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Sunday, November 30, 2014

Sunday Evening.

...Sara just texted that she's landed in Madison. It was great having her here, even for just a few days (and I'm pretty sure I have no photos to even prove she was here, nor for that matter, was I!) Our family was together and it felt so comfortable and complete.

We put up some of the holiday decorations on Friday and she hesitated to take an active role - "I don't know where it goes, or how you like it". Or course she did a fine job on the two mantels and the dining room. And our Christmas wish tree. This was a Sara/Mary project back in 2007 and I've always arranged the cards; this year Sara did it by herself. I didn't cry when I dropped her off at the airport this afternoon. But this evening, when I really looked at the tree and saw this card, placed near the top, right beside "hope" and just below "peace", it hit me. hard.

I have a lot more thoughts and feelings about "family", but that's gonna be another post. For now, I just want to relax on this Sunday evening. Finishing up a few more leftovers, watching TV with Marc and talking over the holiday.

p.s. to everyone who blogged all 30 days this month, congratulations!!

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Saturday, November 29, 2014

What's the Good Word?!

...To Hell with Georgia!!! (#thwg)

I can count the number of times Georgia Tech has won the annual Saturday-after-Thanksgiving matchup with Georgia on two hands (it's been eight times since 1979 when I started to watch). It appears little Charlie is indeed a lucky charm - because the eighth time happened today! The Jackets have had a pretty great 2014 season - including the Saturday Charlie was born and they beat Georgia Southern (and Georgia lost to South Carolina).

At this point, we find it's easier not to watch the game (in real time). Marc golfed. Sara and I played a pre-game visit to the Tieman's (when I took the photo above), but we left just before kickoff. Then we watched four episodes of Homeland while Sara monitored Tech's twitter feed. Only when I was sure we'd won - in overtime! - did I post my lucky charm photo ... and see what else was on Instagram. My feed is usually knitters and food, but today there was a lot of Georgia Tech spirit!

 

Katie's photo is - no surprise! - my favorite!

(hoping your team won today, too... unless of course, your team was Georgia!)

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Friday, November 28, 2014

Cheers! Spiced Apple Cocktails.

...my notes for this one date back to November, 2012. Not exactly a classic...but heading into a third holiday season, I feel like it's a keeper worth sharing.

The key ingredient is a spiced apple simple syrup. It's easy and needs to be done ahead so it can chill. I made it this morning, had it in the refrigerator this afternoon and made cocktails this evening... the perfect early holiday toast!

Spiced Apple Simple Syrup
completely inspired by Katie!

1-1/2 C water
3 T sugar (this makes an 8:1 simple syrup - not very sweet at all, but it works great with the champagne)
2 heaping T mulling spices
1/8 apple, sliced very (very!) thin

Put everything into a small saucepan over medium heat and cook until the sugar dissolves (maybe 5 minutes). Turn off the heat and let it cool for a few hours. Then strain into a jar, cover and refrigerate (at least a few hours and up to a few weeks...really - it keeps great!)

 

My favorite way to use this syrup is with champagne. Fill a flute with champagne and add a tablespoon of the syrup on top.

For a "real" cocktail, shake the syrup with gin, a little water and crushed ice. Add a dash of bitters and a half lemon slice.

Cheers!

 

 

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Thursday, November 27, 2014

Throwback Thursday | Thanksgiving.

Sara & Katie - Thanksgiving, 1998
...looking forward to seeing these two girls at our table again today. Wishing you and your families the very best Thanksgiving!

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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

WIP Wednesday | Cooking.

...on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, it's probably no surprise that my works-in-progress are more focused on food than on knitting. (although I did get Charlie's holiday sweater blocked - it's still drying - and I added inches to Sara's cowl...but that will be another post!)

I talked yesterday about "new traditions" and a few of those are wrapped into tomorrow's meal. New recipes....and most of it cooked just by me. I don't remember the last time I cooked the meal by myself. I'm honestly not sure I ever did. In the years before Katie and Sara helped, I'm pretty sure Marc was there... for sure he cooked the turkey.

