Thursday, December 31, 2015

Winter Wonderland 2015

I thought I'd squeeze in one last post for 2015.  As I write this, it's 11:30 p.m. One half-hour to go before 2016 starts. My son wanted to stay up until midnight and he asked me to stay up with him.

We've been snacking, watching "6teen," and playing a bit of MarioKart. Currently my son is playing his new Animal Crossing "New Leaf" game. I guess something exciting is going to happen at midnight on the game. I've been working on the Harvest Cardigan by Tin Can Knits.

These photos were taken much earlier this week.  Temps were 30 degrees F out and everything was SO pretty.  It truly was a winter wonderland outside. Then the weather switched and it's been dreary out and in the teens. The winter has been very mild so far.  I feel as though we just have to make it through January and the rest of the winter will be a cakewalk.  I know this isn't true, merely wishful thinking.








*sigh* It is so pretty out here.










2015 has been a wonderful year for me. I expect 2016 will be kind to me as well.

Happy New Years, everyone!

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

I'm now on Bloglovin

In the last few months I've learned how easy it is to follow blogs on Bloglovin.  I decided to add my own blog to the network. 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

 

Monday, December 21, 2015

If we were having coffee ...

I subscribe to The Perpetual Page-Turner blog and she had a post titled "If we were having coffee together." I thought to myself "What a clever idea." This type of blog post is for when I have a lot of little things I want to share.


Cup I purchased from a coworker. She made it!

 So, grab your coffee/beverage of your choice. I've got Earl Grey decaf in my cup. One of these days I'll actually take a photo of myself holding a cup of coffee for these posts. ... One day. ...

If we were having coffee ... I'd probably tell you, in a very excited voice, that I'm *finally* on the long-awaited two-week vacation that I put in for back in June or July. When last Friday rolled around, I was watching the clock and doing the mental countdown. When it was finally time to say "See ya!" it didn't feel quite real. The weekend went by in a blur and now I'm in the downswing to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I'd ask you what your Christmas plans are. Are you going anywhere or hosting Christmas this year. This year Christmas celebrations will be at my MIL's. I'll be honest, I don't know if I should be relieved or bummed out. This is the first year I put up decorations other than the Christmas tree. But it is also nice to have a break from hosting, eh, every so often.

If we were having coffee ... I'd tell you about what sometimes seems like a never ending thing, but I know it's time well spent. Even though we are on vacation my husband and I are still working on the splitting wood project. Today we split and stacked one whole cord of wood in less than two hours. My husband swears up and down that I did a fantastic job of stacking this wood on the pallet. I told him I think he's telling me that so I won't complain about stacking the wood. He walked over to me, said that wasn't true, and gave me a kiss.



If we were having coffee ... I'd tell you how cool it was to have someone tell me they read about Mr. Turkey, when I was out in the wilds of my hometown. Seriously, I think I got this cheese-eating grin on my face when the person said they'd never seen a turkey that big. It's also really neat to see people are sharing Mr. Turkey's story with friends and coworkers. I'd probably ask you if you've read the blog entry or seen the pictures I posted of the whole process of making this turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. If you haven't seen the blog entry, here it is. If you haven't guessed, I'm very proud of this endeavor.

I'd also tell you how my husband and I have been given another turkey. He's acclimated to the coop fine. Though I do think him and our head Roo, Skips, had a bit of a tussle. In any case, everyone seems to be okay with the new bird in the coop. He's just a bit younger than our Mr. Turkey. We aren't sure how long we will keep this new guy.

If we were having coffee ... I'd probably blather about the little bit of coloring I did the other night. I haven't done much coloring since late summer, having turned my attention to cranking out dishcloths and the various bits of sewing I was doing.


This page came out of a book by Karla Dornacher. I completed it in about 45 minutes or so. Then I discovered the pages aren't perforated. So I'm not sure how I'll take it out of the book.

I've been doing a little bit of other crafting, but not a whole lot. I cranked out so many dishcloths for my work's craft sale that I am pretty much set for dishcloths for a good long while. I've been working on a stripy sock and am ready to decrease for the toe. I've also sloowly been working on a skirt for myself. I've been sewing it a bit at a time. I want to do everything right on it. So no rushing through it. Another reason for not getting much done, crafting-wise, has been the whole getting ready for Christmas bit. I'd ask you if you've been doing anything with your hobbies. Is there anything you are feeling particularly happy about?

If we were having coffee ... I'd squee and let you know that the first gardening catalog came in the mail today.


 At the start of Fall I started daydreaming of what I'd like to do in the yard and garden next spring and summer. Grand plans of delusions, I sometimes call them. I have to think creatively, since we have the ladies. The ladies always seem to go right where I don't want them to be. I'm very lucky to have a husband who indulges me when it comes to this sort of thing. 


If we were having coffee ... I'd sigh and tell you about my reading escapades, or somewhat lack there of. ... I had about an hour left of the "Crewel" audiobook I was listening to. Then it expired on me. Again. For whatever reason, my mind just hasn't been on the audiobooks. The last month or so I think my mind has been craving quiet, if that makes any sense. The other audiobook I was listening to, sort of, was "Floors." I grabbed it from the library shelf, thinking my son would enjoy it. I don't know if it's the story, or the reader, or the combination of both. None of us are feeling it. No kidding, I played the first disc when my husband was in the car and he fell asleep. "Floors" will go back to the library as soon as I get there.

I still haven't touched "Westing Game." It is sitting my bedside table. My insomnia seems to be back. Now that I don't have to be getting up for work the next 10 days or so I'll be reading it before bedtime, I think. Too much stuff going on during the day for me to sit down with it. Next year I plan on making a serious dent on my kindle. As soon as I'm ready for audiobooks again I'll be blasting through those during my commutes. I'd ask you about what you are reading and if you have any recommendations. I'm always open to book suggestions. 

If we were having coffee ... I'd tell you that even though I don't do New Year resolutions, I am giving serious thought to things I'd like to change in the upcoming year. I'm not sure how much I will actually get accomplished. I do know I'd like to get a bit more organized on some personal stuff. I've been reading a lot out in the blogosphere lately and a lot of what I've been seeing is people talking about organization and binders. I'm not exactly sure what's in these binders. But it is on the mental list of things I'd like to get figured out. Wish me luck! I'd ask you if there is anything you want to work on in 2016, or if you have any resolutions or goals. 
  
I also want to get back in to the swing of blogging more consistently. I really do miss writing. I say this frequently and then I don't write for a month. I really want to start carving some time out for me to write. I haven't decided if I want to try a schedule or just write. I'd ask you for your opinion. Set up a schedule or just write when I have the urge? 

I have a whole slew of things turning over in my brain. And I wonder why I can't sleep through the night? Right?

This may be my last entry for the year 2015. I haven't decided yet. Actually, I've been trying to be off the computer during my vacation and I've spent a lot of time on the laptop tonite.  I've been a good girl and haven't been on any social media since Saturday morning. No shakes either!

If this is the last one for the year I'd like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas (Or whichever holiday you celebrate) and a fantastic start to the new year.