Singing the Blues.

So it turns out I cannot, I mean CANNOT do karaoke. I love to sing. I sing all the time. In the shower. In the car. At the top of my lungs to the dismay of others--Angela, Sarah... you know who you are! As part of the New Year's festivities at my friends' house, there was all kinds of crazy karaoke going on. I was ready to get over my fears and to embrace this fully with friends in a safe and happy environment.

Yet, it turns out there are still microphones involved and it doesn't matter how well you know the song, there is one crucial element lacking when the words start to scroll across the screen--the melody. I just couldn't find an entry point into the song. I couldn't find that first word, first beat, first note. It was terrifying. I would almost get one word out, realize it sounded froggy and wrong and then I literally fled the microphone. As Grover would say, all deep and monstery, "I'm so embarrassed." I remain karaoke-phobic.

I felt pressure to sing ABBA. "You LIKE ABBA" was the mantra... I'm sorry, but I've given this a lot of thought. If I'm going to sing anything it has to be something I know all the words to... not just the chorus. Something in my vocal range. Something I could sing beginning to end acapella if pressed. ABBA works if you are singing along with Benny and Bjorn. I needed something like "Nine to Five" by Dolly Parton (though even that one might be hard for me), "Tennessee Flat Top Box" by Roseanne Cash, "We've Only Just Begun" by The Carpenters, "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler, "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" by Air Supply or "Too Many Secrets" by Patsy Cline. Hmmmm... not many karaoke machines have that one stocked. :) And it turns out it wouldn't matter anyway. When faced with "Tennessee Flat Top Box" and later with "Rainy Days and Mondays" I was a dismal failure.

Still everyone else had fun. Note the joy songs in the style of Tom Petty bring to this kiddo!

Here is 1/2 of the Meier Family Band.

Jonathon rocking out!
This could be a new way to learn to read. Karaoke.
I wonder if anyone else has thought of that?

Happy New Year, friends!

Two Movies.

With two gift certificates for Carmike Cinemas on the verge of expiration, I took in a double feature in an effort not to be "wasteful." I started with Four Christmases and, while it had a star studded cast, it wasn't all that great. I thought Reese Witherspoon was looking more lovely than ever, and I am a huge fan of Kristin Chenoweth, who played Witherspoon's sister.

I tend to see at least one "new" Christmas film a year and I have to say I've enjoyed Toot and Puddle's I'll be Home for Christmas (2007), The Holiday (2006), The Family Stone (2005), Elf (2003), Eloise at Christmastime (2003) and Love Actually (2003) more. Still, somehow I managed to miss out on ALL of my favorite Christmas movies this year. It's hard to believe the season is over and I didn't see White Christmas even once.


Though I am NOT a Jim Carrey fan, I still felt compelled to see Yes Man based on how much Emma liked the book by Danny Wallace. This was actually rather entertaining. I love Bradley Cooper dating back to his days on Alias. Man, I miss Alias. I also enjoyed Cooper and Zooey Deschnael in the film Failure to Launch. Deschanel is her typical atypical self and I love the fact that she sings in the film. I've really enjoyed her first album with M. Ward.

Aside from the cast, I liked the message of the film. I felt Carrey embraced the character and only let the Jim Carrey beast loose a few times in the film. I could overlook the annoying facial spasms and simply enjoy the idea of saying "YES" to life. I think that it is an admirable idea and I find that I've been saying NO far too much lately. Perhaps 2009 will be a year of yes.

Deep Discounts Make My Day!

On Monday, Marci and I made a Target run in honor of 75% off! I picked up this Scandinavian design tree skirt. Of course there were other purchases but this one, most notable, most joyous.

I also got another Hallmark ornament for 2008--the viewmaster. This was a good year for 2008 Keepsake ornaments. I would love to show off all the goodies I got at Hallmark and everywhere else this year, but I'm too embarrassed by my excess. Maybe next year. When they are merely ornaments and not line items on my credit card bill!

Peep.