In recent years, I took over the turkey (and even the gravy, which surprised everyone, especially me!), but the girls were there along with me. Sara took a lead role with vegetables and desserts (always her specialty) and Katie made sides (butternut squash mac and cheese!) and apple pie.

I'm not sure exactly what inspired a toss up this year...maybe it was just time?! But it's just the five of us...small numbers are perfect for trying out new things! (especially when they're family!)... and it won't all be new - there will be turkey and the cranberry sauce Sara found two years ago and the green beans Katie found a few years before that...but just about everything else will be new. It feels weird but also happy to let go those recipes that anchored the holiday (obviously, we weren't really that attached to anything!)

One more thing that's new this year is the schedule. In all the past years, we've done everything (except for Sara's desserts) on Thursday. This year, we're hoping to spend the day not cooking ... which means I needed to get a big head start today. I think I got it all done.

but now it's nearly 9pm ... I hear the garage door...Sara is home...and whatever I didn't get done today...will have to get done tomorrow!

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Ten on Tuesday | Thankful.

...with Thanksgiving just two days away, it's no surprise today's topic is about being thankful. I certainly have plenty to be thankful for - family, health, home, friends, faith - and I am so very grateful for all of it. Here's a taste of a few specific things I said "thank you" for in the last 24 hours:

on the trail at Webb Bridge Park

1. My knitting students. It still amazes me that I get paid to do something I really love. Teaching knitting is a dream come true.

2. Webb Bridge Park. I took the photo above on Saturday afternoon when Katie and I were there for a run/walk (yay!). It's close (ten minutes) and beautiful in all four seasons.

3. Friends to walk with. Lauren and Katie and Virginia...and Holly (always!).

4. The smell of "real" pumpkin spice in my kitchen. There's a pumpkin creme brulee cooking in the oven right now (seasoned with vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg) and pumpkin oatmeal cranberry muffins cooling on the counter.

5. Carla, my hairdresser for more than 25 years. (remember that scary numbers post a few weeks back? yep, it was five weeks ago...and I paid Carla another visit this morning!) We've been friends through pregnancies, babies, school, college, weddings and grandchildren. All my good hair days are a credit to her skill with the dye and the scissors.

6. New Thanksgiving traditions. New recipes (mostly prepared today and tomorrow), a new baby, a daughter flying in tomorrow night, father-in-law/son-in-law golf.

7. Old Thanksgiving traditions. Wednesday lunch with my sister and my folks at Village Tavern (known for its crab dip...and half-price wine Wednesdays), all the other family get-togethers while my parents visit, the Macy's parade on the DVR so we can skip the commercials.

8. Leftovers. We're still finishing Sunday's brunch. It's down to salad and ham sandwiches, but it's turkey...and it doesn't require cooking!

9. The weather. Not too hot and not too cold and hopefully not wet (at one point over the weekend there was snow in tomorrow's forecast...thankful that was wrong!)

10. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (aka Flavia de Luce #1). Borrowed from the library and enjoying immensely. Love a new series, especially one I didn't buy!

...and there you have it. Plenty to be thankful for! What are you saying "thank you" for today?

 

 

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Monday, November 24, 2014

Meeting the Great Grandparents.

...My mom and dad got to meet Charlie for the first time Friday evening. It was so great to share their excitement.

My dad with Katie and Charlie

We were all together again yesterday (the sangria was delicious!) and this time we tried for a "real" photo. My sister was shooting with my dad's camera and I had my phone. Between the two of us, I think we have a handful of good ones. But wow, it's hard to get three people to all look good for one photo...especially when one of them is just ten weeks old!

No matter. These are my six favorites - every one of them shows a smile...on at least one face!

 

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Sunday, November 23, 2014

Borrowing Books.

