Christmas Shopping ~ Friday Finishes

Even though Hubby didn't want to exchange gifts, I took advantage of a 50% off sale and got him some joggers for the gym, a new pair of slippers with rubber soles (he wanted some to take the dog out), and half price snow boots.   He hasn't had a pair for a few years.  I got them half off and another $10 off that.  A very good deal.  I already gave him the snow boots.  All things he's needed, but never took the time to get himself.

Hubby asked me to write up a list of things to get me. I told him "I have no idea."  

Finished the double wrap infinity scarf.  It's ready for delivery.  She previously ordered the headband, and wanted a scarf to match.

Finished Hubby's hat.  Got it wrapped too.  He has no idea.  I've been working on it while he's at work.  Very warm too.

Snow ~ Crochet ~ Hot Cocoa

Most schools ended up closing yesterday.   Our school eventually closed too. Vehicles were traveling slow past our house, and I never saw one snow plow.  Although I wanted to go out for one last Christmas present, I enjoyed the thought of staying home and crocheting.

I whipped up a batch of homemade hot cocoa for gifting two people.  The gift-it list went down considerably this year.  My side of the family set a gathering date mid-January - no gifts, no Christmas traditional food, etc.  I guess you would call it a winter gathering (same thing happened last year).  They want a taco bar, so with Hubby not allowed to eat carbs we'll just take some low carb spinach or tomato wraps (or stuff for taco salad minus tortilla chips).  I love Christmas, and making homemade gifts, so this sort of depressed me.  I feel like my side of the family lets life keep us from celebrating Christmas anymore.

I indulged with a hot cup of hot cocoa myself.  I'll admit it was delicious.  Hubby can't have the sugar, so most of the batch will be enjoyed by our youngest daughter.

I also used up the last of the apples and baked a dutch apple pie.  I was worried it wasn't enough apples, but the apples needed used up for something.


I spent some time doing some handiwork as well, and finished the nail polish ornaments.

Sold an XL hot pad - more $$ going into the coop fund.

Random Tidbits

I should have paid more attention to the weather.  It's much warmer, but 90% chance of rain, and it's raining.  No wood cutting today.  Ugh.

My sets didn't sell at the craft show.  Not one, so this one went into my youngest daughter's hope chest.

I found these reindeer antlers in the Christmas totes.  Romeo didn't like them, but let us put them on for a short while. 

I finished the granny square scarf with matching slouchy hat for our 20 year-old daughter.

The stray cats are trusting me a bit more lately.  I found both looking inside the door at me this morning.  They will run off if I open the door though.  Just ignore those doggie nose marks on the glass, ha ha!

I went out to the "Big City" for a few errands and one was to find paint brushes for water painting books.  Believe or not, I found the books at the dollar store, but no brushes. I found those at Wal-Mart.

Christmas ~ Nail Polish Bottle Ornament

Does anyone else feel like Christmas will be here way too quick and over with way too quick?  I feel like the clock is zipping by this year.  I love Christmas time too.  

Hubby's family arranged crafting weekends all month long, but all the crafts are items that go to the cemetery.  I'm just getting depressed from them all, so I'll be staying home and focusing on positive, mood boosting, happy stuff.  Not that I don't want to forget anyone, but it's been one long year and I'd rather move on and be happy as they'd want us to be.

Bad news has flowed into our lives again.  My mother has to see a doctor at Cleveland clinic regarding heart issues.  She's already had two surgeries, and one that is the most difficult and most serious to do.  Not what we all wanted to hear, but thankful that she asked the doctor to do a check, otherwise would have gone undetected.

What do you think?  Daughter wanted something cosmetology related for her teachers.  I just need to add the hanger and make one more.  It was not fun crocheting the black yarn.  It's been so dreary here and lighting is terrible even with light up hooks.  I used Hubby's head lamp, ha ha!

I got one order for a headband/ear warmer, so that was finished up yesterday.  I have to finish up a scarf for a gift next.

Our dreary weather is depressing me big time.  I need to go sniff an orange.  They say that works for that.  We were all three discussing how rotten of a dark day it was yesterday.  I don't remember winter being this dark.

