Coasters

This holiday I only made two gifts, a set of four coasters for my mother-in-law from Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts and a cross stitched bookmark for Ashley (which I forgot to take a picture of before I sent it).  Other than quilts (who doesn’t love homemade quilts?), I don’t know if everyone enjoys homemade gifts.  But I love the idea of a handmade pledge and the ensuing creativity, ingenious and wackiness.

Beach Vacation

Tim and I spent a glorious week in Southwest Florida visiting his parents for Christmas.  I missed being with my family a lot, but had to settle for amazing sunshine and beautiful beaches.  In addition to some beaches around Ft. Myers, we took a day cruise to Key West which is incredible.  I’d love to go back with more time.  We also checked out the Naples Zoo (with the monkey island boat tour highlight), ate great seafood and played some wii with Tim’s parents.

I am a firm believer in seasons.  But come February I am going to miss walking in the gulf waters.

Hope everyone had a great holiday and looking forward to 2009 as much as I am!

Happy Early Festivus!

Everybody likes presents!

In strange news, my bag that was stolen from my office showed up at work this past week after being missing for almost 2 months.  It is sort of mysterious how it got there and lots of things were found inside, but a few things are still missing.  I am happy to have what I have back, but feel strange all over again about the circumstances.

Boots

Jenn brought the skirt/boot/feminist discussion up recently.  Are short skirts and boots solely in the realm of the early-20-something set?  Do they negate my life long feminist membership card?  I love my tall boots.  And with shorts skirts?  All the better.  It doesn’t make me feel objectified, it make me feel powerful.  Like kicking some ass.  Well, probably not literally, buy you know, in my mind.

Winter Reading

Should we read the book about Stalingrad that has nothing to do with the movie with Jude Law and Joseph Fiennes?  Or should we read Death Note, an introspective into the classic juxtaposition of good versus evil and the inherent meaning of life and being human.  Oh, and its manga.

Kitty chooses.  Death Note it is.

Paper Snowflakes

I’ve done very little holiday decorating this year.  In addition to my shiny snowflake garland, and my recycled card tree, I cut out paper snowflakes.  I am all for cutting your own and creativity and blah blah blah, but sometimes templates are exactly what you need.  These are quick, easy and always beautiful.  I’ve used these templates for displays at the library in San Antonio (both at Central and Carver!) and now here in Bloomington too.

Poppy Seed Cookies

I probably only bake about 6-7 times a year.  I think so far this year, I maybe made rhubarb crumble, gingerbread, persimmion pudding, banana muffins and, well, that’s probably it.  Baking is so needy.  You have to measure and time things exactly right.  I feel like its all a big test and I haven’t really studied, so its, you know, hard.  Enter freezer cookies.  Easy!  Well, except for the part where I wasn’t entirely sure when they were done and at the 12 minutes the recipe said, they were still raw.  Anywho, Almond Poppy Seed Ice Box cookies are off to tomorrow’s work pitch-in.

Also?  I am reading my first manga.  Death Note.

3 Day Weekend

Every weekend should be a three day weekend.  My holiday shopping is 99% done, I finally figured out the purple fabric situation that was plaguing a future queen sized quilt, cut said fabric, wrapped presents, shipped packages, made cookie dough, watch 2 movies, did laundry, talked on the phone to friends and was able to visit Abby in Indy and hang with her two cute little girls.

Of course now I am looking at a 6 day week, but it was worth it!

Heidegger Homework

Tim is deep into finals for this semester, so while he isn’t a first year anymore, he could still use some happy thoughts.  Heidegger is hard.

I am on a three day weekend, but lots is planned.  Trying to finish up holiday shopping, wrapping, sending, visiting, movie watching, reading, cooking (veg chili) and maybe some relaxing too.

Plotting

I love making lists, having projects, planning and organizing.  Several years ago I started the 101 Things in 1001 Days List.  I didn’t finish the list, but it was fun to push myself to do some things that I had always meant to do.  Now that 2009 is approaching, I have been thinking about another project.  I know people starting another 101 in 1001, or 365 portrait project.  One of my teen program volunteers is reading and blogging a Les Mis in 4 Pages a Day, which should get her through the 1,000+ page book in about a year.  So I am planning…something fun that would make me push myself, but not take terribly seriously either.