Under a Blue Moon

 

I can't believe it's January 5th already and I have to go back to work.  What happened to my vacation?  Where are all those projects I was going to complete? 

I did work a little bit on my table runner.  But not enough to post any pictures of the progress.  Let's see – what else did I do?  I bought material and a pillow form for a new pillow using a vintage scrap of a quilt.  But then I thought I really needed to work on my other unfinished projects before adding to it.

We did start the year off with a sparkly clean house and yard.  Scrubbed everything up and all took care of all the piles the pile fairy left laying around. 

Hopefully things will pick up around here and you won't have just a boring old candle display to look at.  I'm hoping 2009 is a creative and fulfilling year for all of us.

Cindy at Romantic Homes is hosting a Year in Review.  It is fun to look back and see how the year unfolded.

January ~ Started off the year my favorite way:  At the beach.  This was taken in Pacific Grove, CA.  This is what California looks like in January.

 

February ~ A few years ago I went a little crazy ordering daffodil bulbs but it pays off every February with ever increasing number of beautiful flowers.

March ~ Finally got the tile backsplash up.  The kitchen is almost finished!  I love how it turned out and would do everything the same except I think I will go lighter with the counters next time. 

 

April ~ Is one of my favorite months.  This April I got to puppysit the ever adorable Remy.  We got into some scrapes, Remy and I, but my goodness did we have fun.

  

May ~ Attended the 2nd Annual Mother's Day Tea hosted by the lovely Sara.  I provided the tags for the teacup exchange.  Reminds me…better start working on next year's tags.

 

June ~ Actually completed a project!  I love the colors in this pincushion.  I have to remember to work with materials and colors that really speak to me.

 

July ~ I celebrated two years of blogging and tried to give away a goat. 

August ~ Attended the Nevada County Fair, just a little slice of pure, unadultrated Americana.

 

September ~   Finished ANOTHER project.  I'm on a roll!  Vow to finish up other projects before starting new ones.

 

October ~ Had a little party with some all of my favorite people (and animals!).

 

November ~ Tried a few new things.  Not always successfully but a learning experience (and lots of fun) nonetheless. 

 

December ~ Ended the year with a scaled back holiday and discovered it was a much more peaceful way to enjoy this very special time of year.

 

Happy New Year Everyone!  Thank you for taking this journey with me.  I look forward to a productive and joyful 2009! 

 

I trust everyone has their tree down and their decorations put away.  Hmmm?

I actually do but then that is no surprise to anyone that has known me more than 45 minutes.  To me Christmas is over around 10:00pm on Christmas day.  Then I'm just itching to put everything back to rights and to throw that last empty See's candy box out in the trash.

My undecorating was certainly simplified in that I didn't put up a regular tree.  So it is all back, snug in its Rubbermaid storage boxes except for that one elusive decoration that manages to escape detection until the attic ladder is pulled back up and the glitter washed off my hands. 

This so wasn't going to be a food post.  I actually have pictures of a REAL 30's print quilt square that I've been re-purposing today but then I made pop-overs and, well, there you go.

 

I bought myself a popover pan today.  I've been wanting one for years and just never got around to buying one.  The recipe for popovers is so simple and is the perfect neutral vehicle for either savory or sweet.   Kind of like crepes. 

There used to be a restaurant near us called the Proud Popover and for next to nothing you could get a popover with your choice of filling or spread.  Like chicken with a creamy sauce.   Or honeyed butter. 

The very best way to eat a popover is with your mother after a grueling day of shopping at Neiman Marcus, spread with strawberry butter.

 

I promise – the next post will not be about food.  I don't think I can eat any more.

 

When you think of a slumber party you probably don't think of gold chargers and grilled salmon on puff pastry.  But when Nicki throws a slumber party that's exactly what you get.  Plus Christmas Cosmos, savory cranberry and sausage appetizers in filo dough, a warm Brie salad with apples and pistachios, champagne and warm peppermint brownies with vanilla ice cream.

It was the First Annual Christmas Slumber Party and I hope it is the start to a lovely new tradition.  My sisters Trish and Kate were there, my cousin Claudia and my niece Sara.  Missing was our sister Mary but I think she is buried in snow somewhere in Wisconsin right now.

We all wore our most festive holiday lounge wear or Christmas jammies and just ate and drank and ate some more. 

 

We listened to Christmas music and did an ornament exchange.  Nicki gave all of us aprons that she had spent the past week making, picking out fabrics that best suited the recipient.

Did I mention we ate?  A lot?  It was impossible not to.  Everything tasted so good.

We also enjoyed Nicki's lovely home and all her Christmas decorations.  It's making me feel kind of bad that I didn't put out much effort this year.  Well, there is always next year.

I took a ton of pictures but I don't want to post anyone in their jammies so you'll just have to imagine.