And a Good Morning To You...

Making a Change...

A change in paint color, that is. When in need of some change to motivate me and push me to meet my challenges, I find myself with paintbrush in hand. A calming sort of chore that I always love. I can change my perspective and feel by simply changing the color I live in. When at home, my family lives together in the dining room. Meals, art, home work, game night, sewing...it all happens in this one room. It had been a cranberry red for four years and the white trim showed the battle scars of the five years it endured daycare. Moving forward was sure to be jump-started by changing the color of this one room.

A fresh and motivating start...simple as changing the way we view the sun as it enters the space we call home.

Breathe...

Trying to find my groove after a spell of un-grooviness. Trying to breathe slowly and meaningfully. Trying to move forward and not lose focus. Trying to be strong when I really just want to head back to the beach.

I think I can...I think I can...I think I can...Breathe

Thrift-Spinner Magic...

More Thrift-Spinner magic happening over at Craft-Crazy-Thrift-Spinner...

Simple Goodness...

Christmas should be simple. Full of family time and warm wishes. When so much of this Holiday has gone commercial, I felt the need to simplify our Christmas holiday as much as possible. Yes, we still had many a festive time, but all was based on the idea of quality time spent with ones we hold close to our hearts. Not the gift giving and silly obligations society has attached to this once sacred of holidays.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying we didn't exchange gifts at all, just simplified in a big way. And as a mom who loves to sew, it was super easy. The tradition of Mama-Made jammies gift to open on Christmas eve...flannel bottoms and a custom t-shirt. When I needed to finish the gift with a top, I gave Ausha a piece of the flannel and asked her to replicate it on the computer (I must tell you, Ausha does amazing artwork on the computer). After printing her work on fabric transfer print paper and simply ironing it on, I had a Mama-Made gift my girls now love. Not to mention the surprise and satisfaction on Ausha's face when she saw her artwork on a T-shirt.

That's what Christmas is about...the heart felt, simple goodness we all possess.

You Like Oysters?

My family enjoyed a seafood Christmas, complete with a yummy seafood bisque and Oysters Kilpatrick. Now I am not a oyster fan, never have been, but the rest of my family...oyster lovers to an almost insane level. I may not like to eat them, but oysters done Kilpatrick style smell good and look pretty all dressed up...You like oysters?

Oysters Kilpatrick:

Ingredients (serves 4)
2 cups rock salt
24 oysters, shucked
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
175g thin rashers rindless bacon, diced
2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped
lemon wedges, to serve
Method
Preheat grill on medium-high heat. Place rock salt, in a thick layer, on a baking tray or heatproof plate. Arrange oysters (in their half-shells) on rock salt.
Sprinkle Worcestershire sauce over oysters. Top with bacon. Grill, on the salt, for 5 to 8 minutes or until bacon is crisp. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve with lemon.

Better Late Than Never They Say...

Yes, better late than never...A Happy Solstice, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanuka, Happy New Year and all that Jazz. Whichever it was for you, I hope it was enjoyed to the fullest.

As for me, I am still in vaca-mode and am trying to get my brain around the idea of going back to work next week. This is proving difficult. The house is a disaster, there are chores to be done, rooms to organize...but all I want to do is sew. And now that Christmas is over, I can't use the excuse of Holiday deadlines to get my sewing fix in. Guess I better get busy with my chores so I can sew again. Hey wait! The kids need warm Levi coverlets for their winter bedding...Guess I found my new excuse. I gotta keep that thermostat set to 60 Ya know. OK, complete honesty. Sometimes I push it to 64, but only when nobody is looking...