More Knitting, Warm Weather, Memory Lane

I was asked by a friend to knit her a Christmas gift for a relative. I have sworn off knitting requests, but this was my last one. Don't get me wrong. I love knitting for other people. I've knit comfort afghans for sick people, people in pain from incredible loss, and socks for friends and even bloggy friends on occasion. I knit a scarf for a man in his 90's whom I have never met. If someone appreciates my knitting and says a nice thing about it, I have been known to go home and knit them something. But I do not like to knit for money ( I have a job. Knitting is my passion.) or for people that want something for others that I have no connection to. But this was an exception. It's a friend, and it was an incredibly quick project (less than 2 hours) and I had not yet made my vow not to take requests. So, here it is...

It's a button scarf/cowl kind of thing. It looks lovely around the neck. I am home alone, and try as I might, I could not get a good picture of me wearing it. I need 5 foot arms, I guess.

I loved this pattern. So much so, that I took it a different way, and knit one for myself. Mine does not have actual button holes. I just sewed the buttons on...

I love the buttons..

They're made in Italy out of coconut shell. Pretty exotic, for buttons bought at Jo-Ann's, eh?

Now if it would just get cold enough for me to wear it. It's way too warm here in Maryland.  Which brings me to the pond..

Still not cold enough for Mr. Fishie to make it down to the bottom of the pond for the winter. While I took this picture, I heard the familiar "plop" of a frog jumping off the rocks into the water. Apparently they have not yet made it down, either.

Usually I hate the dreaded chick-weed that grows in the pond. That's the tiny leaves to the right of  the fish. I'm always fishing it out in the summer, keeping it to a minimum.  But yesterday, the half-dead little clumps were sprinkled with water and glistening like diamonds.

Let's change gears. How about some pictures from my past? Some winter themed photos from the 60's. Forgive me if I have posted some of these before.

I think I spent 50% of my childhood making things. Here's a nativity scene. If I wasn't outside, I was in my room, thinking up new things to create.

Christmas at my house. 1961 or 1962. Santa brought me two doll beds that year. Score!  I think that tree needs more tinsel ;)

Me and my brother. Doll beds already in use. Not sure why I put the basket in the cradle. I think that was for a stuffed dog that I had.

Hope to see you soon, readers! Have a good week.