2013

I have an aversion to "Year in Review" things

they give me a sort of melancholy feeling

but here I am doing a year in review

-ha-

it is actually very empowering

I'm quite surprised that I was able to squeeze as much life out of 2013 as I did

*

goodbye 2013 it's been One Fine Year

kitchen table

... in the last 3 days, we've completed two 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles and have moved on to board games ... this mom is loving the way the kitchen table is usurping iPods, iPads, iPhones, and Kindle Fires. Pretty cool how some things never change.

from my sky

to your sky ... Merry Christmas

almost taking time

 ... for tea ...

While chopping potatoes, I was struck by the simple beauty of this still life. It's been a hectic couple of weeks - but a joyful sort of hectic. I'm making potato leek soup for tonight's dinner and tomorrow's lunch. A sensible choice amid the still long to-do list. To do: laundry, beds, floors, dogs, sheets, towels ... and what doesn't get done surely won't mind waiting. I'll finish my chopping, my tea, this post, and pick up where I left off.

Merry Christmas to you and your dear ones. 

Take time for tea and kisses.

yummy goodness

yesterday, I got together with my two moms to make Christmas cookies

we made french shortbread, brownies, spritz cookies

snowballs, rugelach, macaroons, palmiers, and I forget what all else

- get ready for the cravings to sweep over you -

spritz cookies:

macaroons:

rugelach:

still to make:

gingerbread boys and chocolate crinkles

maybe tomorrow?

quilted goodness

I have some more vintage quilted goodies to show you

the first one is from the blue and white Ohio Star quilt I used for the little heart ornaments

it's a tree topper star to replace the Barbie-esque angel from China:

and with a mint green and white pinwheel quilt 

(which is in pretty good shape except for one edge which I had to cut off)

I made these embroidery hoop ornaments:

(the ornaments are in my Etsy shop Christmas section)

I'm off to go make Christmas cookies today

it's a real production

I'll show you some Yummy Goodness tomorrow 

:)

saving some green

I forego the luscious evergreen wreaths every year.

Originally, I was motivated by pinching pennies.

But once I learned about evergreen poaching, 

it's super easy to turn up my nose and glide right past them in the market.

this year I snipped some holly and cedar from our own trees in the backyard

I stuck them in some woolen mittens - tied on a red ribbon accent - and there you have it

guilt free

and lest you think I have it all together over here

- I'll show you my whole porch -

rotting and frozen pumpkins and all

a poem

When Sun is sleeping in,

a short timer before the layoff,

Frost is busy with busy work.

Warding off The Pink Slip,

Frost shoots off a memo to the Night.

His memo is clearly CYA, 

"Have you seen the things Frost has touched? The lovely work he has done? 

Unsurpassed by anyone else, particularly the Sun.'"

And HR takes note of his industry,

recommending that Frost be retained:

"Negotiate a lower wage,

may I suggest an increase in hours?

The pretty work that once required many,

is now being done by one."

*

I am fully intending to blog here more frequently, lest I become a short timer myself

here's to fresh starts and all that