E-Z Bake

We gave Will an Easy Bake oven for Christmas this year.  He loves to bake with his Dad so I thought it would be a cool gift.  He thought so too....upon peering in the bag, before gleefully shouting the contents he said "AWESOME!!!  Now, Dad....this is mine."  :)  We've already made chocolate chip cookies in it and I have to say, they weren't half bad.  it also came with mixes for vanilla and strawberry cakes, chocolate icing, whoopie pies and pretzels with nacho cheese sauce.

Tonight, Will wanted to make "pretzel appetizers" for when Dad got home from work.  We've got an "extended" winter break with two snow days, so we are all developing a bit of cabin fever.  So any ideas of new activities is great at this point!

The pretzels?  Tasted horrible.  The cheese sauce?  Beyond reproach.  Even Will said so, though not those exact words.  They had fun though, and have absolutely decided that it should be done again and again.  "Only we'll make just sweet things, Mom."  I've  played around on Pinterest a bit to see if one can make their own mixes for this thing instead of just buying the mixes that the Easy Bake Oven Manufacturer puts out.  Because that is obviously where they make their money, and I'll bet there are better-tasting ones out there.  After tonight, I know it for sure!

Books in Review and 2014 Reading List

I love books almost as much as I love knitting.  If I could find a way to read a book AND knit at the same time I'd be a happy girl.  Yes, I know that I could download an audiobook onto my iPod and listen to it, but that feels a little strange (and unsociable) in my own house.

For now, the 2013 review.  I turn to the fabulous tool Goodreads, which is so much better than keeping an Excel spreadsheet or (eek!) writing down all of those books in a notebook.

I left 2013 with 185 books on my "to-read" shelf.  This isn't an accurate portrayal of what I will actually read.  I put books on that "to-read" shelf if they catch my fancy for any reason.  Once in a while I go through and delete some of them in a "what was I thinking??" moment.

I read 96 books in 2013!  This includes books that I read aloud to the boys.  (Yes, I do think that they count.  I read them, didn't I?)  2013 was the first year that Will started reading books to himself, but I make sure to read out loud to him too, because I know that he loves it.   We are still plugging through the Harry Potter series, having finished the second book sometime in December and seeing "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"  during this past Winter Break.  I debated giving him "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"  for Christmas, but ultimately decided to take a short break and read something else.  He got a little afraid of some of the situations in the second book and the books get darker as the series moves on.  Perhaps this Spring we will start it, sooner if he breaks me down by begging.

Here's my list of books that I would like to read in 2014.  I'm trying to get some of the books that I queued on Goodreads when I first got my account (2008!)   There are other books, not counting any knitting books, and who knows what will catch my fancy at the library this year!

1.  The Yarn Whisperer.  (Clara Parkes)  I received this as a Christmas gift, so it will likely be first.

2.  More books from the Dresden Files series by James Butcher.  I stopped at the third one but will definitely keep going into the new year.

3.  Home Front.  (Kristin Hannah.)

4.  The Thirteenth Tale.  (Diane Setterfield.)

5.  The Post-Birthday World.  (Lionel Shriver.)

6.  Growing Up Amish:  A Memoir. (Ira Wagler)

7.  Bowling Avenue.  (Ann Shayne.)

8.  His Dark Materials (Phillip Pullman) One knitting friend told me that these books were enormously satisfying after finishing the Harry Potter series for the second time and missing them.

9.  The Wander Year:  One Couple's Journey Around the World.  (Mike McIntyre)

10.  The Signature of All Things.  (Elizabeth Gilbert.)

11.  We Are Water.  (Wally Lamb)

12.  Nothing Daunted:  The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West.  (Dorothy Wickendon)

2013: A Year in Review

Gearing up to say goodbye to 2013...but first, let's check it out.

1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?

Wow, lots of things.  Sold our house and moved to a different town is what stands out the most.  But I also tried yoga!  And I liked it.  


