Well, the big one was -- I RETIRED!!!!! I've been officially retired for about a week and 2 days. It hasn't sunk in yet, but I could get used to staying home. The house is already cleaner and I'm cooking more. Hm... preparing for 12 to eat here for Christmas does lead to cooking more... and housecleaning.
On the family side, both of our daughters (and their kids) moved to Kansas this year. My daughter and her two kids moved to Iola from Dallas, Texas in the summer. Pat's daughter and her three daughters moved to Burlington from Batesville, Indiana right before Christmas. We have five of nine grandkids within driving distance. How much better can that be?
As for my knitting, socks were my main accomplishment. I finished the 5 pairs of grandkid socks I had planned to make. Reyes and Lala, living in Texas, didn't want socks. (They are rethinking that decision now that they are in Kansas where we actually have WINTER!) They wanted scarves. Reyes got a Harry Potter scarf; Lala got a pink hat/scarf set.
Now they have moved to Kansas, so I cast on socks for them, too. Lala got hers in Sept. I have about 2 inches left on Bear's socks. Should finish them tomorrow when Pat and I make a road trip to Indiana. Why Indiana? Our other daughter, JJ, and her 3 girls are also moving to Kansas. We're helping with the move. The drive to Batesville, Ind. is longer than the drive to Dallas, so I should finish Bear's socks and the pair I am working on for myself as well. (Pat never lets me drive.)
I finished the 3 sections of Pat's vest, but found out they were all different lengths. I've ripped them back to the same point and will finish it soon. I need to be in a place where I can concentrate on the pattern when I bring it back together.
I have a baby blanket on the needles for one of Jen's friends. Of course I've made several dish clothes along the way. They are ubiquitous. Love 'em. Don't want to wash dishes with anything else now that I've learned to knit my own.
I have big plans to knit more in 2009. I will also be sewing. I gave everyone gift certificates from Grandma Iris' Boutique this Christmas. I will be sewing clothes for grandkids, kids, and Pat, as well as myself. You can see that I'm going to enjoy being retired.
