Thanksgiving and a little silliness

We celebrated Thanksgiving this past Thursday.

The day started out great and ended so-so.

We, the Hug-a-Bugs, the Hubby and myself set off for Thanksgiving breakfast at my parents' house.

It was delightful.

My brother and his family were there and I got to spend some super together time with my nephew. He is 7 and a real joy.

We played some goofy games and had a lot of fun.

Then we came home and I made the dinner.

I don't know nothing about baking no birds.

We had Thanksgiving here 2 years ago, and the turkey took about an hour longer than we expected.

This year, we made a chicken and I thought it was done 15 minutes early, so I rushed all the sides to the table, and then I saw that the chicken was, in fact, not done.

So, back into the oven for the bird.

We ended up eating room-temp sides and then having chicken for dessert.

Oh, well.

We have a lot to be thankful for, not the least of which is spending so much family time in one day.

Actually, the dinner wasn't a complete disaster.

I got on the list to test recipes for Cook's Country Magazine and I tested a carrot cake recipe for the non-chicken dessert.

It turned out really tasty.

The frosting was the best part. Neufchatel, Marshmallow Fluff and a little powdered sugar.

Light, tangy, mmmmm.

I didn't take any pictures on Thanksgiving, but I do have these;

The other day the Hug-a-Bugs got into my sewing stuff and asked if they could build some robots with the sewing machine attachments.

The Elder put this one together, and insisted upon taking her own photos.

I love two things here, first his hair is made of tiny bolts, and he is holding a little wrench.

I hope that you get in some family together-time if you haven't yet this weekend,

Jess.

Cookies

In the December issue of Martha Stewart Living from 1997 there is a very tasty Gingerbread cookie recipe.
I have made these cookies every year since then, and we started cookie production a few days ago.
The dough is pretty easy and it keeps well in the refrigerator.
Martha says that the recipe will make 16 cookies, but it really makes about 70.
I have a tiny cookie cutter addiction, and this is the one time of the year when I pull them all out.
The Elder Hug-a-Bug and I had a counting party and she put them all in categories.
It was difficult to decide whether the foot should go into the people or stuff pile, but the rest were pretty easy.

Then we start cutting out and baking and eating and eating.
Happy Holiday season!
Jess

It's beginning to look...

I have been thinking and doing Christmas all week.
I am in a couple of swaps, and I finished the ornaments for the Freshly Blended/Cake & Pie swap.

They are ready to send out tomorrow or the next day.
Also, the other swap that I am involved in, the one from Sew Liberated, it is suggested that I make a mix CD of Christmas music.
This is a difficult task for me, as I love Christmas music.
I have finally decided on the list, I think.
That swap stuff is almost entirely compiled.
Then, we have to schedule a visit with Santa for pictures.
Whew, I am a little mentally winded, but I am having tons of fun!
Talk to you soon,
Jess

Sad Day

I have just found out that ABC is cancelling 3 of my favorite shows.

I may or may not have mentioned it before, but I am a TV junkie.

I love my stories, and now I have to give up 3! in one season.

When will there be a long-running show with musical interludes and dance numbers?

Is it too much to expect that a knitting detective will be there for me every week for more than 13 episodes?

And you, billionaire bad boys, I think I'll miss you most of all.

Sigh.

I guess I am going to have to start making jam or something to fill up my empty life...

Boo Hoo.

O.K. that is the end of the wallowing.

Maybe next year there will be a show with a billionaire singing knitting detective who can bring stuff back to life.

or maybe not.

Jess

Meet Strawberry

I have finished one model for Treadle.
This is Strawberry.
She is the horse from Simplicity pattern #2763.

She is really little.

But don't tell her that...

distraction du jour

One of the benefits of working at a fabric store or a yarn store is making models.

I really like to make models.



It gives me an opportunity to keep my hands busy and to try new things.



As I was flipping through the new Simplicity catalogue I saw two patterns that I have to make.



First, there is Simplicity 2867.

This is a fun and really inexpensive project.

To make a pair of booties you need a felt square, and two colors of embroidery floss.

I made this one last night while I was watching tv.





My next project is of great interest to the Elder Hug-a-Bug.
She loves to help me stuff and sew up seams.
I just have to choose the fabric.
She has chosen the puppy, and I like the horse.
We may have to make one of each.
I have to venture outside of the stash for this project, as I have realized that most of my fabric comes from the sale bin, and we don't have it at the store anymore.

Time for lunch,
See you soon,
Jess

One Good Loaf

I have joined a group on Flickr that warms my heart and fills my belly.

It is called One Good Loaf and it is a celebration of all things bread-like.

I love to bake, and I love to take pictures, so One Good Loaf is right up my alley.

Sorry for the redux photos, but I wanted to have a post with my latest baking exploits all together.

Go and join.

It's a lot of fun!

Jess