Thanks to some people I have been craving a fried egg sandwich.

Lunch yesterday was so nice.  It was just me, my food and a quiet house.

We also had a scrumptious dinner...check out Susan's in-law chicken.  Delicious.  Coming up later this week....this and this.

We spent the weekend resting.  And did I need it.  I am finally feeling better and so are the girls.  Taking naps and being lazy have a way of making a sick girl well.  So do margaritas...

My favorite recipe:

2 oz. lime juice
1.5 oz. tequila
1 oz. Cointreau
1 scant tablespoon fine sugar

Pour into a shaker filled with crushed ice.  Shake well.  Serve over the rocks into a salted glass.  Makes 1.

I got back into the crafting groove and spent some time sewing.  The girls decided to embroider:  a t-shirt for Kate and a gift for Jane.

I am in love with this smiling tree Kate drew.

And I am very impressed with Jane's design and her even stitching.  It's amazing the difference four months makes.

Happy Monday!

Chocolate + beer = Holiday Cheer

You don't believe me?  Then you haven't had this.

It's Frederick Miller Classic Chocolate Lager.  And it is good.  Really good.  Smooth, easy drinking and chocolaty without overdoing it.  In my opinion, it makes a nice cocktail, a great after dinner drink or even dessert.  Unfortunately, it is seasonal and only available in a few Midwest markets.  Even though Fatty is a beer guy, we don't have access to this brew in our town.  What's a girl to do?  Well, in my case, beg a couple cases off my dad while in Chicago over Thanksgiving.  (Thanks Dad!)

I should really have a good picture of it in a nice mug or pint glass, but it's only 3pm and I am hanging out with three little girls.  I did think of opening it anyways, but shudder to think of pouring this stuff down the drain.  It is that good.  Plus, Fatty's company party is tonight so there will be plenty of beer in my near future.  A good beginning to a nice weekend, I hope!  Hope your is as equally festive!

Busy, busy, busy - that's me.

Today was about baking:  sugar cookies, raspberry spitzbuben, oatmeal lace cookies, brownies and (hopefully) pistachio-cranberry cookies.

I love how this pile sitting on my stairs looks so Christmas-y.  I managed to clean up move the mess leftover from all the crafting - my holiday ornaments (trials and the finished product) and the craft for Jane's Brownie meeting today.  Just tossed it into the sewing room which is in a more sorry state now.  Oh well...

This is my entry for November's Tie One On.  I made this apron (along with 9 others) for my local spring craft swap.  I loved it so much, I couldn't give it away.  So now, it's mine for keeps!

November's theme was to submit a picture of you wearing an apron and send it along with a favorite holiday recipe (check them out here).   Easy, peasy, I thought.  Well, as always, time got the best of me and I submitted on the last day.  Jane snapped this photo of me in front of one of our trees.  Not bad, huh?

The plan was to have two trees this year:  our standard one with white fairy lights and all the glass and Christopher Radko ornaments I have collected and then a second with the big, old fashioned bulbs, paper chains, popcorn strings and all the wood and handmade kid ornaments including the ones I made as a child.  Did you notice that I said plan?

Here are photos of the two trees now:

Beautiful, fancy glass ornament tree

Old-fashioned, homespun second tree

Yup - thwarted again!  The more kid-friendly version fell.  FELL.  RIGHT AFTER WE HAD PUT ALL THE ORNAMENTS ON.  I know you can picture it....toppled tree, broken glass bulbs, water everywhere, two completely stunned kids, one hysterical woman and one man totally fixated on the water and wood floor combination.  Then it was a long clean up process with lots of tears (mine).  Many of my childhood ornaments broke as did a couple of the girls'.  I am sentimental about those kinds of things hence more tears.  So I pitched it - threw the tree out into the yard and washed my hands of the whole deal.  We had a crap week (found out Friday about another friend's husband dying) and I need it to be over.  Really the black cloud that is hanging over our house needs to move on.

But I got the birthday stuff done.  And the party went well.  Jane was happy.

I still haven't finished the ornaments, though.  But I will.  Today.  In the mail today.

Getting ready to cut these fabrics.

Knitting at soccer practice and in the carpool line.

Sprucing up for our house guests.

Making Cheddar Corn Chowder.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Late yesterday afternoon, I decided I was in the mood for soup.  I was thinking something along the chicken noodle variety, but when flipping through Barefoot Contessa Family Style, I found this:   Roasted Winter Vegetable Soup.  A quick trip to the store and an hour later, we were in business.  Yum!

While the soup was simmering, I also made these delicious pumpkin cupcakes.  Thanks goes to Amy and Mailorder for that yummy recipe.  Topped with cream cheese frosting, these are the things that autumn-y dreams are made of.

After we finished eating and got the kiddos in bed, I curled up on the couch with a blanket and some knitting and watched TV.  The perfect end to a very nice Sunday.

Take two cooked cobs of corn, kernels removed.  Add 1 1/3 chopped tomatoes (I like heirloom ones the best!), 1/2 to 3/4 cup chopped vidalia onions, and 15 to 20 chopped basil leaves.  Toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon plus one teaspoon balsamic vinegar.  Season with salt and pepper.  Stir to combine.  Refrigerate for at least one hour and up to two days.  Enjoy the sweet taste of summer!