Christmas Ornaments Past

I love making Christmas tree ornaments.  I'm so ready to make something new for next year.  I made many policemen ornaments back in 2011 for a police station tree and for one of my brother's trees.

I made these one year too. I have so many that I made, golly. This year, our tree will be ornament-less (puppy proofed).  It'll be lights only, but pretty as well.

I had so much creativity and motivation back then.  I even made these.  I think I will check more books out of the library to get more ideas for next year.

I made these with all sorts of decorated "cookies" for an entire elementary class.  I used to make a homemade ornament for each student in my kids class for the Christmas school party.  I sure miss those days.  Hopefully, when my grand kids are older I can help with their class party (if they still have them by then).

I made these from toilet paper rolls, and gifted them to my family for Christmas.

I made these and gifted them one year also.  I still have some apples and skewers to make them again.

These were fun to make as well, and were also gifted.  Instructions are on my S.C.R.A.P. blogspot.

I made these for an entire elementary class as well.  Made from brown paper bags.  I should put a tutorial up for this one as well, on my other blog.

I made these one year too - from recycled medicine cups.  The instructions are also on my S.C.R.A.P. blogspot.

I got to the point where my family told me they had "enough" ornaments so I quit making them.  I am motivated to work on something new for next year after looking through all my old photos.  I made so many of them.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Tuesday, our daughter received her recognition award for Student of the Month for her school, in all of our county.  Her grade point average is 4.111.

Wednesday, I had to make the stuffing, sweet potatoes, dessert, pie (yes I made them for other guests, but with little sugar), bake the turkey, ham and rolls.  I got everything done but the turkey, and baked that Thursday morning, along with 4 other veggie side dishes.  I put up my outside Christmas lights, which are minimal, but pretty and noticeable (no roof or ladder climbing).

Friday we had our 2nd Thanksgiving, and Saturday our 3rd, where I got to taste my first heated cider with a shot of salted carmel vodka.  We watched the Buckeyes win, and headed home to relax.

Sunday, Dec.1st rolled in with thunder and lightning.  A wintery-mix headed in with it.  We cut wood until the rain arrived again.

I can't believe my Mom saved this, and one of my brother's displays it at Christmas.  I made this way back in elementary school, ha ha!  It's a pringles can Santa.

Question:  Does anyone have a homemade whole wheat bread recipe?  Also, does anyone have a good homemade whole wheat roll recipe?  Thanks!  Or even a book title to check out of our library as well?  I'm going to try some recipes from Jovial's website.

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom


The weather outside is . . .
Raining.  Again.  High of 36°F.


On the breakfast plate . . . 
Sweet potato scramble eaten with a fork for some, and for others in a spinach wrap (until I can make some tortillas using Einkorn flour), organic black coffee


As I look outside my window . . .
It's cloudy and dreary looking.


Right now I am . . .
Looking around on the internet to make plans for our 21st Anniversary this month.  Not sure I want to prepay a hotel, because if road are bad, considering it is winter now.  


As I look around the house . . .
I have 3 crock pots that need put away, and some tidying up to do.



On the to-do list . . .
Dishes
Laundry
Floors
make a breakfast scramble with greens



On this week's to-do list . . .
Finish up last minute projects for the craft show
Returns and pick-ups at the library
Cut wood



On the menu . . .
Leftovers...have no idea yet.  Now that I have to revamp and leave carbs and sugar out mostly, it'll be a bit different.  I am ordering some Jovial pasta this week.


Currently reading . . .
Nothing.  Too busy getting the craft show items ready


On the TV . . .
Movies on Netflix or from the library.


What I am creating . . .

Dish scrubbies and a set of boot cuffs.  I also started another set of hot pads.


New recipe I tried or want to try . . . .

I tried Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars.  The grandkids LOVED it.  It was time consuming, but so good and light (not like a thick cheesecake). 





Favorite photo from the camera . . .

My new kitchen night light.  

