Getting My Act Together - Part 2

I've long known that I have eclectic tastes. Which is fine, keeps things from getting boring. But it can also get a bit out of hand at times too.

So, since I've finally gotten a handle on things house-wise (please God).  I've finally got a chance to organize my hobbies and interests (via the Doo - Dad room and kitchen) as well.

My poor doo - dad room has suffered badly lately. it really is in need of a good cleaning and reorganizing.

And new paint on the walls.                         
And a new ceiling fan.
And new flooring.
And - well you get the idea.

Well, since one chore a day has worked out so well I decided
to organize my crafts like that also.

This is what I came up with -

Monday - knitting
Tuesday - crocheting
Wednesday - needlework
Thursday - sewing
Friday - quilting

Told you I have eclectic tastes.

AND - in between all that keeping up with my blogging          
 and writing my stories and planning family holidays and
celebrations and - ...

Wow, I'm getting tired

Himself has opined that since I have such a back log of projects
I don't need to be going back to Joanne's or Michaels again any time soon.
-                                                                                                       
                                                                                                        
-  

Sigh... I do love that man, really I do.

But - sometimes..!


                                                          
                                                                                             

Getting my act together

Wash on Monday                                         

Iron on Tuesday

Mend on Wednesday

Churn (or Shop) on Thursday

Clean on Friday

Bake on Saturday

Rest on Sunday

I remember reading that in Little House in the Big Woods and there was a reason or it. If you followed the poem's advice you would have clean clothes for the week and food prep was mostly done so you really could "Rest on Sunday"

Actually, I have arranged my weeks around this sage bit of advice as well. Being able to concentrate on only one chore at a time keeps me from feeling rushed and anxious.

Except for the churning that is. Hence why in our time it has become "Shop on Thursday"

You see, I need the ordered calm from structuring and schedules. It's just so much easier if I can think  //I need to get this done by this time// or  //Today is my day to do this.// Not having to stress and worry and run around like a crazy person trying to get a lot of things done at once has helped my disposition, not to mention the state of the house. Not that things ever approached hoarder status or anything but my health issues and kids and cats; well let's just say things were starting to slip.

And speaking of laundry, I was starting to lose a lot of socks in the dryer; what the heck is up with that anyway??

Himself has a theory that socks are really coat hanger larva.(!) When they are ready to hatch they go and hide in the closet and hatch into coat hangers. Granted, that would explain why we always seem to have so many more hangers then clothes, but I always thought that was because we kept the ones from the stores when we bought new things. I could be wrong? Maybe we should put up a nanny cam in the laundry room. No, with our luck we'd actually catch the little buggers making for the hall closet!

Anyway, back on topic (clears throat), something else that works for me is to tell myself that I cannot do any crocheting, reading, working on the laptop watching videos writing ect. until this is done. Whatever this happens to be at the time.

Granted I just started on this new regime but it's amazing what can be accomplished when you actually do it.

And anything that's going to get me back to my "stuff" quicker is always going to be worth doing anyway.

 

Happy New Year

I've discovered something about myself these past weeks. Even I can be Nutcracker'd out. Five different ones on dvd and comcast on demand as well as the PBS SanFrancisco Ballet. Some of them were wonderful of course, but some of the others, well let's just say, they were not what you'd think of when you think Nutcracker.

Mind, I've always liked it when folks put a different spin on things especially old classics, but making the Christmas party a birthday party and the nutcracker a little doll? What's the point?

It's not the Nutcracker anymore then, it's a completely different ballet. I would rather create something entirely new if that's the case.

For me, I narrowed it down to my top two favorites. Can't do any better then that, it would be like trying to pick my favorite kind of chocolate.

First is the one I saw as a child on tv. It had Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland in 1977. I have that one on Dvd.

The other one I really like is the San Francisco Ballet's from 2007. It takes place in San Fran in 1915 and references the 1915 World's Fair. They really did an outstanding job with it

I've noticed something about myself, I don't want fashionable or trendy anything especially at Christmas. I want homey, comfortable, familiar. in this as well as a lot of other things, Nigella Lawson and I are in complete agreement. Which would explain the shopping spree for her cook books that I've been on lately.

But that's for another post!

Going Seasonal - Clementines

You've probably already had them. They're real popular at Christmas and in salads. (Also known as mandarin oranges.) what I liked was the cute little crate they come in at the grocery store.

(Yes, I'm a sucker for nice packaging.) So of course, I had to tote one home - all five pounds of them.

I sat my treasure on the kitchen counter and went to the internet to consider my options. One of the first recipes I pulled up was Nigella Lawson's Clementine Cake.

And can I tell you - it doesn't have any flour and therefore - no gluten. I'm not sure how you would replace the eggs and almond meal if you couldn't have them but anyway, wow is that cake ever good.

There were enough clementines left to juice and I decided that a recipe for Clementine Beaf would be good for dinner that weekend.

http//www.food.com/recipe/clementine-beef-3756

I may even have to go back for another crate to do this drinks recipe as well -

http//www.yumsugar.com/Happy/Hour/Clementine/Crush-626829

Wonder what's coming in in March?

Baby, it's (been) cold outside.

Note - the weather has moderated finally, but the weather people are saying that there's more to come in the future.


Yeah, yeah, I know this is Florida. It doesn't get cold in Florida.


Right.


Night time lows in the twenties and daytime highs in the 30's - 40's. Wind chills bringing it down to to the teans and twenties.


Not cold at all is it?


Phooey.


So okay, I'm drawing on my upstate New York roots and bringing out all the treats and tricks that made life not only bearable but actually enjoyable during the winters of my childhood.

Hot beverages- this is a given, everything from hot cocoa to mulled wine. Besides I dislike cold hands and this is te easiest way to warm them when I've been out and about in bad weather especially.

Blankets and throws, especially hand made. Vintage ones from the thrift or antique store work just as well.

Cats (or the favorite pet of your choice) Mine are happy to oblige me by sitting on my feet and keeping them warm.

Baked goods - homemade or bought, your choice. Anything that goes good with the afor- mentioned hot beverages.

My beloved crockpot. This time of year, especially with the new grand baby to Christmas shop for(!), I can't always guarantee that I'll be home in time to make supper so this thing has become my new bff.

That time of year again

Okay, after a summer of regrouping, reorganizing, and reassesing, I can sit back on Sept. 1 (something I do practically every year anyway) and realize that my life; in spite of everything I've had to deal with; especially in my childhood; isn't nearly as miserable as I sometimes think. Or maybe miserable is a bit strong nowadays. Himself has indeed worked miracles in renewing my faith in humanity over the years and his family has taught me that being good to each other and minding ones manners can go along way towards fostering good relations with ones relations. In short - people in general do not all suck after all. And that's nice to know.

It's also nice to know that your significant other values you enough that it's perfectly all right with him for you to do whatever is neccesary to maintain your health and well being. I'm telling you for once I got it right with him anyway.

Life; believe it or not; really is good after all.

summer needlework

Just as I can't deal with anything rich and heavy to eat in the summer time neither can I endure anything thick and woolen to knit or crochet. So mostly I tend to get a good bit of sewing done but now I'm wanting something light and lacy and pretty.

this tank top designed by Doris Chan should do nicely.

The pattern is from Knit and Crochet today and is on their website. I find that show has gone a long way towards reconciling me to no longer having Knitty Gritty.