Safety First!

I hope everyone has a safe and festive New Year's Eve. I'm snuggling with Chickie next to the wood stove with a bowl of rotini and Silver Palate "Vodka Something-or-other" sauce (from the jar). And I'm cooking up some of the Pioneer Woman's Bacon Parmesan Appetizers. I may even crack open a bottle of wine! Go me!

I shoveled about 6 inches of snow earlier; since then it looks like I've gotten a scant couple more. I made the executive decision to resume shoveling tomorrow morning, after the winds blow it all over the place again.

Let the snuggling commence!

Happy New Year!

(image swiped from this blog via a Google image search for "fireworks")

And another thing....

I should have read this first to make myself laugh the other day. See what happens when you don't go thru all your blogs?

Happy Meals and Happy Hour

File under:
Things to Make you go Ouch!

Count to 3, THEN hit send...

I apologize for my maudlin tone in my last post. In the scheme of things, lots of people had a way suckier Christmas than I could even dream of having, so I shall try, cross my heart & hope to die, to not post when I'm at the verge of having a pity party for myself. (Which I did, on Friday) I feel a little better; Emily even washed my 2 lonely sandwich plates and 3 forks that had been collecting in the sink all weekend, after I screeched wailed how stressed out I am when she called looking for an envelope from home today. She also rode the horse, so I didn’t have to face that tonight, either. Not that the Axe has been trouble- I’ve ridden twice since my chaotic holiday frenzy ended; and she was wonderful. Nothing like a horse you can get right on after a 10-day vacation who you don’t have to lunge for 45 minutes beforehand to get the crazies out.

Riding even improved my mood. I also need to do some stitching- it’s been far too long since I last made any X’s.

I got the one huge to-do task completed today- I had to order Emily’s textbooks online. It took 2 hours of searching & comparing to make sure I had even close to the correct edition of some. It was such a painful headache of a chore. But it’s so much cheaper than for her to go to the campus bookstore.

Well, I have a fire trying to burn in the wood stove, so I really should go to watch over it and grab my stitching bag for some much-needed attitude adjustment.

Thanks for the good wishes and good thoughts and good advice!

Merry Freekin' Christmas!!!

As the late Chris Farley used to say.

I've been very wistfully reading thru other blogs hoping some Christmas cheer would rub off on me, but alas, I seem to be having a humbug Christmas this year. I did manage to get all my Christmas things-to-do off my list, leaving a couple or 3 non-holiday issues to deal with.

Bob went back into the hospital last Saturday morning, and I came back a little while ago from visiting him there. It took until yesterday (Wednesday) for the lung specialist to finally start his case, so it's almost been like 5 days wasted in the hospital. Plus, this morning they changed a lot of his med's around, so he was feeling kind of nauseous when I got there.

I was up until 1:00 am wrapping; not a lot of stuff really, but just taking my time. I was more interested in Chronicles of Narnia, than tape.

I finally trimmed my tree this morning:

It's a bit blurry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the snow house and my mantel:

Here's Chicken pining for her daddy:

She waits by the door for him; first the front door, then the kitchen door.

 

 

 

I finished-finished 2 ornaments:

My alignment skills need some honing. This is my first pinkeep finish.

I like how this came out. Here's the back of both:

Emily's finally on her way here with Luke to open presents.

Merry Christmas. Thanks to all who read and/or comment.

Let it Snow...

My life now exists in snow depth increments: last night until 10 PM, I shoveled about 9"; this morning until 7:30 am, I shoveled another 4"; at 12:30 another 2"; and at 4:00 PM, another 1".

It's snowing again.

I'm so done with winter this year.

This is at 7:30 am, after I finished shoveling and cleaning off the car (and shoveling again). The snow on my picnic table is what was on my car.

"But where am I supposed to tinkle, Mommy?"

On the other hand, I got 3/4 of my cookies baked.

A Bit More...

Tote #2:

Now for some shoveling so Miss Chicken can tinkle.

Blog Break

Try this one. I came across it about a month ago. I find it funny, but then I'm a sarcastic bitch.
Happy Meals & Happy Hours

Almost done...

I'll write about our Stitch & Bitch Xmas party later, but will say for now: It was fabulous! I had a great time, and so much wonderful, delicious food prepared by Joanne (who's house we were at) and Jeanne. I must confess to a cookie breakfast, too!

