Holiday Haul

I cannot believe that Christmas has already come and gone. We did Meals on Wheels again, although for some reason it seemed more challenging than years past. Maybe because we don't speak Mandarin or Cantonese. We'll work on this for next year.

This year was definitely more about giving than receiving and it was so refreshing, although I did receive some amazing things...

Case en point:
Two new knitted hats. Notice the mustard :)

The calendar I wanted.

An amazing stencil of Ms. Ampersand herself, from Brad.

Even robots love me.

Powerberries, along with other sweet treats filled my stocking.

My Jonsi-esque scarf that Kristine got me.

Matryoshka measuring cups! It's nice when things fit so nicely into one another.


I also got tickets to see Against Me! at Slims in February, a nearly complete\to-be-finished drawing of me an Ampersand stippled, some pots and pans, a cookbook, a new coffee mug, and some other odds and ends. All of my gifts were so spot on, it was quite impressive and so loving.

Over the break I am hoping to take it easy. To hop from coffee shop to coffee shop, and catch up on my reading. I am sad to say that I have fallen behind in my reading, not that I had a schedule, but more that I have not had the free time to lounge and read for pleasure like I used to, and therefore have not powered through some of the books I had hoped I would. Next on the list are: (Finish) Dark Tower Series, (Finish) Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk, The Chisellers, and maybe one more.

I want to learn how to play the violin, or cello, or ukulele, or guitar. Another hobby to add to my list of new ones. But for now, I suppose I'll stick to the other hobbies I have since abandoned during the daunting months of school.

The crazy inbetween

The crazy transition between Thanksgiving and Christmas, between Fall and Winter is in full swing.

I picked up some new hobbies along the way:


At my work we paint patients fingernails. We are getting really good. We can overcome any obstacle, IV's, tubes, tremors, we do it all.


Baked Brie with festive Poinsettia, which no matter how hard I try comes out as if I am trying to say Quincenera. I don't know why I don't know how. But I know it tastes good.



Baking, along with cheese, cake is a favorite. Checkerboard cake adds a special touch. For my first time, I think it came out pretty good.


Colonel Mustard. Just one more private in my army of Mustard Love. Bought this gem a few weeks back, and have gone on a couple bike rides. Looking forward to going on more with finals coming to an end.



Winter is here:


This is the bridge over the creek that I walk over everyday to come home. I love it, it's always so pretty and the sounds of the leaves blowing and water trickling are so stereotypically calming. On a darker note, there was also a dead squirrel that someone had put on the side of bridge after he was run over. I had been watching him decay over the last 2 months and he finally turned into bones and dirt. It was disgustingly cool. I'm disgustingly cool.


It has been raining. I love it, but wish I could enjoy it more. I have been either stuck in school or stuck in work, watching out the windows. My collection of rainboots have been put to good use thus far. Miles says no more boots, but I just love them so.


A throwback to kindergarten: Candy Cane Rudolph. I made these with my patients, they loved them; it's the simple things. When I asked one of them later that day what she had made, as she had it sticking out of her chest pocket, she said "a horse." A Christmas horse.


Christmas shopping has been 90% done since Thanksgiving. I finished my final items, stocking things and friends this weekend. The final put-together gifts are all that need to be completed.

Let's get through this week and then take some time to take in the holiday spirit.