2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I haven't done New Years resolutions in ages.  However, my Day Zero list is still going strong.  In lieu of New Year's Resolutions I would like to make a plan.  Because plans sound a lot sturdier than a fleeting resolution at midnight on 1/1/14.  I would like to be healthier. That is my plan for 2014.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?The only person that I can think of that gave birth were two ladies in my knitting group.  Both girls, one in June and one in August.  I had a lot of fun knitting for both of them.

4. Did anyone close to you die?  

No....I can't think of any this year.  


5. What countries/places did you visit?

We went on an adventure to Maine for a few days.  Travel was a little short this year due to the aforementioned house selling/moving.  We're making up for it in 2014, though.


6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?

I'm continuing on my quest for patience.  

7. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? 

None.  Seriously, the year is a blur.


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Not to sound like a broken record.....but making it through the real estate fiasco with my sanity still intact.   


9. What was your biggest failure?

I've always credited myself as a "Go with the Flow" type.  This year has yielded a lot of truth in the saying "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."  


10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Let's see.....I sprained my ankle.  I only mention it because of how ridiculous it was....it gave out as I was walking around my office.  Proof that sprains never ever heal right.  It was a huge pain in the rear for a while and still hurts sometimes.  Other than that and a bout of strep throat (which I guess was a first ever, too) I'd say it was a pretty good year.  :)


11. What was the best thing you bought?

 fixing the central air conditioning.  Moving into a new house in 95 degree weather with no air conditioning sucks.  


12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Anyone who "paid it forward" this year.  Anything that gave your fellow humans hope, be it food, shelter, or just a cheery "hello" on a dark day.  


13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I don't know about depressed, but Miley Cyrus just.....ugh there are no words.  Well, "trashy" is one, but I don't think it's strong enough.  


14. Where did most of your money go?

The usual suspects.  However....staging a house and selling it in terms of expenses was a real eye-opener.  And after we moved brought on new expenses so it was a bit crazy this summer!

15.  What did you really get excited about?

MOVING!  More importantly, selling.  We owned two houses for about a month and that was a nailbiter.  (Literally.)  

16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
I never have an answer to this question.  


17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Pretty happy for the most part.  There's been sad parts, but I've really tried to focus on the happy.

b) thinner or fatter? about the same.  

c) richer or poorer? Neither.  Just lucky and happy to have the essentials.  Heat, hot water, food and shelter.  I'm rich in love and family.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Spending more time with the kids, playing.  They're only young once.  


19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worrying about things that one cannot control.  Getting frustrated when trying to view the future in a crystal ball, only to find out that I don't HAVE a crystal ball.  


20. How did you spend Christmas?

We hosted Christmas this year, with a holiday dinner for all of our family.  


21. Did you fall in love in 2013?

No.  But I continued to love.


22. What was your favorite TV program? I'm really loving Scandal.   


23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?


I make it a point not to hate anyone. There's people that annoy me or I dislike, but hate's a pretty strong word. (yes it's last year's answer, but it still applies!)


24. What was the best book you read?

My favorite book this year was "The House at the End of Hope Street" by Menna von Praag.  Simply beautiful.   


25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Brian and I saw "American Idiot" on stage back in February.  LOVED it.  I still listen to the soundtrack regularly.  


26. What did you want and get?

A happy ending and a new beginning.


27. What did you want and not get?

More time to knit.  But there's never enough of that.  :)

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Hmmmm.  I don't watch a lot of movies, usually.  But I did recently just see "Frozen" in theaters  with the family and LOVED IT!  Disney really knocked that one out of the park.  If you haven't seen it, you should.


29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?Ah.....37.  It was a good birthday this year.  For the first time in ten years, I didn't take the day off.  But I treated myself to a pedicure in the afternoon, and my family came over for dinner that night.  It was really great.  


30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Trusting that things work out in the end.  Having a "vision" to see that things would really be OK when they don't seem like they will be.  


31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?

This is a stupid question.  Since this is the fourth year I believe that I have done this meme, I think I'll take all stupid questions out next year.  


