Mayfly

Oh well hello there! It sure has been awhile since I visited this place. How are you?

We took a trip to St. Louis for an extended Thanksgiving vacation and soaked up plenty of family time. And the phrase "family time" here means children running amok while the adults eat, drink and laugh about things they find on various internet-phone handheld devices. (We're enjoying Lemony Snicket lately, can you tell?)

A side note: when we were leaving St. Louis, J whispered to his grandpa, "I liked waking up early and doing the crossword with you, Da." Isn't that boy a peach? It wasn't the zoo or the ice skating or the carriage ride through the lights or even running around with his teenage cousins. It was a snuggle and a crossword puzzle with one of his favorite people. Melt.

But being away for a week, even when the visit is just about perfect, makes us very thankful for home. We human animals do love that sense of place we make for ourselves, don't we? J was so happy to sleep in his own bed and N was glad to see her own toys. They have played so well together the last day and a half and everyone has been sleeping like rocks. Rocks on sleeping pills. I was so happy yesterday to drink coffee out of my favorite mug with my best creamer; it was extra delicious.

I finished these little lap quilts in a hurry to deliver in person and avoid the shipping. I was really happy with them. My nieces requested I do something with their outgrown beloved pjs. You can see the finished quilts better HERE and HERE. They were little, maybe 2 1/2 by 3 feet, but quilted crinkly on the front and soft flannel on the back. My mom gave me a helpful hint. If you want to work knit fabrics into a quilt, all you have to do is iron on a little thin interfacing to the back and the stretch/no stretch issue is solved. Thanks, Mom!

So we're already done with presents for that side of the family. Teenage boys just want a little cash in a funny card, and Brian's parents had a long list of around-the-house repairs that they wanted done. Ahhhh. The gift of a super-handy son. The gift that keeps on giving.

So now we're settled at home for the season and happy to be thinking about Christmas decorations and activities.

- - - - - - -

p.s. I'll be back tomorrow with some cooking questions for you, so please be ready to dig through your recipe boxes for me.

Posted by Alicia at 9:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

I'm single-handedly trying to keep economy in the pooper. Just kidding. Sort of.

I've started making my handmade gifts. I keep hearing on NPR about how spending is up a bit and consumer confidence is rising, blah blah blah, but I don't get it. I'm certainly no economist, but isn't that how we got into this mess to begin with? All the overspending? I want my friends who have lost their jobs to find great new ones, and I'd love things to improve for my own small business. But as a simple (also cheap) girl in a very consumer world, I'm just going to keep doing my thang this holiday season and cross my fingers for the economy.

The biggest blessings are not things. No one can argue with that.

My kids get three gifts each year- one from Santa, a purchased one from us, and one Mommy-made gift. I have a great idea for N's handmade present. And J says he just wants me to make him some warm jammies. Sweetie pie. With all the toys from cousins and grandparents they always get MORE than enough.

We've started thinking about simple family activities for our advent calendar. N has requested making gingerbread men because she says "gingerbread tastes sooo good in the winter." She's right. And I want to make some more lanterns around the solstice.

On the 5th we'll go get our tree from here. We got a cedar last year, and although it's not the most traditional species, it was just fine for us. We really had fun with it last time.

It's our year to stay here at home this Christmas. I look forward to a slow and easy holiday season, full of love and good food with friends and family and enjoying simple pleasures. And I am wishing the same for you too, my friends.

Posted by Alicia at 4:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

Good Monday to you. It's quiet here this morning. I just finished eating an egg while listening to the cold rain fall.

So we had a terrific weekend. There was a birthday (ahem. yes, mine.) and it was fine. Very fine in fact. My good friends came and we ate pizza and salad and laughed and they gave me gifts! Heeee! The rest of the weekend was filled staying inside between cold and wet soccer games and filling our tummies with grilled cheese and tomato soup and a homemade chicken pot pie.

Things are finally slowing down for us. It has been holiday family photo season for me, and of course I love it, but the photo shoots on weekends and then the subsequent hours of editing combined with the slurry of events this time of year have made me want to streamline things around here. Thus, Great Clean-Out Day 2009.

Have I mentioned before how the accumulation of stuff makes me crazy? And crabby? Well it does. A couple of times a year, I feel the need to purge. BIG TIME. And oh boy does it feel good.

Here's what we did:
We made long lists.
We assigned ourselves rooms, areas, closets beforehand.
We filled the crock pot with chili in the morning so we wouldn't have to worry about dinner.
Brian took a vacation day, and although both kids were home doing their best at coughing up a lung, we set to it.
We were brutal, people. If we don't love it or use it, out it went.
Bri took a truck load of stuff to the ReStore.
We took 2 truck loads of stuff to Goodwill. (Did you know they don't take toys anymore?! We didn't. It took a little research to find a place that does.)
As we finished a room, we dusted and vacuumed.

The results are great. The toy cabinets are clean and organized. All of our clothes are sorted and fit. I can actually find things in the linen closet. There are still a few things to do- my assignment for today is the studio/office, which really isn't too bad anyway. Things are running more smoothly. Keeping up with the clutter has been easier. It's simpler for the kids to clean up their own stuff too, now that everything has a place.

Shall we start taking bets on how long it will last? You know what? Let's not. Let's just be optimistic.

Have a great week!

Posted by Alicia at 8:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)

Hello! How are you? I'm enjoying a little breakfast chocolate cake this morning. I don't have much to share, but I've been missing stopping into this space once in awhile.

We're all just fine- still too busy- but that will slow down soon. Of course I didn't get the stuff ready for my shop, but there's always hope for this week. : )

I have begun thinking and planning and making for holiday gifts. Maybe if I start early it will help keep our holiday season more peaceful.

Brian and I have decided that we have hit critical stuff level. He's taking the day off tomorrow and we're having Great Clean-Out Day 2009. I'm making assignments and writing lists. We're borrowing my dad's truck. There will be trips to the ReStore and Goodwill to make donations. I am giddy! (I'm really easy to please.)

Well, take care. I hope to start squeezing out some time to post again once in awhile. See you soon!

Posted by Alicia at 9:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)