Little bit of this, little bit of that

First, I hadn't realizd just how my the blog had become a part of my everyday thinking until I discovered I was blogging in my head. Unfortunately, the computer issues kept me from getting each 'post-in-my-head" to the computer in time to share before another came along. As a result, now that I have time to enjoy my half-snow day, I've got lots of pieces of blog posts to share. That's right, I said 'half-snow day". The snow and ice that blanketed our region closed my office for the morning. I have to report at noon, but get to wait until the salt has had a chance to work. J, of course, slipped and slid off to work at the usual hour this morning.

We had a similar experience a little over a week ago with the slippery weather, too. J and I headed out last Saturday morning (he for a haircut, me to the gym) in clear, cool weather. By the time we had finished our respective errands and had breakfast, we were in the midst of wuite a little snow storm that took us, and the city road department, quite by surprise! It took an hour to get home from the east side of town (usually a 25 minute drive), and we dodged folks sliding all over the place. We learned the next day that more than 200 wrecks had been reported that Saturday, and, thanks to the observance of one driver at the four-way stop we slid through, were thankful we weren't one of them.

Given the crazy weather, and J's busier work schedule, I've spent lots of time at home getting ready for Christmas. I hosted my annual Cookie Swap last night, and finally took time to take a few pictures. Of course, I forgot to take picturs before the swap, so please just imagine how the tables looked with trays full of cookies/food!

I'll start with the mantel. I've seen many of these ornament trees in the stores this year, and as the intrepid crafter I seem to be, felt confident I could make one myself. It isn't great, but for a first try, I'm pretty pleased that I covered most of the foam base and even snuck in a pattern of matte vs. shiny balls. If anyone wants one, I'm happy to oblige for $25, and I'm fairly certain a second attempt would look even better!

Also handmade on the mantel (or rather, hanging from the mantel) are two stockings. The one on the right was made by my mom for me many years ago. When J and I married, she packed it up with my ornaments and sent it to live with me. J didn't bring his own stocking to our marriage, so I offered to make one. He requested 'blue' and 'classy' so I set off to the fabric store in search of navy (UK blue does not qualify as 'classy' in my mind.) velvet. I made a pattern using my stocking as a model and cut out the fabric. Then I set it aside for a couple of weeks, waiting for the right time to tackle actually sewing it together. Last week, in the midst of a sick day, I decided to whip the stocking up (as well as the second stocking I bought fabric for--we can't have clashing stockings on the mantel now, can we?). Two days, phone calls to my mother and both of my grandmothers (apologies to Mur for implying she should understand the problem since my machine is from her 'era'), re-threading the entire machine, replacing a broken needle, reading through the instruction manual three times... Well, you get the picture. I ended up with one, mis-shapen stocking. My darling husband has assured me this is okay as "it will hold candy!" When the bobbin ran out, I called it quits, and hung my mis-matched stockings on the mantel. I'll try to sew the other stocking when I have thoroughly forgotten this experience.

Other craftiness I've been up to--a non-traditional wreath on our front door and my favorite part of the holidays--wrapping the gifts! I'm going with a red and gold theme this year, but when I found wide red velvet ribbon on sale at Michaels, I had to pull out my trusty kraft paper. I'm particularly proud of the package wrapped to look like a hand-bag for my neice Elizabeth!

The red and gold theme spilled over to our kitchen, where a centerpiece of antique glass ornaments looked great, I though, my my silver and china last night. They sparkled just as much as the 'sugared' apple ornaments I bought last summer for my kitchen cabinets!

I think that's it for this post, which I'm sure you appreciate since it's gone entirely too long! The rest of this week holds an RMH dinner for me, dinner with my folks on Thursday when they come to town for their annual Christmas trip to Lexington, J and I are going to see the TransSiberian Orchestra Friday night (yay!!) and then hitting the cookie room, I mean, visiting with Carter and Michelle at her parents' open house on Saturday night. It's definitely the holidays at the Melton Point!!

Title: Little Bit of this, Little Bit of that, by Carolyn Dawn Johnson