Another happy thing...

I bought my train tickets for Christmas break just now. I realized that it was close enough to time - and I knew the dates I could travel - and that I better jump on it if I wanted to get a "roomette."

And I did.

And the schedule's changed; the train leaves earlier in the evening (if it's on time). 5:15 rather than 6:05 which means a better drive down. And getting in earlier the next day.

I can't believe how close Thanksgiving and, ultimately, Christmas are now - it's like I had my head so buried in work I didn't realize that the Festive Season is almost upon us. My parents are coming down for Thanksgiving (THIS YEAR, my dad's echocardiogram showed nothing of concern. You might remember that last year I made a crazy flying trip up there because he had to have a heart catheterization for a "blockage" which turned out not to be there).

I have to make some decisions now. I had bought some LB "Landscapes" on a good sale, thinking of making chunky watchcap type hats for a family friend and my mom. Now I'm not so sure - would my mom wear a chunky heavy watchcap? And if not, what do I get her? And I need to start the "trial" purse from the SnB Happy Hooker pattern if I want to have a hope of making one for my sister in law (I think she'll like it; the design "looks like" her. I'm thinking of using the denim colored Hilos de Espiga, or maybe black. No, not black - too hard to see stitches).

Another option for my mom: get some cotton chenille and make some of those floral washcloths. I already bought a couple bars of super-nice fancy hardmilled soap for her (I had given her some of the same brand before and she commented on how good it made her skin feel so I thought she'd like some more. Fancy soap is not something she thinks to buy for herself). Or maybe buy a nice bathrobe to go with the soap. Oooh - she doesn't have a nice bathrobe right now. That might work.

My dad will be easy this year - I found something good in the Duluth Trading Post company catalog. Their shipping is rather high but not so bad if you order several things at once. (I'm also thinking of getting him one of these, mainly for the amusement value). And I have a couple things in mind for my brother, I just have to decide which is better. Which is unusual - usually the men in my family are hard for me to figure good things out for.

I love buying or making presents for the people I love. I love all the plotting and planning and speculating over what would be the "best" gift, the thing they'd like the most.

("Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." Hamilton Wright Mabie*.)

And I was originally planning on using the leftover rainbow-striped "Rumor" for a hat for Dulaan, but now I'm thinking of doing it for the AAUW gift exchange. It still falls under the $10 limit and I think it would make an appealing hat.

(*who even received an honorary degree from the school that later became the prep school I attended! Small world!)