Magic Ripples and the Red Hat Root Beer

Happy New Year everyone! I'm just back from spending lots of time with my family, playing games and laughing and eating and laughing and eating and playing more games...

I have to catch you up on some of the Christmas happenings. This year was definitely one of the most thoughtful years of gift giving and sharing that we've ever had. I can't cover it all today but I'll give you some highlights.

On my bed lays a pink and white ripple afghan that I've had since my grandmother made it for me when I was ten years old.

It's pretty important to me and both Jim and Jack know that I believe it has magical protective properties sewn into every stitch.

This Christmas Jim and Jack commissioned my niece Carolyn to make a wrap, in the same ripple-style and colors of the afghan on my bed, so that the magic would go with me wherever I went. It was quite the team effort from idea generation, to sourcing, to supply gathering and then knitting...

Evidently, it took some finding to locate just the right pattern and yarn but they did it.

It's knit in the shape of an "L" which I really like...and the pattern was in the Spring/Summer 2010 Vogue Knitting on page 104.

Here's the wonder girl who knit it for me with her lucky boyfriend Andrew.

(Sorry Andrew. I'm partial. I admit it.)

Carolyn is the oldest of the nine nieces and she was a knitting machine this year...cranking out mittens for almost everyone and a stocking for her sister...and she credits it to being out of college and not having homework every night....

Here's the only picture of me wearing the scarf.

Not sure who took the picture but it's also the only picture of I have of Jim's apron....

It says "I cook for my nieces 'cuz I love them to pieces" and it has nine puzzle pieces for each niece to decorate and sign. My brother and his four girls made it for him and he ADORES it!!

My brother's four girls also had a very special gift for me.

This beautiful handknit scarf...

I love the pom-poms. And the colors...it reminds me of candy...

The two oldest girls took turns knitting it together...

They rock. Another team effort.

And last but not least...they gave Jack the perfect present.

Jack happens to be totally addicted to root beer and can wax poetic about which brands have the best flavor. Well, my brother and his four girls brewed Jack up his own brand of root beer!

It says...

Jack's Red Hat Root Beer is blended with magic from Jack's Red Hat. The magic comes from days on the beach with cousins, trips to Dumser's (an ice cream store), and fun in O.C. This refreshing Root Beer will quench your thirst, make you laugh, and give you memories that last forever. Enjoy!

And that's just the tip of the iceberg on the magic meter! So much to get caught up on and projects to start for the new year.

Give me a few days to make the rounds to your blogs. It's great to be back.