quiet moments

i've been up for a few hours and am on my 3rd cup of coffee, i've done a bit of bike riding, knitting, blog reading, email checking, and ate the last piece of gingerbread biscotti that sara made. i love this time of day when everyone is still asleep. have some fun stuff planned before i go back to work, and plan to pack christmas away either on sunday, or during the week-not a rush for once. i'm looking forward to 2009 and plan to reflect back of 2008. HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone.

gadget girl

i love gadgets, i don't really care what makes them work, only that they do for me what i want them to. i asked for a blackberry for christmas, so i could talk with my computer more when i'm away from home. when steve told me to look at both the blackberry AND the i-phone i did a little happy dance! like the artwork?

i did my part. . .

to stimulate the economy-errands and shopping at some of my favorite stores yesterday, did a couple returns, took advantage of harry's 20% off to stock up--some real bargains-harolds which is going out of business had some great deals-splurged on the starbucks stainless press, since i broke my glass one, and figured another glass one was NOT a good idea! i took this photo, the wreath with the balls of yarn, i wonder what they'll do with these after christmas?

and was thrilled that my beret actually did look okay, you know, once i washed my hair and did something with myself!

christmas reflections

so many things this year that could not be captured in a photo, but are etched in my mind for this christmas nonetheless-

CHRISTMAS EVE

our traditional meal and the christmas crackers, we wore our paper crowns while enjoying the homemade cookies.

christmas eve service- such a different feeling that at other times, and wow, while our family was reading the advent, the see of over 300 people at 11:00 pm was amazing!

serving communion to the same mass of people, and wondering if there would be enough cups so everyone could participate-there were only about 4 or 5 after everyone was served.

hearing buster barton sing o holy night, for the final time-he's retiring, after 33 christmas eve services at our church-so glad we were able to be part of that.

CHRISTMAS DAY

sleeping in really late- so unusual for me.

spending the day just hanging out, watching movies, knitting, we had one person to drop by for a quick chat, eating whenever-whatever. a lot of family time.

opening gifts, and knowing that the boys really loved the ga tech fleece blankets i made for them -so often hand made gifts are not appreciate-and am glad i was able to keep these a secret.
andrew building with his new k'nex set- i think this really sums up the idea that your never really too old - especially if you love the moment you are in whether it is just an ordinary day or a special time like christmas

on the 12th day of Christmas

it is difficult you see-

i can't think of twelve things to list!

but i've got 7 work days off, but 11 days counting weekends

all the gifts are bought and wrapped

all the cookies made

3 christmas movies were watched

no cards were mailed

7 post holiday activities planned

1 family gathering ( enjoyed)

christmas eve main course fixed

you know all the rest, and i'm looking normal after surgery

wishing you all a merry christmas--i think i started this whole thing a day early, oh well, it was fun anyway!

on the 11th day of Christmas

we gathered at joyce's to play and

celebrate mei's birthday!


9 kids (not 11- darn) celebrated mei's birthday by deocrating gingerbread houses, and joyce went all out with at least 11 kinds of candy/embellishments:

gumdrops, m&ms, skittles, smarties, peeps, sugar babies, starbursts, peppermints, cinnamon red hots, licorce ropes-much more. pizza cake and ice cream to put us into a sugar coma! it was great fun, joyce, kathy, brenda and i worked on our quilts while the kids well-look at the after photo

BEFORE

AFTER
10 reasons it was a great family gathering

9 things accomplished

8 pairs of shoes

7 christmas cards

6 reasons to be blessed

5 to do lists

4 christmas shoppers

3 family recipes

lunching with 2 friends

a a nearly normal forehead

on the 10th day of Christmas

i gathered with my family

my top ten list of what made the day soooo great!
♥ the family of course, so great to have everyone together, i treasure these times.
♥ the gift getting- i got exactly what i wanted, and a wonderful unexpected surprise.
♥the food-lots of yummies, cheese wafers, cheese dip, ham and swiss rolls, veggies and bean dip and the cranberry-cornmeal quick bread made by sara- wow girl-very very good!
♥ the cookies- traditional family recipes and some new additions
♥ watching christmas vacation
♥ the laughter
♥ wine and hot buttered rum
♥ gift giving
♥ help from mary on my beret-thanks sooo much!
♥ making plans to get together again after christmas

here's a cicio girl picture-the other one's i took were not good, thanks mary for posting so quickly!

