Now that Christmas has passed, I feel like I can breathe again!  It has been such a busy holiday season for me.


Crochet:  This month I have, of course, been focused on holiday crochet.  In particular, I enjoy making amigurumi animals during the holiday season.  What is amigurumi?  They are Japanese-style crocheted stuffed animals.  I have made several snowmen in this style in the past as well as a penguin.  This year I completed another snowman and my first reindeer.  Both turned out so cute!  And both have served as Christmas gifts this year.  One day I may keep one for myself.


Cooking:  Again, the theme this month has been holiday.  I have focused primarily on baking Christmas cookies.  Here I have a picture of what I consider my "signature" cookie, and I'm calling it a trailmix cookie because, well, that's really what it is, trailmix in a cookie - oats, nuts, dried fruits, and white chocolate.  Mmmmm.  They're very popular with my social circle, so I find I make multiple batches of them through the season.

And I am not the only one in my family who enjoys holiday baking.  While visiting my sister over the holiday, we made not one, not two, not even three, but FOUR bar style cookies and treats, all in one day!

(If you're wondering what happened to my writing, so am I!  Perhaps it will return with the new year.)

December has arrived

It is hard to believe that it has been nearly a month since my last entry.  It has been a busy month!  With all the business of my life, I have managed to keep busy with my creative pursuits.

Crochet:  I managed to complete four challenges for Nerd Wars last month.  My two favorite are Riley's sweater and a Flower for Penny.  I think I will be making more and more thread flowers; I think they are marketable.  :)

The new challenges are up, and I have plans for three or four of the six challenges.  I have to keep myself focused on my goal of handcrafting all Christmas gifts this year.  I have yet to find something suitable for the men in my family, considering I don't see them wearing the hats I've made for them in the past.  I'm going to have to get more creative for them!


Cooking:  I love avocados and will find any excuse to eat them.  If I make anything even remotely Mexican-inspired, I eat at least part of an avocado with it.  When I make "Mexican scramble" for breakfast (bell pepper, onion, tomato and/or salsa fresca in scrambled eggs with cheddar or colby jack cheese), I eat it with sliced avocado on the side.  Tonight I ate my "Fajita skillet," basically the same as the breakfast scramble, but with a meat instead of the eggs, tonight with some beef.  Finally, when I make chili, I like to eat it with avocado.  It just adds such a nice creaminess in contrast to all the chunkiness of the beans and veggies.  I have even, on rare occasion, eaten a lone avocado for dinner.  I know my use of avocado is a bit unorthodox, but it sure is tasty!

Writing:  My efforts during National Novel Writing Month were, in a word, slim.  I actually made it to 11,000 words, but life just got crazy as the month progressed, and I found I simply couldn't invest the time.  However, the story lives on!  I intend to continue building the story, just not today.  :)