Greg was here

Friday night

It was SO cold!!

I had to stay home and make minipies. (A bottle of wine and Battlestar Galactica were also involved.)

Christmas day

Greg consulting the cookbook in front of the woodstove.

Little sister starting her new book.

Me bonding with my new Christmas friends!

Picked up

In the woods:

Seeds.

Snow.

Shotgun target.

Made

Hat for a baby!

YES PLEASE!

My friend Mohanad bought forty acres of "raw" land in British Columbia.

It has two streams that run year round and an ELK TRAIL running through it! His plan is—log the Douglas fir to buy out the mortgage then build a cabin.

He has offered us 3.5 acres!!

Bent plywood

From the Industrial Revolution, to Charles and Ray Eames, to a Greenpoint trash pile.

Reminds me of this.

Hat skills

This guy's got em.

It was perched on the extreme rear of his cranium, but IT DIDN'T FALL OFF.

I was in literal awe.

That's right

This blog got its own line of bread.

Take that, haters!

Found

Miniature tam-'o-shanter.

Is it yours?

In the park

Impressive beige fluff.

Hmm

Soup tureen.

Or chamber pot?

I saw this on my way to work on my bike, and I had already had way too much stuff to carry. My plan was to come back for it later, but—I forgot.

Bubble tea

Coconut.

With black bubbles!

I really love Chinatown.

I fear

That backpack kitty has been retired.

Bananagrams!

Dr. Jones wants to play.

Santa Claus boot

Of course you remember it. (I am keeping random tiny stuffing scraps in it.)

Well, I was on the "internet" a while ago, and I happened to see ANOTHER Santa Claus boot for sale. Yes! A PAIR OF BOOTS, I thought. PERFECT!!! So I purchased it.

But when it arrived . . . I tore open the box in breathless anticipation, to find:

Santa got one big foot and one li'l foot.
:(

Cowl

Yes, I knitted this beauty.

I was knitting it "normal" but then I got bored and started experimenting.

Knitters everywhere are shuddering.

But I like it!

Last night

I decided I should make quiche.

Again with the knitting

Now this is a more typical production:

A multicolored, wizened, technically flawed scrap.

Hazards of blogging

My sisters have taken to calling Greg "Choklit Drops."

Knitting!

Yes, I am finally learning how! Thank you sister Mona, for the yarn and needles, and Beth, for teaching me.

(Note to self: vacuum rug.)

Lamb curry

In progress:

And . . .

Finished!

Good job, me (recipe from How to Cook Everything, with added leftover vegetables).

Always psyched

To have an excuse to consult Garner's Modern American Usage.

Sometimes a girl needs to know the difference between "may" and "might."

A most excellent snack

Invented by Greg:

A piece of fresh mozzarella from the fridge with olive oil and salt.

In your mouth.

GINGHAM!

My friend Claudine made me this apron.

It has a bib and an extra long sash for wrapping around twice. I love it! (I wore it tonight to make lamb curry.)

Getting out of town

Traffic trauma. But don't worry—

Greg is here!

Mini yarn balls

Dude, do not throw these away!

Keep them in a basin.

You'll find a use for them eventually.

Back in the city

The weirdness begins immediately.

Beavs were here

This amazing beaver pond was really close to our chalet in Lake Luzerne. The entire thing was frozen, so you could walk up to the dam and the lodge (the beavs didn't come out tho).

There is nothing I love more than walking in the woods peering closely at everything! (I am an idefatigable peerer).

Gregory

He is a good wilderness guide.

(Note reflective vest.)

Here he is indicating the frozen surface of a beaver pond.

Thank you Gregory!

Holiday baking

Apple pie!

Made by me! (Recipe from How to Cook Everything, which Greg got for Christmas.)

Eaten with whipped cream, natch.

Holidays

At a chalet in the Adirondacks there is lots of time for handicrafts (even if your sisters want to play Parcheesi 24/7).

I finally finished this blanket for my sister Mona:

It has been through lots of iterations. You may recall that at one time it looked like this (yes, a lot of unraveling was involved).

Yep, it came out well in the end!

Dear blog friends

I am off to sojourn in the woods en famille.

Ye shall hear of my exploits upon my return!

Have a good one!