...a sure Day to Celebrate - Today, I borrowed my first ebook from the library. When I queued all six of the Flavia de Luce books last weekend, I figured it was a very long shot I'd be able to read them in order. But #6 arrived first, followed the next day by #4 and #5 and I knew I couldn't do it that out of order. I called the library to release the holds. I was sure I'd pickup the series ... later.

So I was delighted to see the email this afternoon about #1 being available...as an ebook. I only hope I can finish it in 14 days (when I guess it turns into a pumpkin and disappears?)

...and then I have #2 and #3 coming...but I'm going to have to re-subscribe to 4,5 and 6.

Is it just me (or my library) or is library reading harder than I remember?

p.s. I read the first chapter and I'm delighted...anticipate no issues finishing this first one in 14 days!

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Saturday, November 22, 2014

...'tis the season.

...for holiday sangria!

It always feels like the holidays when I break out the tupperware pitcher, cut up fruit, add whole spices, and mix it up with some Cointreau and a big (cheap) bottle of red wine. Tomorrow, for brunch, I'll pour it into a pretty glass pitcher, add a bottle of good ginger ale (because I couldn't find ginger beer today)...and toast the beginning of the season.

I took these photos last December when I made a double batch for a girlfriend's birthday. You can see more of the process and the ingredients (and the ginger beer I managed to find then!)

Holiday Sangria
(originally inspired by Sprouted Kitchen)
Half an apple, thinly sliced (pear works well too...or a combination of both)
2 clementines, quartered
Half a lemon, sliced
(you can also add grapes, halved)
1 T whole cloves
1 T whole allspice
1 cinnamon stick
2/3 C Cointreau
1.5 liter bottle of not-so-nice dry red wine
12 oz ginger beer (or really ginger-y ginger ale)

Put the fruit into a pitcher, then add the spices, the Contreau and the wine. Refrigerate overnight. To serve, pour the whole mixture into a pretty glass pitcher and top with the ginger beer/ale.

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Friday, November 21, 2014

FO Friday | Hats!!

...Katie and I braved the cold on Wednesday to photograph hats.

I even updated all the Ravelry details (clockwise from the upper left: Lush Rib Cap, Cream Nor'Easter, Cloud Watch, Sidewalk Pebble). Every one of these is quick and easy and warm. You might even have yarn on hand (I did buy the Pebble and the bulky cream for Nor'easter, but the other two used leftovers from previous projects).

I'm planning to give Sara her choice of these when she's here next week (I'd be delighted if she took all of them ... not that I need a reason to knit more, but I do have three more patterns and the yarn just waiting to go!)

 

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Thursday, November 20, 2014

Throwback Thursday | The Early Years.

...yesterday was our anniversary. Hard to believe it's been 31 years since we said "I do" and shared a very public kiss after two neat bites of wedding cake.

And maybe harder to believe we started dating when I was 16 years old! That's a lot of years together. I'm sure I have a photo from that first fall (but I'm not sure where it is), so instead I'll share this one. It was taken at Marc's sister's wedding, summer 1981.

Early years indeed!

 

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Wednesday, November 19, 2014

New Wallpaper | Two Months.

...y'all might remember my "hope" from Monday's currents was an updated Marmie/Charlie photo. Katie (and Charlie) indulged me a bit and I'm delighted with my new wallpaper.

(note that the wallpaper version doesn't include the bare legs...poor little guy - I really wanted him wearing the sweater I knit, but it was too hot in front of the fire for a sweater and pants!)

The bloopers are pretty fun too. His serious face is a really close second to his smile...and I have a feeling we're gonna see a lot more blur (the bottom row, second from the right) in the upcoming weeks.

After Katie finished with all those photos, I took the camera while she played with him. He's discovered his hands; and he's pretty delighted with them!

His two month checkup was this morning (happy to report all is well...mama and baby were troopers for three shots!) and the doctor said his next big thing would be rolling over. Stay tuned... I'm going to figure out how to film and post a video to celebrate that milestone.

Happy Wednesday!

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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Ten on Tuesday | Play It Again.

