Before sharing hopes and aspirations for 2009 (tomorrow?), I'd like to take a little look back at 2008 ... picture-like. I somewhat randomly selected one photo for each month of the year.
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- 2002 - 2009 by Jodi Anderson. Copyright is retained solely by the author of this blog. Please do not reuse content.
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December 2008
adding up the new year
While I don't actively participate in "New Year's Resolutions", I do believe in an ongoing evaluation of one's life, making goals, and then figuring out how to reach them. Sometimes, goals aren't involved at all, and it's more about how I want to live my life day-to-day.
For instance, over the course of this last year, I decided to make some changes regarding photography and blogging. First and foremost, I recognized that, while frequently requested, selling prints was REALLY stressing me out. I felt sheepish saying "these are my prints and I want your money for them." In fact, I have no desire to sell prints. What I do like to do is share photos of what I see ... and, that is what I do ... I take photos, make no claims about their quality, and sometimes put them on my blog(s).
I've also asked myself, "why am I blogging and what do I want out of it?" I blog to keep a sort of interactive personal journal and also to help myself remember my life, individual experiences as well as a timeline of what I do and have done. I experimented with ads and with BlogHer, but decided that I'd prefer to pay for my own blog and keep a cleaner look. This is where I am now, although it could change tomorrow or next year.
So, for the next few days, as 2008 winds up, I will be reflecting on my life ... evaluating what works, what doesn't; thinking about what I want to do that isn't getting done; assessing how I feel mentally and physically; and, mulling over how to enjoy the simplest pleasures in life.
The result will not be a list of resolutions, but rather an observation of where I am at and what I can do, day-to-day, for a more joyful experience.
highlights and wishes
Hello. I hope that you are having a pleasant whatever ... holiday, break from work, Winter, or just Saturday. It is gloriously foggy here, quite dense, and warm (low 40s). I have no plans today except for a little cooking and kicking back. Actually, that's all that I have done for the last five days.
Theother23, originally due home on Sunday, finally arrived on Tuesday morning. He was fortunate -- some of his employees didn't make it back until two days after that. They all still have their original return dates. Thankfully, my husband had already scheduled two weeks off, so his time home won't be cut quite as short as everyone else's.
Highlights so far? The dark solstice. TO23 coming home, of course. The citrus salmon and parsnip/carrot fries. My birthday. (On the 25th, yes. Jodimas, as X calls it.) X discovering a few new (to her) Grimm's stories when she received a collector's edition of the complete tales. Visiting the grandma's. Doing research for a new camera lens. Guiding TO23 through Resistance: Fall of Man by reading the walkthrough online. (Mission completed.) THIS FOGGY DAY!
What's coming up yet? Holiday gathering at my mum's. Dinner at my favorite restaurant for our 19th anniversary (on Tuesday, the 30th). Another movie or two? Fish tacos. Veganizing the white chili recipe. New tights. Unknown good memories. Wishes for the new year.
Enjoy your day and weekend. I'll check in soon.
just the same, happy solstice
This is where there should be a happy-family-reunion photo.
This is where there should be a photo of food.
This is where there should be a photo of X with a favorite gift.
This is where there should be a photo that I took while drinking a beer.
This is where there should be a cozy happy-winter-solstice photo from my family to you and yours.
This is where I tell you that my husband is stranded in Portland, Oregon. Sixteen of his employees were scheduled to fly out before him. All of their flights were canceled as well. He would drive home, but the highways (yes, plural) are closed. The airlines are telling him that he probably won't get a flight before Wednesday.
This is where I scrunch up my nose in annoyance.
home comforts: holiday edition III
I'm trying to focus on cleaning, as well as whatever decorating that I can manage considering 99% of my holiday decor is downstairs, in the basement, where I can't get to it because of a sprained ankle.
So, I'm working with what I have (vintage ornaments from my mom and a tinsel tree that didn't get packed away last year) and a few other items that I picked up recently (like mini LED lights, though only two out of three strands are working; aargh). I am also searching my cupboards for things that look festive. A silver tray? Glassware? Something red?
I picked up a great pillar candle by Aroma Naturals called Joyful. I can't locate the scent on their site, but I bought mine at Whole Foods. (Joyful = "pimento berries and orange zest".) It is a very nice holiday scent without being all PINE!!!! or CRANBERRY!!!!
