blog #213>> "Sweaters for the Family"

This is the very reason why I knit. I love this book. I was searching through some of my grandma's old knitting needles the other day, trying to find another pair of #10s, when I found some of her old patterns books. They're all wonderful! I almost started a second blog just to post old patterns on. But I can hardly keep up the one I've got, so I'll just post them here every once in awhile. The images in this book are great. I want to be just like these people. I want cute little kids like that, and to have tea parties with my fabulous tea set. I'd like a husband to light a pipe for, and when I'm a little old lady I want my husband to bring me flowers while I knit. I doubt I'll ever find real people like these. But, I will still look through here and dream. You too can knit some "Sweaters for the Family" download the complete pattern book now. I don't think I'll keep this one up very long it's pretty big. (15mb)
T

blog #212>> Facebook

Well, I finally did it. I said I wasn't going to. I already have enough things online to devour my time. But I did it anyways. I joined Facebook. And so far I really like it. But I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm also puzzled why it keeps track of EVERYTHING I do on that thing called a "Wall" and what's a "Poke" suppose to be anyhow? So, if you've got a Facebook account and know how to do some cool things with it, or can help me figure out to post a link and create those things called "Boxes"... I'd love to hear from you!
T

blog #211>> The Christianing at the Pioneer Church

My uncle is a pastor and today we had the honor of attending the baptism of my bother's baby, Ada Katherine, and my cousin's baby, May Violet, at the Baker Cabin Pioneer Church. It's a beautiful old church and it's also where my brother Frank and his wife Amy got married. Fortunately, the snow is starting to melt now and the roads weren't too bad getting up there.


The Baker Cabin


This old butter churn was once in the barn of my great-grandfather, who owned The Damascus Dairy. The family later donated it to the Baker Cabin site.



1895 German Methodist Church


Ada Katherine

May Violet

Nearly everyone there!
T

blog #210 >> Gift Guide

Oh, it's so good to be home! I had a great time at The Hotel Dé Parents, but it's so nice to sit at my own desk and have wireless internet and use my fast computer.
Anyhow, here's a big THANK YOU to all my family and friends who gave me gifts this Holiday Season. This is a only selection of what I got. There is more, but I already hung up my calendar, ate most of the candy and cookies, and I forgot the pictures from my sister at my parent's house.



1. Martha Stewart Cookbook from my sister Amy and her family.
2. French soap and an assortment of washcloths that my sister Amy knit. If you like them, you can get some too here.
3. An old pewter set of cream and sugar which I used as organizers for my jewelery in my dressing table drawers, (I love how the sugar bowl looks like a trophy.) and two cute pink and teal pot holder for my kitchen, and a Saturn necklace from Etsy, all from my brother Frankie and his wife and family.
4. Styrofoam head, which I'm using in my bedroom to display my favorite vintage pink hat. Also, from my brother's wife Amy.
5. Even though it's kinda hidden in this picture, it's no less important. It's a waffle iron from my grandma. I know what I'm cookin' for breakfast tomorrow!
6. The Amazing Mini Lobster Jello Mold, (Now I can have a whole family of Jello lobsters.) from Dave and Trina.
7. The most wonderful plate ever, also from Dave and Trina.
8. A nesting set of Matryoshkas, (It's a ten piece set and the tiniest one is like a speck of dust. I can't wait to paint them!) from Dave and Trina.
9. Ed Emberley's Big Purple Drawing Book from Dave and Trina.
10. The Dirt Devil EXTREME POWER. It really sucks so far... in a good way.
11. A subscription to Portland Monthly.
12. Retro Santa heads... I think they're maybe spoon rests or perhaps tea bag holders... either way they're really cute!
13. Pastry bags! Now I only need the tips.
14. Pinking shears, so I can sew like a pro.
15. Harney and Sons Tea, the best tea I've ever had.
16. The World of Tomorrow Stickers.
17. And the rest of the candy and the vintage Santa napkins. All of the above are from my parents.

A huge THANK YOU!!! to everyone.
T

blog #209 >> Merry Christmas!

Ahhh!!!
Christmas time is here! It's our first White Christmas here in Portland. But honestly, I'm ready for the snow to come to an end. Here are the pictures of Christmas Eve at my sister's house and of Christmas Day at my parent's house, where I'm staying until the weather gets better.

Here is my niece Maggie, my nephew Charlie, and my brother's new baby Ada.

Opening gifts!

Dinosaur volcanoes also make great hats.

Maggie and Charlie's puppet show.

Ada in her new furry Christmas coat.

My mom's old bike that my dad restored for her. It looks better than the day she got it!

The Abominable Snowman me and my brother and my nephews made.

The Yeti up close
T

blog #208 >> Going to the Country

Yesterday my parents came into town and picked me up to spend Christmas with them. Normally, I would have just driven to their house on Christmas Day. But since my car is covered in over a foot of snow and ice, I decided to just spend a few days with them here in Boring. Here are some pictures of the snow out here, which is probably twice as deep as that in Portland.












Happy Christmas Eve!
T

blog #207 >> Christmas Cookie Extravaganza

Today was extreme cookie making day. I finished the gingerbread house. I decorated the rest of the cookies. And I made a HUGE mess in the kitchen. And instead of mopping up the sugar and icing off the floor, I've decided to post a blog.

Here's the dark chocolate cashew bark I made for my dad.

Here are the un-decorated gingerbread cookies. I'm in desperate need of new cookie cutters. I only have these ones. And I'm not sure there is anything "Christmasy" about an axe, a fish, a pig, or a bunny... I don't have much to work with. The Santa Claus unfortunately looks like a fisherman with a peg-leg and a net over his shoulder. And the angel simply looks like a blob. At least the stars, trees and reindeer turned out nice.

Russian teacakes, chocolate chip and the finished gingerbread.

And now I can put my feet up after a job well done...
except for those kitchen floors.
T

blog #206 >> Gingerbread Houses Part:3

What do you do when you're stuck in at home?
Make a gingerbread house!
The challenge on this one was that I could only use materials and candy that I already had. Luckily, I've got quite the sweet tooth and I didn't even need to use all of my supplies. This year I went with a church based loosely on my old white light-up one. I used two old jolly ranchers from the bottom of my purse, (one blue and one pink) and an old butterscotch candy for the stained glass windows. And I used some of the chocolates from my advent calendar for the stepping stones and squirrel. And I melted some white chocolate chips and made the window design on the front by making the design on parchment paper and freezing it first. Directions here.





Now I've got to go decorate the rest of the cookies and clean up the kitchen. It is a sticky sugar coated mess!
T

blog #205 >> Winter Solstice

So winter begins... Last night the freezing rain must have started because there's a thin crispy layer of ice over the snow. Roads are very bad. I walked to Safeway this morning to get some dry goods for baking. (It's going to be a cookie day today.) And there wasn't a car on the road. I didn't even wait for the cross walk. Here are the latest shots of the winter weather. (The snow is deeper in places, but I couldn't get to those places because the snow was too deep.)







Yuletide Greetings!
T