As soon as I walked in after work I sensed a problem. According to Magglio, someone---but not him-must have broke in, turned the shredder bin upside down, spread the shreds from one end of the office to the other and then left. Magglio said we are lucky he was here to protect the house. He thinks it may have been the dog next door--but he maintains his innocence. Just in case, he is retaining the services of a lawyer.

Skating party!

It doesn't happen every year, but when it does----we love it! After a cold spell, we drill the ice on our pond and if it is thick enough to be safe, we skate. And it doesn't come without a little effort----we don't own a Zamboni so we have to clear the ice ourselves of snow. The first ice of the year is the best---smooth and clear. Yesterday we had a little skating party and it is a good thing we did---because today with the warm-up there is open water!

No where to go!

I always take the day after our ski trip off---mainly because I am tired and also to catch up on laundry and unpack. And today is even better because the temps are hovering around zero. And to seal the deal---my husband took my car to work so he can wash it later--so I can't go out even if I want to---Sweet!

Weary travelin'

We are headed back to the Buckeye state after a fun weekend--our annual ski trip. This was the weekend that my husbands family drive up to a beautiful
Area of Michigan to ski, snow shoe, laugh, eat and have fun. As the t shirt attests, we've been doing this a long time. The only low point was earlier this morning as we drove through a snow storm with no visibility. Glad I took tomorrow off
To rest up.

Bees

It was a good feeling---make that a great feeling- to see the girls out and buzzing around as the temp went over 50 degrees!! These smart gals know when the thermometer is a good temp to come out and get some fresh air. But that is bees for you, the rest of us are laying around the house telling ourselves we should be outdoors, but the bees are
actually doing it.

Finally

At last it's Friday! We are going to see Les Miserable tonite---finally!! It was a toss up between Lincoln and Les Mis but since my Honey said "your choice" it is going to be Les Mis. Only because I have loved the novel since I have been 14 and the music since the Broadway version came out. And just because I know how I am with musicals, I am taking the CD along to listen to on the way home.

Homemade Bread

Along with my quest for healthier eating comes an urge to cook. Add to the mix a houseful of sickly people. Not me though---I had a flu shot! Today we had chicken noodle soup simmering on the stove and this was my finest hour for homemade soup. Not sure why this one turned out better than others except I used a really plump-obese would be more like it---roaster and set it simmering all day with just enough water to cover. And then I tried a new recipe for homemade bread---a great no-knead artisanal loaf that called for a pan of water in the oven to give it a crunchy crust. Finally--and this is what I am really proud of---I wanted a dessert and made crepes at the last minute using my homemade pear jam as a filling. The best part was this was not labor intensive but a really enjoyable day!

P.S.

And can I add a few more to yesterday's post?
-Organize my sewing room. And get rid of at least 50% of the "this and that's" that I am saving for future projects. Those projects are never going to happen. I get happy just thinking about an organized room
-Plant enough rhubarb to be able to say I am tired of it. Because I Love rhubarb and found a great recipe in one of my favorite Christmas presents-The Smittenkitchen cookbook. I have planted it for the last 3 years and it never does well. How can it not do well? It's almost a weed!

New Year!

It's a New Year and with it comes that good "let's start anew" feeling. Of course I made resolutions---didn't everyone? I am going to put mine here so I can either publicly humiliate myself or make myself accountable!
1. Stop neglecting my Blog. See-I am already accomplishing this. Oh Instsgram-you have your charms but this blog is my
first love.
2. Do something I have never done before---and that I will be proud of! I just don't know what that is yet! 2 years ago it was beekeeping and last year it was running a 5k. I have some ideas-stay tuned.
3. Lose weight---that is a tradition--the resolution, not following through!
4. And finally--let my fingernails grow!! I cannot do this alone-so I ordered some nasty tasting yet pricey polish to help!

Tradition

Sadly, we had to break with tradition this year because the tallest family member forgot to place the angel atop the tree when he was home. The tree was installed, the angel ready for placement----and we totally forgot! Luckily, we had the next tallest family member on the bench, suited up and ready to play!!

Holiday traditions.

