Happy New Year!

I’m sitting here on my last day of vacation in 2011.  Vi is playing (somewhat) quietly on her own.  There is a fire in the fireplace.  No cats are fighting.  For a moment anyway, all is calm.  And while it won't last, the chaos makes these moments better, sweeter.  In looking at my list of gardening, reading and crafting for the year, there is no getting around it.  It’s been a sorry year for all 3.  But it is been a great year for family.  And I wouldn’t swap it for the world.

Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year!

A little late but

Merry Christmas from Little Bit and us other two (hey, we know who the cute one is!)

 Click to embiggen

Weekend Update

1.  Saturday morning, we subjected Vi to Christmas pictures in order to secure the cutest picture possible for Christmas cards.  I think we found one.

2.  Saturday afternoon, Vi and Tux helped me rake leaves.

 3.  A few years ago, Shawn and I took a cooking class at the New Orleans School of Cooking.  Today, I finally put one of the recipes to use.  Spice enough to put hair on your chest--whether you want it to or not :).  

4.  In a bit foresight (which is in a bit of short supply these days--I blame the lack of sleep), I remembered that Thanksgiving is coming and I would need some hostess gifts.  A bit of math later, I realized I had enough time to pull together some Amish Friendship Bread.  So I started the starter.  

Happy 4th of July!

 

Our town did fireworks last night and we're lucky enough to live where we can see them from the house.  They did not bother the baby in the least.  I'm sure next year when she's a bit more cognizant, it will be a different story!

Death by shopping

I hate shopping.  With. A. Passion.  The only possible exception is crafting supplies.  But today, I had today off, and though it wasn't really in the plan,  I went Christmas shopping.  I started by looking online (always the best approach).  What I wanted online was sold out, so before I purchased the alternative (a slightly less desirable choice), I went to the store to see if I could get it there.   Since Shawn and I are Mr. and Mrs. American average size wise, this was a long shot.  When everyone wears your size, you're usually left staring at a pile of triple XLs or so tiny you know they made that size just to tick normal people off.  And shopping sales racks are a joke.  If it is left in your size, you probably shouldn't want it.  So I went shopping for Shawn some {Christmas censor}.  But the store didn't get any in this year.  Really?  {Christmas censor} is like festive ties, gloves, those all in one key chain bobbles and flannel pajamas.  If you don't buy them at Christmas, you can't find them.  Whatever.  Pressing on. I headed in to JCPenney.  Low and behold, a big display of {Christmas censor} was right there inside the door.  Even better, there was a color and fabric I thought Shawn would consent to have on his body!  I started looking.   Mediums abounded, so too did XLs.  But no larges.  I would have to (dramatic sigh here) dig.  So I commenced reshuffling product in an attempt to find a large, all the while keeping a wary eye on my competition who might also be seeking an elusive large.  Just when things were looking bleak, score!  Purchase in hand I sucked in a deep breath and prepared to run the kiosk gauntlet down to Belk's to look for {Christmas censor}.  I swear third world country markets cannot be worse than this.  One kiosk after another staffed by individuals who have realized no one shops from a kiosk of cheap looking [insert possible cheap crap here] and therefore, they now try to flag you down.  "Ma'am, can I ask you a question?"   "Ma'am your jewelry is dirty.  Let me show you how to clean it."  Some step out in front of you, forcing a type of bob and weave avoidance maneuver.  Even my patented start of death doesn't seem to phase the hardiest ones.  Ducking into Belk's, I beelined to the {Christmas censor} department.  Scooping up my selection in record time, I headed to the nearest register, where two people were in front of me.  I'm sure these people were normal in other areas, but as they each went to check out, they started this process of coupons and running down the stated and the sale price of each item they bought.  And of course, nothing rang up at the price they said it should have.  I had two items whose prices could be seen from the register.  They had things they had accumulated from all over the store.  Really, I feel each time you want to murder someone and don't, you should earn some kind of good karma points.  They escaped unscathed.  I checked out and nearly weeping with relief, trudged back to my car.  I hate shopping.

