In the garden...
...everything outdoors, except a few pines in the back, is a dreary brown. I am rather disappointed that we didn't have any snow for Christmas. It's cold, make no mistake, but there has been no precipitation since Christmas Eve when the warm rain blew out and the dry cold replaced it. Brrr.
...the start of a new year. I did not wake up yesterday with great plans and resolutions yesterday, did you? Maybe I'm just too tired to have grand goals. Last year my goal was to be healthier, but my body betrayed me and continued doing what it was doing wrong. This year I started -- yesterday -- by taking a saliva cortisol test and this morning I had to take my swabs in and have more blood drawn. So, maybe I'm just a little frustrated that it feels like I made absolutely no headway in 2014.
...a charcoal gray skirt, black tights, gray knit v-neck, bright blue cardigan and a blue scarf. I also have my black suede riding style boots on, but they are going to be replaced shortly with my Haflinger wool clogs. I just haven't taken the boots off since I got home from the doctor's office.
...I'm reading The Storyteller on my Kindle and listening to Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. There hasn't been much time for either with family in town and the big kids visiting.
I am creating...
...a sweater for Faith is on the needles and I'm trying to power through it now that I have nothing else on needles. I am almost finished with the length, so then I have the sleeves and the edging to knit.
I made all the jammies and pillowcases for Christmas gifts, but my machine was malfunctioning throughout my sewing time and I barely finished. I dropped the machine off at the repair shop on Tuesday because I have (now) eight bridesmaids dresses to sew. Taylor promised me she wouldn't add any more girls. If she does my head might explode. {wink}
In the kitchen...
...tonight is pizza, but I am anxious to get back into a normal schedule and start cooking some warming, healthy meals. Southern Living magazine this month is filled with yummy looking recipes.
...we're still on break until Monday.
Plans for the rest of the week...
...well, it's Friday, so there is not much week left. Tonight family will come over and I'll make pizza. On Sunday, Doug's mom is making some minestrone and beef sandwiches, and we'll be home early to get ready for the start back to normal life. The highlight of Sunday, of course, is the restart of Downton Abbey. I'm so excited, I'm almost embarrassed.
Farther down the road is a room makeover for Miss Faith. She has, sadly, outgrown the pretty pink room she grew into years ago. She is no longer a "pink" girl. She's almost a teen and she wants a purple room, preferably two walls in "morning" purple and two walls in "night" purple. I'm not sure how I'm going to make that happen. One of her gifts for Christmas was this really cute tree with purple owls in it, and some yellow and gray owls to compliment. She's into owls right now. She'll get her bedding for her birthday in February and hopefully her room will be complete by then. Some of that pretty white furniture needs some cleaning up (nailpolish!), so my husband has some work to do too.
A few of my favorite things...
...old Christmas films
...Thymes Candles -- we just burned through the three wick Frasier Fir. It smelled wonderful.
...products from the Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. I bought some of their soaps and a couple candles and it all smells so good.
...the Twelve Days of Christmas
Prayers sent heavenward...
...for my husband and children, to do God's will
...for all priests and religious, especially our priests Fr. Sill and Fr. Schmit, and for Fr. Howe
...all babies whose mothers are comtemplating abortion, for a change of heart
Thought for the day...
...There is nothing unpremeditated, nothing neglected by God. His unsleeping eye beholds all things. --St. Basil, feast day today
Christmastide blessings to you and yours, dear Barbara! You certainly have been a busy lady, even since Christmas. Your twelve days of treats all look so yummy. So tell me, do you really get up and roast sweet potatoes and Brussel sprouts in the morning?! Or are you eating leftover roastings? Very ambitious, either way. It does looks good, and good for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kimberlee. I bet you've been busy, too!
DeleteYes, the potatoes and Brussel sprouts are made in the morning. I steam the Brussel sprouts for about two minutes with some water in the microwave, drain them and add them to the pan where the potatoes are already pan roasting. I heat the pan with some grapeseed oil, thinly slice the potatoes and it doesn't take long at all. Add a dot of butter when they are almost done and fry the eggs in the same pan.
Ah- thanks for the explanation. I was picturing roasting in the oven, which takes a while. Yes, potatoes in the pan before the eggs is doable! Thanks for the inspiration!
DeleteOkay - this was indeed super yummy! Thanks for a quick-and-easy Friday night simple supper!
ReplyDeleteSo, what else do you like to eat for breakfast?! :-)
Oh, I am glad you enjoyed it -- you must have had several pans going! Sometimes I use white potatoes cooked the same way (no Brussels sprouts) with eggs, and sometimes poached eggs on crunchy toast. Maybe two days a week I eat hot cereal and add some toasted walnuts.
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