Jóladót

So, one finished Christmas present to show... a washcloth made from bamboo yarn (yarn is called Bam Boo and the ball label went missing so when I find it I will post the manufacturer). I kind of liked working with bamboo yarn, it's very soft. The only problem is it splits a lot, so you have to be careful of it.

My grandmother was born in China, the daughter of a missionary. So her husband (my grandfather) lovingly planted some bamboo plants at their house to remind her of the place she grew up, and filled the greenhouse/sunroom with tropical plants that couldn't survive the cold climate. She has passed on, and my aunt lives at the house with the bamboo forest... so I thought it would be a nice gift to give her something out of bamboo.

There was a cute Christmas meme at Knitting Iris's blog, so I thought I would do it, especially since I just got my best Christmas gift ever... see below...

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?  Well, hot chocolate, but the farm where I used to buy my milk near my last apartment had the BEST egg nog. Maybe I should drive up there and get some.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Presents are always wrapped.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?  I think the coloured ones are more fun. I think outside the white ones are more tasteful. No one sees our house so we don't bother with decorating the outside.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?  No, never did.
5. When do you put your decorations up?  23 December.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish?  I think Riz L'Amande. I won't link to a recipe because nothing is better than my mother-in-law's recipe. And I'm not sure if I am allowed to give that out. ;)
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?  I think making WAAAY too many kinds of cookies with my sister.
8 . When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?  I never believed in Santa.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?  Yes. We always opened all our gifts on Christmas Eve growing up. Now, we open our gifts on Christmas Eve and the kids get theirs in the morning.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?  With this and that, some ornaments my mother gave me when I was a kid, some pretty ones I have accumulated over the years. It's no kind of organised themed tree like Martha Stewart would have. That has no personality, in my opinion.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?  Yes.
12. Can you ice skate?  Not really. I was never very good at it, and I was always afraif of falling. Now, I think I have forgotten how. I don't believe those people who say you don't forget these things.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?  Yep, easy, I just got it. Ingi got a letter saying his green card is in the mail!
14. What's your favorite thing(s) about the holidays?  The music, the excitement, the sense of wonder and magic to it. And you know, the whole point of Christmas. The story still touches me, every year.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?  Didn't I answer that? ;)
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?  Going to church on Christmas Eve and then having dinner. Although I miss going to the Nutcracker every year, we used to do that as kids. Now I have no one to go with. :(
17. What tops your tree?  A fabric angel that my mother gave me when I was in labour with my daughter (it was December).
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?  Well, getting presents is fun, but I loooove choosing presents for people that I think they will enjoy.
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?  The Angel Gabriel and O Holy Night. I sang the latter as a solo when I was 12 or something. Singing it still gives me goosebumps.
20.  What is your favorite holiday book?  I don't know if I have one. I love reading kids' holiday books.
21. Candy canes yuck or yum?  Well, I like how they taste but I don't like how they get all pointy. And I just baked with them and I HATE the sticky staticky plastic they come in.
21. What's number one on your Christmas list this year?  A certain book I mentioned the other day. But really, after the gift we just got, I'm good.