Monthly Archives: December 2005

Getting Crafty

Holidays are approaching. Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love the lights, ornaments, Christmas trees, cookie-baking, cider-mulling, caroling, and gifting of the season. This year I decided to try again to make some gifts for my friends near and far. Last year was too hectic and I spent most of the month in Washington helping to care for my father-in-law.

Back in 1999 when I took a trip to Europe (the 14 countries in two weeks kind), I noticed many windows had lovely lace half-curtains. While in Innsbruck, Austria, I happened upon a store that sold these, so I bought many yards of various lace designs. I used them at home, but my husband wasn’t so fond of them when I moved in. So they went into my art supply storage. Last night I decided to make small sachets. I cut circles and used glitter glue to seal the edges. Then I put oil of lavender on cotton balls to wrap inside, tying the sachet with ribbon and affixing a small fabric ornament.

sachet grouping

Next up, making book thongs.

The Genial Flame of Charity

I cherish the idea of advent, though I’m not a Christian practitioner of it. Yet the celebration of light, and the coming of it, is universal. This is a photo of a candle from my advent wreath.

advent candle

It is, indeed, the season of regenerated feeling — the season for kindling, not merely the fire of hospitality in the hall, but the genial flame of charity in the heart.

–Washington Irving

Meyer Lemon Buttermilk Pie Recipe

Meyer Lemon Buttermilk Pie
3 eggs
1.5 cup sugar
3 Tbsp. flour
1 to 1.5 cups buttermilk
2 Tbsp. melted butter
1 tsp. vanilla
5 to 6 Tbsp. lemon juice
Grated rind of two lemons
Sprinkle of cinnamon

Prepare a 9-inch crust; bake 10 minutes at 450 until set. Beat eggs and sugar; stir in flour and beat again. Pour in buttermilk and mix in. Add melted butter, vanilla, juice and rind and mix well. Bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes until just set. Dust with cinnamon.

Meyer lemons have a delicate scent and taste compared to other lemons. Other lemons can be used, in which case you may want to reduce the lemon juice to 3 tablespoons. Depends on how much you like lemon!

Ubiquitous Adolescence

Even in occupied Iraq.

…suddenly my sister knocked on the door to tell me to HURRY UP because there is an inspection in the neighborhood, while I was saying to her” ok ok I will ” , my mom came and said that the soldiers were in our house . I wore my clothes while the soap was still covering my face and went out!!! ..
& I said OH GOD MY ROOM !! it was sooooooooooo messy ( but today I organized my room & my bed before going to schoolÂ…)

–Sunshine, Days of My Life

Thanks to my mother for introducing me to Sunshine’s blog, as well as her mother’s blog. You can read the mother’s description of the inspection experience here. Both blogs are a compelling peek into life in Iraq.

Miss Personality

Now you know. I have one.

Cattell’s 16 Factor Test Results

Warmth ||||||||||||||||||||| 70%
Intellect |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 82%
Emotional Stability |||||||||||||||||||||||| 78%
Aggressiveness ||||||||||||||||||||| 66%
Liveliness |||||||||||| 34%
Dutifulness ||||||||||||||| 50%
Social Assertiveness ||||||||||||||| 50%
Sensitivity ||||||||||||||||||||| 62%
Paranoia ||||||||| 26%
Abstractness ||||||||||||||| 42%
Introversion ||||||||| 26%
Anxiety |||||| 14%
Openmindedness |||||||||||||||||||||||| 74%
Independence |||||||||||||||||||||||| 74%
Perfectionism ||||||||||||||||||||| 62%
Tension |||||||||||| 38%

Take Cattell 16 Factor Test (similar to 16pf)
personality tests by similarminds.com

I know if I took this test six years ago, the results would have been much different. Anxiety and tension would have been much higher and emotional stability lower. What’s curious is my score of 66% for aggressiveness. The description ranges from modest, docile on the low end to controlling, tough on the high end. I’m certainly not docile and I can be controlling, so… Additionally, I scored as less introverted than I see myself. The range is open, friendly to private, quiet. I may not be private, but I do like quiet (around me and to be). Ah well. Take it with a grain of salt.

[via Tad at Grey Matter Gruel]

She’s On My (S)hit List

You know that lovely purple mohair scarf I made only two days ago? Well, look what happened tonight. I’d taken it off just for a moment and somehow it ended up on the floor. By the time I noticed…

scarf eaten

It was too late.

And this is the evil miscreant to committed such a dastardly deed. See?! Doesn’t she look possessed?

scarf eating cat

She knows I’m highly annoyed with her. I won’t let her near me, and I chase her off when she ambles over as if la-dee-da, nothing’s wrong. I mean, I know it wasn’t a work of art, but I liked it. It was pretty, just the right length, and I made it. Now it’s unmade. I got this yarn in San Francisco, so it’s unlikely I’ll be getting more soon. *sigh*

I know she’s just following her nature. I know the texture is much like a furry mouse and the fibers taste good. But damn. She’s a bad, baaaaaad cat.

Blustery

Today is a lazy, cozy day. Winter weather has arrived. It’s rainy with winds blustering at 25-35 miles per hour and gusts up to 50 possible. After the garbage was picked up I had to dash out to retrieve the bins before they blew away.

I stayed up way too late last night (3 a.m.) puttering about the house. We had our thanksgiving meal last night, since Husband couldn’t taste anything last week due to a cold. I don’t mind bragging to you that I make a tantalizing lemon buttermilk pie. I mean, it’s tastebud ecstasy! I used Meyer lemons from our little tree. I’ll put the recipe on my other blog.

lemon from our little tree

Well, I have some packages to wrap and holiday cards to prepare (after I find the surface of the cluttered desk). And I need to ponder what I shall create for my Artella Mystery Muse recipient. I shall leave you with this thought to consider.

What does spiritual clutter look like?
Too busy to pray
Too anxious to sleep
Too tired to worship
Too angry to let go
Too disappointed to hope
Too lonely to connect
Too sure to be surprised

My beloved sister-in-law lives in a wee, small house. To fit a Christmas tree into the house, she needs to put furniture into storage.

We have to make room to let wonder into the house.

We have to make room to let Spirit into our lives.

–Songbird, Set Free