Holiday Grand Plan Week 14 - Holiday Decor Week

It's Week 14!  Did you think I fell off the earth?  Almost.  Between Gracie having some oral surgery, my oldest being Confirmed, a cluster of sinus and upper respiratory infections, and lots of sub jobs (not to mention Thanksgiving!) I have hardly been at the computer for a month.

But it's back to the plan, and we have some catching up to do.  In theory, by now the house is pretty clean.  I can say that mine is not perfect, but definitely in good shape.  We had everyone back to the house after Confirmation, so I had to get the main floor and basement "company ready."

This week we need to get out the holiday decorations, plus clean and organize that storage space while we're at it.  Do you have decorations you haven't pulled out in years?  Donate them!  Are there lights that don't work but keep getting shoved to the bottom of the box?  Pitch 'em!

Do you have a real or artificial tree?  If it's real, do you know when you're going to get it?  From whom? 

Are you planning a party?  Luckily we just go to other people's parties, so I don't even have this on my list.  But I do have to figure out what we're going to wear!

What about Christmas dinner?  I'm still searching for the perfect menu, trying to decide between a traditional turkey or a crown roast of pork.  Or a standing rib roast.  Decisions decisions!

Are the gifts bought and wrapped?  Try to take care of anything that has to be mailed by this week.  Again, we're lucky that I only have one box to mail.  I have that about halfway taken care of, with just a few more items to box up.

I have a lot of posts just waiting for you.  I hope to get them up quickly and earn your forgiveness for being silent over the last month.  I guess Blogtoberfest really did me in!

Enjoy decking your halls and fa-la-la-ing this week.  I've missed you!

Blogtoberfest Fail

Blogtoberfest, in the words of my sons, has been an epic fail for me.  Not only have I missed several days of posting during a month when I committed to posting daily but, quite frankly, some of the posts are just boring.

I think there is great value in getting into the habit of writing daily.  I think the blogs that are updated, if not daily, then very regularly are of a higher caliber and more widely followed. 

Which is why, I suppose, there are only 36 people following this one. 

But some days life just happens.  Some days I get to the end of the day and absolutely nothing of interest has happened.  Some days I haven't touched my crafting, I haven't made dinner, I've done nothing special with my children.  Some days I'm just trying to get through to the end.

So I apologize for those of you who subscribe and have been bored during October.  I will try to post more regularly when there's something of value to share, but I don't think I'll be committing again to daily posts.

Now I'm going to try to find something creative and brilliant to do for tomorrow!

Enjoying the Small Things

Does anyone else here read Kelle's blog? If not, you should.

My mom pointed the way last spring when they were visiting Naples, FL, and saw an article in the local paper about her. Mom kept asking me if I had found the blog, if I had read it, and I never found the time. Until one day, when I was substitute teaching and had two planning breaks back to back, and I got bored with my book and decided to google it.

Oh my!  I was so sucked in!  I was subbing for that same teacher for four days, and by the end of the job I had read all the way back to the beginning of the blog, back before Nella.

And now, when a new post pops up in my reader, I save it for last.  I save it because I know I'm going to want to take my time and because I know I'm going to need a moment to collect myself when I'm done.  There is no reading Kelle's post and then moving along to planting bulbs or the perfect slow cooker stew.  Uh uh.

Not much makes me cry anymore.  I'm a pretty jaded old gal, and I've seen a lot of things in this world.  But these posts almost always get me.  I feel the tears welling and I'm just done.  Not sad tears, although sometimes her beautiful pictures of Lainey and Nella make me wistful for this little girl:

No, the tears are tears of appreciation and acknowledgment for the truth behind Kelle's words.  They always make me stop and, as they are meant to, enjoy the small things in my life.  Like rainy days when practice is canceled and we have time for a real dinner as a family.  Or Sunday afternoons in front of the football game.

And sometimes, every so often, she spurs me into action.  That's what happened today.  I was behind on my reading when Grace asked if she could shoot hoops before studying for her Social Studies test.  I gave her 15 minutes, and decided to catch up on my reader.  I like to be in the office so I'm right by the front door, because my girl is getting grown up but not so big that I want her all alone in the front yard while I'm vacuuming, you know?

