Joyeuses fetes, and all that. I'm almost on my way home to TO from Montreal, where we spent our holidays with my parents.
For the first time, we rented a house here - on the Plateau. After countless visits to Mtl over many years, I've never actually stepped into any of the homes I've discretely ogled from the street. The place is fantastic and I only hope we can stay here again.
The fascinating fact about this home is that the people who rented it to us (whom we do not know - although I feel I understand them quite well at this point!) actually live here on a regular basis. They've simply gone on vacation too. I never thought I'd say this, but I LOVE living in someone else's house. I love to discover how they organize the kitchen in ways I'd never have considered. I love how they use their own kinds of face soap and shampoo, kinds that I've never tried - drug store brands. I love how they leave dried chili peppers in a little bowl on the wooden counter top. (Um, I love that they are crazy enough to install butcher block counters.)
I love that they trust people to come into their space and to be respectful, that their hearts are open enough to take a chance on others being in their space.
In a zillion years, I would never reciprocate in this fashion. I am 8000 times too controlling. But my mind is expanded by traveling like this and I am done with hotels, whenever possible.
Now, we've had a great time here but, let me say, if this was the first time I'd ever come to Montreal, I suspect it might have been the last. Apparently my perfect-weather-in-this-city luck ran out and Lord, what a disaster. It rained for 3 days straight, the kind of rain that trashes your 600 dollar, water-proof boots. The kind that will not remit. The kind that soaks through your umbrellas. The kind that turns a toasty winter-wonderland into a grey, dull, flat, dirty mess. Honestly, it made Toronto look good.
I'll let that statement soak in. I'm actually suggesting that Toronto - one of the Unesco sites of Utter Winter Hideousness - is actually more attractive than Montreal under similar circumstances. My mother, who will truly go anywhere, has indicated that she'll not be returning. I suspect it was the beige, tattered futon sitting on someone's unleveled balcony, dripping, that threw her over the edge, but we'll never know for sure.
Furthermore, we stayed east - in the French part of town. My parents are decidedly west-central sorts. "Real" isn't so much their scene. They prefer the muted lines of affluence.
What can you do? I'm imagining this adorable house with its wall of windows facing an utter gem of a backyard, ensconced by tatty walk-up rentals, on a warm summer night. Oh, I'm looking forward to that. Almost as much as I'm looking forward to getting the hell out of this pollution-coloured landscape.
Really, there's no pollution like the kind you understand.
Today's questions: Do you rent homes/apartments when you travel? If no, why not?? (People, you can dine at home in the evenings when you can't stand the elements...) Have you ever made a festive meal in a totally foreign kitchen? Do you love the idea of experiencing someone else's reality as a way of expanding your own? Let's talk!
Next up, I'll tell you about my fantastic winter gifts - my husband really pulled out the stops this year...
Showing posts with label Xmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Xmas. Show all posts
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Polar Opposite
It's really difficult to be winter-depressed in this landscape.
The photo, above, is a panoramic shot that Scott took with his mobile. What has the world come to when you can take a picture like this with a phone? It's the top of the mountain that my sister and her family live on.
We hiked through the brush to get here. Although you can see a road in the distance, that's road access from the opposite side of the mountain. We can't get there from our side but by ascending through the woods. It's only 200 feet of elevation from the cabin to the top, but man, it's straight up.
Mind you, Scottie wanted to be at the highest point of the highest point, hence this photo:
Can't decide if it's manly or Napoleonic :-)
This is the sky:
People, it's azure.
And here's the weird shot of me, petting a little Xmas tree (they were all over the place and so cute):
I find my crazy-look kind of hilarious (if decidedly not glamorous).
We also discovered an ominous school-bus wreck, said bus, crushed to the ground like a pop-can, brush growing over it, rhododendrons encircling it like a wreath. I wonder how long ago that accident happened. Goes to show, tragedy and beauty live together.
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| IMPORTANT: In order to see the panoramic view in all of its glory, you'll have to click on the photo... |
We hiked through the brush to get here. Although you can see a road in the distance, that's road access from the opposite side of the mountain. We can't get there from our side but by ascending through the woods. It's only 200 feet of elevation from the cabin to the top, but man, it's straight up.
Mind you, Scottie wanted to be at the highest point of the highest point, hence this photo:
Can't decide if it's manly or Napoleonic :-)
This is the sky:
And here's the weird shot of me, petting a little Xmas tree (they were all over the place and so cute):
I find my crazy-look kind of hilarious (if decidedly not glamorous).
We also discovered an ominous school-bus wreck, said bus, crushed to the ground like a pop-can, brush growing over it, rhododendrons encircling it like a wreath. I wonder how long ago that accident happened. Goes to show, tragedy and beauty live together.
Monday, December 23, 2013
High Spirits
Did you all give me your positive energy?? Cuz today's airline experience could not have been better. There were actually fewer travelers than I've seen, in recent memory. When the check-in kiosk failed, I didn't freak. I just tried another (it worked). When the officious officials tried to get me to go to the holding pen, that precedes the holding pen, that precedes the Customs line-up, I was all "no thanks, we're standing here" (and no one batted an eye). We actually took off on time. They only changed the gate once. Sure, they checked all of our bags by hand and put us through the scanner, sans shoes, but who cares?!
And now I'm here and there's lots of booze and a pretty Xmas tree.
Moreover, here's a story of holiday joy: My sister, Allison, regaled me with a tale of her teaching assistant, Karen. (My sister is a kindergarten teacher in a bucolic mountain valley, the likes of which you've probably only seen in the movies.) Karen, her assistant, is as American as a person can be - like Mayflower-style. Her family has owned hundreds of acres of farmland in the Blue Ridge Mountains (right by the Tennessee state line) for just about two hundred years. Every Christmas, Karen gives the most beautiful, artisanal gifts to my sister, that ever a person could receive.
To wit:
Seriously people, Karen canned those pickles, that jam, those pear preserves. The sausage, at the back (obscured), was made from her pigs and then canned for longevity. Those potatoes were grown in her garden. And she double knit the pot holders. Double knit?! This is to say nothing of the soup she made (already eaten by the time I'd arrived), the homemade cookbook she wrote up for Allison, or the country ham she cured (unphotographed). When I saw all of this, I was BLOWN AWAY.
Honestly, this woman is an artist - a very generous artist.
Allison was thrilled but also horrified, because she gifted Karen something far less organic than any of the above... sure to be appreciated, I imagine (though Allison doesn't agree). But no worries. Just so happens that I finished my knit-along socks yesterday. And I took all kinds of important photos and wrote up all the posts. (Don't worry, I'm going to knit another pair while y'all are knitting, just so we're all on the same page. Thing is, I had to be sure you'd have the info you require ahead of time. So pre-posting was de rigeur.) And I just so happen to have brought those socks to NC, for the cold, or whatever.
Well, looks like whatever is the thing. I am compelled to gift those socks to Karen, a woman who will most certainly enjoy small batch, hand-dyed, American-grown merino in a way that most people on this planet would not. (I seem to be incapable of keeping socks, you might have noticed.)
What I loose in a few hours of knitting, I will gain a hundred times in the joy of giving. Really, I am filled with joy. Like all of a sudden.
I guess it's a Christmas miracle.
And now I'm here and there's lots of booze and a pretty Xmas tree.
Moreover, here's a story of holiday joy: My sister, Allison, regaled me with a tale of her teaching assistant, Karen. (My sister is a kindergarten teacher in a bucolic mountain valley, the likes of which you've probably only seen in the movies.) Karen, her assistant, is as American as a person can be - like Mayflower-style. Her family has owned hundreds of acres of farmland in the Blue Ridge Mountains (right by the Tennessee state line) for just about two hundred years. Every Christmas, Karen gives the most beautiful, artisanal gifts to my sister, that ever a person could receive.
To wit:
Seriously people, Karen canned those pickles, that jam, those pear preserves. The sausage, at the back (obscured), was made from her pigs and then canned for longevity. Those potatoes were grown in her garden. And she double knit the pot holders. Double knit?! This is to say nothing of the soup she made (already eaten by the time I'd arrived), the homemade cookbook she wrote up for Allison, or the country ham she cured (unphotographed). When I saw all of this, I was BLOWN AWAY.
Honestly, this woman is an artist - a very generous artist.
Allison was thrilled but also horrified, because she gifted Karen something far less organic than any of the above... sure to be appreciated, I imagine (though Allison doesn't agree). But no worries. Just so happens that I finished my knit-along socks yesterday. And I took all kinds of important photos and wrote up all the posts. (Don't worry, I'm going to knit another pair while y'all are knitting, just so we're all on the same page. Thing is, I had to be sure you'd have the info you require ahead of time. So pre-posting was de rigeur.) And I just so happen to have brought those socks to NC, for the cold, or whatever.
Well, looks like whatever is the thing. I am compelled to gift those socks to Karen, a woman who will most certainly enjoy small batch, hand-dyed, American-grown merino in a way that most people on this planet would not. (I seem to be incapable of keeping socks, you might have noticed.)
What I loose in a few hours of knitting, I will gain a hundred times in the joy of giving. Really, I am filled with joy. Like all of a sudden.
I guess it's a Christmas miracle.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Bleak Incarnate
Look, I'm not going to try to ruin your warm holiday feelings. Suffice it to say, I'm not in your camp this year. At least not yet.
And given that today we're in the midst of an ice storm, and tomorrow we're traveling to America (well known to be the most painful place to get to via air travel, no matter where you're coming from, never mind two days before Xmas), let's just say the Christmas spirit is not infusing me with warm, egg-noggy joy.
Toronto in the winter is one of the drabbest places I have ever been. In case you think I'm lying, we're going on a week of this being the brightest light the day sees:
And this lasts merely from approximately 8:00 till 4:30. It could easily go on this way for 3 weeks. Three slushy, dirty, dark, damp weeks.
Honestly, it's difficult to deal with, especially if the lure of gifts and elves and trees are having no impact.
Here's a shot of my dwarf lavender today:
If the power lasts and the ice turns into rain, that's the best we can hope for (which is quite a lot, actually). I guess I should be grateful that we weren't booked on a flight today.
And given that today we're in the midst of an ice storm, and tomorrow we're traveling to America (well known to be the most painful place to get to via air travel, no matter where you're coming from, never mind two days before Xmas), let's just say the Christmas spirit is not infusing me with warm, egg-noggy joy.
Toronto in the winter is one of the drabbest places I have ever been. In case you think I'm lying, we're going on a week of this being the brightest light the day sees:
And this lasts merely from approximately 8:00 till 4:30. It could easily go on this way for 3 weeks. Three slushy, dirty, dark, damp weeks.
Honestly, it's difficult to deal with, especially if the lure of gifts and elves and trees are having no impact.
Here's a shot of my dwarf lavender today:
If the power lasts and the ice turns into rain, that's the best we can hope for (which is quite a lot, actually). I guess I should be grateful that we weren't booked on a flight today.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Winter Warmth
I've been keeping the florist in business lately:
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| Tree isn't real, but it sure is pretty. This photo was taken by M. |
I actually have more bouquets than reasonable places to put them. Guess those are the troubles to have...
I meant to wait for my big splurge till later in the week, shortly before my parents arrive, so that all the flowers would be as lush as possible. I hope I don't have to restock at the last minute.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Frosting
Today I am baking and blogging and knitting (not to mention hair-saloning) - all in the name of the season...
And here's what I somehow intend to be able to fit into the equation (if only partially):
Lauren's version threw me over the edge and now I can't stop thinking about having one of my very own (not that I haven't been waiting on this pattern with great interest in my own right).
Gotta say, I am so happy my kid is old enough to look after herself. Cuz I have no idea how I'd add parenting into this mix.
PS: There's a new Cake pattern out today in the Etsy shop and it's on pre-sale discount.
And here's what I somehow intend to be able to fit into the equation (if only partially):
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| Tiramisu Dress by Cake Patterns |
Lauren's version threw me over the edge and now I can't stop thinking about having one of my very own (not that I haven't been waiting on this pattern with great interest in my own right).
Gotta say, I am so happy my kid is old enough to look after herself. Cuz I have no idea how I'd add parenting into this mix.
PS: There's a new Cake pattern out today in the Etsy shop and it's on pre-sale discount.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Convert
This time of year is proving to be very, very busy on the "real life" front, so I haven't had much time to blog. Just want to check in quickly to remind you all me not to go all Xmas-insane. I have no idea how I instantly morph into a poor-gal's Martha Stewart as soon as December hits. By way of dodging all the at-home fanfare, our goal was to go to Quebec City (aka Santa's Village) over Christmas but for various reasons, including my illness, that just didn't work out. So instead (though, secretly, I swore I would never do this again) I'm having the entire world over. What I mean is: I'm so happy to have the chance to host everyone at this time when wine appears to be off limits.
Ahem.
Last weekend, on the seasonal front, I somehow managed to:
As you can imagine, those intermittent throat ulcers are back. And I really have no one to blame but myself. I mean, seriously, do I have to plan boeuf Bourguignon for pre-Xmas-Xmas dinner? What ever happened to ordering Indian??
My other secret, however, is that - in many ways - I am actually coasting. The packaging for my handmade baked-goods is the exact same as that of last year (I didn't even reprint labels). For that matter, so is the roster of baked goods. I have enough wrapping to last till Armageddon, so I didn't buy anything new. Fuck complementary colours under the tree. As you know, I purchased almost nothing in-store. So there you go, tons of gifts without even having to put on a coat or outwit a crowd. People, I shopped while watching TV (shhhhh).
Here's what I hope for us all (and, for me, this may involve a Christmas miracle): May we be love-bitten by the true spirit of the holidays, whichever ones we feel like. Take that in whatever way it works for you: Want egg nog? Drink it. Love lunching with friends? Make a reservation. Hate decorating? Then don't do it. Tired? Hang out and coast. 'Tis the season, after all.
On a related note: Go to an open house, even if you're unconvinced. Eat a bite of gingerbread cuz your colleague made it specially and it's from a family recipe, even if you don't much like it. Enjoy the pleasure of others as they expend effort to motivate yours.
And definitely smack anyone (wink) who whines about being overcome by perfectionism. Christmas is not an excuse to indulge in that compulsion. :-)
PS: On a TOTALLY unrelated note - unless we put this under the heading of Presents I Got for Myself: Today I wore my new boots and my new coat and I am utterly convinced (like I wasn't before?!) of the value of buying quality. I walked to and from work (more than 7km) in those boots with nary a twinge of ouchiness. They are so comfortable - and gorgeous! And my coat was as warm as could be (it recently got chilly here) outside but, so light that it didn't threaten overwhelm me while I waited for my coffee in the crowded shop. In fact, it was as comfortable inside as outside. Not to mention that I got numerous compliments. Of course, I'm not suggesting that we buy what we cannot afford but I do think a stretch, now and again, especially if one eschews volume for quality, is a very good idea. The Rosedale ladies call it an investment.
Ahem.
Last weekend, on the seasonal front, I somehow managed to:
- Put up a tree
- Trim a tree
- Wrap all the presents that have heretofore arrived
- Make sable dough (for baking next weekend)
- Make salted caramels (5 gifts worth)
- Make a freakin' banana bread (the kid guilted me into something she could eat "now")
- Knit 20 per cent of a sweater (gift)
- Hang a portrait wall of paintings (posters really, that must be replaced by something realer) in my newly-painted bedroom
As you can imagine, those intermittent throat ulcers are back. And I really have no one to blame but myself. I mean, seriously, do I have to plan boeuf Bourguignon for pre-Xmas-Xmas dinner? What ever happened to ordering Indian??