...yikes, it's nearly 7pm already - I know where the day went (knitting, a walk, Costco, lunch with Katie, more knitting, a nap - last night was a late one!, another walk, laundry and dishes), but boy did it fly by...like all the days seem to lately. Remember that scary numbers post from a few weeks back? yeah, it will be 2015 in just over six weeks. I wish I could slow the clock (and not only to give me more time to knit the Christmas gifts!).

And now you're probably wondering how that little tangent relates to today's topic. Carole's asked us to list ten musicians we'd like to bring back (from the dead). A few of the guys on my list died way too young. I'm not even sure they realized how quickly their time here would end. I hope they'd agree with me that even just a few more months could be time well-spent. Maybe they wouldn't make any new music, but knowing these guys, I think they would. And that would be such a gift.

The first names that popped into my head when I read the prompt were classical composers. I ended up limiting them to just four names. These are my favorites. I definitely think they could make it in the 21st century...and have fun with it!

1. Mozart

2. Bach

3. Vivaldi

4. Beethoven (I wonder if modern medicine could help him hear...and then I wonder if that would spoil his genious? and if he'd even like it?!)

then the John's

5. Johnny Cash

6. John Denver

7. John Lennon

and the rest

8. Elvis (from the 1960's)

9. Frank Sinatra (ditto)

10. Marvin Gaye (even after 31 years, this is still my very favorite date night music - for the next 31 years, it would be nice to have a few new songs!)

And now...back to knitting. I did get some great Charlie photos yesterday and I'll be sharing them soon, but if you don't want to wait that long, check out Katie's post (here).

Click here to join the Ten on Tuesday fun.

 

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Monday, November 17, 2014

Currents | November 2014.

It's a wet, gray morning outside, the kind that makes me very glad I don't need to be anywhere until lunchtime (but also a little sad because I was looking forward to re-joining my running group after a month-long absence). Seems the perfect time to pour another cup of coffee...and reflect on what's happening right now.
last November 17 - celebrating my birthday and our anniversary in the Dominican Republic
Loving: Marc has been home for two weeks. The evenings, especially, have been so nice - shared dinners with conversation (and no popcorn!)

Embracing: shorter days...cozy evenings on the couch with a fire.

Reading: nothing right this second. I just finished the third Outlander (Voyager) and Anna Quindlen's Lots of Candles Plenty of Cake and felt like I needed a break. So I reserved the entire Flavia de Luce series from the library.

Laughing: out loud along with Charlie.

Listening: to XM's Holly station (I did hold off until yesterday...and it's only in the car).

Splurging: on six skeins of gorgeous cream colored yarn to knit Christmas gifts for my girls.

Craving: one of Katie's specialty gin cocktails - nothing says "celebrate fall" quite like it!

Hoping: for an updated Marmie/Charlie photo today (Katie's invited me for lunch).

Trying: to get back into my good running/yoga routine.

Wearing: boots, tights, a dress and my pebble cowl (well, that's the plan anyway once I change out of my pajamas!)

Knitting: all the hats! and a Christmas sweater for Charlie.

Enjoying: this daily blogging thing. way more than I thought I would!

Remembering: that "birthday martini" (shown in the photo above) that left me a little tipsy before dinner.

Anticipating: Sara and my parents meeting Charlie for the first time.

What about you? are you anticipating anything special right now?

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Sunday, November 16, 2014

Hello, My Name is Mary.

...and I'm addicted to knitting hats.

clockwise from the top: Nor'Easter, a test knit for Charlie, Pressed Rib Cap, Mix No 32, (new) Simple Pleasures and (in progress) Watch Cap

It all started innocently enough a few weeks back when I signed up to knit the (new) Simple Pleasures for the last newsletter. But before that issue even published I was combing the stash (and the scraps) to knit the other three. I even started a KAL ... but I think I'm the only one who's participating (it's a sad addiction when you can do it without any company).

