Thankful Thursday

At about 3:30 AM last night...

Jared returns safely.

since the year is flying along

If you ever wanted to know how to make a pop-up valentine: here it is!

worth a thousand words

Sometimes I like to look back through old pictures I have on my computer. I have been fortunate to have traveled and experienced a variety of things over the past few years. I love taking pictures to capture the things I see. They are moments of my life preserved. When I look at pictures I took I can remember the way things tasted, how the sun felt, who I was with... I am surrounded by memories.

Tonight I revisited my trip to the Florida Everglades. I went in late spring, 2005. I have many amazing pictures from that trip. Here is the one I choose to share tonight. I think it speaks for itself.

my addiction

I got a new espresso maker! I found this super cute one-cup espresso maker in the clearance aisle at Home Goods! I love it! It looks like a fire hydrant!


This morning I decided to do something different from my typical morning coffee and give my new pot a try! In order to get the best possible I had to start with freshly ground espresso beans. I warmed and frothed some milk on the stove and in no time the kitchen was filled with the delicious aroma of espresso!

The perfect amount for a delicious latte. YUMMY!

Gifts

Before Chrismas gets too far away I want to post pictures of some handmade gifts I gave this year. Giving handmade gifts this year was fun because I was able to personalize the gifts to fit the person. I enjoyed putting the thought into it and was excited on Christmas morning to see the reactions the gifts got.

First I made this purse for Stacy: I used the same pattern as my corderoy purse that she liked. I really like the material in the lining and she has a green coat I thought it would match nicely.
I also made a purse for Mom. It was fun to make one for her because she taught me how to sew and this would be my first project that she couldn't help me at all on (because I wanted it to be a surprise). I bought the fabric in DC and had to work on it in secret - like after she went to bed or when she was running errands. It was the first purse I made without a pattern and it was a good experience. A few things did not work exactly as I had hoped so I had to modify and adapt, but I am pleased with the final product. Mom was shocked that I had pulled it off without her suspecting a thing and she loves the bag - success!

Lastly, I did this cross-stitch verse for Ben and Jen. Since they are newly married and moving to a new place I figured they could use something to hang on their walls! After sewing a lot, cross-stitch seems to take forever to finish! I had it framed at a place in town and I am happy with the outcome. They both seemed to like it and I'm sure it will find a nice home in Montana.

Welcome 2008!

Happy New Year!!!

I got to spend this New Years eve with several of my closest friends. We gathered from across the eastern U.S. in Bloomington, Indiana. My friends are very special to me and I am glad that we can begin another year together. Regardless of where we have been and what we have done this past year, we have been able to keep our friendship strong and always enjoy spending time together.

This year, we weren't able to "watch the ball drop", but we had our own countdown. Most of us being frustrated musicians, we wanted to drop a clarinet (from a serious height) to bring in the new year, but had to settle for burning a reed - I was able to donate one to the cause. May the sacrifice bring a year of good reeds!

At the close of one year, I like to look back at some of the highlights of the year behind me. 2007 was a different kind of year for me - not marked by new degrees on my wall or career advancements, but was special because of the smaller things, which may prove to be even more important. In 2007 I enjoyed spending lots of time with my family - something I have not been able to do in a long time. I enjoyed endless cups of coffee over good conversations, with an occasional donut to keep it interesting. I enjoyed traveling. I saw the wonders of Yosemite National Park in California and Denali National Park in Alaska. I also had many good meals in 2007! I loved trying new restaurants in different cities, as well as feasting in familiar places and trying new recipes at home. And I must not forget my newest accomplishment and interest: sewing! A year ago I had a machine and not a clue on what to do with it. I have now learned how to sew and was able to make gifts for other people this past Christmas!

I am looking forward to what 2008 has in store for me. I hope it is filled with beautiful days, each full of its own simple delights. I look forward to improving myself and my current abilities while also learning about new things and finding new interests. I hope to find myself with old friends and in new places. Amidst it all, I'm sure I will find time for a little shopping and a few coffee breaks here and there.

Like mother, like daughter...

We LOVE our coffee!




Just can't get enough!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I hope everyone enjoyed a warm and cozy Christmas like ours!

Countdown: 1 DAY

I guess that Santa guy is packing up his sleigh and checking his oil today. I can't believe that tomorrow is Christmas. This year surely sped by. Having family around is great - I only wish that Jared could be here with us. I am counting down the days to his return and it is quickly approaching. Just a few more weeks!

I am celebrating today by eating the cookies I baked the other day. Cranberry White Chocolate Oatmeal cookies. YUMMY. They are GOOD.
And for a dose of Christmas decorating, enjoy the Christmas Tree sampler that I did last year.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

The house is decorated and Christmas is just around the corner. I can breathe easier because I have finished all of my homemade Christmas gifts and my shopping is finished. I was feeling a little pressure in trying to finish up my projects and had to make a few adaptations, but I think everything worked out well. I felt so good about my progress that I even did a little wrapping today! After the presents are handed out I will be posting pictures on here!

Last night I made this fancy star/snowflake thing that I found here:
I love Christmas decorations (well, unless they are out of control, tacky and cheap looking, which apparently some people like). The good stuff I am talking about is elegant and warm. I also enjoy having family around for the holidays. The house is bustling and busy like it used to be. Stacy has been here for a week. Ben and Jen got in last night. They had a very long drive - I don't envy them - and an even longer one coming up next week. No thanks. I've had enough long drives for this year.

the traveler returns

I am finally back home after what feels like my tour of the eastern U.S. Before Thanksgiving I was in Myrtle Beach, Thanksgiving was spent in Pensacola, Florida. Just after Thanksgiving I went to New York City for a few days, followed by a few days in Washington D.C. where I saw the first snow of the year.
This past weekend I ventured back to the south to play with the Knoxville Wind Symphony in Tennessee. There I met up with old friends and got to play a holiday concert (which also reimbursed me for all of the traveling I have been doing - whew).

I had decided that I would spend today at home, working on Christmas gifts like the Santa's elf I am becoming! Everything was rolling right along: itunes pumping out some tunes to keep me happy, sewing machine speeding over the fabric, iron steaming up a storm; things were looking good until....

SNAP!!!

Well, there's not much I can do with a needle that looks like this: and my expert sewing helper is not home, so I guess it's time to move on to something else for the afternoon....

Winter Welcome

Look what happened yesterday!

First snow of the year!!!