My other secret, however, is that - in many ways - I am actually coasting. The packaging for my handmade baked-goods is the exact same as that of last year (I didn't even reprint labels). For that matter, so is the roster of baked goods. I have enough wrapping to last till Armageddon, so I didn't buy anything new. Fuck complementary colours under the tree. As you know, I purchased almost nothing in-store. So there you go, tons of gifts without even having to put on a coat or outwit a crowd. People, I shopped while watching TV (shhhhh).
Here's what I hope for us all (and, for me, this may involve a Christmas miracle): May we be love-bitten by the true spirit of the holidays, whichever ones we feel like. Take that in whatever way it works for you: Want egg nog? Drink it. Love lunching with friends? Make a reservation. Hate decorating? Then don't do it. Tired? Hang out and coast. 'Tis the season, after all.
On a related note: Go to an open house, even if you're unconvinced. Eat a bite of gingerbread cuz your colleague made it specially and it's from a family recipe, even if you don't much like it. Enjoy the pleasure of others as they expend effort to motivate yours.
And definitely smack anyone (wink) who whines about being overcome by perfectionism. Christmas is not an excuse to indulge in that compulsion. :-)
PS: On a TOTALLY unrelated note - unless we put this under the heading of Presents I Got for Myself: Today I wore my new boots and my new coat and I am utterly convinced (like I wasn't before?!) of the value of buying quality. I walked to and from work (more than 7km) in those boots with nary a twinge of ouchiness. They are so comfortable - and gorgeous! And my coat was as warm as could be (it recently got chilly here) outside but, so light that it didn't threaten overwhelm me while I waited for my coffee in the crowded shop. In fact, it was as comfortable inside as outside. Not to mention that I got numerous compliments. Of course, I'm not suggesting that we buy what we cannot afford but I do think a stretch, now and again, especially if one eschews volume for quality, is a very good idea. The Rosedale ladies call it an investment.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
My House Smells Like Christmas
Yesterday afternoon, which is to say "at approximately 5 pm when it had already been dark for some time", I found myself in the florist, binge buying just about every (gorgeously fragrant) seasonal offering I could get my hands on.
We might call this the season Kristin spent money cuz if it's not a cab (I usually do not indulge this kind of expensive laziness but I'm tired), then it's a something from Etsy or a yarn or vegan mousse that costs 5 dollars for 3 tablespoons or presents for Xmas or a Yumalite (on the wacky end of my purchase spectrum but the lack of daylight is making me crazy and I just can't take it lying down this year).
My haul included a lovely fir wreath (for inside):
And these lusciously intense, tomato-red winterberries:
I also got a near-to-bloom paperwhite plant for my room (with an adorable green ceramic pot), some eucalyptus and some other berries (larger, more muted, droopier and on a leafy stem), the name of which I don't know.
I'd probably have bought more but that's all I could carry.
Don't worry, tomorrow's another day.
We might call this the season Kristin spent money cuz if it's not a cab (I usually do not indulge this kind of expensive laziness but I'm tired), then it's a something from Etsy or a yarn or vegan mousse that costs 5 dollars for 3 tablespoons or presents for Xmas or a Yumalite (on the wacky end of my purchase spectrum but the lack of daylight is making me crazy and I just can't take it lying down this year).
My haul included a lovely fir wreath (for inside):
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| This isn't this wreath's final home - and it's certainly not an artful shot, but I was trying to manage 15 things at the same time so it will have to do... |
I also got a near-to-bloom paperwhite plant for my room (with an adorable green ceramic pot), some eucalyptus and some other berries (larger, more muted, droopier and on a leafy stem), the name of which I don't know.
I'd probably have bought more but that's all I could carry.
Don't worry, tomorrow's another day.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Christmas Crafting: The Madeline Cowl and How I'm Shopping This Season
Somewhere between a cowl and a shawl, this quick-knit is a good gift:
This 50-row, 133 stitch project took 2 evenings. Then I wet blocked it and dried it using blocking wires to stabilize the shape (another day and a half). Then I spent 10 minutes seaming it up. You could easily make 5 of them before Xmas and they do look chic / serve a valuable function.
While I swore that I wouldn't be making any gifts this Xmas - in light of my commitment to conserve energy - I have busy-knit a bunch of things that seem better suited to friends or family. This is one of those items. I sense it will be wonderful on Hilary. How fortunate that she is having her traditional (and very exclusive - just our two families) tree-trimming party tomorrow, wherein gifts may be exchanged. I'm trying to resist baking something for that gathering, but I don't know how I can go to a Christmas-themed event without turning up like the treat Santa. I did find some perfect hand-made ornaments for the kids on Etsy, from CarynBay's shop. The arms are made of actual twigs?!
Not only did I say I wouldn't make or bake stuff, I've also committed not to shopping in stores this year. Partly, I just can't stand the crowds. Partly, it takes too much energy. Partly, I'm afraid of germs. By the time I go to work, I really don't have much left over.
Now, I have had to go into stores for a couple of items I couldn't get online (absurdly), but I was able to roll that "real" shopping into lunch.
I've had a steady parade of parcels arriving from all over the world since the middle of October. Seriously, it takes 3 minutes to buy a present online and then YOU get a present when it arrives at your door. It's two-times a gift.
I can't list everything right now (people might see!, also, it would take too long) but I have purchased just about anything you can think of, mainly on Etsy, but on a variety of other online boutiques also. It's hard to say if I've saved any money. Surely, not going out to the shops has minimized my opportunities for holiday lunching in expensive restaurants. Mind you, since I can't pleasure-eat or -drink, it's just as well I don't have to push off that associative experience. These days, I'm trying to associate online Xmas shopping with coffee or tea. Yeah, it's not working so well.
One great thing about the online shopping is that, if you opt for pre-wrapping, you can send the gift directly to an out-of-town recipient. It's not as personal as I'd like, but then neither is not seeing someone you're getting a gift for at Xmas dinner.
There is one trick to online shopping - and Xmas crafting, for that matter. You have to start early. Happily, it takes very little actual effort (just thought and skill), and it's utterly comfortable to shop from your own home. But if you wait much longer, it's not going to be an option. Many vendors have already indicated that the end of next week is the deadline for things that can be expected to arrive before Xmas eve.
It's never been a better time to buy online for that person who crafts - I mean, other than you! :-)
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| I should have positioned this off-centre but it didn't happen. Try to imagine it. |
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| Madeleine Cowl by Teresa Chorzepa |
While I swore that I wouldn't be making any gifts this Xmas - in light of my commitment to conserve energy - I have busy-knit a bunch of things that seem better suited to friends or family. This is one of those items. I sense it will be wonderful on Hilary. How fortunate that she is having her traditional (and very exclusive - just our two families) tree-trimming party tomorrow, wherein gifts may be exchanged. I'm trying to resist baking something for that gathering, but I don't know how I can go to a Christmas-themed event without turning up like the treat Santa. I did find some perfect hand-made ornaments for the kids on Etsy, from CarynBay's shop. The arms are made of actual twigs?!
Not only did I say I wouldn't make or bake stuff, I've also committed not to shopping in stores this year. Partly, I just can't stand the crowds. Partly, it takes too much energy. Partly, I'm afraid of germs. By the time I go to work, I really don't have much left over.
Now, I have had to go into stores for a couple of items I couldn't get online (absurdly), but I was able to roll that "real" shopping into lunch.
I've had a steady parade of parcels arriving from all over the world since the middle of October. Seriously, it takes 3 minutes to buy a present online and then YOU get a present when it arrives at your door. It's two-times a gift.
