Christmas Morning

After we open the presents while drinking a sparkling beverage, The Mister was a sweetheart and made bacon and eggs. That's my new coffee cup. I think it's a "J" for joy, but I'll take "J" for Judy.

See Si licking his lips? Bacon stealer!

The theme this year is Yellow Submarine! We all live in a yellow submarine!

The Mister's stash.

The Mister's Yellow Submarine.

My stash.

Little green man.

That's an inside joke.

Sandy, our neighbor's cat, lonely and forgotten. We decided to save him this Christmas from the rain and wind, so The Mister put up the old pup tent we used to use for our indoor felines, you know for fun.

And it looks like he likes it!

So probably out of some guilt he buys Si an indoor pup tent for Christmas. Awwwww.

Silas really liked his fishy mat, although he smelled himself and subsequently sprayed the mat at a later time.

Look a solar power welcome kitty.

Merry Christmas!

Half Pint Canning Jars and a tiny book review of The Homemade Pantry

I have a peculiar delight for mason jars. I often think of getting a flat of them at the wrong time of year. They are seasonal where I live, and this is their season, harvest time. So yay! I remembered this year.

I purchased 12 half pint wide mouths, and the mister gave me a look like what the heck?!

I'm not much of a canner, you see. I'm a bit frighten of poisoning myself. Improper home canning is the number one cause of botulism, and botulism is kinda deadly.

But the way I see it, little glass jars have other uses.

Years ago I read about making cake-in-a-jar on Angry Chicken's blog. I still follow her. She comes up with some fun stuff. Not every single day. And not too over-the-top Martha-like that I need to go out and buy cake decorating tips or something. She gets excited and shares.

So I went back to her archives and found the post I was looking for - Cake-in-a-Jar! I did some googling too. So I'm sure baking is in my future.

Another favorite blogger talked about salad-in-a-jar for lunches, and said she could make up a whole week's worth and they would stay fresh. I thought I might try this for work days. I've slowly switched my fridge containers from plastic to glass, and I have to say everything stays fresher in glass. So I'm intrigued.

A third use for these little containers came from a book I came across and purchased immediately. That book is called The Homemade Pantry. I highly recommend this book. Since I depend on a well-stock pantry to inspire me and pull together a "there's nothing to eat for dinner" day, I was blown away with all the cool stuff I could make and, yes, store in my jars.

All That Glitters

How is it that when you're in Pottery Barn, everything looks so beautiful and trendy, and then when you bring it home, it looks like just another plate?

I don't know what is with me these days. Might be a good dose of spring clean re-do the decor blues.

I look at PB catalog and think - Boy I'd sure like a new desk. All I need to do is get rid of the one I have and some other stuff to. And then the Mister reminds me that PB spends a lot of time and money marketing their vibe, their look, and it comes with a price.

So I put the critical thinking cap on, and notice the catalog page has a view of the ocean blue and white sand, and the glass in the windows is perfectly clear and the breeze is blowing the lovely blue curtains ever so slightly, and the couches are brilliant white, and the throw pillows are all coordinated with lovely beachy motifs, and the sisal rug isn't hiding sand and fleas like it would if this were reality. Because I know. I lived in a beach house where the previous occupants were dog lovers and since they were now gone, the fleas they left behind were a might bit hungry and camped out in my nose at night. Really gross.

And yes I would love all white furniture in my office, but how could I ever give up my cherry wood table (circa 1950s) that I scored at a garage sale for 50 bucks?

I can't.

Maybe just some new curtains in that breezy blue.