I am particularly moved, on the last day of this year, and the last day of my blog, by the tune most linked to today: Auld Land Syne. You know it, right?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days of auld lang syne.

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

The song asks whether old friends and times will be forgotten. It remind us that we should always take the time to remember those times with fondness; to raise our glass, and remember our old friends with kindness.

I lost some friendships this year. Knitting friends, actually - and without going into any silly details, there was some misunderstanding on everyone's part, and some overreacting on everyone's part, and some stubborness on everyone's part. But I was left over here, and they all stayed together.  One of them was a BFF. Go figure. And regardless of the reasons or situation or outcome, or facts - which of course are never the same for anyone, it still hurts. They would tell you it was my choice. Or even my -- dare I say it -- fault. But it's all like being kicked out of the neighborhood girl's playhouse and they all still get together to play on Saturday mornings. Unfortunately, it hugely effected my happiness about knitting, and blogging and I just haven't recovered from it. Anyway, its alot of yarn over the needles at this point - and I'm not bitter, or angry, just sad and today, I am remembering all of them today with great fondness. They were a big part of my starting this blog. It was so much fun so much of the time. They motivated me to come up with new ideas, spurred me on with projects to post. Geez, I even launched a business - which I am also ending. Everything has a beginning, middle and end. Although I am usually one of those friends-for-life kind of people. And when life makes things otherwise, I certainly raise my cup of kindess - and I do so to all of them...and to you!

To anyone and everyone who has ever stopped by, read, posted or emailed, my heartfelt gratitude. This has been a great experience, a great community. I have learned many lessons, one stitch at a time.

I know that my passion for fiber never leaves me, and I know it will be stronger again in time.

God bless you.

Knit and stitches,

Jodi

The Knit Before Christmas

My friend, Deb sent this to me last year!

God rest ye weary knitters Let nothing you dismay

Remember all your projects Be done by Christmas day.

From God our heavenly spirit A blessed Angel came.

She brought her wooden needles And luscious Cashmire skeins

We knitted and purled and left nary a one

They were underneath the tree

All wrapped in lovely colors

T’was wonderful to see

God rest ye weary knitters

And smile on Christmas Day

When bright faces wear your stitches

And you’ll feel proud to say

It’s made with love and angel’s yarn

And nights of tea and toil –

It brings tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy, oh tidings of comfort and joy!

Those are cash registers - not bells ringing.

Sung to the tune of "It came upon a Midnight Clear"

1. I came upon a yarn store where

The owner is a witch

You would think she should be nice

But she is just a Bitch.

2.She makes me feel like I am dumb

When help is all I need.

It seems like she would much prefer

If I would simply plead.

3. I went there just the other day

To buy a Christmas gift

And once again, and I don't know why

I left there feeling mift.

3. And yet I keep returning there

I guess I’ll just take my licks

It’s obvious that I have no pride

To get my addictive yarn fix

Santa Baby!!

You remember Rudolph, don't you? Well, meet...

Ann, The Compulsive Knitter.

Ann the compulsive knitter

Knit from early morn to night

She never stopped her clacking

Not to even take a bite.

All of her friends and family

Begged her just to drop her sticks

But she just kept on purling

Doing her yarn over tricks.

Then one crazy Christmas eve

Santa found her dead

Mile long scarves: her claim to fame:

Anna Recksic was her name.

Now if you heed this warning

You’ll put down your needles, too

And enjoy Christmas dinner

And a quart of egg nog, too!!

I Saw Mommy

I saw Mommy knitting Santa Claus
a brand new Fair Isle cardigan last night.
She didn't even think that my dad would make a stink
Since he's always either working or buried in a drink. 

Then, I saw Mommy knitting Santa Claus
something that looked like a tiny hat;
Now, what a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had only seen
Mommy knitting Santa's "cap" last night".

Stay tuned next week for more holiday hits....

Here's a tune that was sung by Johnny Mathis.

It's Beginning to Knit a Lot Like Xmas

It's beginning to knit a lot like Christmas 

Ev'rywhere I go; 

Take a look in the den and then, the pile of WIPs 

And when - the hell am I ever going to SLEEP.

It's beginning to knit a lot like Christmas, 

Projects in ev'ry room, 

But the ugliest sight to see is the nightmare that will be 

The new Christmas throw that’s going to be my doom. 

A scarf with fringe - and a pair of socks 

Are  the wishes of mom and dad; 

Rich woolen hats to ski Zermatt

Are the hopes of Bunny and Chad; 

Luckily, Uncle Tim has brought the rum

 to the Egg Nog that he’ll add.

