Christmas prep at my house started before Thanksgiving this year. We had the tree up the weekend before. I'm not sure what I think about the new tree. It didn't take long to set up, but it took a long time to straighten out the branches. Putting on the lights was about the same, except the old star didn't fit. We put an angel that we have had ( Read more... )

I'm tired right now. Everyone is napping but me. I've had a good Christmas today. I tried to make this past week a little more relaxing since BSF is over for the semester, my baking was finished, and all the packages and cards had been sent. Last Sunday, I visited St. Mark's Episcopal Church for their 10:30 service. That is the church that my ( Read more... )

We had a good Thanksgiving. I made cranberry pie and cranberry jelly candy for it. In the morning, I took Colby for a walk early. He had been staying with us while Nick and Laura visited her grandmother for Thanksgiving on the day before. Then I got to watch the parade in its entirety, and I had both dogs with me for most of it. I saw some ( Read more... )

I had a good birthday this year. I went to Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens with Mom and Cambree. We enjoyed the gardens although some of the fountains were turned off. There were these cute round flowers outside the orchid house, but no frangipanis this time. We also walked the prairie trail which I hadn't been on before, and there were cute ( Read more... )

Equipment Required ( Read more... )

I got a good haul this year. I got lots of kitchen stuff, knives and sharpeners and edge guards, aprons, a cutting board, and a peeler. I also good lots of bath bombs, some lotion, a couple books, more slippers, phone cards, antivirus software for the computer, and candy, and tums. I got a charging cable from Des, and Nitro got a cute pink dish ( Read more... )

I just got back from a cabin in the mountains that my family went to for Thanksgiving. It was me, my parents, my youngest brother, his wife and baby, our dogs, and my birds who went. We cooked dinner ahead of time and brought it in. Dad cooked two turkey breasts, one smoked, and the other sous vide and also smoked a sausage. He also cooked ( Read more... )

I've had an eventful last two weeks. I had class on my birthday, but we celebrated at class. One of the ladies gave me some pretty flowers out of her garden, and another gave me a pretty scarf to go with all my plain interview tunics. She had had a fun conversation with me about how to dress for interviews, and since we had the same build we ( Read more... )

I have been cooking up a storm at my class. I have learned several different ways of frying things, and I have also improved my knife skills. I have also had fun working at the farmers' market when my class goes. I made the lattice tops for six pies that were sold there. I also taught the program administrator how to make pie dough because, ( Read more... )

I started my cooking class last Tuesday. In that class, we cook that day's lunch and do various baking. I have been improving knife skills and have had to cut a jalapeno into very tiny pieces and cut onions and peppers into tiny pieces. I've also cut basil leaves into tiny pieces. I cooked quesadillas on a big grill like they have at ( Read more... )