Imperfect vs. Perfect

I was just thinking this morning that when I make something or do something,

I would like it to be perfect.

However, when I’m looking at pictures, I’m drawn to

the imperfect…

(source)

The worn….

(source)

the charming….

(source)

(source)

More snow

We got a few more inches of snow last night, on top of

freezing rain.

I took this picture at about 4:30 am….I love

the pink glow that it has.

Now that it is morning, some of the snow has started to melt…

notice the difference in the big tree in the background…

snow is gone.  Sometimes it’s worth it to get up extra early

to make your husband coffee before he heads out to deliver

Christmas cheer.

Some of the smaller trees are still hanging onto their snow,

so pretty.

Today will be the perfect day to finish the wrist warmers and

wrap packages.  Stay warm!

Bits of snow, ice and holidays

(this reminds me of Lonnie and Buzzbee when they

are playing in the snow)

The weather here in Missouri has been cold and snowy.

Just as things are beginning to melt, they are predicting freezing

rain to start Friday morning…..

I’m sure that will make our giant icicle even bigger!!! This reaches from the edge

of the sunroom, pretty much all the way to the ground!!

Pretty incredible actually!

This has been the perfect weather for crafting and decorating.

I’ve been crafting and teaching myself new stitches in knitting….

mainly just making little dishcloths which take me several hours

just to make one….

On this one, it taught me how to bind off stitches in the middle

of the pattern and then turn my work and keep knitting in the other direction.

I like the shape of it

On this one….shown “in progress” I learned to

make bobbles….

I’m now working on some wrist warmers and hope to show you those

when they are finished.

While I’ve been learning some new knitting skills, Kenny has been decorating.

He made a trip to Wickman Gardens and picked up some beautiful

poinsettias…

He bought several small ones to put in his antique Christmas tree

stands…

…as well as this large one that is shaped into a tree…

Then there is this one that is just huge…..

Yes, I did a little decorating myself….I put most of the ornaments

on the big tree this year….all but the Mizzou ornaments and

the clip on ornaments….I left those for Kenny to put on.

Oh yeah, he also decorated the tip top of the tree….I never

can reach up that far!

Of course it wouldn’t be right for it to be Christmas time without

an amaryllis to watch sprout up and bloom….

While I was on vacation in Florida, Kenny managed to

bring a few more trees home, but he did sell a few of

the old ones on Craigslist….ya gotta love Craigslist….great

place to buy and sell bigger items.

He got a new tree for the den….it’s decorated with his

hand-glittered pine cones.

Another new addition is this large lantern holder from

Branches that he  filled with bottlebrush trees and deer.

The silvery tinsel trees are a new addition to the dining room

this year as well…

An antique Santa that we found in St. Louis many years ago…

one of my favorite Christmas decorations…

Pictures of the dogs after they went for their run

in the snow at the park….everyone was exhausted that

night….me included…running in the snow with heavy snow

boots on will wear you out!!!

Love the mantle…it’s a mish-mash of more Christmas décor,

new and old…

Hope you are enjoying this holiday time.

Christmas stocking and more

Today I thought I’d share a little Christmas with you.

I made this a few years back when I was teaching rug hooking,

and now, like many other things I have, I’m ready to let it pass on

to someone else.

I’ve always been quite taken with deer and if you’ve followed my

blog for very long, you remember that I’ve hooked many rugs with

deer and moose….I think it’s their big cow eyes and their gentle

faces that I love more than anything else.

I’ve listed this stocking on eBay, in hopes that it will find a new home

and be filled on Christmas morning with little delights for someone.

If you want to bid on it click HERE or on the picture above.

Lately, since my return from vacation I’ve been knitting just a bit….

nothing serious mind you, as knitting is a “come and go” type activity

for me.  What I mean by that is that I might knit crazily for a month or

so, and then put it down for a year or so.

The other day, I sat and made this little dishcloth, just to get back in the

swing of things.

Can you tell that it’s a basset hound?

Last night I started on another one that is a tiger paw….

for Mizzou of course!  I’ll share that one when it’s finished.

I’ve also still been hooking on the trout rug….it’s been slow-

going, this rug…..I started it over a year ago, and as you can see,

I still have a ways to go!

I also took time, the other day to stitch up one of my orphan

dogs that Buzzbee found and decided he wanted to play with.

I occasionally pick these up at flea markets and thrift stores…

they are stuffed dogs that have definitely been over-loved and

then cast aside.

Buzzbee pulled her ears off, so I stitched those back on…

While I was stitching those on, I noticed that the side of her

face had come apart, so I stitched it back together as well…

Rather than trying to make it look perfect I decided to just

use x’s, and I quite like the look…..she also had a place on her

back that was coming apart as well….

She also has a foot that needs some work, but I’ll have to

save that for another day….for now, at least her ears are back on!

Brrrrrr

It is so cold!!!

Or maybe it just feels extra cold since I’ve been in Florida…..

regardless, it’s been perfect weather for

baking bread…my friend, Patti, taught me how to make this

when I visited her…..this first loaf is almost history!

We’ve been getting ready for Thanksgiving, which for me means, figuring

out what type of dressing I’m going to make this year!

I think I’ve decided on this one here….it’s pretty much like

the normal cornbread dressing that I make, except that you

cook bacon and then saute your onion and celery in the bacon fat.

Then the bacon goes into the dressing as well…..

you know what they say, “everything is better with bacon”…

click on the picture to go to the recipe if you want to give it

a try.

Kenny has the table looking all festive….

….and since Thanksgiving falls so late this year, he’s

started the Christmas decorating as well…..

Tonight we’re making more glittered pinecones to add to the

tree.  Playing with glitter is always fun!!

Stay warm!!!

Fun in the Sun

This is the path that leads to paradise…..

An entire beach, with no other people…..

Just birds…

So lucky to get to go and spend a few days with my friend Patti in

Florida…..she took me to the beach, helped me finish my first

knitted hat (that I started oh, I’d say, about 3 YEARS ago)!

She cooked me the most delicious food….salmon with spinach

and tomato and homemade bread (she even taught me how to

make my own….it’s rising as I type)

And I got to spend time with her fur babies, Lily and Belle

The weather could not have been more perfect!  Now I’m back

home and it’s 30 degrees with a high expected of 40…..

Oh well, at least I’ve got a new hat to wear!

 

Off to bake bread and perhaps hook a bit…..too cold for much else!

Auctions are ending today and tomorrow…click HERE

to see what’s left!