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!

Ladie's Weekend

 I left last friday to spend the weekend with 4 other lovely ladies!  Good food, being goofy, hot tubbing and walking.  Our walk on the beach produced pictures, rocks and shells AND oysters that went right on the barbecue with a drizzle of butter.  Oh yeah, heavenly!   The small bay we were at was just around the corner from Tahuya, WA. A blink and you will miss it place with a post office and fire department.  We walked the road to Tahuya, peaceful and beautiful, about 2 miles one way.  I brought a project with me, yoyo's that will be stacked to resemble christmas trees (I think that this would also be a good project for J, she is 6).  Sunday afternoon we were on the deck, the sun was warm, birds calling (no car or people noises).  It soaks in, rejuvinating!
 

It was very hard to leave on Sunday, we were all feeling so good and carefree.

The local saying is "What's it Tahuya"

A Lovely Weekend

My daughter and I went to the midnight sew Sat, it is 4pm to midnight.  It's feels like attending a sewing circle except you talk with women you don't know, it's a good fellowship with shared interests. Most of the ladies are quilters which I love to feast my eyes on (my favorite building during fair is the fibers arts).  I helped E with the girls holloween skirts while she finished a dress.  Interest is always high during the evening in everone's projects with the ladies wandering and asking what you are doing.  I always feel good being there and motivated for days afterward!  We left early to get enough sleep for church in the morning.  I had Sunday dinner with E. and the girls, Hubby stayed home feeling very poorly.

Thank you darling daughter for a  great dinner.  Ricotta stuffed, bacon wrapped chicken breast with sourdough bread. MmmMmm!

An Encouraging Article

http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Meet-Followers-of-the-Simple-Living-Philosophy/2

Self Challenge Against Clutter

I have been browsing a couple of web sights to mostivate myself.  I need to get a handle on the clutter in my home.

• clutter off of surfaces:  kitchen table, dining room table, desk, tall boy (bedroom)
• car, I have allowed the floor behind the passenger seat to accumulate 'stuff
• Pick an area or theme (holiday, summer, etc) abd organize (this will challenge me)

                    in the basement
                    bedroom closet
                    upstairs closet

• Make lists

Some ideas to help me:
     'Rotation Box'     don't display everything, store some objects in a box and rotate things
                                     few months

     'Come in Handy Box'     when full, something must be discarded then add new item          
                                           
     'Clear a Surface'     remove 10 items to a basket and spend 15 minutes around the house
                                        putting them away

A good tip also is to de-clutter first and analyze storage needs then find right system to keep organized.   I am putting off getting these jobs done so my first list is to keep this written on paper to remind me and to physically check off the jobs done.  I tackled another drawer in my bedroom, yeah!

                                     Well done is better than well said.
                                                                        ~Benjamin Franklin~