My hopes for 2012

I hope to spend more time with this handsome fellow...

My dad is about 2 hours from my place, and I wish I got over to hug him more often, I hope I have a lot more hugs from him this year.  His health is precarious so I don't take any hugs for granted.

I hope to see many more gorgeous clouds.

I love clouds.

I hope to play with some of my UFOs this year.

Making something like this would be kind of fun...

I hope the weddings in our family go well and the marriages are wonderful and healthy.

By the way my good friend Diane MADE this cake for her sons wedding. 

Yes, she is pretty amazing.

I hope the brides enjoy their special day.

And I hope I survive the weddings.

This is going to mean a nice outfit isn't it?

Should I be checking out what is expected of the mother of the brides? 

I can just wing it right?

I may need some help........

Happy New Year everyone!

I know New Years has passed, but you can see how up to date I have been for the past several months so I figure my blog friends won't mind my tardiness.

Ready for the party.

Can you believe I found GOLD and SILVER sugar??? 

Me either, but it was cool.

until I knocked them over and most of them broke.

Only 2 glasses of French Champagne, not enough to use that as an excuse, but thanks.  I'm just a bit clumsy at times.

Table all ready to get going.......

Special wish cards for our friends.....



Anybody else think that cats feet are too close to a lighted candle?

Fun beverages..............

Happy New Year everyone. 

I hope this year is even better than the last and we can all meet back here again next year.

I'll bring the pretzel rods with sugar and the fire extinguisher.  (you know, just in case)

SUPER SATURDAY----Super because I am off!! yay!

Oh it's lovely to have a Saturday off isn't it?  I know I have tons of studying to do.  The paper is in and graded, and I have my final to study for now.  Thank goodness I have a day off to study!!  Actually a whole entire WEEKEND OFF!!! 

And I have my very own craft room of happiness to study in..........

um, what is that on my ironing board?  I feel a bout of crafting ADD about to kick in.

Oh yeah, when I take a study break I can finish up that bit of crocheting silliness that I re-discovered the other day...  I think it shall be a nice cozy neckwarmer.

oops, what's that?  oh yeah; a project from the big guy-- ye olde ratty tatty towels to be made into rags.

Well that's a good quick study break.

What's under that bit of crochet silliness?  oh dear, 2 tote bags I meant to make up last fall, and some leaders and enders 9 patches to play with.  Better close my eyes.....

Back to the books.....

What was I doing there?  I don't even REMEMBER starting a dark purple scarf!  When did I do that?

Study Mare.  Study.

oh darn, I really MUST get those stockings made up before the other silliness, yes, a stocking for future son in law #2 and for fur puppy.  Those need to be my first study break project.

oh.  my walking shoes.  Hmmm I seem to have skipped that this morning in my pure joy of having a weekend off.  darn.  Are they sticking their tongues out at me?

Goodness, I have terrible ADD today, there is my Christmas tote that I was going to fix up for my work bag.  I really need to make the straps longer......... I could just stitch an extra piece in at the top to extend them........ and

oh, why is that quilt top out?  Was I doing something with that?

(ADD)

Fleece!  Fleece for a blanket for our bell choir director.  What on EARTH was I thinking?  Why oh why do I always say yes when someone asks if I can finish something?  Don't I ever pay attention to my own unfinished projects?  

And why do I keep starting new projects?  Look at that pretty blue yarn...........  and............

oh dear.  Study Mare!!  Now. Study.

What's on the back of my desk chair?  oh yeah, I was going to make a pretty apron out of that for daughter number 2.  (about 9 months ago) ADD

and under that fabric............ shorts to be fixed for the big guy.  Well, I should be able to push that off for a few months anyway right?  (do not check back on this in another 6 months please)

ADD

Study.  Yes, whew, there's my lovely book.  Ahhhh Viola, J'etudie boucoup!

I should put that Christmas bread away.  you know that 6 breads I baked yesterday during a different bout of ADD!  along with easy peasy pretzel candy.

Why is the tree staring at me like that?

It's up, what more does it want?  Really? lights are good right?

Now there is something I might finish..............

Oh fine.  quit looking at me like that! 

just.

quit.

and don't remind me again that the half sewn quilt on the design wall has been up there since August.