I cleared out all of the home improvement and quilting posts, and finally clicked on Kelle's.  When I read this one, I just stopped.  And suddenly, without thinking too much about it, I grabbed my camera and the jeans quilt and walked out into the yard to sit with her and talk while she shot baskets.

It was more than 15 minutes.

I refueled.

Find your fuel today.

Overheard

"Do you think God ever gets bored...being omniscient and all?"

"I don't know.  At least you wouldn't have to waste two hours watching Wild Hogs."




I love my kids!

Blogtoberfest Postcard Swap - Last Chance!

Last chance to join us for the Blogtoberfest Postcard Swap.

If you had trouble emailing me, you can click here for a form to fill out. 

Knitting

I don't knit.

Or, at least, I didn't used to.

But then a trend started at quilt guild. A trend of people bringing knitting projects to work on during the business-y part of the meeting. Just a few at first, and now I'd say about a fourth to a third have needles clicking every month.

The socks are not tempting at all to me. That just looks complicated. But the idea of it was appealing. I don't do much handwork, and what I do is often too large to manage in the confined space of my chair in my row at the meeting.

So Kate's blog post about this super easy knitting pattern with only one stitch to learn and hardly any pattern to remember caused me to go "Hmmm..."

I tried it at first with pretty, fuzzy yarn.  That was a disaster.  It's awfully hard to see how many stitches there are and the needle keeps poking through the strand.

Finally I decided to try it with cheap, plain old yarn.  Yarn that was left over from when my oldest had to make a Heritage Doll and we used the yarn for hair.  Yarn that has no beautiful hue or variegation, but is just plain old brown.

It works!  I can see my stitches and count them and the needle doesn't poke through.  It's not beautiful, but Kate is right about it being both amusing and addictive.

Here's what I have so far:

Maybe some day I'll be able to do it in yarn that a person might want to add to their wardrobe instead of doll-hair brown.  Maybe this will be the only pattern I'll ever knit and I'll have a collection of these in every color.  Or maybe I'll give it up and go back to my quilts.

How many of you knit or do other types of crafty/arty/hobby (?) stuff besides quilting?

Blogtoberfest Giveaway and In My Studio

Apparently Blogtoberfest is big on the giveaways. Alright by me! One lovely blogger, Emma at It's All About the Fabric, is giving away fat quarters of the entire new line by Anna Maria Horner, Innocent Crush. YUM!  Of course, I'm happy to share it with you for an extra chance to win it myself.

Another very helpful blogger, CurlyPops,  is keeping track of the Blogtoberfest giveaways, and boy are there a lot of them!  It makes me think I should put something out there myself, but I'm not sure what.

What do you like best?  Fabric?  Books?  Tools?  Non-quilty stuff?  Something I personally made?  Let me know and I'll see what I can do.

In my studio, I've got a couple of works in progress.  I have a guild challenge due in a month, and I'm piecing a log cabin quilt for that.  I'm feeling a little sarcastic, so this is the fabric I'm using for the centers:

There are going to be THREE new babies in DH's family by February, so I have to get to work on those quilts.  Right now I'm testing a pattern I hope to share with you very soon for a cute, quick baby boy quilt.  

I'm also trying to find my free motion quilting groove so I can get a few more UFOs done.  I've been practicing on this charity baby quilt for Tiny Stitches.  There have been a few minor issues, but otherwise the polyester thread and embroidery needle are giving me much better results.

Don't forget to email me to join in the Blogtoberfest postcard swap! 

Holiday Grand Plan Week 6 - Kids Rooms Week

I did it!  I actually did my assignments for Week 5!  Cleaning out the master bath was a strangely satisfying experience.

Cabinet, before and after

Drawer, before.

Drawer, after

I found an odd collection of stuff, including:

What's the weirdest thing you've found so far?

Anyway, it's time for Week 6! This is the grueling week to clean out the kids' rooms.  Luckily my kids are old enough to help, although their version of "clean" is not the same as mine.  Sometimes you just have to choose your battles!

