Happy New Year

I have so much I want to accomplish in the next year, over the next few years really.

Maybe this seems weird but it was so easy to love my kids when they were little. Babies and toddlers are so easy to love, they let you pull them up into your lap and smell their heads. Big kids it's harder, you can't carry them around on your hip and they don't fit in your lap anymore. Sometimes they don't even want to be hugged. So my biggest intention is to fall in love with my big kids.

I want to get inspired in the kitchen again. I used to love to bake and cook. Over the last few years I just haven't managed much. Here's to yummy food and cooking.

I'm getting a new fiber toy very soon too. I can't wait. I'll share pic when I get it. I've made a very long list of the things I want to accomplish crocheting and sewing wise. I doubt I will get to all of it this year or even the next. It's there for me when I need the inspiration or something creative to do.

I want to get more active physically too. So today, dear hubby and I went for a walk.

All is good.

Happy New Year!

Late Breaking News!

I've been published!

I submitted one of my freeform designs for a freeform knit and crochet calendar. You can see the calendar here. They published my freeform tea cozy. Just look on April and you will find my cozy with a few other way cool designs.

It's for a good cause too, Global Fund for Women. So get your copy now! You know you want one.

Our Winter Soltice

We had a pretty good Winter Solstice. The only challenge was the kids did not sleep well at all the on the longest night of the year so neither did I. So I was not the most cheery or patient mom this year. Let's just say that things did not go all that well. I feel pretty sad about that but it was what it was. We are going to try to do things differently next year. I do not like being cranky mom during the holidays. I want to be magic mom. I like that better.

We didn't make a big deal out of the gifts this year. Partly because that's our goal as we want to focus on the celebration and not the gifts and partly because we really didn't have the money for it. So I didn't make a much of it for the kids to get each other something or us something, let them lead they way with that. Corbin has not been interested in the gift giving so much. This year he made of package for his sister just before Solstice and after Solstice he put some packages together for me and his Dad. It was so very sweet. So much better than taking him to the store to buy something. Jade made sure mom and dad had goodies in our stockings this year. She bought it all with her allowance no less!

We started the evening by lighting our solstice candle, symbolically catching the light to carry to the the new year. The kids lit their own candle as well. It was lovely to see them embracing the season and adding their own spirit to celebration.

We shared a lovely dinner of cheese fondue and chocolate fondue. Everyone enjoyed it. Then each of the kids opened up a small gift, a mini lego kit and and we opened one gift for the family. We usually buy a few games for the family around this time of year. We got Carcassone. We had fun playing a round of the game then Stephen and the kids went to the Yule Vigil with the pagan group we hung out with lots long before kids. I stayed home because I was tired and wanted to go to bed.

The next morning we briefly woke up the sun and blew out our solstice candle. We bailed on our big breakfast we had planned because we were all so tired. So we plan to do something more simple next year and make the big breakfast on another day, maybe New Years.

I was relieved that the kids were pretty happy with their gifts, since we kept it small. Even though I don't want to focus on gift giving I like giving and want the kids to be happy with what they receive. I like surprising them too. We got Jade a cookie press and she has already made some with it. The bummer part is has stopped working so we will return it and see about getting a different one. One that won't break! Check out these trilobite cookies. We made some but I don't have pictures. We used mini m&m's for the eyes. We got Corbin some stickers for his skateboard and some fun leather stud jewelry. He was very pleased. He wants to be cool.

Jade and I spent the afternoon watching season one of Star Trek Voyager. Corbin and Stephen played on the gamecube. We are saving up for the Wii.

I'm still here, really

I'm alive and well.

There is something about this time of year that has me turning inwards. I've been thinking about this past year and how I would have liked to do things differently. I'm not thinking happy thoughts but they aren't unhappy thoughts either. I do tend to like to share joy and less about the negative. I truly strive to think of my life as half full rather than half empty. I've been feeling a bit out of sorts, and not so full. It's not a good feeling but I find I need to embrace it a bit.

I will be back. My head is clearing from the the holidays, from the joy AND the stress. I have all kinds of things I want to accomplish creatively and with my family.

I should be back soon. I have read many books in the last few weeks and want to share about that and about our holidays.

Making cookies

We finally got around to making cookies this weekend. We followed the recipes from a Good Eats show here.

This is what we made on day one of cookie making:


Corbin's cookie creations


Jade's cookies creations. I ate mine already so I don't have pictures to share.

The decorationg of cookies:




I made some too and dear hubby even took the picture to prove it. Usually I'm the one on camera duty.


The feasting of the cookies:




Here's what we accomplished on Day two:


The peppermint pinwheel cookies. I don't care for them much but I'm not a peppermint candy fan. I like peppermint tea and that's about it. The dough was a bit too dry so the cookies aren't as pretty as as they could be.


The cookies Jade's decorated. I don't have pictures of the cookies Corbin decorated because he ate them already.


These are the ones I decorated.

Enough is enough and some fun too

I am so done being sick! I'm currently sniffling through my second cold, maybe even my 3rd cold of the season. Done, I tell you. Finito. Enough said.

Yesterday, I manged to have some fun finishing up an audiobook. I'll tell you more about that when my head clears. I've also read a few other books along with crocheting for the the holidays, visiting with family, and buying a yule tree.

This is what I had fun doing Thursday between coughs an sneezes:



The star in front, I made with xmas cards I found at the thrift store. The star the farther back, I used pages from a flower arranging book.



I found the pattern for it here from a way cool craftezine found here. I see lots of possibilities in the future.

I used double sided tape to put the points together and most of the base. I finished off the base with hot glue. I used hot glue to glue the points to the base.


Corbin insisted I take a picture of him holding the stars. The first one he is practicing what I think is his punk look. Below a smile for me.

Doilies, Doilies, Doilies

I have finished the doilies I planned to make for gifts this year. I might make one or two more small ones, maybe.

Exclusive


I frogged this several times before I finished it. ( Note to self: Do not drink wine while trying to follow complicated doily patterns.)


found in Extra-Special Doilies by Mary Werst
I use #20 twenty Cebelia pink thread

Viennese

I gave this one to my Dad and his wife last weekend along with a few bookmarks. I want to make this one for myself too.

found in Coffee-n-Cream by Patricia Kristoffersen
#10 Opera thread

Exquisite

This one is for my mother-in-law. I hope she likes it. When I make this again I will use a larger hook size than suggested as I crochet on the tight side. It's a bit wavy in the center and I don't think it's supposed to be. It looks good all the same so I'm calling it a design element.

found in Extra-Special Doilies by Mary Werst
Cebelia #10 - off white

A small doily for a niece.

found in 99 Little Doilies by Patricia Kristoffersen
#10 Cebelia thread in pinkish

Another small doily for another niece

found in 99 Little Doilies by Patricia Kristoffersen
#10 Cebelia thread in a green

I really like the small doilies and want not make more for me next year. A great way to add some beauty here and there.