Snow day projects:

One of Emily's totes (she's gifting these to others- aren't I a good mum?) (More likely a sap mum):

I still have to tack 2 corners of the base inside and then close the inner lining and it's done. One more of these babies to do. This took all afternoon, but I spent a bit of time puzzling over the side corner instructions - not clear writing, nor clear drawings. Hopefully, the second one won't take as long. Then the only other obligation sewing to do is an insulated sliding door curtain for Bob. The snow started around 2:00 here; I may have all day tomorrow to myself for baking cookies and the curtain, and the tree, and the........

PS:

I'll get to that dream later too!

Remind me..

to write about the dream I had not last night, but the night before, starring..................

 

don't fall off your chair........................................................

I know, I can't believe it either............................................

AND NOTHING naughty happened!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

here it comes................................................................................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

****THUD!!!!!!!!!!!****

Feel free to call the appropriate mental health authorities.

She's Makin' a List....

Toil & Trouble:

Cookie swap production:

Unfinished tree:

This is how it will probably sit until this weekend. How lame!

"It would look better if you sat next to me, Mommy!"

I've also wrapped and boxed for shipment my neice & nephew's gifts to go to VA; I cut out one tote. Horse shoes tomorrow.

Pass the Hand Lotion

The dog bed covers are sewn and I've made three more bit warmer pads. Now I have to come up with a pouch to wrap the warmers around the bit. Then I have a couple of tote bags to make for Em to give as gifts. Joann's B&M store doesn't have the cool, "groovy" fabrics that Joann's online store carries. I hope she likes the fabrics I picked out.
I also have to make a sliding door curtain for Bob.
Oh and did I mention this was cookie baking week? Time to make the dough.......
oh nuts.

Busy Hands:

I finished the doll clothes; well, I had cut out a nightgown, but decided to just go with these:

I fixed the collar & sewed some buttons on the pink calico dress. The last outfit consists of the blouse & jumper. My eyes are drooping- I went on a first thing this morning Walmart run. That's the only time to go to beat the crowds.

Progressing:

Toil & Trouble:

On to another doll outfit before CSI starts with Lawrence Fishburn. Can't wait!

Mad Dash:

Another doll dress done:

As modeled by my pencil jar.

"Hey! Hey you in there! I need some scratchies and a fire in the stove would be oh so snuggly nice! Are you done yet???!!!Mommmmiiieee?"

I even managed to take Toil & Trouble out today at lunch. I was dreadfully over tired, but couldn't take a nap. Damn Tami Hoag book until 1:40 am last night!:

Haven't finished the "N" in "cauldron", but if you see any typos, now's the time to let me know!

PS-

Haven't mentioned the horsie lately because she's been really good for me- we've been having awesome (for me) workouts, aside from a couple of bitter cold days I just couldn't bear to get on.

Check This Out:

Horse puzzle today at Shockwave:

Daily Jigsaw

I did it in 12:52 for the 150-piece size - see if you can beat me.

Click on the 'Play Free Online" button below today's image; you may be prompted to download a Shockwave applet. I've never had any problems with the software.

Insanity Reigns

Because one can never overextend oneself too far, I decided to sew some doll clothes for my niece as a Xmas present. I have 4 more pieces of clothing to start & finish: The pink one I have to redo the collar as the raw edge didn't catch in a couple of places. And I still have dishes to wash and my lunch to make.

Here's Toil & Trouble- sounds like my life at the moment:

 

Doesn't seem like a lot since last time, does it?

Here's the kid at the Fall River Christmas parade- she had to drive Santa & Mrs. Claus, then give rides in the parking lot after.

Here's Jody:

That guy behind was the Comcast camera man following her around in circles in the parking lot.

It was cold.

And Hilarity Ensues:

Go Elf yourself!

http://www.elfyourself.com/

It's Never too soon

to go back to CakeWrecks. The most current post is an hysterical juxtaposition (way to go with the big wordz, Mare!) of  "This is What I'd Like My Wedding Cake to Look Like" and the actual creation from the bride-to-be's chosen bakery. Keep scrolling down for a most, ....uummm....ahemm... interesting (?) cookie cutter shape. Then keep going back to the Thanksgiving cake updates - more were added since my last referral to Jen's blog.

Have a great day- I'm getting my Toyota back today!!!! I can't wait! I didn't realize how much I missed that little car. Or maybe it's because I feel so jinxed lately with vehicles, I don't trust myself with the rental.