On the ending of 2011 . . . .

With so many days to accomplish chores my short list should be easy (plus some).  I have fallen a little short.  The kitchen table is still a disaster and so is my bedroom.  I cleaned out drawers though, they accumulate stuff at an alarming rate.  Now in the basement, which is also still a disaster, I have been working on.  With three dump runs this year a lot of boxes have been gone thru and eliminated, also many full boxes have been donated to the Goodwill (I have 4 grocery sacks ready to go right now) and many trunk full runs to the recycling center (it's free) with boxes of papers from schoolwork to IRS papers.  Nothing has been re-packed and I did not have a garage sale (many boxes to sell).  So I guess my list will have to remain in effect and be added to!


A big change for me this year is the 'no-poo' for clean hair.  Surprise! my hair is very clean.  Every other day is perfect, I think that it would be too drying.  I use a Tablespoon of baking soda and water paste rubbed into the scalp and a Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of warm water to rinse.  I rinse well with water and let dry, nobody can tell.  My hair feels good and silky, I never have trouble combing it out (it's curly).  If I am having a bad hair day on the skipped day a rinsed with very warm water works well.


I have never believed in New Years resolutions, Goals are much more attainable.   At New years you might rashly make a promise and then fail, this happens with regularity (promises are meant to be kept).  Goals come up at any time and can be revised, life is not static and we need to be adaptable.


    'To Do' list (supports Goals list) for 2011

• Sort/clean out living spaces
• Sort basement for the dump 
• Re-pack anything left in basement
• Have a garage sale

Christmas

My favorite part of Christmas is breakfast, always has been.  It started with my grandmother, she made cinnamon rolls as part of breakfast for her family, 6 children.  When they went abroad as missionaries my mom continued the tradition.  As a child, all my family came to our house for breakfast.  Our house was big, full of noise and  fun.  My memories influence my attitude as an adult.  We did not exchange gifts with extended family, we did not pick names.  I liked the emphasis on family even as a kid.  I dislike the commercialism and materialism of a beautiful holiday.  Traditions need to fostered and memories made for the generations coming after us.  Traditions are old and new, the new ones take work to get started but are well worth the effort.  I kept busy making gifts, more than ever before.  A part of my granddaughters gift didn't get done, a second basket made of fabric and a pincushion to match.  Her birthday is in January so I will finish it then . . . perfect!  What is interesting is that my son and his girlfriend have made gifts the last 2 years.  This year they made a necklace and earrings with deer horns, I love it and I am impressed.  We had breakfast at my daughters house this year.  Cinnamon rolls, of course!  Eggs, bacon and champagne with OJ.  All the family doesn't come to breakfast anymore, there is just too many of us but we had 12 for breakfast (a few family members were not in town for Christmas). Our son-in-law is in Afghanistan, hard for the girls and E.

Breakfast Christmas, 2011

Tis the Season

I have been busy lately:
     Ornaments for family - 9 finished
     Baskets woven from paper bags - 4 finished
     Knitted cowl scarf - needs blocking
     Crafting a small sewing box - unfinished
     Tree hunting and Decorating
     Shopping for presents, wrapping too
     A batch of sweet bread in tiny loaves for the baskets
And the everyday stuff:
     Finding wood to burn (construction sites)
     Empty 3 more boxes in the basement, garbaged most of it
     Recycling run (2 in last 2 weeks), need to do a garbage run now
     Time with the grandchildren and daughter
A few observations:
     A foggy month in December - a bit unusual
     A couple of beautiful days - went out 'sun bathing', felt GOOD!
     Some days/nights down to 28 degrees and no snow! (Good)
     A few colorful sunsets - very pretty
     Tried an oatmeal lager - dark, mild bitter finish (devine)
To do:
     Take pictures of my crafts before wrapping them
     Bake on friday for Christmas morning cinnamon rolls
     Finish a couple of projects - easy
     Help out E. tomorrow!
     Shop for Christmas breakfast and next 2 weeks
     Go to a cookie exchange, yet I don't bake anymore for our home (8 doz cookies needed)
     Need to shop for a couple more things for hubby (I know what to get)

WWII . . . . . Remember.

There will be a sad day comin’
For the foes of all mankind
They must answer to the people
And it’s troubling their mind
Everybody who must fear them
Will rejoice on that great day
When the powers of dictators
Shall be taken all away

There’ll be smoke on the water
On the land and the sea
When our Army and Navy overtakes the enemy
There’ll be smoke on the mountains
Where the Heathen Gods stay
And the sun that is risin’

Will go down on that day

  ~ Red Foley, Smoke on the Water, 1944

                      ------------------

Still true today?  Something to think about.

Holidays and Changes

We will be celebrating Thanksgiving at my daughters house this year.  My Aunt just sold her house and already has her garage filled with packed boxes and will be trying to move out before the 12-21 hand over date.  Not exactly the most fun time of year to have to move!  It;s a bit of a scramble to remember some of the things needed because my Aunt usually takes on the biggest part of dinner.  I went out today to buy the turkey, stuffing, potatoes, pie ingredients (my son also needs pie ingredients).  Wow, a lot a people are out there shopping for The Dinner!  I am looking forward to our family celebration and E's kitchen is so big, open and friendly.  I just can't believe the holidays are here.  What I am most thankful for this year is that my son in law is home for 2 weeks from Afghanistan, it has been a very hard 5 months (for him and E and especially the girls, V is 3 and wouldn't talk on skype or the phone with her daddy) and he'll be gone again for 6 more.

I have finished my knitting project (the cowl) and need to block it and weave in the ends, I need to find another project though because of withdrawals from keeping my hands busy.  I have two other crafts projects in the works, ornaments and woven baskets.  More on this later with pictures.

Feels Good

I made applesauce today, enought to can 8 pints.  It doesn't sound like much but you work with what  is given.  I used the peels and cores to make jelly (from my daughters effort at making apple butter for her husband). Todays will go to more jelly making in the morning with the addition of cinnamon sticks and a piece of nutmeg.  I found a recipe online  for jelly and it came out great.  The comments were saying that their batches were not jelling.  I added 1/2 cup of lemon to the recipe which is required for sweet fruit   in order for a balanced recipe.  I am not sure why it needs to sit in the fridge overnight!

So it took all day, What is with that?  I am happy with the results though and thoroughly satisfied, we have taste tested . . . . . mmm good!

Nature's Art

  

I love the morning the sun glistening on the frosted trees, the amazing colors of yellow, orange and green.  The stark  bare trees, the dark evergreens contrast so beautifully with the color.  When the sun comes up over the hill and hits the tops of the forest trees down from us, I feel drawn into the mysterious shadows underneath. The sun so warm and the air bone chilling cold!  Nature gives so much to us if we stop and pay attention.  I do love this time of year!

I started a knitting  project, a cowl;  for a Christmas  present.  It's a lovely rose with a hint of purple from my stash.  I like the rhythm of knitting and prefer small projects.



 Also, I have started making christmas ornaments, this is my tradition that helps me get into the spirit of the holidays that become presents to family.  Some years the ornaments are made of fabric, some years string crocheted snowflakes, hearts, crosses and more!