In addition:

• Make a "goody basket" for the guest room/bath of sample sized items.  I found enough dental floss and hotel body wash in this week's purge to almost fill mine!  
• Don't forget your freezer meal and goodies to share.
• Continue shopping.  Focus on any gifts that must be shipped.  When purchased, wrap and label them, and start looking for a shipping box that will work.  If you find one, store the gifts in it until it's time to mail.
• If you are making homemade gifts, commit to working on them at least one hour a day until they're done.
• Check the smoke detectors.  Clean them, check batteries, and replace them if necessary.  Need motivation?  Watch this: 

Freezer Friendly Meal of the Week -  Chili

I know this must seem like we eat a lot of beef.  In reality, I find it freezes more consistently.  Anyway, just so you know, this recipe works great with ground turkey!

• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 onions, chopped fine
• 1 red bell pepper, cubed
• 6 cloves of garlic, minced

Stir together in a small bowl:

• 1/4 C chili powder
• 2 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 Tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper

• 2 lbs lean ground beef or ground turkey
• 2 15oz cans kidney beans (I use dark red), rinsed and drained
• 28 oz can diced tomatoes
• 28 oz can tomato puree

Heat oil in bottom of a large pot.  Add onions, pepper, garlic and seasonings.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until veggies are soft (about 10 min).  Increase heat and add meat.  Stir and cook until brown.  Add remaining ingredients and salt to taste.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally.  Remove cover and simmer another hour. 

Delicious with grated cheese, chopped onion, sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt), and/or diced avocado. 

To freeze, let cool completely first, then freeze in batches.  Thaw and reheat over low heat on stovetop or in crock pot. 

Holiday Treat of the Week - Bourbon Brownies

Need I say more?  These freeze beautifully and are YUMMY!

• 1 Family Size Duncan Hines Brownie Mix  (I know, I know...I never use a mix.  But you could probably substitute your favorite brownie recipe here.  I have just never tried it that way and don't want to steer you wrong.)
• 1 C chopped nuts

Bake as directed.

• 4-5 Tbsp bourbon.  

 Pour over brownies as soon as they come out of the oven.  Chill.

• 1 stick butter
• 2 Tbsp rum or rum extract
• 2 C 10X Confectioners Sugar

Mix and spread over brownies.  Chill

•  1 6oz package chocolate chips
• 4 Tbsp butter

Heat to melt and blend together.  Spread on chilled brownies and return to refrigerator.  Store in fridge or cut and then freeze.  (Warm knife before cutting for best results.)

Enjoy!

200th Post! Blogtoberfest Postcard Swap

Can you believe this is my 200th post?  What perfect timing for Blogtoberfest!

In honor of this milestone, I'd like to do something to truly connect my readers.  Something small enough to be contained in this one month of blog love, yet big enough to create a memory of it.

I want to do a fabric postcard swap.  There are all kinds of instructions for them all over the web, but these are the directions I personally use.

Here are the rules:

• all postcards should be finished 4" x 6".  I'm not going to break out a ruler or anything.
• all postcards should have three layers and be sewn together. At least one layer should be fabric.
• all postcards should have a middle layer of stiffener (Peltex, Timtex, etc.)
• postcards may be sent through the mail as is, or placed in an envelope if it isn't completely flat or has embellishment that may be damaged.
• all participants must email me their snail mail address AND how many postcards they are swapping (up to 3 per person) no later than October 10, 2010.  My email is jenggreer at symbol gmail dot com.
• all participants must be willing to swap internationally.  It might not happen, but it might.
• I will email you back with the snail mail address of your swap partner.  You will mail the postcard directly to them.  The email and snail mail addresses I collect will be shredded as soon as the swap is over.
• there is no specific theme of the swap.  Be creative.
• since I am not telling who is mailing to you, you may blog about your participation, including pictures of your postcard.  Encourage your readers to join in the fun.
• all postcards should be mailed by October 20, 2010.  I hope this allows for international postcards to arrive by the end of Blogtoberfest. 

What do you think?  Did I miss any details?  Sign up now!

Blogtoberfest - Join in the Fun!

I've decided to jump into Blogtoberfest with both feet after reading this post this morning.

Sadly, I have a long to-do list for the day, so this is my post for October 1. Click on the links, check out the other bloggers who are participating, and add your own link to the chain.

Have a great day! See you tomorrow!