The Watch Cap I started this morning is the last of the four newsletter hats. Waiting in the wings (as a result of all that stash/scrap combing) are three more: the Churchmouse beret, another Simple Pleasures and Downton.

Stay tuned for modeled shots - so far, every single one is a winner...and obviously, they're quick and easy! (and yikes, stay tuned, too, for Ravelry details... I haven't even kept my projects up to date through the frenzy!)

 

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Saturday, November 15, 2014

Daily Crazy.

...I know I was two days late coming to this daily posting party, but halfway in...I'm really having a great time with it. Recalls my early blogging days back in 2007 when I was a lot more likely to post on Saturdays and Sundays than Mondays or Tuesdays (or any other day of the week). One photo and/or one story is all it takes. (and whoa, photos are way better now!)

2007 was a banner creative year for me: I started my blog in February and that December, I participated in Shimelle's Journal Your Christmas and made my first daily December album. That album is still one of my favorites; not only for the wonderful stories I captured, but also the process...creating something every day (and really, it was just the words I created daily - the paper and cutting and pasting happened every day or two).

I made four more daily December albums and then in 2012 and 2013 wrapped that daily practice into Project Life. In 2012 I was good about capturing something each day and slipping it into one of the pockets. Last year, I didn't even manage that. The weeks are there, but the days...not so much.

And now, I guess I've come full circle. I want to take this daily energy full speed into December...and create another daily album. A real one. with paper and scissors and glue. and printed photos adhered to paper. along with a few other good bits and pieces that make up December. glitter and ribbons. (and yarn...definitely yarn. I think I want to knit a few Christmas gifts too...)

How do y'all document the season? is anyone else into this daily thing like I think I might be?

 

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Friday, November 14, 2014

Lindsay Finished.

...I came so close to blowing off today's post. For no good reason except that I was having too much fun knitting hats. and a Christmas sweater for Charlie. But then I looked at my photos and realized that all I really needed to do...was post them. Huge thank you to Katie (and the lovely trees off her back deck that look like a watercolor) for the photos. And to Julie Weisenberger for the pattern. And to Shibui for the yarn. Enough words, here you go.

 

When my shop hosted a Shibui Mix event earlier this year, this piece was a standout. I modeled the sample and was sold. on the spot (which is saying a lot for a sweater that's got over $200 worth of yarn in it!). The mix is linen, mohair/silk (Silk Cloud) and wool/alpaca (Cima). Body, drape, warmth...it's all there. It wasn't even that hard to hold three strands together (baggies!). The sleeves, which I worked on double points and everyone else worked on 16" circulars were the fiddliest part - and Julie had you knit them first. I cast on the day that Katie went into labor and this was not the project I took to the hospital...it wasn't the project I pulled out for the next few weeks either (double points and three strands of yarn in baggies seemed like a bad idea). But I'd committed to finishing by October 31; I did the last cuff and wove in the ends on November 1. Close enough.

The piece is lighter than I remember, but still warm. And oh my the details. It fits beautifully and the seams are just right to help it hold its shape.

It's all detailed on Ravelry (here).

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Thursday, November 13, 2014

Throwback Thursday | Great Grandparents.

...Katie was the first grandchild for both Marc's and my family. When she was born, all four of her grandparents were living, along with four great grandparents on my side and two on Marc's. Of course she met the grandparents right away and over the course of her first few years, met all the great's, too. This photo is from her first meeting with my dad's parents; they visited us in April, 1987 when Katie was about two months old.

Charlie has four grandparents (all of whom he's met!) and five great's. I'm really excited he's going to meet the first two of them next week when my parents come to visit for Thanksgiving. Just about the same age his mama was. And oh thank goodness for better cameras...and digital!


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Wednesday, November 12, 2014

WIP Wednesday.

...it's been 12 hours now and still...

My "in process" page on Ravelry is empty. That's right! I have nothing* on the needles. Certainly this won't continue much longer; my queue is calling loudly to me! But it's kind of nice to pause for just a bit before I let myself dive headfirst into the next round of projects. I'm actually thinking a hat is going to be the first thing I start, because those two sweaters at the top of the list must be swatched...and today that just isn't gonna happen.