After shopping yesterday, I grabbed some vegan food from the store's buffet. I later contacted them via Twitter to see if I could get a recipe for one of the dishes, Cranberry Harvest Field Roast or something like that. It turns out that it wasn't made in-store, but rather a doctored-up version of "Celebration Roast", which is a vegan grain meat. SO delicious. I was actually worried, for a bit, that I had eaten some type of animal by mistake.
Other than that, I am awaiting the storms ... emphasis on the PLURAL, please ... to roll into the area. Theother23 flies home on Sunday and the weatherman just used the term "blizzard-like conditions" to describe the forecast that day.
This is where I show restraint, not type bad (but my favorite!) words, and this post maintains a PG rating as opposed to NC-17.
home comforts: holiday edition II
Much of Wisconsin is bearing down for another winter storm. (Pssst, it's not technically winter yet!)
I'm not sure how much snow we've had so far this year ... maybe 12" in our village? The forecast is calling for another 6-12" between Thursday night and late Friday, with continuing flurries throughout Saturday and Sunday. Theother23 flies home on Sunday, so I'm really, really, REALLY hoping that the predicted wind and snow for that day doesn't materialize.
X and I are doing various holiday prep-type things. I still haven't gotten to the cards, but I did find THIS delicious-looking salmon fillet with citrus recipe for Monday's post-Solstice dinner. Alongside it, I am making roasted parsnips and carrots with sage. Both of these are from the December issue of 'Real Simple' and can be found on pages 189 and 193.
For Solstice itself, assuming that my husband's travel itinerary is intact, we will be having white chili (with a vegan version for myself) and croutons. Later in the evening, we'll snack on baguette, four-year cheddar, and (for TO23) Brennan's sausage. (I have to admit that I am also feeling kind of inspired by THIS and may alter my original plan. In the magazine 'Martha Stewart Living', you can find "baguette with parmesan and roasted garlic" between pages 208 and 209.)
For sweet treats, I am planning lime cookies and peanut butter cookies, with a possible chocolate something-or-another thrown in for balance. (All vegan.)
Today, I gimped myself over to the grocery store, the first long drive and longish shopping trip since spraining my ankle. It went well.
The photo below? (view larger HERE) That's AFTER I put my groceries away. This is all the stuff that wouldn't fit in the cupboards. My freezer is a booby trap. The fridge looks pregnant. The kitchen is helter skelter and askew.
Sure signs of the impending apocalypse that the holidays are upon us ...
home comforts: holiday edition I
The holiday cards have finally arrived and I'll hurry a bit to get those out within the next day or two, but otherwise I am putzing around ... holiday-izing ... the home, the food, the plans.
I try to live a slow life, savoring mundane events in each day. Despite intent, IT IS THE 16TH OF DECEMBER!! Holy-freaking-cow, where did the days, weeks, months go? I'm glad that I kept doing things on my mental lists, slow as a snail's pace, so that I'm not feeling too rushed right now. Don't get me wrong ... I am certain that there will be moments of rushing.
Emphasis on the plural.
Edited to add links to Etsy shops of two friends, if you're shopping for monsters or hula hoops!
between moments of crazy-crazy
Life can be so hectic this time of year.
I have taken a calm, one-thing-at-a-time approach that is working out rather well. Most gifts have been purchased and/or made, social obligations are few and will be mostly pleasant, and a warm, seasonal glow is creeping into my life.
Still, there can be moments of crazy-crazy. (My personalized holiday cards STILL have not arrived!) I'd like to share a few of my favorite peaceful blogs. I have posted most of these before, but feel that they are worth repeating. On the grouchiest of days, I am calmed by visiting the following ...
Also? Isn't this cute?! PACKING LIST FOR KIDS
oh, happy weekend
Hi.
I finally made it to get x-rays today. I called yesterday to see if I could get in to see my regular PA, but she was booked and so was every other PA that I like. The receptionist suggested calling back this morning to see if there were any cancellations and, sure enough, there was one.
The verdict is a sprained ankle of the posterior talofibular ligament. I am wearing an Aircast brace when I am active, and it's very unobtrusive and comfortable. It can be worn alone or with shoes. The pain isn't bad at all, gradually decreasing since mid-Wednesday.
Now, I feel like I can move forward with my projects again and I am oh-so glad. This is not the time of year to be laid up ... unless it's with hot chocolate and a book.
