Finis

Thus endeth my blog-a-day year.

Stuffed Chicken

Chicken stuffed with spinach, feta, and garlic by Fresh Seasons Market. Mashed potatoes by Kimmijo.

K. Was Here

Saturday.

Yummy Yarn

Delicious purple merino wool yarn with a gold thread - got the last three skeins of this color on sale at Flying Sheep on Friday.

Good Little Traveler

Under the Tree

Christmas Eve

A Note to Travelers on Eastbound I-80 Near Youngstown

Despite the sign, New York City is not, in fact, right around the corner here. You have about 400 miles worth of Pennsylvania to go yet. Enjoy your trip.

Holiday Break

The furry purry one and I will be traveling today. Posting will resume Wednesday or Thursday.

Green Christmas?

Warmer temperatures and rain have melted most of the snow.

Solstice

A New Visitor This Morning

More Gifts

The loot just keeps rolling in here.

All Wrapped Up

Gift

Pencils made from wrapped Chinese newspapers.

Remembrance of Things Past

Yard Stick

Baking

Snow is flying.



A good night for cookies.

Friday Beer Blogging

Sam Adams Winter Lager.

Miniature lights not included with six pack.

Car Horns

What do Chinese sweatshop laborers think while they're molding these novelty antlers for American cars?

Seriously. Someone paid money for car antlers.

Don't Look

Sylvie likes to sit on the fake snow around the Christmas tree, because it's squooshier than the hardwood flooring. But I can't get her to look at me when I have the camera.

Happy Birthday

I spent my entire day working on the final project for a class: a magazine redesign. Okay, I wasn't working on it for the two hours I was at Paesano's being fed pheasant and bigoli pasta and a big juicy glass of wine. For the redesign, I've been working on WildBird because a) it needs it and b) I like birds. (I especially like them in a ragu with bigoli.)

The project really came together this evening, and I keep looking at how...now, this might sound silly...but how real it looks. Like, this could actually be on a shelf in a bookstore:



Like, holy shit, I finally feel like I'm good at something.
Like I'm finally real.
It only took 34 years.

Australia to Ann Arbor

In five days.

Watch my Christmas cards take two weeks to get to oHIo.

Hand-Crafted Journals

Thanks to a free tutorial that came to me via Photojojo, I've learned how to make little notebooks. The 4" by 6" photo prints are held to the inside sheets like a perfect-bound book with white glue and I use cut magazine covers for the spines.

Super Quick Scallop Soup

Start with the ingredients so many good things start with: olive oil and garlic. When the garlic is softened, add two cups broth, grated carrot, and sliced leek. Bring to boil, then reduce and skim. Add fresh pepper, parsley, and half a pound of bay scallops. Simmer until scallops are opaque, about five minutes. Makes enough for two or some for tomorrow.

Home Early on a Friday

Time to uncork it!

Fraser Gets Dressed

I <3 my new doctor

Image: Mollie Taylor

I gotta love a woman who explains how to knit a cable stitch while administering a breast exam.

Winter White

Scarf knit in Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick. I have no idea what size needle I'm using (13?) and this second glass of Leelanau riesling means I can't be fussed to check.

World Snuggling Championship Held Today

Wee Tree

Hi, I'm Fraser, and I'll be your Christmas tree for the season. Today's specials are the gold spray-painted pine cones and the plastic icicles. I'll give you a minute to look over the ornament list and I'll be back to take your order.

Winter Storm Watch

I'm ready.
Bring it.

Update, December 1, 2007, 8:00 pm: The snow and ice have started. I do not recommend the Full Moon though. Weird, metallic aftertaste. Better options out there for hunkering down.

Wednesday's Photo

i made u a piktchur, but i forgotted it.



Sylvie snoozes unaware of an intrepid squirrel just inches away, calculating the jump to the bird feeders (unsuccessfully, it turned out).

Sorry, Folks

Caucuses, primaries - forget about 'em. It's up to me to decide the 2008 election.



Yoda your grammar teacher is?

Pretty Little Silky Tea Sachets

Me mum gave me a canister of tea whilst I was en famille for Thanksgiving. The silky little sachets are really very pretty - and difficult to photograph.

The tea is yummy too with orange blossom honey.

Snow

Regularly Scheduled Program

Every morning now.

Starling Cloud

Route 422 westbound, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.

Moo

Cows near Elderton, PA.

On the Road

To grandmother's house I go.

Thanks

Ten Things I am Thankful for that Money Can Buy:

• Computer with connection to teh Internetz
• Food from the farmer's market
• Hot water
• Hot tea
• Bubble bath
• Pencils and paper
• Yarn and knitting needles
• Reliable transportation
• SmartWool socks
• Contraceptives

Ten Things I am Thankful for that Money Can't Buy:

• Furry purry Sylvie
• Friends who feed furry purry Sylvie while I'm away
• Literacy
• Birds
• Nearby woods with trail
• Low-crime neighborhood
• Sunshine on autumn leaves
• Snow
• Thunderstorms
• Krebs cycle

Ten Things I am Thankful that I Do Not Have:

• Warts
• Loved one in the hospital
• Terminal illness
• Long commute
• Abusive relationship
• Unsafe living conditions
• Food stamps
• Trolls on the blog
• Windows Vista
• First guy I ever thought I loved

Please

Marshall Ramsey, Jackson Mississippi, The Clarion Ledger

Obesity Epidemic

As a concession in the squirrel war, I put out a brick of seed for the persistent squirrel. Now Fatty here doesn't even run when I open the door. Shameful.

What Do These Pictures Have in Common?

(Other than that I took them and they have appeared on this blog)...











Today I found all of them, and others, have been taken from my Flickr pages and posted on other web sites. They are properly attributed to "Kimmijo" and linked back to my original photos, but finding them still kinda freaked me out a little.

I've been freaked out by a lot of things lately, and the five-week wait to get into to see a new doctor isn't helping my anxiety.

The selection of photos that were borrowed strikes me as odd. They're not the best photos on my Flickr account - prettier flowers, better compositions, and sexier legs have yet to be swiped for someone else's page. Clearly people like food pix though and "No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog" might be wrong.

Annual Holiday Gift Guide

Just in time for the Black Friday mosh pits - my round-up of the most striking gift ideas gathered from the Intertubes.

Take it to the opera or the zoo.
Just like toast!
Close your eyes and you're back in kindergarten all over again!

RuPaul '08

Oh, that's not what that bumper sticker said?

Birds on a Wire

Squirrel War

Before installation of squirrel baffle:


After installation of squirrel baffle: