Babies! Everywhere!

Oy.

Well, as Christmas approaches, I have to admit I feel a bit sad staying in Germany. I will miss

watching old movies with Jeremy's grandma
cooking some crazy complicated dinner at Martha's house with Jeremy
drinking eggnog with Jer's dad
playing cards with Kathy and Thom
doing needlecrafts with my mom on the couch
eating my dad's delicious cooking (and sometimes I get to help!)
playing video games with Chuckie and Elaina
and sometimes even joining in the teasing and napkin throwing with Jer and his brothers

I will also miss bringing everyone some crazy thing that no one wants to eat!! Why, oh, why doesn't everyone love Stollen and Panetone? (which are practically the same thing, I don't care what the Germans and Italians say)

Jeremy and I will be having Christmas dinner with a couple from the lab that hail from the British Isles, so I think Yorkshire pudding is in the works-- also lamb! I'll be making eggnog, tiramisu, and some chocolates. We may even go to Christmas Eve mass at the Dom.

OK, so I know this is a completely commonplace thing, and it hits a lot of people in my age group, but why does it seem like everyone I know is having a baby right now?? My cousin Shanna, my sister-in-law Stephanie (take a look at their blog), my friend in Cologne... It's a good thing that I love to knit baby sweaters. Here is one in progress:



(I'm using the needles that you gave me, Karen!)
I just couldn't resist the rainbow colors of this yarn, but I think it may be a little scratchy for a newborn, so my plan is to line it with cotton.

Did everyone notice the sunshine in the picture? Yippee!

Daria's Poncho

Instead of showing you the socks that I completely forgot to take a picture of before I gave them away, I have this adorable little Finished Object for your delectation. I had made the pink part of this poncho for my little friend Daria 2 years ago. She had picked out the dark pink yarn, naturally an unbelievable soft baby alpaca, and I was quite proud of the design that I came up with. In a few words, I adored it. However, the charming girl declared it too short (in the grand tradition of children), so this week I set about lengthening the thing. If I may say so, now I adore it even more! The woman at my knitting store suggested adding embroidery to tie the new teal border to the rest of the garment, and I think that is really the most fabulous touch.