I can't list everything right now (people might see!, also, it would take too long) but I have purchased just about anything you can think of, mainly on Etsy, but on a variety of other online boutiques also. It's hard to say if I've saved any money. Surely, not going out to the shops has minimized my opportunities for holiday lunching in expensive restaurants. Mind you, since I can't pleasure-eat or -drink, it's just as well I don't have to push off that associative experience. These days, I'm trying to associate online Xmas shopping with coffee or tea. Yeah, it's not working so well.
One great thing about the online shopping is that, if you opt for pre-wrapping, you can send the gift directly to an out-of-town recipient. It's not as personal as I'd like, but then neither is not seeing someone you're getting a gift for at Xmas dinner.
There is one trick to online shopping - and Xmas crafting, for that matter. You have to start early. Happily, it takes very little actual effort (just thought and skill), and it's utterly comfortable to shop from your own home. But if you wait much longer, it's not going to be an option. Many vendors have already indicated that the end of next week is the deadline for things that can be expected to arrive before Xmas eve.
It's never been a better time to buy online for that person who crafts - I mean, other than you! :-)
- You can find beautiful yarn at WEBS.
- Check out this washi tape. (Kids who love to "duck tape" craft are so into this.)
- Colette Patterns has put together some lovely sewing-related gifts.
- Give a Craftsy course.
- Or, for your fibre-craft friends, gift a pattern from Ravelry. (This can be complicated if you don't know Ravelry or knitting, so do be sure to ask for help if you need it.)
- Buy a great book like this new knitting offer or this terrific sewing reference. (Honestly, anyone who buys books any way other than online is insane. You save an average of 40 percent on the list price and heavy items are delivered, generally within two days, to your front door.)
Friday, December 23, 2011
Winter Haven
Hello Friends: Things are about to go all Xmas supernova here, so I should take this moment to remind you us that it doesn't matter if your quiche is too cooked in the crust and somewhat raw in the centre. Or if your parents are about to arrive in the midst of their (rather ill-timed, let's face it) mid-winter spiritual cleanse. No mind if you have 12 (or 50) unwrapped gifts. Don't even fuss if you need 12 gifts and you haven't a one.
I encourage a fire in the fireplace if possible. And some hot chocolate or egg nog (but homemade pls - that stuff from the grocery store is diabetes in carton!). You could always skip the nog in favour of the rum. How about some Xmas jazz on internet radio? Got dinner cooking? No? Then step out to your neighbourhood spot and let someone else do the cleaning up. Be sure to tip well!
Let's say you feel you've dropped the ball on home decorating. I bet you've got a local place that sells boughs and wreaths and greenery you can vase-up Noel-style in a jiffy.
No need to feel Xmas angst. Don't go all mid-winter miserable. Worst case scenario: all this insanity will be over in 3 days. And even if it's not your scene, don't they say a change is better than a rest?
I'll leave you with my final knitting project of 2011, a fantastic shawl, the Glen Haven (see Ravelry for more deets):
Have a wonderful next few days. I hope you have a chance to enjoy or reflect - or both! Here's to the days getting lighter. xoxo
I encourage a fire in the fireplace if possible. And some hot chocolate or egg nog (but homemade pls - that stuff from the grocery store is diabetes in carton!). You could always skip the nog in favour of the rum. How about some Xmas jazz on internet radio? Got dinner cooking? No? Then step out to your neighbourhood spot and let someone else do the cleaning up. Be sure to tip well!
Let's say you feel you've dropped the ball on home decorating. I bet you've got a local place that sells boughs and wreaths and greenery you can vase-up Noel-style in a jiffy.
No need to feel Xmas angst. Don't go all mid-winter miserable. Worst case scenario: all this insanity will be over in 3 days. And even if it's not your scene, don't they say a change is better than a rest?
I'll leave you with my final knitting project of 2011, a fantastic shawl, the Glen Haven (see Ravelry for more deets):
Have a wonderful next few days. I hope you have a chance to enjoy or reflect - or both! Here's to the days getting lighter. xoxo
Monday, December 5, 2011
Production Values
I had an absurdly productive weekend.
I really don't know how it happened. I mean, on Friday I was a puddle of goo after a fairly rigorous work day.
But there I was on Saturday, food shopping and putting up the tree (with M), wrapping all of my homemade gifts, making some homemade gifts and going to a party. Sunday came and I was experimenting with pasta recipes, sewing and (what a surprise) knitting again.
Note the revised strategy: I'm only knitting for me from here on in. At least for the foreseeable future. Oh, and I have no time frames associated with the completion of garments for me. After all, I'm going to be here when all is said and done.
At one point I got mad at Scott for eating a ripe pear on the basis that I was going to use it to make a crumble. That's when I realized I need to get a grip. I mean, I'm not exactly running a lifestyle empire.
At any rate, here's the quick win top I made (V8323):
Some thoughts:
Thoughts?
I really don't know how it happened. I mean, on Friday I was a puddle of goo after a fairly rigorous work day.
But there I was on Saturday, food shopping and putting up the tree (with M), wrapping all of my homemade gifts, making some homemade gifts and going to a party. Sunday came and I was experimenting with pasta recipes, sewing and (what a surprise) knitting again.
Note the revised strategy: I'm only knitting for me from here on in. At least for the foreseeable future. Oh, and I have no time frames associated with the completion of garments for me. After all, I'm going to be here when all is said and done.
At one point I got mad at Scott for eating a ripe pear on the basis that I was going to use it to make a crumble. That's when I realized I need to get a grip. I mean, I'm not exactly running a lifestyle empire.
At any rate, here's the quick win top I made (V8323):
Some thoughts:- I'm really glad I've used up the bulk of this fabric, cuz it's kind of nice but mainly icky. I don't know that it will stand the test of laundry. In which case it's a nice wearable muslin.
- On that topic, oh man, my seam finishing is horrendous. Gotta work on that. (Let's blame it on the fabric.)
- It's quite a clear and easy pattern (much as the name suggests). I made view A, though I added 3/4 sleeves, cut a straight 12 (used the "petite" shortening lines) and it fits pretty well.
- Did I mention that serging princess seams is a crap shoot?
- Nonetheless, I really like princess seams. I didn't like their line till I started sewing.
- Not sure about the funnel neck. I may alter it the next time.
- Also, I'll need to do some work on the sleeves. I used the ones meant for view B and they were too wide.
Thoughts?
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Feast or Famine
I'm writing this on my new MacBook Air, which is everything they say it is, and cute. If I were a computer, I'd want to be this one. My husband has really pulled it back from the edge after leaving me for dead (metaphorically) when I first sustained the foot injury. While he may not have taken it seriously at first, he's bucked up by massaging my ankle and leg, physiotherapy-style, for hours each evening, taking care of all the mobile-elements of family life (i.e., shuttling the kid) and gifting me with top of the line technology.
I think it's safe to say I'm going to postpone the divorce.
In the true spirit of Xmas, however, this post is not about the loot but about the food. For the last two days I have eaten a shocking variety of things that can only be deemed artery-blockers.
I'm not one of those people who frowns on gluttony. No ma'am. Give me your fried, crispy masses. Pastry that gleams with butter. My heart flutters at a perfect cake crumb. I can eat a round of brie.
Seriously. On Xmas eve, we had wild mushroom brie fondue that takes a pound of rinded cheese. Generally it serves 4 till they're stuffed beyond compare. M was sick, so she wasn't eating. Scott just humoured me by eating it. There was but a small amount left yesterday for me to pair with crackers while I drank a bottle of Vouvray (this is hard to find at a decent price and it's so clear and ringy, though far sweeter than the wine I generally choose). I drank it over 8 hours, fyi. This is to say nothing of the struesel cake I ate for breakfast yesterday morning. (Is anything better for breakfast than homemade coffee cake??).