On Christmas Eve I got to play with this pretty kitty--Sylvester a.k.a. Peep. He chased my yarn like mad and attacked my knitting needles with gusto. I ended up knitting a dish cloth full of cat spit. The pure joy of Peep made the knitting even more fun. I thought about tucking him in my bag and taking him home with me. :)

This has to be my favorite Christmas present!

A fleece panda hat

modeled by Potatoes (a childhood bear)
made by my mom.

Boxing Day Brake Repair

Ahhh yes. Good times. My brother and I spent most of the afternoon working on his brakes. One of the lines was clogged or seized or something that involved a new nipple due to rust. A new nipple. Tee hee. Or bleed valve or something that needed tweaking. Tee hee. The worst part? His brakes still don't work the way they should. Oh well.

Merry Christmas!

Mmmm... Christmas Cuppycake!

artwork by Ashi (my sis!)

Twas the Night Before Christmas....

and all through the house...
the smell of PANIC was in the air.

I spent my evening of the 23rd in whirlwind of spastic energy.
Baking, packing, wrapping gifts... actually finishing MAKING some of my gifts...

I made Vonnies Caramel Glazed Popcorn for my Uncle Errol.
I made Grandma's favorite Caramel Puffcorn Curls for my dad and brother.
I made Sara's Homemade Turtles to bring to my dad's and to my aunt & uncle's on Christmas Day.
I made Mini Cheesecakes to bring to Christmas Day and to give my mom.
I made Lemon Dill Dip so I could guarantee the consumption of some fresh veggies at my dad's and as part of the Christmas day buffet.
And I packed all the ingredients for Anna's Colorful Bean Dip.

Whew I'm exhausted just remembering.

In the end, it all worked out (though I got very little sleep). The food was delish, recipes were exchanged and I managed to stay awake on the drive to north (in part through singing along to Brenda Lee's Christmas album and in part through knitting while I drove.)

Yes, I know. Knitting? Really?

Really. I used my knees to hold the wheel and only did it on the long straight stretches when there was no one immediately ahead of or behind me on the road. It may be perceived as dangerous but it takes a lot of concentration which kept me more wakeful than not. I believe that SLEEPING while driving is much worse!

All I Want for Christmas is a Box of Penguins

I've had a thing for penguins since I saw The Man Who Came to Dinner a few years ago. In that film Sheridan Whiteside takes over the residence of a Midwestern family he is injured by falling on their icy front steps. During his recovery he gets phone calls from around the world and gifts of the strangest kind. One of those gifts is a box of penguins. They were so cute and funny. I just can't get them out of my mind.

Whiteside: Bring it over here. (Peering through slats.) Why, they're penguins. Two--three--four penguins. Hello, my pretties.

Expressman: Directions for feeding are right on the top. Two of those slats are loose.

John: (Reading.) "To be fed only whale blubber, eels, and cracked lobster."

Expressman: They got Coca-Cola this morning. And liked it.

If you haven't seen this wonderful film based on the play by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. Rent it. It's riotously funny and has a terrific cast as well: Monty Woolley, Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan, Jimmy Durante, Mary Wickes and Billie Burke.

It's a Wonderful Film.

Earlier today I couldn't help but feel a wave of satisfaction, and all-is-right-with-the-world as I did my daily cardio workout at the gym. I was happily jogging along on one of those treadmills with the TV attached to it (great invention, that!) watching CNN on mute, reading CNN, I guess as I listened to my mp3 player (I seem to have a disproportionate number of SLOW songs on there. I may need to make an exercise playlist). My first burst of joy came from hearing Andy Kim sing "So Good Together" when I'd not thought of that song in ages. My mp3 version is just a digital recording of my scratchy 45 and so it's very old feeling. Second swelling of the heart came from channel surfing and discovering the start of Frank Capra's Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). Of course, the masses are all out there watching It's a Wonderful Life and why not, it's Christmas time. But this movie. Oh my. It's so dear. I am not sure how to describe it without needless gushing.