Prayers . . .
Prayers for my friend's mother.  She passed away last week. She broke her foot while in the nursing home, was sent to a medical clinic where she was on life support.   My mother - she fell and has lots of pain and one very big bruise.

from the handiwork journal . . .

...finished the blueberry hot pad set.

. . . finally finished the knitted dishcloth.  Started another set and also finished it.  I literally sold this set I put together right after I put it up on my other blog (who also ordered the second set).

....got more of the yellow netting cut, but still need to cut pink as well.

....finished a coral set of hot pads.  Started a yellow set.

. . . finished a hat for myself, and I love it.  It's very warm.  I will use this pattern for making some to sell for next year's craft shows.  I hope I can get more colors at a good price.

...crocheted these paw print ornaments for the fall craft show.

...crocheted a few cows.  Just need to get eyes on the cats next. 

. . . got a set of coffee cup coasters done.

. . . I got a few more wine cork Christmas trees done. I'll put up a "how-to" soon on my S.C.R.A.P. blogspot.

The clock is ticking closer to the craft show, with a holiday in between it all (3 for us, sigh...), so I'm busy, busy, busy with handiwork.

I'm up early to get the fire stoked.  We got snow last night.  I'll be working on more wine cork Christmas trees.   I can't believe I'm finally using them all up (and no I didn't drink all that, ha ha!  I had a restaurant save them for me many years ago and found them cleaning my closet).

Back for an Update

I'm so glad we had a long holiday weekend, so I didn't have to take this turd out on a bum leg.  He was very cuddly the first two days of school, but after that, wanted to play and lay around outside.

First visit to the doctor.  First of all, I am lucky to have been at home until second visit.  His first words were, "you should be in the hospital."  Cost for my meds before insurance.  After insurance?  $5 each.   

One of my breakfast meals, served in bed.  Hubby made us bacon veggie omelets.  So good!  So thankful for it too.  I was tired of toast and coffee.  Second breakfast in bed was french toast, scrambled eggs and sausage.

Hubby and Daughter were not all that happy about taking over my chores, and I often heard long sighs, but they did it for the most part.  And although the guys invited Hubby for a bike ride, he stayed home, cleaned my chicken coop and mowed.   He even pulled a few weeds.  I felt awful, but he seemed to want to get stuff done here and help me out.  He was mumbling about the herb garden (photo is a few down on this post).

I read over a real newspaper for the first time in a long, long time.

Good, interesting book with facts, from the library. 

Meanwhile....in the herb garden....4-5 feet tall weeds.  When our 20 year-old was over, she was being attacked by grasshoppers taking over the herb garden.  Said it was "Jurassic Park" out there (second time I was told this, ha ha).  You can't even see my herbs, and I'm pretty sure I lost more than the thyme.

I watched a ton of cooking shows.  I'm surprised I didn't order a smoker after all those recipes I watched.  I watched too many for sure.  I have to say, the "Jazzy" vegetarian is somewhat annoying to watch.  I get tired of her repeating the "jazzy" this or "jazzy" that.

Anyway, I tried to stay off my feet as much as I could, but when Hubby was at work and daughter in school, the puppy duty was still on me.  Along with laundry and meals.

I tried to look at things in a positive way (having to be on my bum with leg up), I plunged into my handiwork, read some of a book, journaled and watched some "I Love Lucy" to add some much needed laughter.  They say laughter is the best "medicine" so that's what I put on the TV.


I got all of these completed while watching a lot of cooking shows.  

Bracelets (just need ends sewn in and buttons), another washcloth, two sets of boot cuffs and 3 sets of pot holders.  Doesn't really look like a lot for 6 days of sitting around though.

My laptop took a pooper, so I can only post from the computer as the pain gets better.   Doctor visit update?  I'm now heading to a surgeon.  More sitting time, but this time he was more stern about it.  It's been very painful.

Edited to explain:  Basically, when the table slammed down on my foot, it caused more pressure in the varicose veins in the lower leg, causing some to literally "explode" at the skin level.  The worst is a group of veins on my inner ankle.  Worst pain ever.  The "explosions" are now open wounds the vein surgeon will determine on next.  

I'll be back soon.  Thanks for visiting.