Bourbon Slush!

Okay, it was requested by Dozer that I hand over the bourbon slush recipe.  I made you a fun little recipe card- although it isn't nearly as cute as the ones Lollychops makes! Although I haven't tried printing it out yet to check the size.... I suppose I should do that.

I am not responsible for any embarrassing stories that may occur after partaking in said bourbon slush! But feel free to blog about them so that I can say "See honey?!  I'm not the only one that does that!"

Thank you so much for all of your wonderful comments!  And of course your fuzz butts should be on the quilt too- they are a big part of the family.  Now I'm even MORE excited to make the mini-tree quilt!  Remember that you have until January 16th to enter... and I'll throw in 5 extra entries if you blog about the giveaway!  Maybe I'll add another way you can earn entries  every day.... hmm... sending me chocolate will always work. 

Maybe another way you can enter is by volunteering to sweep all of the Corgi and cat hair off of my couch.  This is what Husband and I come home to most every day:

I think it's called "if we sit here and stare out the window long enough, maybe they'll come home".

How can I be mad at that face for shedding 24/7? Oh that's right, I can't be. 

Family Christmas

We headed up to northern Indiana on Friday night for a family Christmas that was on Saturday. Husband took a few pictures of my parent's house the night before the mayhem began.

I like this one because it just looks so warm inside...

And then there was Saturday- filled with tons of food and bourbon slush.  Bourbon slush is just amazing-I-need-three-glasses-of-this goodness.  I have a friend who introduced it to her family, and now they have it at all of their family gatherings. 

 

Instead of the usual name-drawing that occurs each year, we decided to each bring a few presents and then play games to win them, after drinking most of the bourbon slush.  About 20 minutes into a "game" of mass confusion, Husband ended up with earrings, and I ended up with batteries, which my Grandfather was very proud of bringing, apparently.  I think Dax hid upstairs during most of the games, because I'm sure his poor huge ears just couldn't handle our loud mouths!

I wish I had a picture of the family tree quilt I posted about last time.  *sigh*  After I gave it to my Grandmother, I had an "oh crap" moment, where I realized I had forgotten to take a picture of it. I'm sure I'll get one eventually, but until then, you'll just have to be surprised at what the mini-quilt looks like if you win it! 

Giveaway!

The guilt of not posting after mentioning a giveaway has finally gotten to me... oh the shame.  I promise there is one though!  I got a bit too busy with last-minute Christmas gifts that turned out to take a lot more time than I expected.  An entire quilt in three days?  All done by hand?  With everyone in the family's name embroidered on it?  Ah, why not!?  Nuts, I tell you.

Anywho, I would like to make a mini-family tree quilt for you too!!  All that you have to do is leave me a comment that lists all of the names you would like to have on the quilt.  You can enter up to three times, and you can enter on behalf of one other person also.  I mean, think of the brownie points you can earn here, geesh.  I'll give everyone (who ever may still be there after my hiatus, that is)  up to two weeks to enter, and then pick a winner randomly. Good luck!

Until then, I shall be having fun with a few books from a co-worker,

and, finally delving into my stash of favorite fabrics....

I can't wait! 

UPDATE:  Entries for this giveaway will only be accepted until 12:00 AM, January 16th, EST.

Sad face...

Here's to hoping that everyone is getting their Christmas shopping done!  I know I haven't started... eh... maybe Etsy will help me out with that.  The giveaway "surprise" is still not finished, but it's my only project for the night, so it has to get done, right?  Until then, I give you Dax's best sad face (or his get-that-out-of-my-face, face)...  

Stockings for Stuffing

The stockings are still not done- but at least they're getting there!  In an effort to get them done quickly (I'm not looking for heirloom quality here!) I have re-discovered fabric glue. I'm beginning to remember why I quit using this sticky slime.  I think I should find some fusible interfacing- there's got to be more somewhere around here....

I did, during my search for stocking-appropriate fabric, find a few remnants that I liked.  I think I'm going to make a bit of Christmas cheer and give it away! 

I will be taking a break for Thanksgiving with the family, but I hope to have my *surprise* for you ready soon after that!

I told you so.

I just have to say- I call it. 

Ah yes.  Every year, Duncan tries to eat the tree.  But this year, I was so lucky and got a taste of his "cat-stop-chewing-on-that" spray.  I was eating lunch and couldn't figure out why it tasted like I was licking rubber.  It turns out that the spray I had used on the tree last year had rubbed off on my hands, and therefore my lunch tasted like pencil erasers.

But I did manage to get the tree up and decorated, and the mantle is almost there.  I'm making our Christmas stockings with my nice little stash of satins, so I'll post more on those when they're finished.  

Ah.... adding to the "projects that need to be finished" pile...

Poor Pumpkin!

Okay, so I don't have a vendetta against our squirrels. I'm sure that's how this blog reads though, because they always seem to be up to no good whenever I'm getting ready to write a post. I was warned by our neighbors, prior to buying a pumpkin, that a mess of seeds and pumpkin pulp would be strew across our front stoop, but I decided to risk it anyway.  They didn't notice the bright orange globe for quite a few weeks, but soon it was nibbled away until it became this:

It has now been moved to the backyard by the bird feeder so that they can continue to feast on my attempt at festive decoration. 

As I was taking a picture of my sad pumpkin, the perpetrator decided to try to scare me off.

It almost worked.  

I have been sewing, baking and crocheting though, along with having started a new job. I think I'm getting used it though... slowly... but I'm getting back on track. I hope to be posting on a consistent basis soon, but be patient with me!  If you are, I may make you this:

From this:

I tell you what. Chocolate Truffle cheesecake with Chocolate Ganache is fine by me anyday!  Although that's definitely an "after the attack" photo, I think you might be able to tell that the filling is creamy, light, and smooth.... and that I feel I should make another soon.

Anyhow, with my pumpkin now ruined, I believe it means I'm allowed to put up all of my Christmas decorations. I have a hard time doing so before Thanksgiving, but Husband already has up the outer lights.  

Plus, I think the mantle has been waiting all year for me to bring out the lights again.

I sense that there will be pictures of Duncan playing in the Christmas tree box posted soon.