And while many focus on the inspirational character of Jefferson Smith (Jimmy Stewart), I tend to love and adore Clarissa Saunders (Jean Arthur). Saunders plays a slightly jaded, quick-witted, clever sort of woman who is assigned to work for the new senator. She refers to Smith as a boy scout, daniel boone, and any other disparraging name she can summon up as her resentment mounts over the intrusion of this small town, mama-loving, pigeon-toting yokel. Still it doesn't seem to be long before her icy heart melts and she sees something Washington hasn't seen in awhile. Sincerity. Honesty. True values and love for mankind. He's so earnest it makes my heart ache. And it's with her guidance that he is able to write his bill which would provide for a loan to set up a boy's camp in the state of New York. The next day when he presents the bill she tells her pal Diz, to watch because she knows something no one else knows... the location he's chosen for his camp. And she knows what that means to a few other senators and the stir this will cause.




Then later in the film when Jefferson Smith is about as low as he can get and is packed and ready to head home, tail between his legs, Saunders finds him at the Lincoln Memorial:

Clarissa Saunders: I see. When you get home, what are you gonna tell those kids?

Jefferson Smith: I'll tell 'em the truth. Might as well find it out now as later.

Clarissa Saunders: I don't think they'll believe you, Jeff. You know, they're liable to look up at you with hurt faces and say, 'Jeff, what did you do? Quit? Didn't you do something about it?'

Jefferson Smith: Well, what do you expect me to do? An honorary stooge like me against the Taylors and Paines and machines and lies...

Clarissa Saunders: Your friend Mr. Lincoln had his Taylors and Paines. So did every other man whoever tried to lift his thought up off the ground. Odds against 'em didn't stop those men. They were fools that way. All the good that ever came into this world came from fools with faith like that. You know that Jeff. You can't quit now. Not you! They aren't all Taylors and Paines in Washington. Their kind just throw big shadows, that's all. You didn't just have faith in Paine or any other living man. You had faith in something bigger than that. You had plain, decent, every day, common rightness. And this country could use some of that. Yeah - so could the whole cock-eyed world. A lot of it. Remember the first day you got here? Remember what you said about Mr. Lincoln? You said he was sitting up there waiting for someone to come along. You were right! He was waiting for a man who could see his job and sail into it. That's what he was waiting for. A man who could tear into the Taylors and root 'em out into the open. I think he was waiting for you Jeff. He knows you can do it. So do I.

Jefferson Smith: What? Do what, Saunders?

Clarissa Saunders: You just make up your mind you're not gonna quit and I'll tell you what. I've been thinkin' about it all the way back here. It's a forty foot dive into a tub of water, but I think you can do it.

You can watch the 5 minute scene here, if you like.

The film is about one man up against many. It's about corruption in Washington, which Capra wanted to expose. His film did so at a delicate time, on the brink of WWII, but that didn't prevent him from releasing it and letting the film do the talking.

Check out the 1939 response to the film after its release (according to TCM):

On October 17, 1939, the picture was previewed at Washington’s Constitution Hall. The preview was a major production featuring searchlights and a National Guard band playing patriotic tunes; The Washington Times-Herald even put out a special edition covering the event. Four thousand guests attended, 45 Senators among them. About two-thirds of the way through the film, the grumbling began, with people walking out. Some politicians were so enraged by how “they” were being portrayed in the movie, they actually shouted at the screen. At a party afterward, a drunken newspaper editor took a wild swing at Capra for including a drunken reporter as one of the characters!

Several politicians angrily spoke out against the film in newspaper editorials, which, in the long run, may have helped its box office. Sen. Alben W. Barkley viewed the picture as “a grotesque distortion” of the Senate, “as grotesque as anything ever seen! Imagine the Vice President of the United States winking at a pretty girl in the gallery in order to encourage a filibuster!” Barkley, who was lucky he didn’t get quoted on the film’s posters, also said, “...it showed the Senate as the biggest aggregation of nincompoops on record!”

Senator James F. Byrnes of South Carolina suggested that official action be taken against the film’s release...lest we play into the hands of Fascist regimes. And Pete Harrison, the respected editor of Harrison Reports, urged Congress to pass a bill allowing theater owners to refuse to show films – like Mr. Smith - that “were not in the best interest of our country.” And you thought the Dixie Chicks got a raw deal.

I love classic films and Jimmy Stewart, Jean Arthur... I love clever dialogue... but I also love that this film has a message for today. In a country jaded by politics, politicians, and corruption, slipping deeper into recession, I think this film can speak to us all.

Every year I get a new Christmas CD.

This year I got two.

Kristen Chenoweth, A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas (2008)


Sufjan Stevens, Songs for Christmas (Box set, 2006)

I'm Flipping Out!

I just saw this on The Small Object blog.

She took a small video clip of her nephew--the kind you do on a digital camera. Then using the FlipClips website she had them turn her video into a custom-made flip book for about ten dollars. So cool. Follow the Small Object blog link to see how hers turned out. There you can watch her video of her flip book (which is a flip book of a video... wait, what is going on here? )

Tee hee :)

Wordless Wednesday: O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum

I See the World in Shades of Grey.

Headband pattern here.

Bag with Cable pattern here.

RrrrrrRRRRrrroooooaaaarrrr!

That's my new ornament saying hello! Every year I indulge in at least one Hallmark collectible (I'll show you THAT one later) and usually some other little tree trinket with special meaning. This year I may have overindulged. (sheepish grin)

I bought this little dinosaur simply because he made me smile with his delicate glittery purple hands and long eyelashes.

This shot is a preview of the Christmas images to come. I spent my entire stormy Sunday decorating my humble abode. I have four trees--five if you want to be technical. This little silvery one is making herself at home. I love her. VERY muchly.

Happy Growlidays.... oh wait, dinosaurs don't growl? Hmmmm.....

Crazy Good Stuff Out There. More Luscious Linkage.

Snails and slugs.
These are from the Mochimochi Blog
You can download the pattern there for free!

Yep. That's MOSS growing in that ring.
I really think I need this. You can buy them here.

This pic? Inspiration.
This is a little handmade deal from the Lucky Beans blog.
They remind me of the Fisher Price "Little People."
I love the pirate with his eye patch.

I'd love to watch this 25 minute short
based on a book by Oliver Jeffers.
It looks delightful.
You can view more movie stills here.

Color your own wallpaper.

Sew your own pads? OR buy them here.

Cuckoo for Cuckoo Clocks?
Check out Kate Sutton's amazing rendition.
Or her bandages for that matter.
Here's a link to her blog.

I found this cute lil hat through Whip Up.
An invaluable source for all things crafty.
Here's the knitting pattern.
I really want to make this!

Of Book Clubs and Blogs...

I'm still only about halfway done with A. J. Jacobs latest adventure. A year ago I borrowed but didn't read The Know it All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Man in the World. In that book he takes us through his journey of reading the Encyclopedia Brittanica A-Z. In this one, The Year of Living Biblically, his task is to follow the Bible as literally as possible.

I suppose to some it might seem blasphemous, but I think his treatment of the subject matter is just fine. A bit sensational, sure, but not particularly offensive. I felt the same way when I saw Jesus Camp.

I was rather surprised by some of the things he discussed. I didn't know there was a Creation museum. That floored me. Also the existence of Clean Flicks. What the heck? I guess their practice of editing films was seen as in violation of copyright so now they simply offer "clean" movies rather than try to "clean them up."

Looking back over my church experiences from recent years, one of my biggest regrets, was adhering to a "No R-Rated Movie" policy in order to be a youth leader at a local church. I actually signed a document. My frustration comes from the hypocrisy and legalism such a mandate fosters, that which I witnessed among my fellow youth leaders, that which I participated in. Sigh. I think maybe that is another post altogether. Sorry. Where was I?