The thing is that Scott's Xmas capon takes a zillion hours to cook. We were three, but he bought a 10 pound bird. Don't ask. In fact, we tried - on a whim, yesterday morning - to invite 8 people over to share it with us. Alas, they had already started to cook their own Xmas dinner at 10 am. Anyway, by 4 p.m. I was really hungry and I had to eat some ridiculous quantity of prosciutto.
By 7 p.m. the capon was juicy, delicious ready with roasted veggies. They managed to be soft on the inside and crunchy, oily on the outside. My fave combo. I won't lie - I ate an ounce of capon and half a pan of veggies - if you can call onions, carrots and potatoes soaked in grease "veggies".
The pan generally serves 6-8.
Scott and his friend of 35 years have a term to describe extreme, painful, disgusting first-world fullness. It's called "klunk" and you can use it as a verb or a noun or an adjective, your choice. To say I was klunk at this moment does not begin to express how I felt. I really thought I might throw up (which is a horrifying thing in my book). Scott felt my stomach and seemed alarmed by its distension.
At which point I decided I would never eat again.
I sense I'm about to break the fast (it has been 12 hours), but I'm going to do it with a hard boiled egg and a slice of cheddar. Though that cake continues to call. (Don't worry - I'm over it. I still feel vaguely nauseated, thankfully.)
Why am I telling you this? Why am I admitting to this horrendous level of gluttony? I'd like to say something like it's to make you feel better about your own holiday ingestion indiscretions, but who are we kidding?? I think it unlikely that any of you have crossed the line as I have. Maybe I'm looking for that one crazy reader who can match me in the stupid eating department? Maybe I am seeking absolution? Who can say.
So here's to hot water with lemon, green salad and chicken soup. Which reminds me, I have to transform those leftovers into a stew fit for a queen. Have I mentioned that my chicken soup is legendary?
I think it's safe to say I'm going to postpone the divorce.
In the true spirit of Xmas, however, this post is not about the loot but about the food. For the last two days I have eaten a shocking variety of things that can only be deemed artery-blockers.
I'm not one of those people who frowns on gluttony. No ma'am. Give me your fried, crispy masses. Pastry that gleams with butter. My heart flutters at a perfect cake crumb. I can eat a round of brie.
Seriously. On Xmas eve, we had wild mushroom brie fondue that takes a pound of rinded cheese. Generally it serves 4 till they're stuffed beyond compare. M was sick, so she wasn't eating. Scott just humoured me by eating it. There was but a small amount left yesterday for me to pair with crackers while I drank a bottle of Vouvray (this is hard to find at a decent price and it's so clear and ringy, though far sweeter than the wine I generally choose). I drank it over 8 hours, fyi. This is to say nothing of the struesel cake I ate for breakfast yesterday morning. (Is anything better for breakfast than homemade coffee cake??).
The thing is that Scott's Xmas capon takes a zillion hours to cook. We were three, but he bought a 10 pound bird. Don't ask. In fact, we tried - on a whim, yesterday morning - to invite 8 people over to share it with us. Alas, they had already started to cook their own Xmas dinner at 10 am. Anyway, by 4 p.m. I was really hungry and I had to eat some ridiculous quantity of prosciutto.
By 7 p.m. the capon was juicy, delicious ready with roasted veggies. They managed to be soft on the inside and crunchy, oily on the outside. My fave combo. I won't lie - I ate an ounce of capon and half a pan of veggies - if you can call onions, carrots and potatoes soaked in grease "veggies".
The pan generally serves 6-8.
Scott and his friend of 35 years have a term to describe extreme, painful, disgusting first-world fullness. It's called "klunk" and you can use it as a verb or a noun or an adjective, your choice. To say I was klunk at this moment does not begin to express how I felt. I really thought I might throw up (which is a horrifying thing in my book). Scott felt my stomach and seemed alarmed by its distension.
At which point I decided I would never eat again.
I sense I'm about to break the fast (it has been 12 hours), but I'm going to do it with a hard boiled egg and a slice of cheddar. Though that cake continues to call. (Don't worry - I'm over it. I still feel vaguely nauseated, thankfully.)
Why am I telling you this? Why am I admitting to this horrendous level of gluttony? I'd like to say something like it's to make you feel better about your own holiday ingestion indiscretions, but who are we kidding?? I think it unlikely that any of you have crossed the line as I have. Maybe I'm looking for that one crazy reader who can match me in the stupid eating department? Maybe I am seeking absolution? Who can say.
So here's to hot water with lemon, green salad and chicken soup. Which reminds me, I have to transform those leftovers into a stew fit for a queen. Have I mentioned that my chicken soup is legendary?
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas Tag
And by that I mean meme...
Dr. Monkey tagged me to tell you a few things about the Xmas me:
1. When do you know it's the holidays? When the trees start to go up. The spirit kicks in around early / mid November.
2. What do you want for Christmas this year? World peace. And a Mac.
3. Do you go all out with decorations? No. I would do more, but that would take too much effort. :-)
4. What are you doing Christmas Eve? Eating wild mushroom brie fondue with lots of green and red veggies (and baguette) followed by a moist struesel crumb cake and berries. I can smell it baking now and it's driving me crazy!!
5. What are you doing Christmas Day? Opening gifts and eating.
6. It's Christmas time. What are you reading? Blogs and mags. And maybe Santa will bring me the Alexandria Quartet - which I haven't read in 20 years, but which has been calling to me lately.
7. Favorite movie to watch during the holidays? Family Man with Tea Leoni and Nicholas Cage.
8. Favorite Christmas song? Oh that is a tough call. White Christmas (jazz version)? Santa Baby? I like the jazz standards a lot.
9. Favorite holiday drink? Red wine, same as always.
10. How is your Christmas shopping going? Done, done, done.
11. If you could spend Christmas Day anywhere else, where would you spend it? Quebec City
12. Any holiday traditions? We argue when to put up the tree, where to spend Xmas, what to eat...
13. Favorite thing about the holidays? It's a break from the regular routine and the misery of early winter. And Xmas trees are pretty. And the food is good. And it's a time to reflect at the end of the year. I like that people are in a good mood.
I am too stuffed with food and drink to choose who else should do this - but I urge you to take on the challenge. And let me know - I want to read up!
Dr. Monkey tagged me to tell you a few things about the Xmas me:
1. When do you know it's the holidays? When the trees start to go up. The spirit kicks in around early / mid November.
2. What do you want for Christmas this year? World peace. And a Mac.
3. Do you go all out with decorations? No. I would do more, but that would take too much effort. :-)
4. What are you doing Christmas Eve? Eating wild mushroom brie fondue with lots of green and red veggies (and baguette) followed by a moist struesel crumb cake and berries. I can smell it baking now and it's driving me crazy!!
5. What are you doing Christmas Day? Opening gifts and eating.
6. It's Christmas time. What are you reading? Blogs and mags. And maybe Santa will bring me the Alexandria Quartet - which I haven't read in 20 years, but which has been calling to me lately.
7. Favorite movie to watch during the holidays? Family Man with Tea Leoni and Nicholas Cage.
8. Favorite Christmas song? Oh that is a tough call. White Christmas (jazz version)? Santa Baby? I like the jazz standards a lot.
9. Favorite holiday drink? Red wine, same as always.
10. How is your Christmas shopping going? Done, done, done.
11. If you could spend Christmas Day anywhere else, where would you spend it? Quebec City
12. Any holiday traditions? We argue when to put up the tree, where to spend Xmas, what to eat...
13. Favorite thing about the holidays? It's a break from the regular routine and the misery of early winter. And Xmas trees are pretty. And the food is good. And it's a time to reflect at the end of the year. I like that people are in a good mood.
I am too stuffed with food and drink to choose who else should do this - but I urge you to take on the challenge. And let me know - I want to read up!
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Xmas from Xtin
Y'all are the best present ever! I am rich for your friendship and I wish you the happiest holiday season.
