Wrapping Up the Year

It's that lethargic week between Christmas and New Years where time and day aren't terribly relevant, although at least some adulting was necessary.  But mostly it was a quiet week, one of eating leftovers, lounging in pajamas and watching Harry Potter movies.  I should really have started keeping track of how many times I've seen each movie.  I'm going to say at least 25 times a year, if not more.  Never gets old.  I haven't been this obsessed with a fandom since I followed the Dead around.  But I digress.

I did manage a few crafts in December, although not the volume that I'm used to making.  I bought a bunch of sparkly jewelry at The Christmas Tree Shop and made a festive frame for the pic of the kids with Santa.  Dale was not a happy camper.  This was his 3rd trip to see Santa and 3rd time he had a meltdown. 

I did a few quick cross stitch projects in Dec. as well.  A couple friends up in Maine destashed kits they got ages ago (the copyright dates were in the early and mid 1990s) so I knocked a bunch of them out.  West Quoddy Head Light is located in Lubec, Maine.

I did some small ornaments to send to Tina & Pam out in OH....and I was in such a rush to get them in the mail early that I spaced on taking pics.   But I did remember to shoot the Santa I did for Lisa and celestial I did for Annette (which wasn't a kit, but from one of my pattern books).  It kinda looks like a fancy Death Star.  I also made them cranberry bread.

This was another kit that my friends sent me so I whipped it up real quick for my friend Tracy.

The other project I did was a Witch/Yule jar.  The tutorial suggested using wintery greens, crystals, lights, etc.  It took a few days for me to decide how I wanted it to look and when I finished, realized it really isn't any different than all the other Christmas-themed altered art jars I've done in the past.  

Still, it was enjoyable to assemble.  Finally found a use for that wizard head & crystal pendant.  That's hung from under the lid. I used a pic of a vintage card that has a pink tree, and added the owl, holly leaf & berries, moonstone crystals and sparkly 'snow'.

I covered the jar lid with natural paper and glued the metal finding on it, and then glued an old crystal cluster earring to that.  That's a stretchy hair elastic around the side of the lid, and then wrapped the lights under the lid.

Hung a couple jingle bells and charms from the lights.

I was out running a bunch of errands and decided to head down to Town Neck Beach.  I thought maybe I could do a bit of beachcombing.  Nope.  The wind was so cold and I hadn't brought a hat or scarf.  Even if I had it was too windy to walk on the beach anyway.  It really bugs me that this tree is always crooked. 

Choppy out on the Bay.

Low tide too.  I was bummed that I couldn't look for glass.

Next stop was downtown at the Grist Mill and Shawme Pond

I know I've shot this picture like a hundred times but it really never gets old.

Herring run.

Happy New Year to everyone!

Dragging Towards the New Year

I was a busy baking bee in the days leading up to Christmas.  I wanted to make goodie plates for my friends as well as try a couple new recipes.  The result was:

Peanut butter fudge and Italian knot cookies.....

Banana breads and cranberry breads...

Gingerbread cookies...

Rice krispie treats....

And for Christmas Day, snickerdoodle blondies.

Took a few closeup pics of the ornaments too.  They look so pretty with the lights.

These next 2 ornaments were made by me when I was about 9 or 10.  I have 6 of them.

Part of the Putz village.  A few years ago I dyed those trees pink and added the glittery snow.

I am so glad I got this multicoloured tinsel tree.  I'm not sure where I picked it up but I'm gonna guess Fred Meyer, out in WA.  It's sooo pretty and sparkly.  I want to keep it out year round.

I lined up the reflection of the deck rail lights on the driftwood thing.

Christmas Eve was rainy which was awesome.  I got all my errands done early and had time to do some food prep for the next day and update the family photo album.  We got Chinese takeout for lunch/dinner but unfortunately it didn't set well with either of us.  Needless to say it'll be awhile before we will get Chinese again!!  

Christmas Day was cold and clear.  We visited my mom in the morning then headed home to finish all the food prep for the kids' visit that afternoon.  Russell got us all scratch tickets but only 2 of those were $10 winners unfortunately.

Some of the food stuffs.  I forgot to take a pic of the deli platter I made with the meats and cheeses. A few years ago we ordered them from Stop & Shop and were shocked at how little stuff was provided for the prices.  It's cheaper to do these myself.  It's more time consuming, but it's fun. 

Happy with his shrimp and the horseradish/ketchup sauce he makes.

My amazing and awesome stepkids and girlfriend.  

Sagieboo

The day went by really fast.  The kids left around 3 or so and we just hung out and grazed on the leftovers.  Now it's time to take everything down and put it away till next year.  Everything looks so pretty, colourful and glittery but it's time to get the house back to normal.  Hoping to have everything cleaned up by the end of the week.

Looking forward to seeing 2016 end. It was mentally and emotionally exhausting.  George Michael dying on Christmas Day was a terrible surprise.  This year took a lot of great people.  Some expected due to age, but the others weren't.  We are hoping for a quiet New Years Eve.  We're just gonna hunker down at home and order a pizza, and go to bed early.  Our days of staying up to midnight are long over!  

I'm hoping 2017 will be a better year.  Happy New Year everyone.  See ya on the flipside.