Oh yes. Jacobs book is fascinating. Educational. Entertaining. Laugh out loud funny at times. His wife is a saint and also very funny. She has spunk and is good natured and takes her crazy husband in stride. Of course I'm only half done with the book... hmmmm.....

The reason I can't wait to post on this book is because I about a week ago I was directed to look at this site, which is aimed at taking a closer look at Christian culture. I was intrigued by the way the site ended up complementing my reading. How there was crossover. I was thinking Jacobs needed to take a look at that site. Of course I haven't even gotten to the last three months of his experiment yet, when he focuses more on the New Testament.

The website, is worth a browse. I started with Stephanie's first posts back in August and worked my way forward. The site might be perceived as rude. Or mocking. I suppose there is an element of the mocking involved. Still the bottom line is that so much of what I read on that site is true. I could think of examples within the Christian culture I know, on nearly every one of the 55 posts I read. Lest you think I'm pointing a finger and laughing, please realize that I know I've subscribed to many, many of these traits at one point in time. My favorite posts? #12, #19, #25, #27, #39, #45, #56 .... If I don't quit, I'll have marked them all! :)

In case you are curious as to why Stephanie is writing this blog, she addresses that in a number of the comments I've read in which she defends herself and her posts to those who are offended.

Stephy says: "Christian culture doesn't have anything to do with Jesus himself. But people in Christian culture feel that doing many of these cultural things are imperative to relationship with him, and they're not. Also, Christian culture is a way to avoid true relationship and a way to "play house" if you will, little rituals and mandates not decreed by God yet they make us feel like we are closer to God. Anything can be used to avoid relationship of course, we are endlessly creative in finding ways to avoid it, because true relationship is messy and reveals things to us about ourselves that we'd rather not see. Christian culture is a very pervasive thing that isn't clearly addressed and I think it should be. So I'm writing about it."

To Give or to Get. There is no Question-- A Superpowered Holiday Gift Extravaganza.

With Christmas around the corner, a gal can't help but be tempted to shop for all kinds of goodies. Or lust after all the wonderful things folks in bloggerland are finding to make and give their loved ones. I find that every time I set out to buy a gift for someone else, I come home with three things for me. Still there are a few things out there I've resisted the urge to buy but love just the same. Here are a few items that have made my wish list this year and a few items that I know would make perfect gifts for someone out there.


What fun it is to give...
Emily Martin's The Black Apple Etsy shop is a favorite for wonderful art, note cards, pins, and now paper dolls!

If you search typewriter key or scrabble tile jewelry on Etsy you can find endless shops with those items as necklace charms. Frankly, I find them charming! :)

I've been meaning to make some aprons all year, but I'm not sure my sewing skills are there yet. Still I love this pattern. I'd love to GET the pattern as a gift and then start making these to give to others! Isn't it lovely in red and blue?

Chronicle Books is a terrific independent publisher for all kinds of crazy cool books. I can think of at least one person who would love a book just for lists. And a person who would love this journal too.

I am also a big fan of reuseable bags. Ones like flip and tumble. Or RuMe. Or Envirosax.

I love Christmas music and every year I get at least one CD. This year, I've already purchased the Martin Sexton Camp Holiday CD, but I was thinking Sufjan Stevens box set might make a wonderful gift for someone. And I wouldn't mind getting it either.

Things I'd love to get include....
The red knit Alice band found on Dollyknits Etsy site.

A cuckoo clock like Grandma had in her living room. I don't expect anyone to drop a thousand dollars on this sort of expenditure and I'd probably be upset if someone did... I'm too thrifty for such nonsense... though if you ever hear of someone tossing one out... grab it for me! :)

And I love these little Flade figurines. They are nostalgic and cute and somewhat expensive.

And these wall mounted bookshelves. I just think they look very cool.

I'd also like a Half-Price Books gift card or a lefse grill, for my lefse needs. Maybe a magazine subscription to Everyday with Rachel Ray

A copy of Pippi Longstocking illustrated by Lauren Child or a Wonder Woman mug.