It's been a weekend of holiday traditions---appropriate for the first weekend of December. First---I brought out my favorite ornament. My Mom's Snow Lady. I wish I knew more about this little gal! She looks waxy and is fragile. I know my Mom bought her during WW2 and she used to spray her with flocking from a can every year. I haven't touched up her snow in years and think she still is pretty. And then Friday nite we went to the Toledo Zoo's Lights Before Christmas. It was packed!!! And packed attendance meant a traffic nightmare but a nice, family crowd. And a chance to see the prettiest tree in Toledo--covered in blue lights!

Beads!

We've been wanting to get to our Toledo Museum of Art's exhibit of Manet and decided Sunday was the "now or never" day before the holiday rush started. Yes---it was an exceptional exhibit and we also took in a photography show featuring old promotional photography from the golden age of Hollywood. But sometimes it's the simple things that really catch my eye. Like these beaded curtains in the cafe. The public was invited to create beads---all different mediums---and they have been assembled to create these window coverings. Some are whimsical--like cupcakes and hamburgs---and some are small intricate treasures like hand blown Venetian glass. Together they make a beautiful work of art.

Turkey Trot!

I've ticked something off my "bucket list" I have always been in awe of runners---knowing that "I just can't run".My youngest son ran cross country and it was an incredible feeling to just be surrounded by runners at events and feed off their energy. This summer I asked myself why I couldn't run and I didn't have a good answer. So I started a walking/running program and felt proud, and yet----. My oldest son urged me to sign up for a 5K run and said that would show progress. Again, those old doubts came into play. But when he presented the opportunity for all of us to run in a 5K---and do it on Thanksgiving morning, I asked myself --"why not?" So we all signed up and on a beautiful sunny Ohio morning 2 days ago, we did it! It was an emotional moment to see the Welcome Runners sign but with the finish line in sight---and my whole family(who finished quite a bit in front of me) cheering me on--it was emotional beyond words. I am proud of all of us and never thought I would do this!!!! What next???

Handmade Christmas

I've been knitting away at these mini sweaters---to make ornaments and also to use up leftover yarn. They look cute hanging on a small tree and they are an easy project to take along when I'm on the go. It's very gratifying to use up my scraps of yarn. I noticed online that some knitters use them as gift card holders.

Honey!

We've been slowly bottling our honey. Slow for various reasons----not only are we busy and that is slowing us down and also because our honey this year is very, very thick---probably from the drought and lack of moisture. And it is also opaque from a lot of pollen. So we will just work away at bottling and be very, very patient.

Magglio

Our Bassett Hound has started having anxiety attacks at nite---shivering, quivering, teeth chattering episodes. It is sad to see--not to mention sleep disruptive. Friends have given lots of advice and it usually makes mention of a Thundercoat. To me, that sounded like quackery but we were desperate and finally bought one. And incredibly, it worked. No more shivering at night and his waking episodes are coming to an end. It is just a snug, soft body wrap---sometimes I wish they had them for humans!

House Divided

We were somewhat of a house divided in California---Giants fans, Tiger Fans and some that were a little of both! We did get a few puzzled looks as my brother's car was decorated for each team! All part of the fun though! But next year is---the Year of the Tiger!

I miss my little home here in the blogosphere. Being busy is no excuse to ignore my blog. Being across the country isn't an excuse either. I did something totally out of character for me---made a spur of the moment decision to visit family in San Francisco and go see the Tigers in the World Series. No stressing about packing--just threw some clothes in a suitcase(lots of tiger gear and orange colored sweaters) and went. We had so much fun-my brothers family love the Giants and our 2 teams share the color orange and that was our theme! Like these orange rimmed champagne glasses that awaited us when we arrived! Cheers to the Tigants!

Yarn Bombing

Bloomington Indiana has the warmest, coziest trees around. They surround the town square and are part of a charitable cause called Knitting to Heal at http://www.knittingtoheal.org/. The trees have been Yarn Bombed and you can vote online for your favorite---proceeds benefit victims of violence.

Hoo Hoo Hoosier

Why go anywhere but Indiana to see fall color! It's the prettiest I've seen---peak color. We made our annual trek to the Hoosier state and had a lot of fun. Wine tasting, birthday cake, fall color, and lots of special people. The view from our hotel room in the heart of the IU campus was an extremely old graveyard. And by the dawn's first light a gaping hole was visible in the middle. Hmmmmm---what evil lurks. But it didn't concern the Indiana students who were excited about Hoosier Hysteria! Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!