Wordless Wednesday

The End of the Line

Hard to believe 2014 is almost done. My diary bulges from where the watercolor brush caused the pages to buckle and from cards and small things glued in the book.

 Only two more entries to make in this year's Good Stuff diary. Wednesday will be a time to read through the book to see all the good things, big and small, that happened this year. Truth be told, I've flipped through the book from time to time through the year.

I hope to get to Staples, either today or tomorrow, to buy a 2015 diary to continue the practice.  I blogged about the how to here. Do you plan on keeping a Good Stuff jar or diary in 2015?

New Toy

For Christmas, The Young One fed my Doctor Who obsession. She gave me a replica of my Doctor's (10) Journal of Impossible Things, the diary he kept when he became human. It has all the drawings and notes from the episodes (Human Nature and The Family of Blood, my favorite episodes.) The journal also came with a mini sonic screwdriver pen. It even lights up, but doesn't make the wibbly noise the Doctor's sonic screwdriver makes. That's probablly a good thing.

I'll be using the pen to write the text in the 2015 Good Things diary.

What new toy did you get?

3D Christmas Card

No, this isn't my design, though I wish it was. The card was sent by our insurance agent. After the card was unfolded, you just had to hang the snowflakes where you wanted.

This card will most likely be on display for quite some time. Well done, Educator's Insurance.

Gift Box

I wanted to bring some cookies to Prissy. I didn't want her to worry about returning a dish to me. (Technically, if you receive a plate that needs to be returned, the plate should not be returned empty). All I had for a presentation was a boring paper plate. Found the last two sheets of red cardstock and made a paper box. Fast, easy, che  inexpensive, and festive. (If you ever need a gift box, you can find directions  here.)

The Friday Five Good Things

Five good things that happened this week.

1. I learned an easy way to stuff a duvet cover. Instead of stuffing and swearing, you turn the cover inside out, add your comfortor and roll. I saw the video from the Meredith Vieriro Show and it was life changing. Go see!

2. Monday, I dropped The Young One off at WPI so she could meet a friend for lunch. I continued to West Boylston to pick up the calligraphic whiteboard marker I left there after the workshop. The Young One texted me her friend stood her up, so on the way back, I stopped and had lunch with her. Small consolation for her, but a plus for me.

3. While in West Boylston, I stopped at Gerardo's Italian Bakery for some pastry. At first, I wasn't  sure it was a good idea. There were no parking spaces, and the parking lot was a box canyon. (Only one way in and out). After 15 minutes, a space opened up, and I had my turn in the bakery: pizzelle (anise waffle cookies), mini canoli and rum cake.

4. With the electricity bill jumping $30, I've been pretty miserly about people leaving lights on. Himself adores Christmas lights. Usually, the tree is lit every night once it goes up. Not this year! On Christmas Eve,  Himself and I sat in front of the Christmas tree admiring the lights and decorations.

5. Passed along my family's genealogy while showing The Eldest how to make ravioli.

How was your week?

Throwback Thursday

The first calligraphic Christmas card I made. Calligraphy, illustration, and signatures scanned into the computer and printed on cardstock. Christmas star and horizon hand painted.  1996

So from my home to yours, Merry Thanksgivaweenakahzayule and Happy Thursday!

Wordless Wednesday

Living Nativity

On My Own Front Door

Finally got around to decorating my own wreath.

Snowflake Maker

Need a happy, little, time waster? Head over to http://snowflake.thebookofeveryone.com/specials/make-your-snowflake/?p=bmFtZT1DSitLZW5uZWR5&imageurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsnowflake.thebookofeveryone.com%2Fspecials%2Fmake-your-snowflake%2Fflakes%2FbmFtZT1DSitLZW5uZWR5_600.png to make your own snowflake(s)

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Work in Progress - A Painting

Meet Fluffy. Signed, sealed, and delivered.

The Friday Five Good Things

Five good things that happened this week.

1. Attended the Black Belt Dinner and Award Ceremony with Himself. Was happy to be sitting at the same table with my favorite couple Master Beef and "Grandmaster" E. Always a good time with them.

2. Between point and click and a run to the mall, I think I got all the Christmas shopping done. If you don't get a gift, you're on the naughty list. (-;

3. Made some hostess gifts

4. After trying to coordinate schedules, finally had a most delightful lunch with my calligraphy teacher/mentor/friend.

5. Finished up the Celtic Workshop at West Boylston High School. Got to wear my new Celtic theme tee shirt. Merry Christmas to me.