Cause if you do I'll go back to the last picture and work on that bottle!

Christmas countdowns everywhere!

Oh we are all ready for Christmas so early!!!! 

Viola!

Look at all those ornaments on the tree already!

Bet you are impressed with how well I'm juggling school and family and the holidays huh?

If I happen to mention that these are pictures from last year will you lose all respect for me?

okay, I can live with that.

I thought about just printing these out and hanging them around the house instead of actually getting everything out while I'm trying to write a paper in french and study for two exams.

okay, the paper only has to be 150 words, but we all know me! 

even the cats think I am ridiculous.

okay, fine.  I'll drag out the 81 Christmas boxes and try to get something festive going on around here.

what if I just bake instead?  cookies fix everything right?

right?

I hate it when he looks at me like that.

Now he's pretending he got ran over by an invisible bus.



Fine. We'll have Christmas. 

sheesh, the things you do for the fur babies.

laughing at your kids.

Do you remember laughing at the silly things your kids did when they were little?  I just realized that laughing at the silly things they do now that they are grown ups is just as much fun!
Here are Becky and Ben..............
sorry, not one of my better pictures, hang on!

............... yes, much better

And here is there puppy Boo....  with little Miss V

dang, another lousy shot.....

hang on again..........

yes, much better, now you can see her cute face. 

So, on to the laughing at your kids part.

Becky is the "momma" of Boo of course and a few weeks ago Boo had some uh, puppy tummy issues.......

if you have ever had a puppy (or a small child) you understand what this means.  Lots of washing of bed clothes and racing to get the puppy outside etc. etc.

So, fast forward a couple days to when miss V and the lovely DD#2 where spending the weekend with Becky.....  Off to the dog park to let little Boo play with all her new doggy friends.  This also means taking along all the puppy accompaniments.   At one point Boo did her "thing"  and Becky ran over to clean it up, she did the poo bag thing and then happily turned around and yelled across the dog park........... ready for it?

"YAY!!!! WE HAVE SOLID POOP!!!"

Little Miss V and DD#2 promptly turned around and pretended not to know her.

une mois! Mais oui!

I can't believe it's been a month since I blogged!!!  I've really been working at my french class, and believe you me, it's work for someone who hasn't been to school in ahem, 30 years, and who did not learn any foreign languages as a child.  Sesame street didn't exist in the stone age so I didn't even get a bit of Spanish!  Lest you think I have been toiling away solely on conjugation of french verbs, I have taken to sneaking ahead in the book and finding useful phrases for my future visit to La Belle Paris!
Ahem:
Je suis perdu
- I am lost
Peux-tu m'aider?
- can you help me?
Combien cela coŭte?
- how much is this?
Je voudrais une bouteille de vin rouge s'il vous plait.
-I would like a bottle of red wine please.
Je voudrias un autre, s'il vous plait.
-I would like another please.
J'ai besoin de grandes quantités de vin.
-I require vast quantities of wine.

All useful phrases right?
I found another online...
Aimez vous acheter de moi quelque cheveux voles?
-would you like to buy some stolen horses from me?
uh, oh... perhaps not so useful?

I can call everyone Ma petite chou.  My little cabbage.
yeah, I'll stick with that one.   That and the wine I think.
and since I don't like to blog without pictures here is a picture of me and my dad in honor of veterans day.
My dad served during the Korean "police conflict"   I'm very proud of him!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Little Miss V decorated the house for Halloween at the beginning of October, I am pretty sure this is her all time favorite holiday.  These little guys are lounging in the bathroom window.  Upon closer inspection I was amazed at the lifelike spider behind the laying down one.  Goodness that girl is great at decorating............... seems as though all through the house there are very festive cobwebs and spiders and...... uh, anyone have time to vacuum lately? 

And here we have the lovely Miss V modeling her vintage style pajamas that I made MUCH earlier and finally finished sewing the snaps on.  

And finally some yummy yummy pumpkin bread!!!  Oh this stuff is sooooo  good, it's a wee bit dangerous.   Of course it has a load of sugar and spices in it so it should be! 

PS  to give credit where credit is due, and becaue I know some of you will want to make this fabulous bread, the recipe is from the lovely Andrea over at "under a blue moon"  go visit her blog, you will not be disapointed!

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