christmas makes me want to stick a fork in my eye. So many expectations, so much time spent doing what other people want... I'm so done with this!!! And being as I am not religious at all, I can't even claim a spiritual connection to the holiday. Therefore, next December I think I will celebrate Knatolee Day instead, and sit in my pajamas eating cheese and chocolate and watching movies until I pass out from bloat. Gordon can revive me with eggnog. But for those who did celebrate Christmas this year, I hope you had a great one!

And here is our most ugly-ass Christmas tree ever. The tree itself, which we cut down from our woodlot, was actually not that bad, but it is abundantly obvious that we really did not put much effort into the decorating job. That said, the tree makes me laugh every time I look at it, which must be worth something:

As far as I am concerned, Gordon has a garland-stringing disability. I am not letting him near it next year.

Meanwhile, my friend Denise has been sending me the annual Fancy Feast Christmas tree ornament every year for a decade now. The ornaments crack me up! Our very favourite is Divan Kitty:

But we have a soft spot in our hearts for 1999 kitty as well:

The ornaments have moved away from stuffed kitties in recent years, which is kind of a shame. They are getting too tasteful! This year's piece was a glass tree topper. We have decided that next year, we are getting a tiny tree JUST for the Fancy Feast ornaments. I can't wait... a tree full of cats! (Wait, I had that last year!)

For my friend Judy, I knit mittens, my first pair ever:

I don't know why it took me 30 years to knit mitts. They are way easier than socks! These are from a Fleece Artist kit using a blend of mohair and Blue Face aran. Now Gordon wants a pair.

And here is Naomi in one of her favourite spots. It is particularly hard to type when she falls asleep on my left arm!

I got lots of fabulous Christmas gifts, but I am particularly fond of the felt monster iPod Touch case Gordon got me:

It has a loop on the back so you can attach it to your belt. It was made by a talented artist named Phillipa from Birmingham, England. Check out her Etsy shop, FeltAtHome. I did most of my Christmas shopping on Etsy this year, and it was great supporting artists and buying handmade goodies.

When we got home yesterday, we discovered this whopper in the hen house:

It is thus far the record-setter at one hundred grams. It is just enormous! I can't even close the egg carton lid over it.

Hope you all have a wonderful New Year's eve, and please, please do not drink and drive! My friend's granddaughter was killed by a drunk driver just before Christmas last year and it devastated her family. She was a beautiful young woman who had so much to offer the world, and now she is gone forever. Please think about that before you put the keys in the ignition after having one too many!