laeroport

Recap #1 - the (gs) green edition

So if you've known me for more than five minutes, you know that Girl Scouting has played a huge role in my life.  And that role continues.

My daughter earned her Bronze Award this spring.  She and some of the other girls in our troop worked from January to May to make dolls to send to India.  I designed the dolls to try to look Indian and to be small enough that they could be carried in a pocket.

 

Those girls had no idea how much work making dolls would be.  From embroidering the face to braiding the hair to sewing and stuffing the bodies, there were a lot of steps that they had to complete on their own between meetings.  But they rose to the occasion and did a beautiful job.

Aidin and I also went to Girl Scout day camp this summer, which we learned is run VERY differently here than in our old town.  But we had a great time and enjoyed the time together.

Now we are full on in a new school year, one in which we celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouting in the USA.  I am super excited, so I guarantee this is not the last you'll hear of it.  And cookies arrive tomorrow. All 140 cases.   If you're local and need cookies, I can hook you up. ;)

Were you a Girl Scout?  You should join the Girl Scout Alumnae Association (it is free!).  But before you do, take a second to share with me a favorite Girl Scout/Guide memory.  I'll love reading about it.

for warmth part 2

I'm warming up with a Grand Marnier hot chocolate as I type this, so be warned.  Typos may abound.

Since making a hat and scarf for Eliot, Aidin decided she needed a new hat and scarf as well.  Nevermind that she already has three or four hat/scarf combinations floating around.  She needed something NEW to go with her NEW winter coat, scored at Old Navy for half price.

She's a girl after my own heart.

 

I used the same hat pattern as I did for Eliot's hat, but left off the earflaps.  She is evidently too cool for earflaps.  The pattern came from the book Kids Crochet: Projects for Kids of All Ages.  It is a great introductory book and is illustrated by Lena Corwin.  I like this book so much that I used up my limit for re-checking at the library and now it is on my Christmas list.  The hat pattern is very simple and works up quickly - like two episodes of the X-Files on Netflix easy.  I don't know what the yarn was but it was bulky and soft and came from Michaels.  I used a solid aqua and a variegated blue/green/aqua.

For the scarf, I had seen this one in a catalogue and thought, "How hard can it be?"  Not hard at all, it turns out.  I chained 15 and then joined it in a ring and single crocheted three rounds for each link.  It did take forever to weave in the ends, but another episode of the X-Files and I was done.

She likes it and I had fun making it, so double success in my book.

Less successful, my daily blogging this month.  Ah, well.  NaBloPloMo did get me back in the swing, and for that I'm thankful.

Catch you next month.  Or tomorrow.  Or whatever.  xxoo

advent is upon us

We had three fantastic Thanksgiving celebrations with both sides of the family.  Today the autumn started to come down and the Christmas started to go up.  Two trees this year.

 

Everyone got in on the act. 

Now where is all the Christmas music?

still celebrating

We've had Thanksgiving here with both sets of parents and my brother's family on Thursday and today at the farm with my far flung cousins.  Tomorrow is the celebration with Tim's extended family.  Excuse me while I have some more pie.

 

with a heart full of gratitude

 
We have so much to be thankful for, this year and every year.  But particular to this year, I'm thankful for:

• Time Warner Cable for Tim's layoff and for K-State giving us a new direction. 
• Gene Fritzel Construction, for 12 years of wonderful friendships and being able to leave work at work.
• Mr. Ransone, my 9th grade Civics teacher, who informed me in 1983 that our generation was screwed and we'd better start saving now, because there would be no social security left once we were done paying for the baby boomers.  Because we had saved we didn't have to sell one house before getting settled in another.
• The help of our families and becoming closer than ever.  It has been wonderful spending time at our old house with my cousin, Jody, as she helps me get it ready for the next step.  My mom and her cousin, Lois, have rekindled their sisterly bond as well.
• My Grandma Jean.  We were so lucky to have her with us for so long.
• Old friends who have encouraged us and new friends that have welcomed us.
• This space and those of you that stop by.  Thank you for hanging in there during my long and unexpected blogging break this year.  Your "checking in" e-mails during my absence warmed my heart and your friendship gives me new confidence.

