Embroidered Veggies

Inspired by my mom, embroidery was a major theme in the holiday gifts this year. For my dad's wife I embroidered a set of dish towels with vegetable motifs courtesy of Aunt Martha. After awhile it started to feel like a chore, but what else was I going to do while snowed in?

Beets

Onions

Radishes

Carrots...I couldn't really see this transfer, so it's a bit free hand.

Hankies

In addition to the granola, I embroidered my dad a set of hankies for Christmas. This is something I did when I was a little girl and one of my dad's favorite gifts to receive. I like to think my embroidery has improved over the years but I'm too hesitant to dig up the evidence to know for sure.

Granola

And the parade of Christmas gifts begins...with a recipe.

This granola is super yummy. I've given it as gifts to several different people on several different occasions. This year it was a special request from my dad followed by a hint. "I loved that granola you made for me before... the only problem is that my wife likes it too."

The only solution? His and Hers granola.

I'm mostly certain this recipe originally came from Vegan Meals for One or Two. This is the variation I like.

Your Own Granola
makes 4 cups

1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup Earth Balance
2 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup cashews
1/3 cup sunflower seeds

Preheat oven to 375. In a small pan, heat syrup and Earth Balance on low, stirring until melted.
In a medium sized baking dish, combine remaining ingredients.
Drizzle syrup mixture over oat mixture evenly.

Bake in oven for approximately 25 minutes or until browned. I usually do 8 minute increments, stirring each time.

Store in an airtight container.

Waiting...

I can't wait to post all the Christmas gifts I've made this year. Soon soon soon!

In the meantime, here are two of my favorite photos I've taken during the storm.

Calorimetry Headband

Back in November I mentioned having made a friend a headband that was too small... so I just had to keep it for myself. I did end up making her another one. And here she is... my headband twin.

Christmas Cookies

It's like one day you're fine and the next you're feeling a bit under the weather... and the weather is frightful, so where does that leave you?

Not so much in the mood to decorate cookies. I'd like to say I powered through... but mostly I was a wimp and whined to my dear Darby. However, I was pretty impressed by her cookie leadership skills and words of encouragement. Look at her snowflake:

After a few headless snowmen we kicked around the idea of Christmas zombie cookies or Nightmare Before Christmas cookies to continue our theme... but instead we ended up with an "Independence Day in December" cookie. You know, get it, "Christmas in July!" ... but reversed.

Not to mention this little guy who has a bit of an unintentional Flock of Seagulls hair-do.

Snow Days and Holiday Cards

Do you know the song Christmas in the Northwest? If not, consider yourself lucky. It's probably my favorite Christmas song to make fun of...it's super barf. Sample:

Christmas in the Northwest
Is a gift that we can share
Christmas in the Northwest
Is a child's answered prayer

Take away the presents
And they still will have a dream
For Christmas in the Northwest
Is a gift God wrapped in green

But that last line about Christmas being green here, that is actually pretty true. So imagine the flip out the newscasters had when Arctic Blast headed our way. And I know the storm was actually pretty bad in some places, but over this past week my house has only received about an inch of snow. On Wednesday my school district was the only district in the county (plus surrounding counties!) to stay open, only to announce midday we'd be closing early. Nightmare. The next day they closed school at 7:30am after everyone had already reported and the high schoolers arrived. So today in hopes of not irritating parents and employees, they decided to close school at 4:30am. That's an early phone call.

And all over this:

Now that I'm done grumbling about the snow. Let me show you the lovely custom greeting cards my Berlin-based friend, Sandra, designed for me this year. Most recipients should have received them already, so hopefully no spoiled surprises here.

Way back in the fall Sandra and I made a little deal. She'd design me Christmas cards, and I'd knit her a little something to be revealed at a later date.

I was absolutely thrilled with the cards. This little one is my favorite.

Thanks Sandra and Happy Holidays!

Blessings in Disguise

Sometimes you might not know it... but when that really drunk guy was knocking into you and falling on the floor and you sorta pushed him down a little harder because you were irritated that he spilled nearly his entire beer all over you and your friend while all you were trying to do was enjoy the music... it was actually a good thing.

Not only did the beer soak my socks and my shirt, but also my beloved pair of mittenettes. Mittenettes that had been worn nearly every day for a full year and were starting to show it. What better excuse to knit a new pair than not wanting to deal with the combination of beer and wool?

I thought so.

I knew exactly what pattern I wanted to knit. Last January when I knit a pair of Diamond Handwarmers for a friend, I was in love with the thumbs. You don't have to pick up stitches... it's like the thumb magically appears, or something. Clearly I wanted to repeat this experience.

It was actually a slower process the second time around. I just made a series of dumb mistakes. Like starting to knit two lefts. What?

I'm very happy with the results. The cuff is much longer than on my mittenettes so I don't have as much of a gap when I wear sweaters with 3/4 lengths. This tends to reduce the amount of goosebumps while sitting at my desk at work. I like that.

What's Your Favorite Christmas Song?

Here are two of mine:

Tis the Season...

...for the annual Walk and Knock Food Drive! This year is the 24th year... and more food is collected each time! Last year the drive collected 141 tons of food and $16,000 to buy more. It took us about 2 and a half hours to complete our route. Just as I'd start to get a little discouraged from house after house with no response, something amazing would happen... like the woman who filled four grocery sacks to the brim with really good food. I love people.

I'm so impressed with the coordination and dedication of all the volunteers... And thanks to the creators, Bud Pasmore and Doug Rae.

Here's to a few less hungry bellies!

Winter Masthead

So I'm house-sitting for two weeks and not really using the internet. I came home tonight to grab some fresh clothes and found this pretty little masthead sitting in my inbox. (Along with a bajillion other emails I probably shouldn't have neglected).

I love it. It makes me want Christmas and white lights on everything. Thanks Julia!