Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Christmas Knitting

I was extremely productive this holiday. I knit several gifts and managed to get them done wrapped and delivered!

My favorite was the Soft Baskets I made for my sister. I also loved the Snow Cowl I made for my beautiful niece Jessica.

I managed nine other knitted items (really 11 because I made three sets of Peek-a-boo Mitts)

All given away...

I am ready to do some just for me knitting!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas Tiny Tim

This has been a weird holiday season for me.

Not typical.

I love Christmas. I love the chaos and the non-stop running around. I love feeling the holiday close in on me and know I am not ready, but it doesn’t matter because it will come anyway.

When I hear people bitch about the madness I feel very superior and smug, because it just doesn’t bother me.

This year has been different.

I am one of THOSE people. I feel miserable. I am worried about money and what to get people.

I am not excited about one single thing that I bought for my husband, not one.

My daughter on the other hand, got everything her heart desired. I know, with out a doubt, she will be happy tomorrow morning.

I don’t know what happened this year.

I have watched all my favorite Christmas movies and made all my favorite treats. On the outside everything is snowy and bright, but on the inside, I feel like the Heat Miser…

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Snow Day

As I sit her contemplating the first snow day of the season, roughly seven days before the first day of winter, I feel like it must have been divine intervention that brought this delicious christstollen to me just when I would need it most.

So I will make myself another pot of coffee, turn up the carols and thank my lucky stars for such kind and thoughtful patrons.

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Tuesday, December 7, 2010

The Year Without a Santa Claus

Fifteen years ago, the first Christmas after we married, we hosted Christmas morning for my father, his new wife and their baby boy.

My father and his family showed up loaded with packages and smiles. We ate a big breakfast and then got down to the important stuff...presents.

As I opened my gifts from my dad I got to a beautiful Liz Cooper Santa doll. He was just amazing, and a completely unusual gift to get from my dad.

“Wow dad, this is wonderful, thank you.”

“I got him for your collection.”

“My collection?”

“Yeah, your Santa collection.”

Hmmmmm, I had no Santa collection, and let me remind you we were sitting in my completely decorated living room with no evidence of a collection. But he thought I had one, and he has gotten me a Santa every Christmas since. Now, I have a collection…

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I get several Santa’s a year, from lots of people. Santa is taking over our home, I have run out of places to set Santa. My lovely antique nativity set is surrounded by Santa’s like SWAT is coming to get the baby Jesus!

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Too bad he didn’t think I collected money…or diamonds…

Monday, December 6, 2010

Day 30 – 30 Day Blog Challenge

A Picture

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I love this picture. It makes me think of the many, sweet, summer days we spend camping with our friends. We camp almost every weekend in the summer. Right around January I get online and start dreaming of hot, summer days and beautiful lakeside camping spots...

Well, that’s it, 30 posts about me. If you read even one….I thank you.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Day 29 – 30 Day Blog Challenge

3 Wishes

 

  1. I wish you a Merry Christmas.
  2. I wish my backyard wasn’t flooding.
  3. I wish we could go to Florida this year.

Christmas Workshop

I have been a knitting fool this last month! I have cranked out five gifts, a hat for my daughter and a pair of mittens for my god-daughter. I still have two gifts to knit, but I feel confident that I will do it. Even though I have no idea what one will be and I have no interest in making the other, Christmas is about miracles right?

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Saturday, December 4, 2010

Day 28 – 30 Day Blog Challenge

Something that stresses you out.

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What stresses me out is food.

I love food.

I love to eat.

I love bread, potatoes and cheese.

I wish that this admission would make me feel bad and repent, but it actually makes me hungry.

I have gained 50 pounds since getting married 15 years ago, shocking isn’t it? Of course I have also lost 70+ pounds.

My husband still tells me I am the most beautiful woman he’s every known.

When I complain about my fat ass, he says how unimportant it is. He tells me he never thinks the things I think about the width of my butt or my jiggley belly.

He is a sweetie, but I still stress about it all. I want to feel better and be healthier for him and my daughter. I just need to figure out how to do it...

Friday, December 3, 2010

Day 27 – 30 Day blog Challenge

Pets

I grew up in the country, just down the road from my grandparents farm. There was horses, cows, pigs and chickens. Not to mention cats and dogs.

Growing up we always had a dog or a cat, usually both. They were house pets and part of the family.

As a couple we have always had a cat or a dog too. When we were first living together my husband got me a beautiful tabby cat from the shelter. Her name was Calypso and she was a doll. She was funny and sweet, just what you want in a pet.

After she died I got my husband a dog from an ad in the local pennysaver. A golden retriever chow mix, free to a good home. He was the best dog I have ever owned. We had him for 14 years and he was never bad, not once.

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We have had cats on and off too, strays that find there way from the farm next door. Sometimes we just can’t pass up a cute little kitten.

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We have had this cute, little kitten for about 6 years now. She is not very nice, but she is mellowing in her old age.

We got a new puppy after we lost our big, old, yellow dog. She likes to bite people, she runs away and doesn’t listen. She eats anything she finds. She is lazy and looks like a junkyard dog most of the time.

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But, damn, if she isn’t adorable!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Day 26 – 30 Day Blog Challenge

A picture of your family

photoThis is what we do in stores. We embarrass our daughter whenever we can. We act silly and laugh most of the time. We get mad and we fight, but there is a lot of love here and that is what is important.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Day 25 – 30 Day Blog Challenge

imagesI have been waiting for this one!! I love my iPod and I use it everyday. I have a dock in my kitchen and I need music all the time. If I stop and think about it I really do listen to music all the time that I am home. Anyway, what this means is that I have a lot of music on there, 1000’s of songs, and they are all so different. Here are the first 10 on shuffle (no skipping);

  1. Baby by Justin Bieber (this is embarrassing )
  2. Hungry Like the Wolf by Duran Duran (takes my back to 9th grade instantly )
  3. Photograph by Nickelback (something about this song gets me )
  4. U + Ur Hand by Pink (this song reminds me of my sister )
  5. You’re Never Over by Eminem (i love his crazy ass )
  6. Fernando by ABBA (in what world is Eminem followed by ABBA? )
  7. Mandy by Barry Manilow (i love BM, but he’s starting to look weird)
  8. Ventura Highway by America (anyone that can write a song about alligator lizards gets my vote…they are the best)
  9. Winter Wonderland by Ray Charles (this is my favorite Christmas song )
  10. Easy Lover by Phil Collins (again...high school is in the air tonight )

What a mix of music! Everyone of them has some story or memory behind it. I am going back to that Bieber one…