How was your week?

Wordless Wednesday

Work in Progress - A Painting

The edge of darkness. All four edges of the canvas are painted black so the painting won't need to be framed.

Prissy's Wreath

Win win all around. We help the Boy Scouts with their fund raiser. Prissy is happy with the wreath. I'm happy to have an easy gift to make by gluing in a few, inexpensive baubles.. After all, what do you get an elderly lady? She certainly doesn't need another china teacup or scented candle. And I get mitzveh points.

Third Sunday of Advent

Work in Progress - A Painting

Highlights, shadows, and detail

The Friday Five Good Things

Five good things that happened this week.

1. No sudden appointments or car problems. Finally, was able to meet my cousin for our annual lunch. We had lunch at Legal Seafood. I had a delicious crabmeat roll and the decadent Boston Cream Pie for dessert.

2. I decorated a wreath for my elderly neighbor, Prissy. She's so funny. Every year she acts surprised. (I've been doing this for the past 17 years or so) And every year she tells me the wreath is the prettiest she's ever seen.

3. While I was at a meeting, the elves put up and decorated the Christmas tree. If only they would have put the ornament boxes away.

4. Had a great time teaching a calligraphy workshop to students and teachers at W. Boylston High School. Looking forward to returning next week to finish up.

5. I found a surprise in the PO Box when I went to retrieve the mail. FinnBadger sent me one of his wonderful, hand-made envelopes. Rowers on the river in the early morning mist and the Asher Durand stamp (Part of the Hudson River School series) is like viewing the scene from a distance.  I love the back of the envelope, too, because it reminds me of "Lions, and tigers, and bears. Oh, my!" Thank you for thinking of me, Finn.

How was your week?

Throwback Thursday

Christmas 1966?

Wordless Wednesday

Work in Progress - A Painting

White fur added.

Work in Progress - A Painting

A nose and under painting for shadows

Second Sunday of Advent

Work in Progress - A Painting

Yipes, stripes!

The Friday Five Good Things

Five good things that happened this week.

1. We brought a wreath to the cemetery for Ma and Dad. And just so Ma wouldn't get jealous thinking the wreath was just for Dad, we stopped at Price Chopper for some flowers. Picked a a lovely, long stem pink rose for her. Had the florist clerk add a sprig of Baby's Breath. Also asked if they carried a wreath stand. They had one left so bought that, too. This way we could place the wreath on a stand in front of the marker instead of laying it flat.

2. After the cemetery visit, we went to Michael's Pasta in the Pan for a late lunch/dinner. Good food served in skillets. Glad Himself decided the cemetery trip should be on Saturday instead of Sunday as we originally planned. The restaurant is closed on Sunday.

3. The advent tree got put up before Christmas Eve!

4. Now that we don't have cable the clicker only turns on the TV. You can't change channels. Then there's the clicker for the Bose speaker, and the clicker for the Blu-ray player. We needed one clicker to rule them all. I picked one up while running errands, and Himself programmed it.

5. The decorating for Christmas has begun.

How was your week?

Throwback Thursday

My (maternal) grandma never baked us cookies like oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip. For all the holiday and special occasions, she baked her signature Bow Cookies. Crostoli, as they are called in Italian, are thin strips of dough, tied into a bow knot, and deep fried. Grandma piled them high on a turkey platter, drizzled them with honey, and sprinkled with multi-colored nonpareil balls. They were light and crispy. Heaven on a plate.

I had tried making them a very, long time ago for some holiday or other. My dad said they were not quite like Grandma's, but still very good. A high compliment.

The day after Thanksgiving, I decided to try again. Grandma never wrote down any of her recipes. If she did it would say a handful of this and a little of that. If the dough was too dry, add a little water. If too wet, add a little flour. I found an easy recipe with exact measurements  Crostoli at The Funky Foodgasm

Mine were still not as light as Grandma's. I still couldn't roll the dough as thin as she did. She didn't have a pasta machine and neither do I. (Well, I do. Found it at a yard sale and dedicated it to Fimo clay). Like Dad said, the bows weren't quite like Grandma's, but they were still good.

Wordless Wednesday

Work in Progress - A Painting

The eyes have it.

Work in Progress - A Painting

Under painting with a wash of Burnt Sienna. I still can see my guidelines.