Here's a photo of QC (aka Santa's Village) to get you in the mood. K xoxo
Here's a photo of QC (aka Santa's Village) to get you in the mood. K xoxo
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Danger: Shopping Ahead
Of course, when planning to meet up with La Historiadora de Moda, I had to arrive in the 'hood a bit early to ensure that everything was in place. There were reservations to obtain (or not). I had to scope out the stores. I'm not exactly the fastest traveler in the land right now - though I did alright.
And there was the small matter of cruising FabricLand for some denim. Cuz I'm making those pants again. Twice. Or till I get them right, whichever comes first. I managed to find the same denim that I used here, and then a stretch-free version in a slightly lighter, and bluer hue. I want to check out how different fabrics absorb the pattern and, um, provide support. And I want to see if my (totally made-up) alterations will actually work.
I didn't think this would be the holiday of learning about pants but that seems to be how it's going.
Very strangely (and I'll return to this at another time), I am totally intrigued by pants - fitting issues and all. They don't fill me with the same anxiety that the tops do. And yes, that's completely irrational.
I forgot my discount card, which almost threw me over the edge, but then I discovered that the fabrics I wanted were 40% off (the discount card amount). At FabricLand, they don't discount the discounted stuff, so that was the best I could have done.
The thing is, I was so freakin' efficient buying the fabric that I had scads of time to kill. And that was after dealing with restaurants and making sure that the street decorations were twinkling just right.
Which is where Cole Haan and Holt Renfrew came in.
I have been blessed with the ability to spend a living fortune in 10 minutes or less. I can't tell you how useful that's been at various times in my life. Except from the perspective of my bank account which is, after all is said and done, merely one of the players.
I don't buy beauty products very often (I'm a bit of a health food store shampoo kind of girl) but when I do, inevitably something convinces me to spend 35 bucks on a lipstick. To wit:
Doesn't this look totally rude??? It's shade 295. Shu U is v. Japanese modern and it doesn't believe in naming its shades, which is just as well because they are all "limited" editions.
I am, frankly, desperate to replace my beloved Bobbi Brown Cassis and this colour is a close approximation. At least on my hand.
Then, having just run out of mascara, I was bamboozled into trying this one:
Hilariously, the woman who sold it to me felt compelled to warn me stringently, multiple times, that I was NOT to shimmer the wand horizontally while applying it. Apparently, the new design of this wand means something crazy will happen to my eyelashes. Like they'll grow obscenely or affix themselves to my upper lids or something. I hear, and obey.
My final score was 30% off at Cole Haan - olive kid skin gloves with cashmere lining. Oh, they are slinky, lady goodness. And a fair sight less $$$ than they would otherwise have been.
May I remind you that Xmas is at the end of the week and I appear to be shopping exclusively for myself?!? Does that make me a bad person?
Wait. Don't answer that.
And there was the small matter of cruising FabricLand for some denim. Cuz I'm making those pants again. Twice. Or till I get them right, whichever comes first. I managed to find the same denim that I used here, and then a stretch-free version in a slightly lighter, and bluer hue. I want to check out how different fabrics absorb the pattern and, um, provide support. And I want to see if my (totally made-up) alterations will actually work.
I didn't think this would be the holiday of learning about pants but that seems to be how it's going.
Very strangely (and I'll return to this at another time), I am totally intrigued by pants - fitting issues and all. They don't fill me with the same anxiety that the tops do. And yes, that's completely irrational.
I forgot my discount card, which almost threw me over the edge, but then I discovered that the fabrics I wanted were 40% off (the discount card amount). At FabricLand, they don't discount the discounted stuff, so that was the best I could have done.
The thing is, I was so freakin' efficient buying the fabric that I had scads of time to kill. And that was after dealing with restaurants and making sure that the street decorations were twinkling just right.
Which is where Cole Haan and Holt Renfrew came in.
I have been blessed with the ability to spend a living fortune in 10 minutes or less. I can't tell you how useful that's been at various times in my life. Except from the perspective of my bank account which is, after all is said and done, merely one of the players.
I don't buy beauty products very often (I'm a bit of a health food store shampoo kind of girl) but when I do, inevitably something convinces me to spend 35 bucks on a lipstick. To wit:
Doesn't this look totally rude??? It's shade 295. Shu U is v. Japanese modern and it doesn't believe in naming its shades, which is just as well because they are all "limited" editions.I am, frankly, desperate to replace my beloved Bobbi Brown Cassis and this colour is a close approximation. At least on my hand.
Then, having just run out of mascara, I was bamboozled into trying this one:
Hilariously, the woman who sold it to me felt compelled to warn me stringently, multiple times, that I was NOT to shimmer the wand horizontally while applying it. Apparently, the new design of this wand means something crazy will happen to my eyelashes. Like they'll grow obscenely or affix themselves to my upper lids or something. I hear, and obey.
My final score was 30% off at Cole Haan - olive kid skin gloves with cashmere lining. Oh, they are slinky, lady goodness. And a fair sight less $$$ than they would otherwise have been.
May I remind you that Xmas is at the end of the week and I appear to be shopping exclusively for myself?!? Does that make me a bad person?
Wait. Don't answer that.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
It's All Academic!
Perhaps you know that I went out for lunch and a bit of shopping with one of the loveliest academics in the land. Who recently got married. And has come to Canada to party with family.
R goes by the sassy code name La Historiadora de Moda on her intelligent and lively collaborative blog Fashionable Academics. And she's such a fun date. We went to the bar at the Windsor Arms (which we had all to ourselves) and drank some great Ripasso while eating well-presented, yummy hotel food. It was SO my kind of afternoon.
Afterward, we did some shopping and R got fantastic loot. I shouldn't give it away, but I have to dish a little. (I mean, you don't love me for my self control!) Of course, I'm sure she'll fill you in on the details of her new great gloves, great pants (seriously great), great sweater and great top. Suffice it to say it is all very fashionable and maybe even a little bit academic :-)
I conclude that she is optimally Kristin-shopping-compatible (TM): She knows what she likes, when it looks right, and just like that she closes the deal.
PS: Alas, no photos. By the time we thought of it, I was too wan for the camera. But trust me, she looks as cute in real life as she does in her pics...
R goes by the sassy code name La Historiadora de Moda on her intelligent and lively collaborative blog Fashionable Academics. And she's such a fun date. We went to the bar at the Windsor Arms (which we had all to ourselves) and drank some great Ripasso while eating well-presented, yummy hotel food. It was SO my kind of afternoon.
Afterward, we did some shopping and R got fantastic loot. I shouldn't give it away, but I have to dish a little. (I mean, you don't love me for my self control!) Of course, I'm sure she'll fill you in on the details of her new great gloves, great pants (seriously great), great sweater and great top. Suffice it to say it is all very fashionable and maybe even a little bit academic :-)
I conclude that she is optimally Kristin-shopping-compatible (TM): She knows what she likes, when it looks right, and just like that she closes the deal.
PS: Alas, no photos. By the time we thought of it, I was too wan for the camera. But trust me, she looks as cute in real life as she does in her pics...
Merry Xmas to Me!
While out at physio yesterday, I couldn't resist stepping into the shoe store on the corner - not to buy, of course, but to ogle the pretty (discounted) boots.
Don't ask me how it happened that I managed to walk out with the only pair in the entire place that wasn't on sale (seriously). Let me assure you that the price tag was painful:
La Canadienne Tabitha Boot
You know my love of a) shearling, b) La Canadienne and c) anything that comes from Montreal and d) supporting the Canadian economy (yes, that's what I'm calling it), so technically this was a no-brainer. It marks my fourth pair of boots by this manufacturer- and I have nothing but glowing reports of my first three pairs.
The shearling is truly specatcular - so soft, so warm - and the boots, while rugged rather than elegant, will look good just right with skinny jeans. Never mind that! They'll keep me toasty and dry - with serious grips on flat soles - so that my foot can recover in style.
