A lazy Sunday morning – I’m just now getting to the blog. I woke up late, only because I had trouble sleeping last night. When I opened the blinds upstairs, it was snowing. No snow was predicted and this barely covers the ground, but it was a lovely sight, nonetheless. I like my snow this way: just a bit, big, fat, pretty flakes, and very little coverage. Can we have that all winter long, please?
I made a batch of linzer cookies this year and we are slowly making our way through them before sweets are sharply curtailed at the first of the year. These are vegan linzers and, as a linzer expert, I guarantee you would never notice any difference. If anything, they’re better.
Favorite cookie ever.
We threw out the rest of the coffee cake and I’m just about to toss the rest of the pumpkin pie. We haven’t been eating either, an indication of officially hitting the ‘too much sugar’ mark.
I brought this little sofa downstairs the other day. I want to see what it looks like in the vintage dollhouse to get an idea of the scale. But I’ll have to move the dollhouse in order to check that out and I’m not ready to. I’ll need to move it to the coffee table in the den in order to clean it and take some photos. Maybe tomorrow?
In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to see it next to the pots and ‘big’ things in the den. Looks lilliputian, doesn’t it?
I sorted through everything in the pink cabinet in the office yesterday; organized the drawer and the contents of the cupboard. A lot got thrown out. I also cleaned up the desk. The big task – mammoth, really – will be cleaning out the closet. I’m holding off until I take down the Christmas decorations.
The other day, when hanging the Paris sign, we also hung Don’s hat and the signed poster from Escape to Margaritaville above his desk. Someday, when all of this is organized and the room looks settled, I’ll take some pictures.
Most of our conversations of late have been reflective. We’ve been thinking about 2018 and everything it contained: so much joy, so much good, but also heartache and sadness with a bit of anger. The good far, far outweighed the bad, however, and we count our blessings today and every day.
Happy Sunday.
I am feeling very reflective today myself. As I look back on this year of much change for me. Emotionally and physically exhausting and yet I found help and hope in the midst of it all. I’m trying to admit that I’ve stopped blogging but I can’t quite put it out there just yet. Maybe I’ll come back? My new project for the year is to do a planner. I will include all the doctor appts for my Mom of course, but I hope to add a bit of a prayer journal, gratitude journal and set some goals for myself. I have realized if I don’t take care of me that no one will. I’m looking forward to 2019!!
Oh, I hope you don’t stop blogging! Too many people have stopped and it makes me sad. Selfish of me, of course, but so many blogs I loved have not been updated.
But I’m glad you’re taking care of yourself, my friend.
Good for you, Claudia, with your diligent toss outs. I have bags of clothes waiting to go to the Senior Center, but the thrift shop isn’t accepting until January. I went to order the 2-cubic foot bin the garbage company provides upon request every 12 months. In my 20+ years I’ve lived here, I haven’t asked for one. But, they told me the account was in my husband’s name and I couldn’t order the bin, he had to. Hmmm, what a neat trick that would be. So, I’m in the process of changing the account holder to me. I never changed the utility accounts after he died. There was just too much other stuff to do and I figured the utility companies wouldn’t care since they were still being paid.
I’ve been so busy during the day, and then crashing at night watching the Doctor Who marathon, and not even knitting while watching TV…very unusual for me. I have a huge list of sewing and knitting and needlework projects to finish and start for 2019. The list is in my head but I think I need to write it down and cross off as I go along. I need to make a big dent in the projects and supplies (I.e., fabric and yarn). I was excited to calculate that the ornaments I made this year took out 2-1/2 yards of fabric! Which I just replaced with even more this morning on-line shopping….hey, it was a good deal! I figure there are worse vices than fabric collecting…
I have a list in my head, but good advice – I’m going to write all of that down!
I’m glad to hear your office is coming along. I haven’t started that project yet. Although, I have started to put a few small things away, and I’ve been cleaning up a storm…our tree won’t come down until the 2nd…as the less sugar in my diet also begins. New Years Day is for family, and football….our tradition.