It's beginning to knit a lot like Christmas; 

But when the day is through

They’ll be barely out the door and I’ll be

casting on some more

Stuff that's just for me!!

A Very IRS Christmas

Last year at this time I had finished my very first pair of socks. Now, I wear them almost nightly and think "How the hell did I ever do THAT???"

So, here's that holiday favorite:

Sockin' Around The Christmas Tree.

Sockin' around the Christmas tree
I've got one pair half way done.
I should have stuck with hats and scarves.
I am just NOT having fun.

Sockin' around the Christmas tree,
Better have some more caffeine.
Maybe a Jolt and Mountain Dew.
I'm about to cause a scene.

Sockin' around the Christmas tree,
As I'm racing toward the toe
Never will I make socks again.

Or to therapy I'll go!

Hello again - although I haven't posted anything in a very long time, many knitters still find my blog through search engines looking for free patterns, and such - so I figured before I close it down, at the end of this year - I thought I'd repost last December's 24 Days of Holiday Knitmas Carols. I had a lot of fun writing these last year, and some friend were nice enough to send their tunes along, as well. I hope if you happen to come by this year - you will lift up your voice and sing along one more time.

Today's number is called We Three Skeins.

We Three Skeins of Debbie Bliss are.

Costs as much as buying a car.

Cashmerino for bambino.

I started on my scarf.

OOhhhh. OOOhhhhh.

Scarf of wonder. Scarf so light.

Scarf that keeps me up all night.

Finished 3 feet. Now to repeat.

You'll find me in the bar.

It's not everyday you get to wear a tiara or dress up like a Fairy Princess - but yesterday I celebrated the leap into my 50th year (or completion thereof) by throwing a wonderful party for about 34 woman friends.

To go with my illusion theme, in the center of the room were three wishing bowls where guests could thrown the shining pennies they were provided. And in lieu of gifts, I asked everyone to bring me a wish! From pictures of beach houses to an amazing deck of cards with 50 original wishes -- to poems and songs written just for me, my friends all came through with the most creative and loving thoughts.

I'll share more pictures if you want to see 'em.

And magically, I might even start knitting again, and blogging. It's one of my greatest wishes for this coming year!

I've posted recently that I haven't been blogging because I haven't been knitting, True. I also haven't read a knitting blog in about 4 months. But this morning, I woke up early and decided to do so. And I remembered something! Many knitting blogs are barely about knitting. They are about the knitter's life, with a little picture thrown in, like "Oh, by the way, this is what I was knitting when I redid my bathroom." Now, all last year, I really prided myself on "sticking to the knitting", and for the most part, I did. Of course, I also went on a lot about my Gettin' Knit Togather Kit - but I think I kept my personal life pretty personal. [O.K. I mentioned Beautiful One and Beautiful, Too a few time, true, but they were probably modeling a FO.]

So, while my knitting has slowed for awhile, what I thought I might try is not be so rigid and share with you a little of "the plenty". After all, the blog is called Knit AND Plenty. And right now I've got PLENTY of plenty.

My 20 year old daughter (Beautiful One) has moved into NYC for the summer with her BF; the 17 year old is away for the summer as a Camp Counseler leaving me to be an empty nester for the first time in my life. My relationship with my guy of five years ended at the end of March and now I'm on Match.com which might just kill you if I tell you THOSE stories. I'm turning 50 in August - (yeah, I know, I don't write like it ;-) ) and I'm planning a party for 30 or so women. I live a rich, full life and there might by something to share along the way. You can always cut the RSS cord, right? I promise I'll throw in a picture of a sock now and again. And maybe even some pictures of other stuff. Like me! Below is a picture of me golfing. Now, there's a treat, huh?

I hope you will give this part a whirl with me.

Ok - I can't seem to move forward on any of the projects I have going. I'm totally frozen. I am working on two summer weight cardigans on size 5 needles that I have convinced myself I will never finish. I have two shawls that I've started out of DK on size 6's that start at the point and continue to the wing-expanse of a large teridactyl. All the projects are simple garter or stockinette stitches in one color because OF COURSE I thought that would make them go fast when it fact - they're all so boring - I can't seem to stick with one without wanting to impale myself on my sticks. So, I'm jumping from one to another so nothing is progressing. And I'm getting more and more frustrated. My sick knitter mind thinks, "Maybe I should start a new, smaller project - like a little neck wrap that I can go to intermittently that will knit quickly and give me finishing satisfaction to give me the will to return to the four big projects." But isn't that just more distraction?

Help? Any words of advice before I have a total meltdown???