Notice a theme lately? Kristin and footwear?? My justification is medical necessity. And I'm sticking to it.
Don't ask me how it happened that I managed to walk out with the only pair in the entire place that wasn't on sale (seriously). Let me assure you that the price tag was painful:
La Canadienne Tabitha BootThe shearling is truly specatcular - so soft, so warm - and the boots, while rugged rather than elegant, will look good just right with skinny jeans. Never mind that! They'll keep me toasty and dry - with serious grips on flat soles - so that my foot can recover in style.
Notice a theme lately? Kristin and footwear?? My justification is medical necessity. And I'm sticking to it.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
No Pressure is the New Pressure
I've been a bit sporadic on the posting over the past few days because it was my first week back in the office after the 2.5 weeks I worked from home re: the foot injury. Gotta say it was not optimal from a healing and pain management perspective, though it was a very busy week taking care of things before starting my Xmas vacation.
You heard that right, peeps, I now have 2 weeks to sit on my ass with my legs up eating cookies. After I make them. And display them attractively. Did I mention it isn't the most present-rific scene under the tree right now. I did shop online from the comfort of my own couch (my new favourite - and dangerous style of consumption) but managed to give M a lot of the purchases as they arrived because I couldn't resist opening the packages with glee. But don't feel sorry for her. When I think of how much is waiting to be opened - without the scarcest hint of need - it disgusts me a little bit. (Happily, she doesn't have those issues.)
Yesterday, while doing a few minutes of (frankly hurty) mall wandering before going to my husband's office party at a nearby hotel, I stumbled on the Hudson's Bay Company boutique (in the Queen St. corner of The Bay) and killed time by trying on some shearling mits and fulsome-fur trapper hats. I've never been one who likes the Bay multistripes-on-cream motif, but I was entranced by a muted version of the point blanket in cashmere! Oh, once I touch that stuff it's all over. Anyway, I was half ready to buy it (no need, just for me) when I looked at the price tag: $600.00. Thankfully, at that point, my sanity was returned. Mind you, if you like iconic patterns, Canadiana, and you're rich, this is the item for you!
Malls are a soul-sucking, sick, mechanism of consumerism. I was horrified by the throngs of shoppers acting like they were on uppers, pushing by, grabbing items and rudely thrusting them back without folding them. I rarely shop in malls - never shop the week before Xmas - and the combo was depressing. I'm telling you, just shop online. And visit your local retailers, who know you by name because you've been going there for years and buying their well considered product.
Is it me, or do the chain stores put out their crappiest wares at this time of year, "discounting" them by 40%. It's easy to give 40% off when you're offloading the cheap shit that's been sitting in the warehouse and likely won't move when the Xmas-fever wears off.
At any rate, my goal for the next 2 weeks is to take care of my foot and enjoy my home, good food, and friends/family. Honestly, I don't care enough to make myself crazy (or maybe I care just the right amount!) Posting might be thin (or not) because I hope to make a zillion home-sewn garments - or a well-considered few. The sewing has really taken a hit since the foot injury, but then, what hasn't?
To give you an injury update (since I assume y'all find it fascinating): My physiotherapist continues to be "amazed" at the pace and quality of my recovery and, at this point, has suggested that I simply keep doing yoga because it targets my injury in a more refined fashion than the exercises she can offer. Of course, we strategize the required movements and actions and then I incorporate them into my practice through certain poses. Therapeutic ultrasound has been incredibly effective on me.
My foot looks almost normal (except for the injury hotspot) and the therapist believes the fracture is likely healed (based on my range of motion) and the tendon is almost healed. Alas, the things I really did a number on are 2 ligaments which are basically frayed. Apparently, ligaments don't regenerate, they scar over and then surrounding muscle tissue picks up the slack. I choose not to believe modern science on this front. I envision my ligaments miraculously healing based on careful effort and other treatments. Regardless, I shouldn't have any lasting mobility issues due to this - which is a wonderful Xmas gift, IMO.
The ligament healing process can be long. Apparently, if you want to damage something, don't make it ligaments, or the recovery may be slow - and regrettably painful. I'm trying not to freak out - to feel frightened by the pain or to allow it to make me fearful of conscious movement (which is necessary). At this point, I can irritate things, but it's very unlikely I will worsen the damage I've sustained (that would take a similar foot trauma). The part of me that is upset by my continuing discomfort is occasionally corralled by the part of me that recognizes it's pretty amazing I'm able to do as much as I can right now. Being bed-bound for 6 weeks wouldn't be unusual under the circumstances - and if you'd seen my foot after the injury, you'd agree it's a miracle how restored to its former look and feel it is.
Thank you so much, everyone, for thinking of me over the past few weeks - giving me your health vibes. I am certain it has been a great help and I am very grateful.
So let's get on with the relaxation, yes?
You heard that right, peeps, I now have 2 weeks to sit on my ass with my legs up eating cookies. After I make them. And display them attractively. Did I mention it isn't the most present-rific scene under the tree right now. I did shop online from the comfort of my own couch (my new favourite - and dangerous style of consumption) but managed to give M a lot of the purchases as they arrived because I couldn't resist opening the packages with glee. But don't feel sorry for her. When I think of how much is waiting to be opened - without the scarcest hint of need - it disgusts me a little bit. (Happily, she doesn't have those issues.)
Yesterday, while doing a few minutes of (frankly hurty) mall wandering before going to my husband's office party at a nearby hotel, I stumbled on the Hudson's Bay Company boutique (in the Queen St. corner of The Bay) and killed time by trying on some shearling mits and fulsome-fur trapper hats. I've never been one who likes the Bay multistripes-on-cream motif, but I was entranced by a muted version of the point blanket in cashmere! Oh, once I touch that stuff it's all over. Anyway, I was half ready to buy it (no need, just for me) when I looked at the price tag: $600.00. Thankfully, at that point, my sanity was returned. Mind you, if you like iconic patterns, Canadiana, and you're rich, this is the item for you!
Malls are a soul-sucking, sick, mechanism of consumerism. I was horrified by the throngs of shoppers acting like they were on uppers, pushing by, grabbing items and rudely thrusting them back without folding them. I rarely shop in malls - never shop the week before Xmas - and the combo was depressing. I'm telling you, just shop online. And visit your local retailers, who know you by name because you've been going there for years and buying their well considered product.
Is it me, or do the chain stores put out their crappiest wares at this time of year, "discounting" them by 40%. It's easy to give 40% off when you're offloading the cheap shit that's been sitting in the warehouse and likely won't move when the Xmas-fever wears off.
At any rate, my goal for the next 2 weeks is to take care of my foot and enjoy my home, good food, and friends/family. Honestly, I don't care enough to make myself crazy (or maybe I care just the right amount!) Posting might be thin (or not) because I hope to make a zillion home-sewn garments - or a well-considered few. The sewing has really taken a hit since the foot injury, but then, what hasn't?
To give you an injury update (since I assume y'all find it fascinating): My physiotherapist continues to be "amazed" at the pace and quality of my recovery and, at this point, has suggested that I simply keep doing yoga because it targets my injury in a more refined fashion than the exercises she can offer. Of course, we strategize the required movements and actions and then I incorporate them into my practice through certain poses. Therapeutic ultrasound has been incredibly effective on me.
My foot looks almost normal (except for the injury hotspot) and the therapist believes the fracture is likely healed (based on my range of motion) and the tendon is almost healed. Alas, the things I really did a number on are 2 ligaments which are basically frayed. Apparently, ligaments don't regenerate, they scar over and then surrounding muscle tissue picks up the slack. I choose not to believe modern science on this front. I envision my ligaments miraculously healing based on careful effort and other treatments. Regardless, I shouldn't have any lasting mobility issues due to this - which is a wonderful Xmas gift, IMO.