9 things accomplished

8 pairs of shoes

7+ christmas cards

6 reasons to be blessed

5 to do lists

4 christmas shoppers

3 family recipes

lunch with 2 friends

and a nearly normal eye following surgery

on the 9th day of christmas

christmas day is so very close, so it's a good thing i got . . .


9 things accomplished!

cookies baked, food for sunday, laundry, watched holiday inn, assembled gift baskets and cookie tins, looked at christmas lights, took my first self portrait, took a nap, and i completed a hat, IN ONE DAY!

i am modeling danielle's hat, yarn is from lotus knits BA yarn club- colorway mulled wine, and using the yarn harlots unoriginal hat pattern-super easy

on the 8th day of Christmas

i did a little shopping

8 new pairs of shoes! i have a really good business plan/rationale for buying, i promise!

aren't the purple one's divine? they'll be my special occasion shoes for sure


7 (really lots more) christmas cards


6 reasons to be blessed


5 "to do" lists


4 christmas shoppers


3 family recipes


2 friends for lunch


and a healing head following surgery

on the 7th day of Christmas

my friends and family sent to me. . .
lots of Christmas cards
i'm starting to feel guilty since i wasn't going to send any this year, maybe a mid-year card instead- we'll see

6 reasons to be grateful
5 to do list
4 christmas shoppers
3 family cookies recipes
lunch with 2 friends
and no stitches left in my forehead

on the 6th day of Christmas. .

i'm blessed and grateful you see . . .

i've got family, friends, a job, my health, my faith, and a home

BUT NO PHOTO

5 "to do" lists
4 christmas shopppers
3 family recipes
2 friends for lunch
and now no stitches after surgery

on the 5th day of Christmas

i'm frantic as can be . .

i've got 5, yes 5 "to do" lists-i feel like charlie brown!

4 christmas shoppers

3 family recipes

lunching with 2 friends

an a healing head following surgery

on the 4th day of christmas

we're rushing to and fro. . .
4 christmas shoppers enjoying dinner at johnny rockets- but no jillian

3 family recipes

lunching with 2 friends

and a healing head/eye following surgery

on the 3rd day of Christmas

my in-laws gave to me...
three family recipes (traditional cookies)
toffee squares, pastry bon bons, and spritz- have been baking the spritz for about 19 years now! we also made oatmeal with cranberries and dark chocolate, lemon sugar, and chcolate sandwich with pepermint cream.

Lunch with 2 friends

and yea- the swollen eye following my mohs surgery

on the 2nd day of christmas

how lucky am i to be. . lunching with 2 friends

and an eye still swollen 3 days after my mohs surgery-

seriously, a wonderful lunch at waterstone grill.

on the 1st day of christmas

my dermotologist gave to me ONE swollen eye 2 days after my mohs surgery!

Happy Friday anyway!

clip art from :http://www.mattlake.com/holiday/12days.gif

crazy but true

it's saturday and i'm sitting on the couch, knitting andrew's hat (pj's is done), and i'm watching foodnetwork and this cooking diva- this is very rare indeed, and i'm loving it. will have the musical in a couple hours, a lot of work has gone into this program, can't wait to see it and everyone in costume.

domesticity redefined.

when i saw this book i did a bit of a double take, then when i read a review here, one of my new favorite blogs, i knew i had to had it to my library. toss in the special extra 40% off coupon for members at barnes and noble, and it is now on my desk and is a delight to read. all the things i enjoy are included cooking, quilting, knitting, etc. brocket eloquently shows the difference between domestic and domesticity for today's woman- i'm soooo there, and i'm loving this book. oh yea, don't forget to read the intro- really sets the tone for the book.

done and nearly.

done with the gift stole-am always amazed at how lovely lace blocks-very different from the blob you have while knitting. will NOT be knitting lace again that has alpaca- way too sticky,














nearly done-christmas tree and decorations-will be putting out a few more things, have decided that i don't have to have everything out!















done with the mystery socks, missed the cut-off for getting into the drawing by a day, but oh well, love the yarn, the pattern, and the fit!















nearly done with pj's hat-no photo yet- so nice to have some things marked off my "to do" and projects list, this week will be quite maddening, so enjoy this week, and hope you are productive as well.