Christmas Gifts

So once again, I'm gonna be making Christmas Presents (I should finish up the ones from last year -_-), and I'm stuck on what to make Mom. I could make another afghan, but I don't think I can top the surprise of the first one (about the only one who knew about it was my sister (because I made a hat and scarf for my stepmother, and I didn't want my sister to think I'd make something for Marjorie but not for Mom)). I don't trust myself enough to make something wearable beyond a hat (i. e. sweaters, vests, and whatever else). I could cross-stich a pillow with a photo of the cats on it (A lot of work. I see why all those nuns did it in the Middle Ages -- it's time consuming, and not that thought intensive. On the other hand, knots and pattern mishaps are a good way to hear a respectable crafting lady swear like a sailor) or something else. Any of you folks have any ideas?

(I find my mother hard to shop for, so I end up making things for her. So far, she's gotten at least two framed pieces of my artwork, plus a bunch of stuff from grade school when I was too poor to buy presents. I think my sister also got a painting of our cat, but that could have just been a 'Hey, here.')

I also would like to make something for my sister -- tempted to do an afghan for her, since she's graduating about Christmas time and will be moving elsewhere for grad school. (As of yet, I think she's planning on getting her Master's in Animal Behavior) I can probably ask Mom for color recommendations. I can also dig up something nice and quick for my stepmother.

You know, it's funny, but I almost prefer making gifts -- mostly because I'm under the conviction that everyone can use an afghan or hat and scarf set (except for you warm-weather types). Plus, I prefer a trip to the craft store in August, and a bunch of evenings crocheting/stiching in front of the computer to Christmas shopping in November or December. Less stress for me.

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Okay, so there's a flight from Syracuse to Boston at mid morning -- meaning if I get up early, I can get the cab out to the airport (though I might have to catch a 3:30 AM cab for a 9AM flight from an airport 90 minutes away -- ew...) -- and a noon flight back to Syracuse, meaning my folks don't have to bust their butts getting me to the bus station to take me back to Boston (it's an hour bus ride from the New Hampshire border to Logan airport, and a half-hour car ride to the border from Gramma's place), but they aren't part of the same package.

I think I can swing it, though I'd prefer a flight that lets me take the 7 AM cab (that would mean I'd need a flight that left later than 9:30 AM).

The stupid network is down on campus, so I figure if I make a lot of progress by 6ish, I'm going to go home. And this probably won't get posted until then.

ETA: Apparently something killed the Internet in upstate New York. Not just on Cornell's campus. Wow.

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JK Rowling announced today in an interview that she had to rewrite the last chapter of Harry Potter and Oh My God, This Is the Final Damn Book (working title) because she found out that she had to kill off two characters that were going to live in the last draft, and let one character live that was going to die.

The betting pool of Book 7 deaths is now open. (Seriously, I'm tempted to archive death expectations and open them after I finish Book 7)