The Princess is born.<3
Our first home.
Our baby is growing
We get bit by the travel bug
A move that is a blessing and a curse.
Littlebit
We say goodbye before we're ready
We attempt to give the kids the travel bug...
Baby Bee <3
This is our Auld Lang Syne. Good. Bad. Sweet. Sour. Funny. Sad. Beautiful and disastrous.
Happy New Year and New Decade!
Last night it was 34 minutes to midnight (bongo)
and Big Daddy was desperate to beat my score on “Perfect 10″ (bongo bongo)
and there comes a cry from upstairs (much feverish bongoing)
I wait (bongo)
the dreaded five whole minutes (bongo bongo)
because I already have one that won’t sleep and am not eager to repeate that mistake (much feverish bongoing)
I chew my non-existant nails for five whole minutes (bongo)
and then race up the stairs to thump the butt of she with the rosebud lips and seashell ears (bongo)
And as soon as that one’s quiet her sister cries “owie” in her sleep from down the hall (bongo bongo)
and I am plagued (much feverish bongoing)
The speech therapist had caught her pulling on her ear and I watched all day with nary a sign of discord and now it was 20 minutes to midnight and “owieing” was going on and I just knew that we’d end up in the ER with a kid with a miserable ear infection before morning.
(extra long feverish bongoing)
But morning rolled around (bongo)
and no more owies (bongo)
only concern over the overly long pooping time of the newly acquired goldfish(bongo bongo)
Maybe the bullet is dodged.
(silence)
A few days ago, I got a comment that I was probably kind of spam, but the omment was so though provoking, I approved it and left it because if they’d spent that much time commenting on a post of the appropriate subject, I figured they deserved the link back . The comment was, was the current economy causing more people to take up and therefore enjoy cooking.
And then I started to think. It’s true that in the blogosphere, that a lot of people are enjoying bloggy success with cooking and baking blogs. In fact, the pioneer Woman has even recently put out a cookbook and has been on a book signing tour. That’s success, my friends. But do I think it’s economy driven? Yes and no.
Chicken and dumplings, which spawned this whole thing
Cooking from scratch, unless you’re consistently cooking expensive cuts of meat or with truffles or something, is inexpensive. And, unless you’re consistently cooking high fat or calorie heavy foods, are better for you than eating out, but I think the overall interest in food, cooking, baking, gardening, sewing, knitting and other crafty and DIY pursuits are part of a sort of backlash, anti-technology if you will. Creating one thing or one small batch. It seems kind of rebellious in a mass produced world.
Wee bag
For me, it’s not about being a rebel. And it’s not about economy, though cooking food at home from scratch is economical. It’s about the joy of using a handmade thing. it’s about selecting th fabric or yarn or recipe and pattern to fit your exact needs. It’s about holding on to things done the old way because sometimes the old way is better. It’s about knowing where things come from. Whose hands kneaded the dough, or knit the gloves, or sewed the hem or pickled the cucumber.
Clearly I have no problem with modern convenience. I like target and starbucks as much as the next girl. Maybe more. But I also like the simple process of crocheting a chain, baking a cookie, sewing one perfect dress.
When there wasn't a foot of snow on the deck.
And teaching the lesson that just because you can buy it doesn’t mean you have to. It’s not just economy.
I hate Christmas Hang-over. It’s only my most favorite time of year, so as the year winds down I start feeling a little sad that the anticipation that’s been mounting since Novembe 1st is over. In a few short days, we’ll take down the tree and pack up our baubles. We’re hoping to open them some place new next year. That’s still in the works, though, but I’ll update when I can.
My little people are tired. Littlebit gave up the fight on my lap at 6:30 and Baby Bee is dozing now, getting her before bed snack in while I type. She seems to really be teething right now and spent quite a while this evening chewing on a binky.
We had a great Christmas. Really. It was wonderful. Everyone loved their gifts, I managed to give up on a few things causing me stress and found time to enjoy. NOT the full week I wanted. Not close. I want that week, people. I will have that week!
There are a few things I could do differently. This year I’m going to experiment with baking and then freezing our favorite cookies. Not to keep until Christmas, but to find out how far in advance of Christmas i could make them and have them taste fresh still come Christmas. Why? Because we have eaten, and I am not kidding, nearly 10 batches of cookies in a week. TEN. I think that is all LIttlebit ate today.
I will make yummy beer cheese dip again, but I will skip making the pretzels myself. Too much work. Trader Joe’s pretzel bread is better and easier.
I will buy Christmas Dinner’s dessert. I like to make it, but store bought desserts are nearly as good as home made, so I’m saving the time.
I need to have better control on my list minute “to buy” list so I can have them bought and wrapped so I’m not staying up late on Chrsitmas Eve when I really want to be in bed.
Experiment with a few of my Christmas Dinner stand-bys to see if they could be made in advance and then just reheated with good results on the big day.
But really? GREAT Holiday.
And now, it’s Boxing Day. And we’ve done nothing but eat leftovers and play video games. What’s not to love?
Tomorrow, we’re heading back to reality. We’ll clean and do laundry and probably clear more snow. And, though I’ll miss CHristmas, I’m kind of looking forward to the first of the year. A new decade and a clean slate.
I hope your holiday has been as happy as ours has, full of love and togetherness and good food and fun.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:10-14
30-something mom of three beautiful girls, known herein as the Princess, Littlebit and Baby Bee, and married for more than a decade to my fabulous husband, Big Daddy. Living in my dream home in progress in mostly rural Ohio, I share recipes, craft ideas and how to manage all the loose ends of a busy, family life.