Oddly, I’ve spent a great deal of time so far today, scouring the internet for gardening ideas. A tad bit early I realize…but a girl has to plan! ;)
We’re not really into football – though Don has become a Saints fan. I was looking at my IG posts today and saw all the garden posts and I’m ready for spring!
counting my blessings too.
as in… ‘I’m still here.’
seriously. as in some days I had my doubts!
I hope you and Don have a wonderful new year. xo
The same to you, dear Tammy!
sounds like another productive day … good for you (i love the feeling i get from days like that)!
best wishes on the closet clean-out!
hope you take the rest of the day off and read that good book, enjoy that pretty snow.
i know that for a while it won’t be easy, but i’m going to focus on the good that will come rather than the sweets i am giving up. i, too, decided to not wait until new year’s day to start … … but, boy, do those cookies look yummy! and they’re vegan? even better!
what are you and don doing for new year’s eve? hope it’s happy!
kathy in iowa
We’re trying to finish those cookies in the next couple of days!
We’re staying home, as always. We like low-key.
We just had a few snow showers. Those Linzer tarts look delicious.
Marilyn
They are, Marilyn, they are!
I haven’t started the de-decorating process as of yet. Although with the prospect of freezing rain and snow tomorrow, we did get the outside lights down today. Sometimes after that happens, they can be frozen in place for weeks. Inside things remain holly and jolly. And I am fine with that. Jan 6 is always my goal. I would like to go through the Xmas bins now as we bring them back upstairs to pack away. I think in several, I left more in than what I took out and used, so I believe donation boxes lie ahead.
I love that picture of the wee sofa. Great perspective!! And those cookies are beautiful! I am also feeling the over abundance of sugar. I feel rather like a slug. Hope you had a great day!!
I have bins out in the shed full of stuff I’m no longer using at Christmas. I’ll have to do some donating this year.
I like the same sort of snow that you described Claudia…just enough to be pretty!
Exactly!
The linzers look yum but like you, I’m ready to pass on the sugar for awhile! I don’t really do resolutions but I do list a few tasks or goals for myself — top of the list? Find the desk that is under everything I moved there for the holiday season and clean the art studio so I can get back to doing the art I want; letting go of all the things I probably won’t take on again. That’ll be a biggie!
Here’s to a beautiful new year for you both.
The same to you, Jeanie!
It was fun to hear that you’ve played a Thompson or two in your life! I’d never known the history of them until a few years ago thanks to Google. The sound of this big instrument was always too big for our dining room. The neighbors often commented on my playing. LOL. My aunt in Texas had a lovely spinet with a sweeter sound and after she died, I had wanted that piano because I spent hours playing for her when I visited as a young adult. But my sister wanted it for her grand daughters which is cool. They never really took to it. If I had room…I think spinets are lovely little pieces of furniture and make a room look very cosy. The upright is rather dominant. As you say, we don’t pick our heirlooms–we’re merely their caretakers. I have a set of red Myott Bountiful dishes and I always wanted Blue Willow. I’ve toyed with the idea of seeing the Myott thru Replacements and getting a cheap set of Blue Willow–but I know the Myott was bought in England when my aunt and uncle lived there. It probably was chosen for his mother (my aunt liked simpler designs). She lived with them for many years so I’m sure it was used and enjoyed by her. I have now decided I will use it and honor it and love it and look for the serving pieces which were broken in our shipping so that eventually I may have the whole shebang. Something fun to hunt for. I think I get the urge to clean things up at the end of the year more than at traditional spring cleaning time. Wishing you and Don a very happy 2019, that you find a way to sail smoothly thru the chaos and drama that will inevitably come when our baby tyrant doesn’t get his way anymore, and your house will be filled with music from a precious guitar and piano, building new tiny homes, and savory smells from your kitchen. Most sincerely–Nora
It’s always a good thing to have something you love that you can hunt for when you’re out and about.
Here’s to 2019 being the end of this administration and the beginning of sanity and compassion in our government! To a wonderful New Year for all of us.
Thanks for allowing us in on your 2018 ups and downs! The world is a lovelier place with you two in it. May 2019 be the best ever for all of us!
Thank you, Shanna. The same to you and your husband. Happy New Year!