sheppard girls

Holiday reading

 
I wasted two days of my precious holiday book time on We will always have Paris by Walter and Patricia Wells.  I really love her cookbooks.  I am hoping to make my time less of a waste by cooking some of the recipes in the memoir, because otherwise I will really have to hate those people.  I made roasted chicken with tomatoes and feta (page 132), which was very good and paired surprisingly well with the sticky rice from one of his favorite cookbooks, that the dad inexplicably made to go with it.

Merry Christmas

 
Have a wonderful holiday.

Front door

I wanted to put old blankets in this basket by our front door, but I couldn't find any I loved that also fit my budget.  Maybe in January.  So I filled the basket with wrapped gifts instead.

This is what ended up on the chest in the entryway.

 
One of the neighbors told me that she takes pictures of all of her Christmas decorations, so she can remember what she does from year to year. That is genius.  I am always left wondering what I did previously and if I can remember what I did, I usually can't find the items.

I also learned that you should test your tree lights before December 10, because otherwise, you will spend 2-3 hours driving around looking for small, white, non-LED lights with a green cord.  And when you do find them, you will pay any price for the eight boxes they have left.
 

Glitter

2009 is the Christmas of glitter.  Actually Christmas has always been about glitter around here, but this year, I've taken it to the wreath.  The Boy Scouts were back this year with wreaths.  I may have gotten a little carried away.  The wreaths always come with those tacky red plastic bows and red berries on the pinecones.  I quickly attack it with the wire cutters, and here is what now hangs on our door.

One of the neighbors said it looked like Better Homes and Garden exploded on our front step.  They may have actually said "threw up" on our front steps, but I choose to hear "exploded".

Christmas cards

And the award for first card of the season goes to.... the Sorenson's!  Good work people.

I was so very excited for this

 
to be the picture for our Christmas cards, until I came across this one last week. 

The dad took it with a timer.  Sorry super cool feet idea, maybe next year.
 

sheppard girls

 

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the sheppard girls booth at No Coast Craftorama over the weekend.  I am happy to be done with sales until spring, but my Etsy shop is still open and my sewing machine is never far away.  I am also super excited about some new fabric lines including Denyse Schmidt and Heather Bailey.

I am thankful for...

new washing machine delivery people. 

 
Would it be really bad if I hugged the folks from Warner Stellian when they arrive with our new washing machine?

I am going to give it a try.