Christmas: Preparation v. Procrastination

This year my preparations don't seem to be getting into a higher gear.
I had to postpone our family get-together because I was assigned a shift on 24 December. So this year the family will come to my place on the 25th instead.
You would be correct to think - great, one more day to get ready - not so, just one more day to procrastinate.
Result, I am shamefully behind in all preparations. Especially the cleaning needs to be done.
Good that I have done the shopping for the meal today, and I have prepared the party favors.

I have some lovely home made Sugar Body Scrub for my sister and my mother, and for my daughter and brother in law a nice bar of soap.

And in Scarlet O'Hara's immortal words 

24th December: Home from work.

Just made the Tiramisu for tomorrow. This is such a simple dessert to make, and it tastes so good.

I'm now going to do my "mise en place" for the Tajine I'm making tomorrow. At least, when all the veggies are cut, the cooking won't take to long. I'll marinade the chicken and put it aside in the fridge. 

And when that is done, I'm going to bed, have to get up early to do all the things I have been putting off till the last minute.

25th December

Started cooking at 10AM. The Tajine in the oven smelled really good right from the start and bathed the kitchen in good cheer. The spices and cinnamon heralded the party.

At 1PM my sis arrived and helped me get the cleaning finished. The kitchen sparkled and Bryce put some order into the living room and decorated the tree. She did a real good job.

Then, getting ready and setting the table. Mum and my brother in law were a bit early so I was not completely ready, but not far of.

The company was good, the food went down well, stories were told and presents were opened.

And all 5 doggies behaved wonderfully.

It was a very good evening.

26th December: Rest, dishes and some TV. Tomorrow we go on.

Ah, I am so glad others seem to see the world through my type of glasses

The Running Furniture List

On The Running Furniture List | Making it Lovely I found a great idea. 
I will follow this example. 

First item on the list is a headboard for my bed. I have seen various examples of headboards made out of old doors, and the idea appeals to me.

However, here in Belgium old doors (and new ones) never ever come in evenly distributed panels, so I will have to keep an eye open, or find another solution. 

Very high up on the list is also a wardrobe like the one I painted for my friend Stijn. Must be a 4 or 5 door one, as I don't want to loose out on the space I have in my current modern sliding door wardrobe.
I have been looking for a likely candidate in thrift shops and on 2nd hand sites for a while, but as yet no luck.

Funny, looking for images, I seem to be obsessed with things for my bedroom first. Maybe best to try and get "the look" room by room. With the occasional exceptions of course.

This chair is nearly reality, I have 2 such carcasses in the garage, ready to be painted and upholstered. I should look into reupholstering courses. The fabric has also been chosen ... sort off ...

Laura Ashley - Ironwork Scroll Duck Egg Blue

or

Laura Ashley - Josette Duck Egg Blue

combined with

Laura Ashley - Gingham Duck Egg Blue

This is a sweet chair for a bedroom too, 

and the knitting makes it very personal

Every boudoir needs a chandelier, 

this one does not have too much bling, but is still glamorous

cutie nightstand

For the living room - study (if I ever get a nice big house)

Love this bookcase (not in black though)

For the kitchen I am going to make an island. The kitchen is plenty big enough, now I only have to find a suitable dresser to realize that project.

I looked on Google images and came up with some great ideas.

Christmas knit-things for doggies

Some time ago I saw Paul Croes' pictures of Greyhounds with raindeer hats on, and immediately my creative knitting fingers started itching. I had to get my dogs Christmas hats too!

Here you see the first 3, I ran out of wool, so tomorrow I must get some to make a fun hat for number 4 too.

6AM and Gitana's hat is finished. I'm quite sure she was not very happy about getting woken up to have her picture taken.

Gitana

Lyrysa

Bones

Tika

(https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paul-Croes-Behind-eyes-Animal-Photography-in-studio/184008208324096)

Last minute project: a little Santa suit for the little doggy of a friend

Christmas presents to warm my loved ones

As it is getting colder and colder, I am in a knitting mood again.

And as funds are low this year, I'm making some of this year's Christmas presents myself. I must say it's quite satisfying. 

For my sis I made this lovely scarf in ultra soft wool

Here is where I found this lovely free pattern: http://auntekristy.blogspot.be/2013/08/free-pattern-gallatin-scarf.html

My daughter wanted one of these chunky scarves that you loop around twice.

I cast on 96 stitches and knitted on a circular needle (size 10) in an Arrow-head lace pattern. ±300gr of acrylic wool, 3 hrs and voila!

The next winter project is finished too!
Great big cowl, 200gr of acrylic wool, knitted with size 10 needles and cables this time.