Out with the Old ...

I'd say we're pretty close to the edge of the year here. I still need to write down the resolutions I've been mulling and then, either today or tomorrow, wax philosophically about them on my less regular blog. I also need to confess the abysmal job I did with the resolutions I made for 2011. I think I set the bar way too high, but hey, at least I made them. That should count for something.

The Dying of the Light

The Christmas lights look so naked in the daylight. They, along with the tree, stockings, and other seasonal paraphernalia, will come down on Sunday. A taking down of the old as we welcome the new, or something like that. I reflect too much or too deeply at times, but if you can't do that at the changing of the year I'm not sure when you can.

One Confused Little Flower

I don't think this little guy knows it's winter and wonder if it will make it through the night. Seeing it did give the day a bit more warmth, though; I must admit that.

Serenity

I'm not sure it gets much better than this.

And What Have You Done Today?

Today I have entered a photo in a National Geographic contest looking for photos that convey the essence of Montana and finished putting together these quilt blocks made of seven years of Odyssey of the Mind/Destination Imagination t-shirts. I am also making progress in Jo Nesbo's The Devil's Star and managed 45 minutes skiing to nowhere before dashing into town for a hair appointment that wasn't. I'd rest on my laurels and finish the book, but if it's Tuesday, it must be karate this evening.

Additions to the Family (Tree)

The husband took younger son to his girlfriend's house today and returned with Christmas goodies including these three ornaments. I think they fit right into our assortment of oddities. Next year, though, I doubt they'll be hung together on the tree since there's never rhyme nor reason to what goes where ... with the exception of the Christmas Ape, that is.

Hmm?

Chinese food on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eves is another family tradition; this was my fortune from last night's dinner. Perhaps this is not the time to say that my Christmas presents included an unsuccessful attempt by the sons to purchase one of the guns sold after my dad's death. Let's just say that if I encounter the problem of having too much free time, I have several new books, fiction and crafty, and several new yarns with which to fill it. And a new gun, a near duplicate of the one that was Dad's favorite.

Berry Good Tidings

Two loaves of bread finished. One is half eaten, and one has been gifted. Three pounds of cranberries turned into sauce. Dough for two pie crusts awaiting rolling. After that, there's filling for two pumpkin pies to make as well as dough for tomorrow morning's cinnamon rolls. Merry Christmas Eve!

Waffle House? Biscuit House!

We're giving sanctuary this holiday (the why of which is beyond the scope of this sound-byte blog) to Biscuit, a 14-year-old mix of beagle, Jack Russell terrier, and possibly another breed or three. Her normal home is with someone who works all day and is gone most evenings as well. She's not used to a house in which there are people home and moving around all day, which is what ours is like during the holidays. Our cats are basically ignoring her, and any negative interactions have been quickly terminated. I think it will be a good week all around.

Some Preciouses

I cleaned my studio today, having decided that getting back to being creative would improve my mood. My studio is in the walkout basement and has a rather long in length, narrow in height window in which I keep things that are dear to me and that might count as clutter in the living area. Yes, that is a Shaun of the Dead action figure, along with a magnetic metallic creature, a raccoon, and a rock sculpture. The markers are for the whiteboard that hangs beneath the window and on which I scribble ideas and projects that may or may not see the light of day.

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

A friend gave me ninjabread men cookie cutters, and I thought how wonderful it would be to decorate little ninjas for my kendo and karate colleagues. Yeah right. I was so no good at frosting gis and belts onto the little suckers that I gave up, dumped lots of frosting on each one, and told the sons to have at them. Maybe next year.

The Stockings Were Hung ...

... not quite by the chimney with care but at least amidst all the Christmas cards we've received so far this year. I particularly like the ones from the Obamas and the Warners (Mark is one of our two Virginia senators).

Gruffles, Meet Biscuit

When I got Gruffles, one of the resident cats, Catbert, was convinced that it was a real dog. It will be interesting, then, to see what Catbert thinks of our guest for Christmas, a Jack Russell-beagle mix named Biscuit. The story is too long for a mini-blog; suffice to say Biscuit needs a safe house for the holidays, and we plan to provide it. Sort of like witness protection for dogs.

O, Christmas Ape

It wouldn't be Christmas without the Christmas ape atop the Christmas tree. What? You mean not everyone has a Christmas ape atop their tree? And this year, he's joined by the Rantosaurus, a so-far-undocumented Beanie Baby mutation.

Temperature's Rising

Our first fire of the year. It was cold enough for long enough today that it seemed like a good idea at the time. It still is ... a good idea, that is.

Think We Could Market This?