Want to see what I finished yesterday? Here's a quick peek (click the photos to see the details on Ravelry):

*well...nothing that hasn't been in hibernation for weeks, or months, or years!

 

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Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Ten on Tuesday | Collections.

...this week, Carole's asked us to share about our collections. I don't think of myself as a Collector, but I didn't have any trouble coming up with a list of ten!

1. Birds. Mostly carved wooden pieces, but I also have one ceramic (an eagle my brother gave me years ago) and one glass (from Marc). A few of the pieces were from my grandparents. They loved the ones carved from a single piece of trunk so it looks like the bird is perched on a stump; the front left and far back right ones are from them. This collection sits on the chest behind my desk. I've got to curate it carefully now because there's really not much more room!

2. Bird ornaments. This is a collection I'm still adding to. I think it was three Christmases ago when I realized I had enough ornaments to fill a tree. The Bird Tree is one of my favorite holiday pieces. I'll be sure to share more about that next month!

3. Fashion prints. This collection started with these six prints from my mom. They're from Godey's fashion magazines from the 1860's and 70's. Over the years, I've added a few more pieces.

This piece is a special favorite; it's also the oldest (1847!)

4. Tea cups. I started collecting them as souvenirs when I was a teenager. One of the first pieces is from Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia. I haven't added to this collection in years, only because the cupboard is full.

5. Blue and white. This is one of my newer collections, inspired when we updated our kitchen and dining room back in the early 2000's. I had a few family pieces and decided to add (a lot) more. It was a lot of fun to comb antique markets with my folks. Most of what I have is hanging here and on another smaller wall in the dining room. When we moved to this house, picking just the right red for the walls was a big deal. I think I did (finally) get it right!

6. Stangl pottery. I think my mom acquired her first pieces when we lived in New Jersey in the late 70's. I didn't realize until just now that the factory closed in November, 1978. Perfect timing! She gave me this piece in the 1980's but it wasn't until the 2000's that I got serious about it. I now have small bowls, several plates, a serving bowl, creamer and sugar, luncheon plates and a gravy boat. Most of the pieces have the same fruit design, but not all. The luncheon plates have dogwood blooms around the edges, perfect for entertaining here in Georgia!

7. Depression glass plates. I'm pretty sure I was inspired by Martha Stewart here; she got me crazy into this in the early 2000's (I still am...just not quite so much!) I love using the dessert/salad plates when I entertain. I pick them up in sets of four and varying colors. I have a lot of amber, some clear and four each of green and amethyst. Sadly, I had a shelf mishap this summer and lost a few of my favorites...I'm hoping my mom and dad feel up to an antiquing trip when they're here for Thanksgiving so I can "replace" them.

8. Georgia Tech. This is as much Marc's collection as mine. It lives in the basement along with his "golf" collection.

9. Fans. My grandmother gave me her collection; I added to it a bit in my teen years, but haven't done anything with it since then. They're pretty to look at - and the history is fascinating...but they're hard to display (and no one uses them anymore). All of my "active" collections are on view and/or used on a regular basis.

10. Spoons. My mom had a huge collection (as did her mother) and multiple racks to display them. She actively added to it when I was growing up; it was her souvenir of choice when we traveled and we gifted her a few, too. She shared the collection with me, my brother and my sister and I think each of us has added a vew pieces over the years. I had a few racks and displayed mine...but then I got tired of always having to polish them and in one kitchen re-do, took down the racks, and never put them up again. Now the spoons live happily tarnish free in a bag in a drawer. A hidden collection.

So that's it - a list of ten and I'm done! I've loved sharing all this - and realizing (yet again!) how wonderful it is to inherit both a love of collecting (and a few of those collections themselves)!

This was a fun share; look forward to seeing what interesting and pretty things y'all collect!