To make this festive link fest even more fun I've asked fellow bloggers, E. Louise, Minnemom, Sara, and Rachel Zana for some of their lists to share. They provided me with lists and sometimes links. I selected the images from the links, so my disclaimer is that the items pictured may not the exact item my bloggie-buds had in mind.

E. Louise is a thrifty and crafty gal who knows how to create fantastic handmade items.

Giving according to E.
I found a website that links to ethical websites for comparison shopping.

I also like the idea of sponsoring a goat with Oxfam as a gift, that kind of thing.

This year I mostly made my presents: my godson is into Transformers but I didn't want to buy a chunk of plastic so since he's also into (and very good at) drawing I bought a blank journal and created a cover page with 'Transformers' as the title and some pictures printed on (downloaded from the web) and then in the Transformers font it says 'The Untold Stories by Thomas C.' so he can create his own. I'm pretty proud of that idea, as you can probably tell :)

Apart from that it was scarves and gloves all round, so I have crocheter's arm!

Oh, to receive....
Em doesn't the piddly list of goodies I have amassed. Instead she goes for the goods with gusto! Here are the four items topping her wish list this year. Santa? Are you listening?

1. Digital camera
2. Piano (real not electronic)
3. Big proper posh food processor/mixer/blender
4. House :)


Minnemom at Travels with Children may seem like she has a "one-track" mind (and it runs down Route 66!), but her blog is dedicated to travels and so it follows her wish list is too. L. and I were college buddies and our big celebration trip after completing student teaching way back when was to road trip from UND to Washinton DC and back again. 14 days, something like 14 states, 12 college campuses, a jillion museums and we were happy as clams. Actually I can't quite remember the statistics but we were well organized and well educated when we were done. I love the open road and exploring new places. She's infusing her little ones with the travel bug early on!

Some of Minnemom's Giving Goals in 2008:
Where to Go When: The Americas. (A little something for the in laws who have the flexibility we all crave in traveling)

Books for the kids about places we’re going to go or have already been. For example: Megan O’Hara’s lighthouse book now that they've been to Split Rock, and her General Store book now that they've been to Historic Forestville.

Why not Wish List, according to Minnemom:
An iPod Touch. I could sync our itineraries with my calendar, use the wi-fi to find travel info, play podcast tours in the car, and much, much more.

National Treasure DVD. Someone recommended it as a good film to watch before we head to Philadelphia. I saw it a while ago and had forgotten all about it

Roadside Attractions: Cool Cafes, Souvenir Stands, Route 66 Relics, and other Road Trip Fun. I’d love to see how many of these I’ve seen already, and how many more I can get to. These big things beside the road can be a lot of fun, especially when traveling with kids.

The Most Scenic Drives in America. I already received this (two copies, in fact!) at an early Christmas celebration. I love finding new scenic routes to take me off the beaten path.

Any “Places to See” or “Off the Beaten Path” books.

Most anything by the Minnesota Historical Society Press. The history, photo, and travel books they publish are excellent.


Things Rachel Zana is Giving this Christmas Season
as described by Rachel...

1. A stripey homemade afghan crocheted with Lionbrand's Thick and Quick yarn. It's thick. The blanket is heavy and perfect for snuggling (I think). Someone who saw me working on it described it as yummy.

2. Raspberry jam. Crab apple jam. Strawberry jam. Rhubarb jam. The products of our summer jam making extravaganza will be distributed to teachers at school, preschool, church, some of our neighbors, and various members of my husband's jam-loving family.

4. Homemade Scarves. Made out of that same thick yarn.

5. Each year I design enormous professional photography books with all of the most special images from the year to give to my parents and my husband's parents. I use a company that only works with professional photographers (I actually have a tax ID number so I can call myself a business to do business with them) but you can make similar books using a much simpler process with templates at shutterfly.com and many other photograph developing company sites.

6. Connectagons. I'm really excited to give this to my daughter who LOVES to build things, and my trio of nieces in Iowa.

