The past two months have been interesting, if nothing else. From Thanksgiving to Christmas always finds me in a whirl trying to finish Christmas gifts, shop for more, decorate and bake.
What did I do this past Holiday Season? Not very much!
I've been on disability with a back injury since Thanksgiving. Not only could I not work out of the house, I haven't been able to work at home either. This has meant learning some lessons on patience that I never wanted to learn. I couldn't knit for any length of time. I couldn't shop at all and I certainly couldn't decorate. My decorations are in the attic and I couldn't get them down so my only trimming was a wreath for the front door. This was difficult as normally I have decorations in every room and every nook and cranny.
Christmas Eve Dinner which is normally a BIG celebration was take out Chinese Food! Decadent I know!
Christmas Dinner was a Standing Rib Roast, baked potatoes, broccoli and carrots prepared very simply. 
Tim and Michael joined me for Christmas Dinner and Michael even washed the dishes.
(My children were with their Dad) The English language doesn't have a word to describe grown up offspring. They're certainly not children, or kids and offspring sounds rather cold. I can't think of another word that would be appropriate and I even checked a dictionary and thesaurus. Any suggestions?
Never having experienced back problems this has all been new to me. But looking back I have had the problem for a few months (since last summer). I just didn't recognize it or acknowledge it for what it was. Last summer I joined the gym and started a circuit training class too soon. I remember leaving that first class limping but thought I'd pulled a muscle and assumed I needed to work harder to get into shape. When that didn't work, I took a break from the gym but then I started having generalized weakness in addition to the limping. Typical of a nurse, I thought I could ignore it but that didn't work for long either because my left leg started to feel like I had electric jolts running through it and I would just crumple or have to drag it along.
An MRI revealed some disc bulging and thankfully the neurosurgeon feels surgery isn't necessary. But from favoring that leg and ignoring the problem for so long my range of motion is quite ltd. and my muscles are tight from spasms. Physical Therapy is slowly helping along with muscle relaxants, pain pills and Ibuprofen by the truck load. Chronic pain has become a norm for me now.
Being out of work had some advantages though. I was able to spend more time with Amber before she died than I would have had I been working. They say we can almost always re-phrase anything negative in our mind to change our outlook. I'm practicing the theory!
So this is what I did for the Holidays!
Thank goodness I had started making my Christmas Gifts last summer. I had made two Flower Basket Shawls for my nieces and socks for my sister-in-law and Mother-in-Law. (Technically I guess they are my ex in-laws but who cares) I also made a Morehouse Farm Gigi lace scarf for my Acupuncturist.
MF Gigi Lace Scarf
This was the simplest pattern which was easily committed to memory and a fun to knit scarf that I purchased at the NY Sheep and Wool Festival.
And this is an evening bag I made for my daughter out of Karabella Diamonte which is a stretchy ribbon with small diamond like beads embedded in it. This was the first time I made an I-cord which I found to be so easy. It had been dreaded by me for a long time after reading some bad experiences other bloggers have had but once I saw it done by someone else, I found it a breeze. This little bag cost a fortune to make but it was fun and Amy does like it. And that's what counts.
There are so many other projects I had hoped to make and just couldn't finish because of the back/leg pain. One was for my youngest niece, 2 Year Old Kylie. (who by the way looks remarkably like my daughter) I'm making her the DB red dress I made for my girlfriends daughter. It's about half way done.
And DesignedlyKristi makes a customizable Sock Wrapper that I purchased. It's so much fun to give socks with your own label. Thank you Kristi. I wanted to take photos of the socks all ready to gift but I forgot. So you have to take my word for it that they looked really nice.
These are the Cascading Leaves Socks by J. Townsend made in Cherry Tree Hill Supersock. Color: Spring Frost
And these were made from yarn I bought at NYS&WF from Oak Grove Studios in Pink Ribbons by Lisa LLoyd. They were designed with the breast cancer ribbon down both sides. Next time I think I'll make them in a solid color yarn so that the ribbon shows up more clearly. But my Mother-in-law is a Breast Cancer Survivor so they were for her.
When giving hand made gifts,I wonder if the receivers feel the thought and love I put into their gifts even half as much as I do. For me it's a way to say I really care about you. And if I haven't given you a gift...it doesn't mean I don't care...just that there aren't enough hours in my day!
And to prove that even if there are no Christmas Decorations, few gifts and no baking the sun still comes out every day here on Mountain Road.
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