I’ll admit it. I’ve been very, very lax in my posting of late.

It’s not that my domesticity died–I’m still a work in progress after all–but rather that the business of the holidays killed my blogging desires. You all will be proud to learn that I made two pairs of pajama pants as Christmas presents this year. However; it took me a little bit longer than expected.

The reason? I can’t thread that stupid thingamabobber on the bottom of the sewing machine. I kept trying and just when I thought it worked, something would happen and I would give up in dispair. So, like any crafty woman with too much time on her hands, I decided that I would hand-sew the pajamas. After all, that’s what the spirit of Christmas is about…sacrificing for the ones you love, right?

In went Anne of Avonlea, the 1970’s BBC miniseries in which all the characters have Irish lilts. Except Marilla who sounds like she belongs in Iowa. For six hours, I sat glued to the screen, sewing as quickly (and evenly!) as I could. It wasn’t easy. I can see why some blessed soul invented the sewing maching. But one pair down and one to go.

 The sewing machine ended up getting repaired–good thing Mother’s always know how to thread those blasted thingamabobbers–and the last pair finished late Christmas Eve. When the time came for the kiddos to open the presents, they were suprised and delighted to have (pretty) well-fitting pajama pants. Honestly, I think my brother put on a good show. The teenage sister liked hers however.

And just in case you were wondering, Santa seemed to have forgotten my request for a trained monkey. Perhaps I should have sent the request in earlier? My room looks like a tornado struck with papers strewn all over and intermixed with clothes stacked in piles.

Maybe next year?