A Merry Rainy Christmas

We're having a wet (and very cold) Christmas week here in northern Cali. Jack's ready for the rain with his pink brolly. Our heater is running all day and at night we (and the tabbies) burrow under the electric blanket. The more delicate outdoor plants and trees in our yard are wearing their plastic capes against possible freezing temps during the nights.

I'm staying inside as much as possible, doing a little baking, and finishing up some gifts that I've been working on. I can't post photos because the recipients read my blog, but I will do so after Christmas. I'll be pretty much done by tomorrow, including wrapping & mailing (just a few), and personally delivering a few more.

Yesterday I made 4 loaves of cinnamon-swirl bread and wrapped two to give away. Today I found one of the loaves on the floor, with the pretty purple ribbon still wrapped around it, but now with a big jagged hole in the side through the plastic wrap and into the bread.

Jack!

Dang it, I should have remembered how he loves bread, not to mention chewing through anything in plastic wrap or baggies. Looks like that loaf will be eaten right here at home. It's sure going to be delish for breakfast tomorrow....but NOT for Jack, he's already had his share!

Many of the blogs I follow, like this one, are filled with long lists of things that need to be done by Christmas and just reading them makes me feel very tired. I'm glad I chose to whittle my own list wayyyyy down this year, keeping just the most important ones, and taking the advice to "focus and prioritize" that another blog friend gives in this post.

Have a Merry and Stress-free Christmas!

China-Bound Today!

It's Departure Day!!! I'm all packed and ready to go. Packing was a 2-day event; it was so hard to keep my stuff pared down to a manageable level AND take Michael a few things AND 200 or so handmade cards for Michael's students AND about 40 bead bracelets that a local girl scout troop made as a service project.

Can you spot the baking soda? A request from Michael who loves to bake cookies for his friends and has trouble finding some things in China. The Chinese really don't "bake," so baking soda, chocolate chips, that kind of thing is hard to find. I've also got cheese hidden away in there!
Paperwork (including the all-important Chinese Visa which took 4 trips to the Chinese consulate in San Francisco to get!) and my carry-on duffel bag.
Some of the pretty bracelets the girl scouts made. It's going to be fun to give these away! Scout supervised the packing. She might (wrongly) think that by getting into a box she will be able to go along. She hates it when I pack my suitcase!
Jack decided to check out just where in the world China is. I don't think he knows his geography very well!

So it's time for a quick bowl of cereal, a last-minute check that I haven't forgotten anything, and we'll be off for the airport in San Francisco.

Take care, everyone, and I'll post updates to my blog as often as possible!!!

Eensy Knitted Sweater

Here is an itty-bitty sweater that I knitted over the last couple of days. I downloaded the free pattern here. I love this lady's craft blog, it is called Wee Wonderfuls and she has some of the most amazing stuff there, including lots of patterns for free or a very reasonable fee. I ordered the pattern to make the Kitty that will wear this little sweater (the pattern also includes a Bear and a Bunny but I'm partial to kitties).

The pattern for the eensy cardigan was easy to follow, even for a novice knitter like me, and then I got to delve into my button collection for the perfect buttons. I added the little heart button just because I thought it would go nicely on the sweater. I may make a few more of these, that's how much fun it was. I have found I really enjoy small projects, that I can complete in just a few days. I like larger projects, too, but the small ones allow more frequent satisfaction at completing an item.

Now that I've got my buttons out I've started putting together combinations of button styles and colors that I like and am going to try my hand at a few bracelets. That will keep me busy until I receive the pattern for the Kitty who already has a sweater to wear!

Drying Clothes with Solar Power

My new apron!

I mentioned in a previous post an apron that my friend's mom had when I was a kid growing up in Redondo Beach, Ca. It had a big pocket to hold clothespins and she wore it when she was hanging clothes on the clothesline in their backyard. I always loved that apron.

Well, now I have one of my own! The Internet is a marvelous thing - I just went on-line and googled "apron pocket clothespins." Up popped an Etsy shop (if you've never been to Etsy and love handmade stuff, it's THE place to buy all things handmade!) and user momomadeit had just what I was looking for, and only $20! See it here. Don't you just love that retro fabric?? Chic is right!

It arrived quickly and beautifully wrapped in bright orange tissue paper (see below) and with several paper items to describe it (I love it's name "Eco Chic Everyday Housewife Apron), and even a recipe for a delicious pound cake, all clipped together with a teensy clothespin. How cute is that!??? This is why I love buying handmade items. People who take the time and care to make things by hand do it for the love of the craft, and when they send their handmade items out into the world it is with love and care and the hope that the recipient will enjoy the item as much as they enjoyed making it.

I hung two loads of clothes out today, and then later brought them in, all the while wearing my new apron and enjoying the convenience of dipping into that roomy pocket for clothespins.

Lovely!