11 months till Christmas!!! Ok, stop throwing things at your computer 
Have you started planning your Christmas projects? I have some ideas. I have one project ready to pack. I like to work on Christmas projects all year long, then there is no panicked December knitting. I’m not sure what Ella’s presents will be yet.
I have the Shalom sweater finished. Even the buttons are sewn on. It is light as a cloud and I still have half the ball of yarn left. Not sure what to do with that. I’m now working on the 5 Hour Baby sweater to go along with the February Baby sweater I finished the other day. The pattern is easy and I like the way it looks. I don’t like the tension. I’m not sure why but it’s making my wrist hurt. I couldn’t even knit yesterday 
I’m reading a new book. It’s The Highly Sensitive Child and it was written about Ella. It has a quiz and ‘Ella’ answered yes to all but one question. I’ve always known Ella needed her schedule and got overwhelmed by things (like cleaning up too many toys). Now hopefully I can find some strategies for helping her learn to deal with all the information/feelings she takes in. A prime example is how upset Ella gets at the grocery store when she hears a child crying. When she was little she would actually start to cry until we found the crying child and saw that their momma was there. Now she doesn’t get that upset, but you can see it bothers her and she is happiest if we can see the child later. Lori over at Beneath the Rowan Tree has been talking about her daughter and her recent diagnosis of extreme sensitivity. Luckily Ella isn’t such an extreme, but I see a lot of Ella (and myself) in Lori’s description. I’m very excited to get more into this book, even if it just helps me to understand and explain to others.
500th Post Giveaway winner was Karen Wirth. Congrats Karen! Send me an email with your snail mail address and I’ll get the mittens in the mail.
I just love your idea of getting started on Christmas now – now to just put the idea into action.
LOL!! How did you know I was throwing things at the computer?!?
That book sounds like it will be helpful.
Oh my goodness Paula, I am just thrilled to be the give away winner! I’ll collect the mittens one day very soon IN PERSON! BTW, I recently got a new toque that is a V E R Y close match to those mittens!
One of my grandsons is an overly sensitive child. Lori has been a tremendous help for my daughter.
I am almost finished a lap quilt that will be going into my Christmas box. I need to find some suitable binding to finish it up. I hope to start the Shalom cardigan soon. And a Tomten sweater. And maybe a baby surprise. And some two at a time socks, which is where you come in! Could you suggest some suitable yarn and needle size so I’m prepared for the lesson?
Between my kids and grandkids (including sons in law) I have 11 projects needed for #1 birthdays and #2 Christmas…….that’s a lot of work!
The socks can be any yarn of your choice. Pick what you like and do a swatch. Then let me know your gauge, ankle circumference and foot length and I can generate the pattern we’ll need. It works with any size yarn.
Your sweater look lovely and the baby one is coming along nicely too.Isn’t it wonderful when you can find a book that gives you good ideas on how to deal with issues. My eldest daughter is bi-polar. I read everything I could on the subject but only one book was close to my heart on the subject. Hopefully you get some ideas.
Whoops, make that 15 projects x 2 gift giving events