7. My children are each getting a very special puzzle from made by Grimm Spiel and Holz. I LOVE this company. It's all I can do not to go hog wild crazy and buy EVERYTHING they make. Unfortunately they make expensive things. The place with the most extensive collection in the U.S. is finewoodentoys.com

8. Each of my kids decorated a ceramic plate for each grandparent and great grandparent in the family. We used plate decorating kids from hearthsong.com, but there are other places to find similar products. The plates are safe to eat off and wash, according to the instructions.

9. Each year every capable member of our family composes several poems using magnetic poetry. I compile them in a homemade book that we give to my poetry-loving sister-in-law. The title of the book is "Really Bad Magnetic Poetry: From our House to Yours" This year we are creating volume three. She loves getting it. I type up the poems and print them. The youngest members of the family illustrate the pages in a very abstract fashion with light watercolors. I attach the pages to a 5x7 little scrapbook that I find every year in the dollar section at Target. The poems are always quite hilarious, and the project is a lot of fun.

10. We're working on a couple of holiday giving projects, like sponsoring a child through Compassion International and helping some orphanages in China and Haiti, as well as maybe buying some livestock for a family in need through heifer.org or helping with some water needs through this organization: samaritanspurse.org.

Things on my Christmas Wish List:
The Christmas list that I gave to my mother who LIVES for buying presents at Christmas time included a lot of Rachel-specific items, like the following:

A. 14 heavy duty laundry baskets to put toddlers in and zoom around the room as we pretend to drive tractors at music class.

B. 24 sets of preschool sandblocks to use at music class.

C. A Rovner inverted ligature for my soprano clarinet.

D. An EZ notes magnetic white board (it's a white board that has treble and bass clef lines on it. You can place magnets on the lines or draw in notes to practice learning note names, intervals and chords on it . . . I want it for teaching piano lessons).

E. A Montessori movable type alphabet to use at piano lessons and with my kids

BUT here are some more normal ideas that I wouldn't mind getting:
1. I would just love for my family to clean up at clean up time without catastrophic complaining, whining, and general mayhem.

2. I think the game Batik looks interesting.

3. I really just love getting gift certificates to Barnes and Noble. I love wandering around the store with the gift card in my pocket for HOURS debating about the possibilities. There is also a really neat independent bookstore in my city that I really like visiting, too.

4. Stories. I love the gift of stories. Fiction. Biography. I would love for people in my life to just write me a story. Homemade books.

5. Red mittens from made by Wintergreen.
Wintergreen is a really neat company that designs and makes some TERRIFIC winter clothing in Ely Minnesota.

6. Socks. I love getting socks for Christmas. I hate buying socks with my own money.

A List of things I would Ask for if Money and Inconvenience Weren't of Consideration:
1. Time and funding and childcare to enable me to take a trip to Haiti for a week or two to volunteer in an orphanage.

2. Quilts. Handmade quilts. I love them.

3. A new full frame camera : the canon 5d or it's soon to be released sibling, the 5d mark II (although I'm not sure I feel very excited about the video capability hooked into my camera).

4. A Bass clarinet that plays down to low c made of grenadilla wood:



Sara at Midwestern Position says, "I am having a hard time coming up with a list even for my family this year, but I will tell you ideas that I have for others. I could give and give and give...money permitting. I tend to give people things that I really love during the year."

To Give is better than to Receive, according to Sara:
Collapsable Market Tote - you can find these for $10 at TJ Maxx. I am giving lots of these this year.

Puffy Vests - Landsend.com had a great price earlier in the week.

Slippers - but I like to give the boot kind that are all knitty...old navy has some cute ones this year.

Netflix subscriptions - I am giving this to a few people because I love mine so much.

Taste of Home Cookbook - I love mine and find tried and true recipes with a nice twist.

Magazine subscriptions - Amazon.com has some amazing magazine subscription deals...some as cheap as $5 for a year!!