The ligament healing process can be long. Apparently, if you want to damage something, don't make it ligaments, or the recovery may be slow - and regrettably painful. I'm trying not to freak out - to feel frightened by the pain or to allow it to make me fearful of conscious movement (which is necessary). At this point, I can irritate things, but it's very unlikely I will worsen the damage I've sustained (that would take a similar foot trauma). The part of me that is upset by my continuing discomfort is occasionally corralled by the part of me that recognizes it's pretty amazing I'm able to do as much as I can right now. Being bed-bound for 6 weeks wouldn't be unusual under the circumstances - and if you'd seen my foot after the injury, you'd agree it's a miracle how restored to its former look and feel it is.
Thank you so much, everyone, for thinking of me over the past few weeks - giving me your health vibes. I am certain it has been a great help and I am very grateful.
So let's get on with the relaxation, yes?
Monday, November 29, 2010
Can't You Just Taste the Egg Nog?
I absolutely LOVE this room. Silver and baby blue trees totally work for me:
Sunday, November 21, 2010
The Clip Trip Continues
(This is a re-post of How to Get with The Season Without Going to the Poor House, Part 2 - from November 2008... It goes along with yesterday's previously posted piece.)
The art of shopping will not be disputed by me. Not to be all braggy, but I actually think it is one of my great life skills. Oh, I know, it's shallow and meaningless compared with, say, helping starving people and educating children. But it is a necessary activity and one which we should aim to do intelligently - if not ecstatically.
My husband is intimidated by holiday shopping. He loathes it. He's afraid of stores. He's afraid to buy things for me because I do all the discretionary purchasing in our lives (and 90% of the rest of it) and he hasn't needed to develop the skill. Secretly, I enjoy being the boss of the shopping. But it doesn't bode well when I want a little treat. Note: Scott has given me some of the most lovely gifts I've ever received - from jewels to, ahem, electronics. He just only buys when the inspiration hits him. Otherwise it's just not his thing.
While it vaguely defeats the purpose, I feel so responsible to help him get through the challenge that I have a) presented him with a list of stores containing items I enjoy, b) spoken with a couple of key SA's who have kindly offered to guide him if he visits them and c) explicitly indicated the kind of items I like - and "need" - in various colour palettes that might be useful.
"Why don't you just go buy the things, wrap them and give him the bill?", said my mother good-naturedly. You see, she knows me. And she knows him. And trust me, I'm tempted to do it. But I have to let the little tadpole swim into the sea. It's times like these, I recognize my bourgeoisie is painful. But here's the thing. I don't want something cher. (Cher, of course, is relative and I'm obviously speaking only from my own economic perspective... What's affordable to me may be out of someone else's price range. Lord knows, much of what I see is out of mine.) I'd just like something lovely and thoughtful. One thing. And preferably it should smell, feel or fit nicely.
A propos of giving gifts - let's focus on the giving rather than the buying - you do not need to spend a lot to thrill someone you care about. To wit, here are some reliable stores for gifts at various price points:
The art of shopping will not be disputed by me. Not to be all braggy, but I actually think it is one of my great life skills. Oh, I know, it's shallow and meaningless compared with, say, helping starving people and educating children. But it is a necessary activity and one which we should aim to do intelligently - if not ecstatically.
My husband is intimidated by holiday shopping. He loathes it. He's afraid of stores. He's afraid to buy things for me because I do all the discretionary purchasing in our lives (and 90% of the rest of it) and he hasn't needed to develop the skill. Secretly, I enjoy being the boss of the shopping. But it doesn't bode well when I want a little treat. Note: Scott has given me some of the most lovely gifts I've ever received - from jewels to, ahem, electronics. He just only buys when the inspiration hits him. Otherwise it's just not his thing.
While it vaguely defeats the purpose, I feel so responsible to help him get through the challenge that I have a) presented him with a list of stores containing items I enjoy, b) spoken with a couple of key SA's who have kindly offered to guide him if he visits them and c) explicitly indicated the kind of items I like - and "need" - in various colour palettes that might be useful.
"Why don't you just go buy the things, wrap them and give him the bill?", said my mother good-naturedly. You see, she knows me. And she knows him. And trust me, I'm tempted to do it. But I have to let the little tadpole swim into the sea. It's times like these, I recognize my bourgeoisie is painful. But here's the thing. I don't want something cher. (Cher, of course, is relative and I'm obviously speaking only from my own economic perspective... What's affordable to me may be out of someone else's price range. Lord knows, much of what I see is out of mine.) I'd just like something lovely and thoughtful. One thing. And preferably it should smell, feel or fit nicely.
A propos of giving gifts - let's focus on the giving rather than the buying - you do not need to spend a lot to thrill someone you care about. To wit, here are some reliable stores for gifts at various price points:
- Club Monaco
- J Crew (US)
- Holt Renfrew (Canada)
- Ziggy's At Home (Toronto)
- Suite 88 Chocolatier (Montreal)
- The Gap (for Ts, jammies, kid's stuff, undies, skinny turtlenecks and scarves)
- David's Tea (Toronto)
- L'Occitane
- AGO Gift Shop (Toronto) - or any good gallery gift shop
- Chapters/Indigo (Canada) / Borders (US)
- NEW for 2010 posting!: Etsy Shops
You will note that a couple of these are rather lovely stores, selling rather lovely merchandise. But you don't have to buy the evening gown for 15K. You can buy a lipstick from the Bobbi Brown counter and have it nicely wrapped for free. You can buy the cashmere socks or a well-designed tube of hand cream and save approximately $14,970. And here are a just a few gift options for the various people in your life.
(Please remember - it's not about how much you buy or what you pay. It's about how thoughtful and sensory - and beautifully presented - your token of affection manages to be. If you wouldn't want to receive it, please don't give it.)
(Please remember - it's not about how much you buy or what you pay. It's about how thoughtful and sensory - and beautifully presented - your token of affection manages to be. If you wouldn't want to receive it, please don't give it.)
For your kids' teacher, housekeeper, daycare staff - and anyone else who helps you to logistically function in your life:
- Fine chocolate - the bigger the box the better.
- Hand milled soap and body products made with fine essential oils.
- Gift cards (Chapters, iTunes) - but only if you can't be more personal.
- A spa treatment - but only if you know the person fairly well.
- A book about a subject that interests the giftee.
These gifts can range in price from about $20.00 to $200.00 and up. Here's a brand I've bought, year after year, for various peeps:
Savon de Marseille
For Your Mother:
- Really the choices are endless, but how about fine leather goods (bags, wallets)
- Lovely tea pot and cups - don't forget to include some tea.
- Cashmere scarf
- Unique jewelry (it comes at all price points)
- Clothing if you are sure of her size and style
M0851 BagThese gifts can get pretty pricey. But I've bought my mother some beautiful antiques over the years, ones that are treasured and yet cost less than $30.00.
For the Men:
Riedel O Wine Glass
These gifts can also range in price quite substantially. I just bought 4 Riedel cabernet glasses for my father, wrapped by the boutique in a fantastic tube to look like a Christmas cracker, for $40.00 all in. And they're "crystal".For the Kiddies:
- Books, books, books!
- Educational toys from Chapters or Amazon and the like
- Diaries (with keys)
- The latest "kid craze" toy
- American Girl stuff (My daughter calls hers a Canadian Girl!). Not the least $$ on the list. So maybe leave these for the grandparents!
- Clothing from H&M Kids, Gap and other affordable stores
- Boots and slippers
- Gorgeous iced cookies
- Lip balm and hand cream - little girls love this!
- Special outing to see a musical, ballet or special Christmas movie (or other cultural event)
- Puzzles
- Art Supplies
The great thing about kids is that they love anything as long as it's wrapped! You can definitely find a nice child gift for $10.00. Or spend a living fortune...
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