Secret Santa

So kids, I've started this post about 6 times already. Each time, I start adding pictures, making it pretty, and I realize that I've just made public someone's Christmas gift, be it my co-workers, friends, family. You name it. Well, that won't work.

Pretty much all I've been doing lately is making presents. Constantly. Mostly at work. Sometimes, I find myself making something, and I realize I haven't even picked a person to give it to yet!! Not that that's a bad thing. The more the merrier! What I'm really excited about it that, this year, I've pledged to give only things that are handmade.

That's right.  Now you can't say you don't like my gift, because you'll crush my inner child. And you don't want that on your conscience. It's been really fun, and challenging, to try and think of appropriate gifts for everyone. Some of them have been shockingly inexpensive ( the least expensive were about 8 cents each, because I am a hoarder and only had to spend $1 in materials for 12 gifts) which means I can splurge in some other places (I tremble in fear of the mailing costs for sending my niece's gift...) 

But let me share with you my deepest, darkest holiday secret...

I am terrible at keeping secrets. 

Really, truly terrible. I mean, it's taken me how many times to not blow my own cover, ON MY BLOG, let alone just letting it slip in conversation.

So, dear readers, I can safely say that, until the holiday season is over, my crafting posts will most likely me kept to a minimum.

Instead, I plan to thrill you with pictures of breathtaking scenery, musings on the transitory nature of the seasons, delectable culinary creations, and, of course, ridiculous animal pictures. Ok, mostly ridiculous animal pictures.

To start off, let's see what happens when Sarah hits the sale racks at PetsMart.

This is the face of unmitigated hatred. And resignation.

Sebastian is a normally easy-going cat, who loves to be rough handled. Apparently, he does not enjoy being dressed up like a court jester. Intriguing.

Secondly, we've come again to the time of year where Boo Boo the Angora Bunny needs a trim. Like whoa. Boo pretty much ran wild in the basement, and unfortunately the basement had a lot of room in which to run. He's not really hot on sitting around for long periods to be brushed (petted, yes) and he especially hates having his hind quarters touched in any way. So he was unbelievably matted, and I've been meaning to trim him forever. But sometimes, I end up with a bunny looking like this. 

For the love of God.

Like I said, he doesn't like his rear to be touched. Halfway through his trim, he took off like, well, a rabbit. Eventually, I caught him and got most of it done, but let this be a lesson to you. I'm not exactly sure what lesson that is, but learn it well!

Have a good start to your week guys!

~Sarah 

Books and Stuff

Hello everyone! Look at me, all posting on time. Today, I thought I would concentrate on more crafty-type things, since Patricia has the garden covered pretty well.

One thing to know about me is that I work in an academic library, which means several things:

1. I use interlibrary loan like it's my job. Mostly for craft and agriculture books. Pretty sure they're sick of seeing requests from me.

2. I spend a lot of my time at the front desk, waiting for people to need me, which means I have a bit of down time. Luckily for my ADD, they let me craft while I sit (usually, it takes less of my attention than reading or facebook.) I knit a lot, but any of my projects have to be small enough to tote around, and can't have a lot of "stuff" that they need.

Which led me to this book:


Not only is the cover rather lovely, but it's filled with fun projects that only require needle and thread, and a bit of patience. The project I chose is making dinner napkins from old men's shirts. A trip to the Goodwill fulfilled all of my fabric needs, and last night I measured and ripped everything out. Best part? Checks make for easy hemming! I also decided that rather than making a bunch of napkins from each shirt, I would make 2 from the sleeves and also a kitchen towel from the back (although this had to be fudged a bit when I realized that I bought ONE short-sleeved shirt! GAH!) Today, our software at work is being updated (all week actually) so I've been happily sewing away!

And so, I give you "The Men's Shirt Linens"

The button hole placket is seriously handy.



It makes its own napkin ring.



Also, a hook for hanging! (Yes, ,my calendar is still on July. That's pretty good for me. Also, I just love lemurs!)



Look a all that mad-crazy hand stitching!

Best of all?



It holds my toaster strudel perfectly :-)

In non-crafty news, I made a lasagna last night with my own tomatoes, zucchini, and garlic, and it was MAGNIFICO. Really tasty. I was quite proud, especially since I didn't really look up a recipe, just winged it!

I also put in a soaker hose this morning, since we've been getting almost no rain and 95 degree weather. Hopefully that will help out. I have bunches of tomatoes and beans ready now, cucumbers are still going, some baby peppers, and hopefully the pumpkins will make it through! I broke my cute little round one off on accident while trying to turn it, but I still have 2 big oblong ones, and I'm sure a bunch of others that I just can't see! Exciting stuff!