Sunday, September 02, 2007

Christmas Around the World Knitters Swap

As part of the the titled swap, we participants answer a set of questions so our pals can get to know us better. Below are the questions and my answers.

1. Are you religious? Yes, however, I don't believe you have to worship in public to be a good Christian (I don't go to church regularly). I try to live a good life and be the best person I can be.

2. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider yourself a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced? I learned to knit as a child (our Italian adopted aunt, one of my grandmother's 'girls', taught me), but as a kid I found crochet to be easier for me. After hand surgery, my right hand is not what it used to be and holding a crochet hook is very uncomfortable. About 2 years ago I took knitting back up and last winter I was invited to attend TNK with my friend Christina - best thing I have ever done. Knitting really satisfies my creative urge and TNK has added a lovely sense of community to my life. I consider myself an advanced beginner. There is so much out there to learn!

3. Do you have any other hobbies besides knitting? I love to read mysteries, shop flea markets (thrift stores / swap meets / antique / junk shops) and cook! I enjoy watching movies, both at home and at the theater.

4. Favorite color(s)? To wear or decorate? My living room is hunter green /burgundy / gold. My kitchen has yellow walls & white cabinets. My wardrobe is a rainbow! I look best wearing pinks, turquoise, medium blues & greens. While I enjoy yellows / golds/ oranges, I can't wear them.

5. Do you collect anything? I collect dachshund figurines and lemon dishes (also used to serve petite fours and other pastry goodies back in Victorian times). My mom started collecting the lemon dishes, and I have continued looking for them and enjoying them since she died back in '01.

6. Are you allergic to any fibers or animals? I am allergic to cats, but don't seem to be allergic to any fibers since we don't knit with kitty fur! (I love cats, though, but need to take allergy med. if I am around them or pet them - darn it!)

7. Do you have any pets? Boy, do I! I have a rescued American Rat Terrier (terror) who'd been abused as a puppy (if you can imagine abusing a little dog); 2 strays who came and never left; a long haired dachshund who's my baby (he was planned); and a 13 year old refugee (visiting with us after her parents divorced and nobody could care for her properly at the time) (all dogs, if you were wondering). We also have a parakeet, a small turtle, and my son has a baby snake (in an aquarium with a secure lid, thank you very much!).

8. Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate? COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE

9. Cookies or Sweets? Oh, cookies!

10. Do you knit socks? Not yet, but I am moving in that direction ... I want to, have been reviewing patterns and started, uh, adding sock yarn to the, uh, small stash...

11. If not socks then what? (tell us about your favorite knits) Currently, I am working on the Lizard Ridge (see link in sidebar) afghan; a lap blankie for a friend who's having a baby (using feather & fan); a cotton string shopping bag; have bought yarn and patterns for 2 sweaters (have you seen the Autumn Cardi?!) which I am looking forward to beginning. Have to finish the mommie blankie first - she's due in about 4 weeks!

12. Do you put up a Christmas tree? If not then what do you do? Oh, yes! I have ornaments from my parents tree and my grandmothers collections as well as those I have collected over the years. It's like a walk down memory lane.

13. Favorite holiday treats? pecan tarts, sugar cookies, 'nuts&bolts' (aka chex mix); oh and is shopping for presents a treat?!

14. Favorite holiday smells? Pine, cranberry / orange; cookies baking; wood fires burning in fireplaces.

15. Do you celebrate Christmas in a traditional or unconventional way? Please elaborate. Pretty conventional, I guess, for a divorced family. Always have one meal (the main holiday meal) with my sister & her family and our stepfather (this is our big event). My son and I have a little while alone on Christmas morning, then his dad comes by and either stays a little while or whisks son off to see that side of his family. I enjoy the preparation for Christmas, the anticipation.

16. What are your favorite holiday traditions? Clearing the everyday out of my living room and bringing in my decorations, doing the mantle piece in pine or magnolia greens and candles; being with my sister, her husband and their boys. Baking for friends; having a fire in the fireplace; putting the wreath on the front door; and thanking God for all my good fortune, my son, my family, my home, our health.

17. Finish the sentence: “For me Christmas is all about....” FAMILY

18. If you were a Christmas ornament you would be…….? a glass star or icicle ... pretty, shiny and happy just to be in the middle of things

19. What was your favorite gift you've ever received? Or given? May sound silly, but each year my stepfather gives both my sister and I a box of Godiva chocolates. Our mother loved them and he gives them to us in remembrance and honor of her.

20. When do you start your Christmas? Getting ready or the actual holiday?! I begin decorating and gearing up in the two weeks after Thanksgiving. I have hopefully finished my shopping and gift-making (other than the baking). I always seem to be wrapping though on Christmas Eve....

21. Do you send Christmas cards? Do you make them or buy them? I try to send Christmas cards each year, at least to those closest to my heart. I buy them. I love antique-y santas and polar bears ... ? go figure!

22. What is your favorite Christmas dish? Potatoes -- mashed white w/ gravy and sweet/yams covered with pecan pralines.

23. Carolers are at your door. What do you do? Freak out - doesn't happen in my neighborhood, darn it!

24. When do you open presents? Christmas eve or Christmas morning? One on Christmas eve and the rest Christmas day.

25. Do you celebrate with family or friends or both? Both - there are lots of folks to love and be loved by, thank goodness!

3 comments:

Dorothy said...

I know what you mean about not going to public worship regularly. However, I have to say, when I go regularly, I really feel stronger in my faith.

It's so great that your stepfather gives you chocolates every year!

Kasia said...

Hey Cat! It was a great joy to read your questionaire even to find out that there are more people like me out there! I must say that I had to smile almost at each anwser!
Thank you for your sweet words and offer on my blog, I really appreaciate that, you are such a dear!
The catwalk dress by Alexander McQuuen was paired with a "body-suite" top, which had lace elements sewed on. No, I am not really a tatoo kind of girl... I have periods when I think about having one done, but then again I don't have guts to do that - my mom would kill me big time!

Knittymuggins said...

Thanks so much for sharing Cathy! Those lemon dishes sound lovely - I may have to look for some myself :) I love icicles too and in fact I have a large collection of glass ones that look very real that are the last thing to go on my tree every year! We have a Jack Russell Terrier so I had to laugh at your "terror" reference :) Hope you are enjoying the swap so far and thanks for filling out your questionnaire!

Your Love Life is Like Casablanca
"Kiss me. Kiss me as if it were the last time."

For you, love is never finished. If you've loved someone once, you'll always love them.
You're an old fashioned romantic... even if your relationships don't end up as romantic as you'd like.

Your love style: Traditional and understated

Your Hollywood Ending Will Be: Complicated and ambiguous