Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Holiday season ensues.
I have been really busy. I began to make cards and I'm still not finished. I copied Connie's birch tree design. New design- chirping bird.
Matt having his tintype taken.
I got to watch the tintypes be developed. One moment a plain metal plate, then slowly the image appears. While they were drying after being varnished, we went to two antique stores and I bought two plates and two 1960s ornaments. Both shops had really good stuff and quite inexpensive.
The cookies ended up at work, where they were rapidly devoured. People at the party: Doug, Matt, Mark B., Addison, Kevin, Robert, Phil, Patrick, Jane, Tommy, Chris, Rich, Peter, Jeffrey, Mark R. Rich and Roger stopped in beforehand.
I have been really busy. I began to make cards and I'm still not finished. I copied Connie's birch tree design. New design- chirping bird.
Cards.
Peter came over Thursday and helped me cut cookies. I made a vegan batch of apple pie spice sugar cookies for him. Also made gingerbread and sugar cookie.
Peter rolling.
I've bought a few new ornaments.
Bear.
On Friday night Matt and I drove north to Mesa. The next morning we went to Gilbert to have tintypes taken by David Emitt Adams.
Matt and Homer.
You have to hold still for about five seconds.
I got to watch the tintypes be developed. One moment a plain metal plate, then slowly the image appears. While they were drying after being varnished, we went to two antique stores and I bought two plates and two 1960s ornaments. Both shops had really good stuff and quite inexpensive.
Tintypes.
On Sunday I went and got Robert and he helped me out getting ready for the party. It was a good thing because I developed a migraine and that made things difficult. I got him some ornaments and he was really happy about them.
Robert and cowboy ornament.
I made Martha Stewart's eggnog, but cut the alcohol in half. Last week I found a punch bowl set with 12 cups for $8 at a thrift store.
Eggnog.
I also made veggie chili, cornbread, gluten-vegan cornbread, Chex mix, hummus, white bean-artichoke dip, cream cheese-garlic dip, and a cheese and cracker tray. Also I made a fruitcake several weeks ago, saturated in booze.
Dining room.
At 6 PM the guests began to arrive (a few arrived early). Cookie decorating began. As always, Patrick did a great job. Robert's friend Phil had been hesitant about attending, but afterward raved about how much fun he had. People also loved the chili, cornbread, and eggnog.
Peter, Patrick, Tommy, Jane, and Rich decorating.
The cookies ended up at work, where they were rapidly devoured. People at the party: Doug, Matt, Mark B., Addison, Kevin, Robert, Phil, Patrick, Jane, Tommy, Chris, Rich, Peter, Jeffrey, Mark R. Rich and Roger stopped in beforehand.
Cookies.
Close up.
After the party ended I cleaned up, put food in the fridge, and then threw up. I do not recommend getting a migraine while doing a party.
Last night I was so tired. I washed some of the dishes and then sat in the living room and looked at the lights.
Buddy Cat and the Victorian flocked tree.
Snowball and the paper flower tree.
I had to take up the rug in the living room because Ruby decided to chew on it. When I came home this afternoon I discovered she had chewed the zipper of my hoodie.
List of things that Ruby has chewed (not complete):
3 phone charger cords
2 pairs of glasses
my mattress
a quilt my mother made me
a couch pillow
living room rug
my hoodie
the rocker on the rocking chair
Wednesday, December 05, 2018
Holiday decorations are going up in my house.
When I was a kid I played with a set of ridged alphabet blocks. They disappeared somewhere. In the last 15 years I found a bunch at an antique store, then two more. Last week I found a complete set (I had been missing the N) on Ebay at a very reasonable price. So I got them.
Santas!
I set up the four artificial trees. The red tree has white ornaments, many of which were made by Mother or by my sister Susan.
Red tree.
The flocked tree has Victorian-looking glass ornaments, with stockings Mother made hanging from the picture rail.
Victorian tree.
The silver tree has Mexican-themed ornaments, mostly purchased at the Presidio gift shop.
Pink tree.
So last night I went over to Home Depot and bought a Norfolk Pine for $69. Matt loaded into his truck and brought it over. I opened the door and discovered that Ruby had torn open a couch pillow and it looked like a snow storm on the floor. When Matt picked her up she promptly peed on the couch. SIGH.
The tree was much bigger than I thought. I had to cut the top of it off. After I stood it up I wired it to the ceiling vent. And then put on something like 500 lights on it. Decorated it with the paper flowers I used on the All Soul's altar, along with some red ornaments, mostly made by Mother and Susan.
When I was a kid I played with a set of ridged alphabet blocks. They disappeared somewhere. In the last 15 years I found a bunch at an antique store, then two more. Last week I found a complete set (I had been missing the N) on Ebay at a very reasonable price. So I got them.
Happy Holiday.
In front of the TV I put some bottle brush trees and Santas. The one on the left was made by Mother, the one in the middle used to hang on the family tree, and scary Santa on the right came from my former co-worker Susan's mother.
I set up the four artificial trees. The red tree has white ornaments, many of which were made by Mother or by my sister Susan.
The flocked tree has Victorian-looking glass ornaments, with stockings Mother made hanging from the picture rail.
The silver tree has Mexican-themed ornaments, mostly purchased at the Presidio gift shop.
Mexican tree.
I love this ridiculous pink tree, which looks absolutely nothing like the picture on the box. I put gold-colored ornaments on it.
So last night I went over to Home Depot and bought a Norfolk Pine for $69. Matt loaded into his truck and brought it over. I opened the door and discovered that Ruby had torn open a couch pillow and it looked like a snow storm on the floor. When Matt picked her up she promptly peed on the couch. SIGH.
The tree was much bigger than I thought. I had to cut the top of it off. After I stood it up I wired it to the ceiling vent. And then put on something like 500 lights on it. Decorated it with the paper flowers I used on the All Soul's altar, along with some red ornaments, mostly made by Mother and Susan.
Massive tree.
Doing all of this decorating has taken up the last week. It has occupied my mind, which has been dwelling a lot on the fact that Mother isn't here. I always liked buying her presents and surprising her on Holiday morning. She would protest that she had gotten too many presents, but you could tell that she secretly loved the bounty.
Saturday, December 01, 2018
After my semi-annual physical I am told that I have to eat a low-carb, low-fat diet, lose weight, abstain from breathing, and report to the Soylent Green facility.
As usual, two days after the physical I did something to hurt my lower back and have enjoyed whining about this.
Holiday preparations are underway. I decided to make a wreath. I purchased a grape vine wreath, several sets of ornaments, and a new glue gun and glue sticks. It took about an hour to assemble, and only scorched my fingers twice.
As usual, two days after the physical I did something to hurt my lower back and have enjoyed whining about this.
Holiday preparations are underway. I decided to make a wreath. I purchased a grape vine wreath, several sets of ornaments, and a new glue gun and glue sticks. It took about an hour to assemble, and only scorched my fingers twice.
Ruby has been a good girl and hasn't pooped inside since the horrific pooping-in-bed incident. Snowball has decided that he isn't going to take any crap from Ruby and chases Ruby around.