The sons heard me mention that I needed to work on my arm strength, having gotten out of the habit of lifting weights regularly. The next thing I know, there's a log outside the door and an axe. I did this chopping while today's bread (seven days down, one to go) rose a bit and baked a bit. Despite having no use for the log that resulted (I don't think it's aged enough to burn), I feel an incredible sense of accomplishment.

Time for a Tree?

The present chair is filling up fast. I'm thinking it's time to get the Christmas tree.

Party Time!

It's time for the office Christmas party, and those are my legs looking out from beneath hosiery. I don't wear skirts often, but tonight seemed appropriate. I never wear shoes with anything remotely like a high heel. I can only dress up to an intermediate height.

On Sale this Week

I made two loaves of bread today for the fourth day in a row. I'll make two tomorrow, two Thursday, and two Friday. Most of these are for the "breakfast in a bag" gifts I give to various people. One loaf of homemade bread, two jars of locally made jam, and two one-pot bags of good coffee. I'm thinking I may do gingerbread next week.

Mother's Day 2010

As many days as possible for the last two weeks, I've been spending 30 minutes or more working on my karate kicks and some kendo strikes. The floating bamboo floor is heaven on my feet. Even at 6:00 a.m., when it's dark outside the windows, the room feels so open. I may have gotten the hanging bag for Mother's Day 2010, but it was well worth the wait to have it done right.

It's a Bear!

Younger son was making a bear hat for his brother, and the first one was a bit too small, meaning I got one, too. The hat had no eyes or nose, so I'm working on adding those. I like the size of these eyes but think I'll see if I can get sew-on ones instead of these glue-on ones. I think my ears will be toasty warm this winter.

Who Took the Sake from the Sake Bottles?

All these bottles were full of sake at the start of last night's dinner gathering. For reference, the large bottle is 1.8 liters. There were 12 people here, nine of whom had some sake at some point in the evening. One person likely was not looking and feeling his very best this morning. Note the gender of the pronoun, i.e., it wasn't me.

Hostess With (or Without) the Mostest

The lighting on this poinsettia leaf could be better, but I'm in the home stretch to a dinner party and about to get to the do-a-bit-of-paid-work-I-can't-out-off-until-Monday point. Then it's coasting into hosting, though hopefully not downhill from here. Fried brain? Why, yes, I believe I do have one, thank you very much.

Taking What Help I Can Get

Catbert is trying to help me clean; really, she is. And at this point, I'll take what help I can get even if it's just making me smile and grab the camera.

Works in Progress

I'm hosting a dinner party of sorts the day after tomorrow. This offers a reason or excuse to clean up what passes for living quarters. What can I say? I'm working on it.

Pedaling Uphill

It's a busy week in a busy time of year, but I'm trying to do the best I can, as noted on this, my new favorite tote bag. It's from the Zazzle shop of the Bloggess. I may want to be her if I grow up. In the meantime, I don't really have a knife (a sharp one, that is) yet, but there's always Christmas or monetary Christmas gifts.

The Paw

Each morning when I sit down to coffee and the newspaper and any evening I sit down to read or knit, the paw appears. I want you to want me, it seems to say, reaching out over and over until I allow its owner access to my lap. Yes, this cat owns me.

Celebratory Pie

This is younger son's celebratory pie, a German Chocolate Pie, pre-cooking. My hands were sticky from the coconut topping, so younger son took the shot. The pie is now out of the oven and sitting for four hours (not arguing with the directions here). I expect it will be tasty. What's not to like about chocolate, pecans, and coconut?

It Takes so Little ...

to excite some people, like me evidently. I was making birthday cupcakes just now. I opened the egg carton and thought one of the eggs looked a bit off-center. Drat, methinks, it's cracked or broken. It turned out just to be a longer, narrower egg than any I've ever purchased from a grocery store. I'm used to getting eggs that defy the norm from farmers' markets or friends who raise chickens. I've never seen one like this get by the egg censors and make it into a commercial carton. Yeah, I'm just that weird that a slightly strange egg has totally made my day.

Forgotten Title Redux

Younger son's Wednesday interview with Amazon resulted in a very attractive job offer. When asked about a celebratory pie, younger son requested a pie he had not had before. The list in the photo is 20 pies I found that fit the bill and also did not contain the gelatin or marshmallow vegetarian younger son prefers to do without. Whether he chooses one or picks at random, it's new pie time this weekend!

Forgotten Title

A new month means a new calendar picture. I buy one wall calendar each year; this is the last page of the one for 2011. Behind it sits a 2012 calendar of Charles M. Russell artwork that I purchased in Montana. I don't expect that it will contain the profound statements this year's calendar has, but that's okay. Sometimes a pretty picture is all I need.