Note to the curious:  My brain has not been in the creative state for a while, but I'll post when it crosses over.

Sunsets…

Trees and socks

This is one thirsty tree but at least it’s real, oh and it smells so good!  This year we had to decorate starting at about 4 feet, two of those feet were contributed by the table underneath.  There is little to unify this tree other than the red balls here and there but how could I refuse letting my kids help decorate?

I saw a cuter one of these on I think Martha Stewart’s sight.  My kids LOVE it!  Every morning before school, after everyone is all dressed and ready to go, we open a sock and see what surprise mommy has filled it up with.

 

Love this huge jar!  It can be filled with whatever you want for each holiday.

My Christmas decorations have gotten more and more chaotic the older and wilder my kids get.  Oh well, at least they love it and that’s why I do it.

Cinnamon Brown

Just read an article posted on one of my favorite design blogs called Design Mom.  It talks about this new surgery which can change your brown eyes blue.  People have posted a lot of great comments.

http://www.designmom.com/2011/11/dont-it-make-your-brown-eyes-blue/#comment-308759

Now, why on earth would I ever want my boy’s big, soul seeing, brown eyes turned blue?  (same color as his great grandma’s eyes)

Pomegranate Jelly

I did it again.  Yes, I canned.  This time it was pomegranate jelly.  I know, I know, don’t you have enough already?  Well, I had the jars, and the lids, and…well.  It had to be done.

Ruby Red

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

(The original German covers are so great!)

Here’s a book for the young and the not as young but still young (that would be everyone).  I rushed through this book like I was eating the most delicious cream cheese Danish with a gloriously ice cold diet coke at the end.  It was awesome and I’d recommend this one to all of my friends, husband included.  The trilogy is written originally in German by Kerstin Gier and the second one will be available in English in the Spring of 2012.  Why do I do this to myself?  So, if you don’t want to suffer, either learn German or start the series once all three are translated.  My German is pretty rusty, but I’m tempted to whip it into shape for this series.  So, lovers of time travel, dressing up, and mystery, enjoy!

Salsa!

If ever food should become boring or bland, I can now rely on the flavors of Jalapeño, Serrano, and Anaheim peppers to bring excitement and spice back to it all.  These four batches of salsa took two days and several diet cokes to complete.  My fingers, because of my carelessness with the peppers and thinking I’m too cool to wear latex gloves, have been burning now for 3 days.  The first night was the worst as I slept holding an icepack.  Today, my fingers are just a bit sore but much better.  I think it was the Serranos that did the worst damage, but it was so worth it and we now have a ton of delicious salsa which I may or may not share . 

Side note:  the best thing to stop the burning on the lips and tongue was whole milk.  The burning on the skin:  time.