Yummy Dip

I made my own chips tonight (sliced sweet potato, beets, turnips covered in a little olive oil and salt and baked). The sweet potatoes were amazing, the beets were good, the turnips were a big flop, and the dip I made up at the last minute because I left the one I bought at HEB was out of this world!

OK, out of this world may be an exaggeration, but for something I made up on a whim it was awesome! I didn't really measure, so here's my best guestement.

* 4 tbsp plain yogurt
* 1 1/2 small avacados (cause that's all I had. I think more would have been great)
* 1/4 large red bell pepper
* 2 green onions
* sprinkle of salt

I would have liked a little lemon juice but I didn't have any. I threw everything in the blender till smooth and dug in. It was best with the veggie chips but I ate a little on tortilla chips and that was really good too. I also tried some on carrots and that was good, but not really special.

When I make it again I'll measure better and post an update.

Almost Christmas

 Just a little taste of our pre-Christmas fun....



Marcos the Elf came to visit and help Hannah behave before Christmas. One morning he brought a Christmas tree for Hannah's bedroom!

And speaking of Santa, he borrowed a car to parade thru Mom and Dad's neighborhood and throw candy.

Well, his elves were throwing candy...

...and Hannah got a bunch!

We followed Santa to the community center for breakfast. He knew Hannah's name!!!

And he knew Pawpaw! He even knew Pawpaw was on the silly list!! (Yes, Hannah checked)

Hannah also had a mini-dance recital.

She was the star, of course!

Hannah got to come to work with me (which she calls her pre-k school) for Polar Express day. We wore PJ's, had hot chocolate and popcorn, and watched the Polar Express movie.

The next day was Winter Wonderland at my work. Hannah and I did face painting.

And I finally got to see Santa. (I was on his good list.)

Gingerbread and reindeer!

In our last week before Christmas my class made a gingerbread house and reindeer from handprints, and they are especially adorable, if I do say so myself!

Christmas revisited

 Man it's been hard not to show anything. I had to just quit blogging for a while so I wouldn't give something away accidentally. This is by no means everything, but here are some of the Christmas gifts I made this year....

Brian's hat, by request

Slippers for Mom

This one was actually a birthday gift for my coworker Tia

Ah, no head dummy thingy big enough. This welding cap was for Mike. I made another for him, plus 3 for Christian.

I made several of these little boy hats...

Leg warmers and a swirl hat for Christian's cousin's baby, Audrey. I need a picture of her wearing them - she's a fabulous little model!

Swirl hats!!!

Headband for another of Christian's cousin's daughter - McKenzi

And that's it for tonight cause I'm sure I'm losing you by now!

Mysteries abound

   Christmas knitting has begun, so all you get is a peek.

Oooooooooo

Ahhhhhh

Preeeety

Sorry! That's all I'm saying!




And then there are my mysteries. I have no idea what I'm making. These are projects from this mystery group. I'm guessing these are mittens maybe....

And this may be a shawl or a scarf...

And both may end up as Christmas gifts so you may not see the end result for a while.

A weekend of completion

 I had a fabulously productive weekend. To start with, I finished THIS! And I couldn't be happier. I'll have to get some pictures of it on someone because this doesn't show the full effect of my fabulous, big, warm, cozy shawl.

I got a little obsessed with the feather and fan "border". I based the shawl on a pattern I love, Multnomah, but when I got to the feather and fan I just kept going and going and going. I ended up with wonderfully long tails that make it great for wrapping and tying. 

 Next I totally reworked this hat. I had made it based on a pattern, but with different yarn and needles. So my size was WAY off, even though I thought I'd allowed for the differences. The hat ended up about half an inch above Hannah's ears. This version fits perfectly.

 

And then I finished this hat. No pattern, it's all improvised. Hannah modeled it last night...

And this morning I added the ears. This picture is the closest to the actual color. It's a lovely greenish grey. 

Woohoo! three finished objects on one weekend! And that was besides washing 5 loads of laundry and making cornbread to eat with the butter beans my friend Amy cooked in this...

Yummy!!!

A wonderful weekend indeed!

Pumpkin patchin...

 Last Thursday was First Thursday in Buda. The art project for the month was pumpkin art so Hannah and I, along with our young friend Loralei, set off to carve the perfect jack-o-lantern. Here is a step by step in case you want to make your own.

 First you pick the perfect pumpkin. If you are 5 that means the one that calls to you. that does not mean it necessarily fits any of the grown up standards of a perfect pumpkin. (Peace dude signs are optional).

 

 Next you cut off the top and take out the guts. If you are 5 this is the best part and takes a loooooong time.

  

 And finally you carve the perfect face. And then you have Matilia the jack-o-lantern who you then insist sleep with you every night. If you are 5, that is!