32. What kept you sane?

Brian.  We have our ups and downs like any other couple but I never could have gotten through 2013 without him!


33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Eh.....don't care..


34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Nothing, really.  Though I was happy to see the right to marry who you choose has extended to MORE states.  :)


35. Who did you miss?

My far away friends and family.


36. Who was the best new person you met?
Hmmmm....have I met anyone new this year?  :)  



37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013:

Misery is contagious.  Fortunately, so is happiness.  And happiness starts with YOU, because it comes from within.  And sometimes, happiness is a choice.  Choose it.  


38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
'Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
'Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You’re gonna hear me roar

Diagnosis: Startitis

Being home this past week, I've gotten a lot of knitting done.  I've got 2.5 pairs of mittens done for Sean's school, I finished a baby blanket and I've almost got a hat going for Sean, since he's outgrowing the Angry Birds hat that my mom made Will a couple of years ago.  (Mom, I'm sad too.)  But I can't stop thinking about new projects!  Especially something for ME, after all of this charity knitting that I've done recently.  And now I'm officially over ten miles for the year too.

So tonight, I am going to make myself happy and cast on either Trillian or the Spiral Cowl.    See here:

 Spiral Cowl

Trillian

Tomorrow, I will also cast on a sweater for my friend's daughter that she commissioned me to make.  Oh, and finally sew on the buttons to another "baby's" sweater!  But that's for future Ginny to worry about....tonight it's about what the heart wants.  Which is that?  Stay tuned.

Christmas Aftermath

The meal has been had, and memories have been made.  All of the gifts have been unwrapped and the boys were happily spoiled by family and Santa alike.  There's plenty of leftovers and togetherness.  So far we've met up with friends at Chuck e Cheese and had a lazy day of movies.  Today is more friends and food and my mother's Christmas cookies!  (In case you were wondering, my mom comes up with the best holiday treats.  Her "Christmas Crack" this year, a concoction of chex mix, coconut and other goodies is aptly named because it is addictive.)

Only a few days of 2013 left, and it's going to be a quiet end to the year, with the four of us home with a steak dinner and a special cake made by Daddy.  We've told the boys that they could stay up as late as they wanted this year, which is probably about 10pm.  Enjoying the family time that we're having together right now, because all too soon it will be back to work and school and the daily grind.

Sweater's Done!

Finished on:  12/23.  Right now on Christmas Eve at 6:39pm, it's still damp and on the blocking board.  I'll check it in the morning and hopefully it will dry.  If it's not, that's OK.  Those Toy Story footie pajamas really give it something special, huh?  :)

The Annual Random Christmas Post

A Random Post, the Sunday before Christmas:

1.  Wow, I have baked all weekend!  Will decorate gingerbread and sugar cookies tonight with the boys and then take them to the fire and police stations on Tuesday, along with a pound of coffee.  I'm thinking that this should be a new family tradition, a way of saying "Thank you" to our first responders in our town.

2.  We're totally losing on the wrapping front.  I started early but it's not looking like it's going to matter.

3.  I hate laundry.  And dishes.  I've done enough of both this weekend to wonder about their reproduction cycle, I think it rivals rabbits.

4.  Looking like a GREEN Christmas this year!  I don't care, the 63-degree weather with windows open is a treat.

5.  Sean's sweater has gained one sleeve, and I'll pick up stitches to start the second one later on today.  He'll look a little strange with only one sleeve, kind of like an elephant trunk.

6.  You know...for a sweater that wasn't meant to be a Christmas project, it could happen.  I probably can't block it in time but maybe.  Trying not to push myself too terribly hard on this.  Just saying though...if the knitting could come together and be finished tonight and I get it on the blocking mat early tomorrow......

7.  ...of course, I AM working tomorrow.  The rest of the family will be home (Bugger!) but tomorrow is my last day of work til the 31st.

8.  I should've taken the 31st off, too.  Darn you, sense of responsibility.