Kitchenaid Mixer - I am not giving anyone this, but I would if I could afford to. I love mine so much and know that anyone who does any kind of baking would appreciate it.

But if Someone Else is Buying....
I think for me...a vacation. A beachy vacation with colorful drinks.

A ticket to the Obama inauguration.

----------------------
Whew! Great stuff everyone. What fun to follow all your merry links and think of the fun these gifts could bring. Happy hunting! Happy Christmas.

Reflecting on My State.

North Dakota recently topped a list as the most politically corrupt state in the nation. Sigh. And while that was pretty depressing info, it also reminded me of another article I'd read in the NY Times about effect of our nation's recession on ND. Check it out.

A Placid North Dakota Asks, Recession? What Recession?

By MONICA DAVEY

Published: December 6, 2008

FARGO, N.D. — As the rest of the nation sinks into a 12th grim month of recession, this state, at least up until now, has been quietly reveling in a picture so different that it might well be on another planet.

A slow afternoon at the Fargo branch of Job Service North Dakota, where the state employees outnumbered the job seekers.

The number of new cars sold statewide was 27 percent higher this year than last, state records through November showed. North Dakota’s foreclosure rate was minuscule, among the lowest in the country. Many homes have still been gaining modestly in value, and, here in Fargo, construction workers can be found on any given day hammering away on a new downtown condominium complex, complete with a $540,000 penthouse (still unsold, but with a steady stream of lookers).

While dozens of states, including neighboring ones, have desperately begun raising fees, firing workers, shuttering tourist attractions and even abolishing holiday displays to overcome gaping deficits, lawmakers this week in Bismarck, the capital, were contemplating what to do with a $1.2 billion budget surplus. And as some states’ unemployment rates stretched perilously close to the double digits in the fall, North Dakota’s was 3.4 percent, among the lowest in the country.

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A Little Sugar on the Side*

Mom's lefse on Thanksgiving

Some of my lefse gear for last night

We had our annual staff potluck over the lunch hour today at school and what a feast it was. I am going to be running around looking for some of those tasty recipes! Mmmmmm. Unsure of what to bring, I asked for requests and a colleague insisted I make lefse. Fresh lefse.

Now my mom made some for Thanksgiving and so I knew I could pick up a few packs from the freezer there, but I also wanted to make some on my own this holiday season.

So, Tuesday night I prepared the potato mixture and stashed it in the fridge until Wednesday. I had a meeting after school and book club after the meeting. Still when I got home I proceeded to roll out and grill about 50 lefse rounds. I inadvertantly made a double batch by cooking too many potatoes. Yet, I survived, and the lefse? Well, it is delicious, if I do say so myself.

Here's a link to my recipe.


*Some foolish folks think lefse should be served with sugar on it. Today, I served it with butter and had a sugar bowl handy.

Oh, Baby!

Pretty soon, this blog will just be me pointing you to other blogs. Sigh. I really need to turn OFF the Google Reader and start writing my own. It's just so darn addictive. I'm literally drowning in ideas and creativity. I love so many of the amazing ideas I see, the artwork, the projects. There isn't enough time in the day. Can I just stay home and blog and knit and read please?

Tora Frøseth and her blog knitting a lot, is my latest love. She's a knitter from Norway who has some lovely and amazing children's pieces and a glove pattern that also caught my attention. She sells her patterns, but some are free.

Through some Ravelry linkage I discovered her work. If you are a knitter, you really MUST get an account and start tracking your project progress there, but more importantly browse the amazing work of others. It's a bit like being in a gourmet chocolate shop. I don't even know where to begin.

This is "Little Sister's Dress,"
which looks absolutely adorable on this little munchkin
and is available as a free download here.

Meet Eloise. This one does NOT live at the Plaza.

I discovered The Hidden World of Eloise
via Belle and Boo, another terrific artist
whose blog I've started to follow.
Both of these ladies have shops on Etsy.

The following images are from the Etsy shop of Eloise.
Hide N Seek
Check it out. It's delicious.