Happy Thanksgiving.

 

 

baking

I don't know what it is about Thanksgiving, but I can never start baking pies until late on Wednesday night.  The pecan is finally in the oven.  I do love my pecan pie recipe  (thanks, Martha) but dang, it costs a fortune to make.

 

I'm about to start on Kay Jones Ray's apple crisp from the 1988 Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church cookbook.  It is dead easy, which is good, because it is already 11:35 p.m.  Bob Parlocha is the only one still up to keep me company.

 
I really planned on baking more this afternoon, but got sidetracked with a double batch of what we will now refer to in this house as Pink Pumpkin cookies named for my friend Miss Chris of Pink Picket Fence.   It was not the plan to bake a double batch, but the first one disappeared as soon as I took it out of the oven.  That good.  I sprinkled the first batch with pecan pieces.  The second batch I added mini chocolate chips and pressed a chocolate chunk into the tops. 

Tomorrow there will be rolls and and brussel sprouts and trying to recreate Grandma Jean's coleslaw.  What are you making and baking for the holiday?

ready for our close-up

My house got the Hollywood treatment today.

 
Tim needed a location for a shoot, and our house was an easy choice.

 

I got to serve as art director and set dresser.

 
(In a purely voluntary capacity, of course.)

 
And now I can spend tomorrow cooking, because the cleaning is already done.

The ad is for the "K-State. Our State." campaign that he's working on.  He has a few more shots to get for this ad after Thanksgiving, but I'll put up a link when it is all done.  I'm sure our dining room will never look so good.

scouting

So I mentioned yesterday that our hike on the Konza was with Eliot's Cub Scout Pack.  Yep, he is officially a Cub Scout, following in the footsteps of his dad, both Uncles and both Grandpa's - among others.

 

It was so fun to see Eliot buddy up with two of Aidin's classmates.  He was thrilled to be hanging with the big boys.

 
Have I mentioned here (I'm sure I have) that I met my husband at Boy Scout Camp?  He and my brother worked together at camp for a summer or two.  I, being a teenage girl, was only to happy to visit on family nights.  Years later when we had some classes together at KU we both thought the other one looked familiar..... It only took us a semester to figure out why.

Of course, I've blathered on about being a lifetime Girl Scout myself.  Some of my oldest and dearest friends are those I have camped with and lived with as Girl Scouts all around the globe.  I was so happy when Aidin and I were able to find a troop here in Manhattan. 

 
It is a little intimidating, whether a girl or an adult, to find your niche in a new group, but they have welcomed us both with open arms, and for that I am grateful.

We do still love our old Lawrence troop, who camped with in October.
My mom was one of my Girl Scout leaders growing up, but I am still close with my other leader.  And now that I am the leader, how lucky I feel to be close to all these kids.

Were you a Girl Scout?  What is your best memory?

scenes from the prairie

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Saturday morning we hiked on the Konza Prairie with Eliot's Cub Scout pack.  It was overcast and blustery, but beautiful.  I look forward to going back with less of a crowd.

How was your weekend?

for warmth

 
I crocheted a scarf for Eliot last spring, after scarf season was really over.  I had just learned to crochet so my stitches were pretty tight.  This fall Eliot asked for a hat to go with it.  The hat pattern I used called for bulky yarn and I did his scarf in a baby weight, so I had to make some adjustments.  I started out with a chunky brown yarn and used two stands of the green and light blue for the hat.  I also went back and added a brown border around the edge of the scarf. 

 

He likes them, they fit, and they keep him warm at the bus stop in the mornings.  Mission accomplished.  And bonus - he hasn't lost them yet.

Happy Saturday!