 

 

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Monday, November 10, 2014

Getting Back to Normal.

...Katie shared these two photos of Charlie with me last night and they brought tears to my eyes. I've missed a lot of things these past few days but none more than that little guy's smiles (and belly laughs...that nearly always result in hiccups!).

I made coffee this morning. I caught up on my Feedly reader (y'all know this NaBloPoMo thing makes it brutal to miss even a day, let alone four!) I started to think about what I might actually do for the next two days. You know me, I've always got to have a list. ...and then I decided I wouldn't make one. I do have a few things I must do (yikes, the shop's blog has been neglected the whole of little Charlie's life!, and the house and Marc need a bit of TLC) but otherwise... we'll see. Stay tuned!

 

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Sunday, November 9, 2014

Slow Cooker Chicken Soup.

...first, thank you all so much for your feel better wishes. I am happy to report that we are all doing better. Katie & Charlie are nearly recovered. Slight fever here still, but I've got some energy. So different from the last few days - it's wonderful! I'm now on a self-imposed 48-hour quarantine. My son-in-law convinced me the last 72 hours are not worth saddling anyone else with...and I've reluctantly agreed.

Now on to today's topic. It's a simple one. Carole asked what we were having for dinner and my response was chicken soup. And then I thought "hey, why don't you blog about that?!" and I thought "ok, why not." (can you tell I'm feeling better?)

Yesterday morning, like any good husband whose wife hasn't stirred from the couch in 24 hours, Marc decided we needed chicken soup. He wanted to make this favorite Mexican version, but I told him that was too spicy and suggested just a plain soup instead. He layered two frozen chicken breasts, a bag of chopped onions, a few stalks of chopped celery, a chopped sweet potato, a handful of baby carrots, a handful of roughly chopped mushrooms, sprinkled liberally with basil, thyme and pepper and covered the whole thing with water to the top of the slow cooker. It cooked on low for six-ish hours (he played golf...I'm not sure what I did). When he got home he fished out the breasts, shredded them, and added them back to the pot. It sat on warm for a couple more hours, but it was cold in the refrigerator before I had a mugful just after I typed that post last night. The bowl you see above is the one I had for lunch. Just as tasty. (and that's good; Marc goes back to Michigan on Tuesday and there's still almost a whole slow cooker full of soup to eat!)

Hope you had something good to eat today...even better if someone else cooked it for you!

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Saturday, November 8, 2014

Looking Up | Late Afternoon Walk.

...I felt well enough* for a short walk this afternoon. It was the first time since Wednesday that Holly and I had been further than the front of our neighborhood. She enjoyed it (I swear she pratically skipped up the street) and so did I. The fresh air smelled good...and I was reminded to look up (thank you Margene!). I saw camellias.

This bush is huge. Usually you see camellias closer to the ground. The pink blooms and bright green foliage are so pretty, though, against the sky.

The trees lining the street still have a few leaves, creating a lovely canopy of red, orange, gold, yellow and green.

I hope you had the chance to look up today and that you saw something beautiful - happy Saturday!

*Seems I'm recovering from something much worse than yesterday's procedure. Katie and baby Charlie and I all have some sort of upper respiratory infection. Nothing life threatening (even for little Charlie, who made his first visit to the emergency room this morning...age eight weeks), but whoa, it's knocked us for a loop! I've spent most of the last 36 hours sleeping it off on the couch. I felt bad enough at 7pm when I closed my eyes for another nap that I didn't even care if today's post didn't happen. So I counted myself lucky when I woke up, checked the clock and saw it was still today!

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Friday, November 7, 2014

Laying Low.

...I had big plans for an FO post today (I've got three to share!). But I had that "over 50" procedure this morning (everything is fine, and I don't have to go again for five more years - woot!) and now all I want to do is sit on the couch, with something warm to drink (Katie stopped by Starbucks on our way home to get me the grande triple shot extra hot latte I've been craving for 36 hours), a fire, my knitting, and HGTV.

Happy Friday!

 

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