Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Chilled

We are chilled to the bone here.  It's too cold to take the dog out for a walk--our trips outside are strictly business for now!  I keep checking the ten day forecast.  I'm so looking forward to a return to the 30s and 40s.  It will feel downright balmy in comparison to the last couple of days.  In the meantime, I'm knitting and reading as often as I can.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Lightning round

The fine ladies over at Mason-Dixon Knitting are trying their hands at Lightning Round posting.  I'm on board with that strategy for now.  So it's quick and dirty--no links, no pictures (mostly because my technical difficulties continue).  This style will help me with my goal to be here more often. 

I made two new recipes since I was last here.  First, the Coffee-Rubbed Rib Eye from this month's Bon Appetit.  I didn't have all of the ingredients (Aleppo Pepper, anyone?  And no ground ginger in the spice rack, but since the kids don't love ginger, no biggie.)  But it was mighty tasty.  And I didn't set off the smoke alarm this weekend, so bonus!

The other recipe was Ina Garten's Tuscan Lemon Chicken.  I made one and prepped one and popped it in the freezer for another time.  I love it when I have my act together enough to make meals ahead. 

Those Mason-Dixon ladies are also giving me a hankering to cast on for a Honey Cowl.  Look it up on ravelry.  Now if I could get my Honey puppy to cooperate by not trying to eat the yarn...couch knitting is a thing of the past for now!

After I shuffle the oldest child off to bed, I think I'm going to re-watch the Downton Abbey season premiere again.  It surely needs a second viewing!

Thursday, January 3, 2013

2013--because I can't think of a better title


I'm a wee bit grumpy right now.  I can't seem to upload any pictures to the blog.  Serves me right for taking off the better part of December, I guess.  Seriously, though, my phone used to magically talk to Blogger--all my phone's pictures would already be there for me to select.  And now?  Nothing.
 
Let's move on, shall we?
 
The Blogosphere has been full of reflections and resolutions, of mantras and of words-of-the-year.  I do not have a word for the year, but I do have some good ideas to work toward.  I have to thank Anne from Modern Mrs. Darcy for her post today.  It really helped me give a structure to my ideas.  Plus I may have borrowed a couple of her ideas, but I'm giving credit to the source!
 
 
The Goals for 2013:
 
Writing
 
Be here more often.  Like at least once a week.  Maybe give this blog a direction.  It's kinda all over the place...when I'm here, that is.
 
Health/Fitness
 
The family joined the Y last month.  I would like to be there at least twice a week doing something.  Back in November, I fell in the driveway and landed on my back, and it has taken me just about a month to feel back to normal, so I'm not in any rush to get crazy at the gym.  I just want to be moving around more than I have been.
 
And that not-so-little puppy needs her exercise, too!  I am the primary walker-of-the-dog.  Honey and I go out for our evening constitutional (I get such a kick out of saying that--with a British accent, of course) most nights after supper.  Weather depending, now that we're into winter.  (That fall in the driveway was a snow- and puppy-related incident.)  So, keeping up with the walks is the goal.
 
Reading
 
For the last few years, I have kept a Moleskine notebook just for me to write down books I'm interested in and books I've read.  My goal for this year is to expand my "what I've read" list beyond just the title and author.  I want to include a short blurb--favorite character or scene, whether I liked it or not--something to help me remember the book a little better. 
 
At Home
 
Take more pictures.  Preferably with an actual camera, but the phone camera will do (if I can figure out how to upload them to the computer).
 
Print out the pictures!  This is one of those goals that I am borrowing from Anne.  Most Decembers, I find myself scrounging to put together a photo calendar because I go for months without uploading pictures.  If I print them, they will get put into albums.  And the kids really do love to look at the pictures.
 
Plan the weekends a little better.  Make a dreamy/practical list (another great idea from Mary Beth at Salt and Chocolate) for each weekend. 
 
In the Kitchen
 
Try one new recipe per month.
 
Let the little ones help, if they want.  Especially if I'm baking.  I tend to want to do all the baking by myself, but I know I'm wasting opportunities with the kids when I shoo them away. 
 
 

So there they are.  Nothing too onerous, and I daresay most of them will be fun.  I'll see you back here real soon.  With pictures.

Happy New Year.