Stuffed

Well, I hope everyone stuffed themselves silly over the Thanksgiving holiday because if I'm going to get large I want everyone else to as well.  :)  Shawn and I travelled to Oak Ridge this year to see the his Mom's side of the family.  We didn't get to go last year b/c Shawn was on call.  Then we stopped by my Mom's for (more) pie.  Friday, it was a day of online shopping.  Shawn and I are not the type to be at Target at 4 am.  I would rather pay an extra $50 bucks for that TV and sleep as well as avoid the crazies who do get up at 4 am  (different breed those folks).  It was also a day for Christmas decorating.  The tree went up and was made appropriately festive.  Saturday I spent a good few hours re-stringing the lighted greenery for those strands that decided to quit working while sitting in the storage shed during the summer.  It would have been more bearable with some mulled wine but some other year I suppose.  Christmas carols only managed to take the smallest edge off the usual frustration with re-stringing.  It's hard to feel festive humming "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" through gritted teeth.  But by Sunday, all the lights and greenery were up so now it's on to the cards!

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hehehe or more appropriately, Hohoho

The shawl is done.  Washed, blocked and wrapped.  I'm so pleased it's all I can do not to just stare at it while rubbing my hands together and cackling.  This is how much yarn is left.

That is 10 feet of yarn.  I was getting a little concerned when I got down to the final rows.

Furthermore, all the baking is done.  The Christmas bags are assembled.  I feel that now would be an appropriate time to rest on my "laurels."  At least for a few days...

Weekend Update

1.  Interviews for the memoir continue.  Transcribing the interviews not so much.  I'd never make it as a secretary who had to type up diction. 

2.  All presents are bought and wrapped.  This point is totally worth bold and italic.

3.  Christmas cards have finally gone out.  I'm a whole 3 days earlier than last year despite having deleted all my Christmas card addresses at some point during the year.

4.  The ham purchased over the weekend is cooked, divided and frozen.  And in a fit of foresight, the bones boiled with onion and celery for super hearty ham stock.  I processed in the pressure canner 5 pints of the stock.  I'm thinking of savory dressing and hearty 9 bean soups.  

5.  The holiday knitting only requires 7 more inches for completion.  I've managed 13 inches in the past 2 weeks so I think that is doable.  I may be casting off as we drive in the driveway, but done is done. :)

6.  Spice tea is made and ready for the gift bags.  It's a simple recipe but so tasty.  Best of all, it's very easy for the recipient to make.  Here's the recipe--

SPICE TEA

3/4 c plain instant tea

1-2 packets of non sweetened lemonade mix

2 c Tang 

2 c sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cloves.

It makes 5 1/2 cups of mix.  To make a serving of tea, add 8 oz water to 1 heaping T of mix.   Heat in the microwave until hot enough for you.

Holiday Blitz

We (Mary, Coventry, and I) played hooky.  The three of us took off from work and family, piled into the Jeep with Christmas music in hand (we were festive, by God.), and headed to Knoxville's West Town Mall, which is not so much bigger than our mall in Chattanooga but has stores like Apple, Williams and Sonoma, Pottery Barn and such.  We started out in the mall and I finished up some holiday odds and ends.  We found this at the Pottery Barn.

Coventry and I liked it so much we had a full 15 minute discussion, dissecting the pattern to see if we could replicate it on our own needles. 

 

Mary is on the left.  Coventry is on the right.  This was snapped in the AC Moore, a craft store we don't have in Chattanooga.  At first I thought Coventry's eyes were closed but I think she's just eyeing some beads in the highly competitive aisle of jewelry making supplies.  It was snatch or have snatched away.  Coventry and I were in heaven.  Mary abandoned us shortly after the picture in favor of the shoe store a few doors down.  She's not a craft fanatic but we're friends with her anyway : ).  I had never really given much thought to the jewelry making though I've seen Coventry's pieces and they're awesome.  But somehow, standing in the aisle, listening to her wax eloquent about what would look best with what, I somehow ended up at the checkout counter with a fistful of silver balls, dangling things and faux pearl beads.  I tried to resist, really.  But they were shiny, crafty things, and I was helpless against their siren call.  I swear I'm just going to dabble.