So
I had wanted to continue my post from last time about the craft room. I wanted
to gloat about how proud I was of myself that I got it cleaned up and
organized…then Christmas happened. No gloating here, the room is a mess! It was
clean for about 2 hours though. So I guess there is some hope that I could get
it straight again. So moving on.
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What it looked like almost clean. Then Christmas threw up in here. It's still a freaking mess! One day it will be clean. |
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One of the many shadow boxes I made for Christmas presents. |
Now
I am not a total scrooge but I am happy that Christmas is over. Well may be
relieved a better word. It was a handmade Christmas for the most part so I have
been a busy elf over the past few weeks. A lot of it revolved around the
wedding; various shadow boxes and photo albums, and some of it food. Have to
say I am kind of tired of looking at wedding photos. There are amazing but
there were a lot. I am hoping that next year it will be more about food.
This
brings me to my latest obsession, Julia Child. A few months ago I broke down
and bought myself a kindle, and the first book that I purchased, well the only one I bought, I'm cheap, was a biography
on Julia Child “Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child” by Bob Spitz. I
highly recommend this book. It could be life changing for me. Growing up I
would catch her on PBS and always thought that she was pretty cool. I mean this
huge woman and that voice. How could you not get sucked in? After watching her
I would then run into the kitchen to then host my own cooking show that mostly
involved pulling a bunch of pots, pans, spoons, and canned goods out and
clanging them around. Thank goodness I couldn’t reach the knives.
I
never really appreciated cooking good food until I got older. And now there is
no stopping me. This book is totally enthralling and has inspired me. She had
such an amazing life. If this firefighter thing doesn’t work out I’m running
away to Paris and devoting my life to food. The hubby is totally enabling this
new and growing obsession. For Christmas he got me both volumes of “Mastering
the Art of French Cooking.” Game on. Now I can’t say that I have lofty goals of
cooking my way through the entirety both volumes but I do plan on reading them
both cover to cover and giving it a go. Charlie isn’t the only enabler. My aunt
and uncle sent me a cookbook filled with recipes from Maine. I also received
some great pickling and canning cookbooks from my in-laws that will get put to
great use, especially when we get the garden fired back up. The collection is
growing, and I am running out of room in the kitchen to keep them. I am going
to have to get creative in my storage or just add on to the house.
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Here's our baby! |
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Inside needs updated. But I can handle that |
Now
that Christmas is over and things have settled a little bit, Charlie and I have
out pet project to work on. We bought a camper! A 1972 Serro Scotty pull behind
camper. It is official! We’re now camping snobs. This is going to be like
staying at the Hilton for us. Running water, a bed, and electricity! A big
change from dehydrated food and sleeping pads. Now don’t think for a second
that we are going to forget where we came from and not use those sleeping pads!
This is a game changer for us though. Once we get her up and running, a lot
more camping opportunities open up for us. Now there will be no more excuses of
it’s going to rain, or it’s too cold, or it’s too hot. No excuses, except for
maybe snow and ice, but those are only for safe traveling purposes. Though I am
sure that Mr. Holland will push that limit too if given the chance. I can’t wait to get it on the road.
There are a few things that need to be done to it, but nothing too major that
has to be done to it for us to start enjoying it. The 1972 interior is on the
list to be updated. Surprisingly this thing is in really good condition. Some
cleaning up and a few touches here and there and we are in business. Which
brings me to “The Quest.” Now this was Charlie’s idea but I was on board
immediately. So “The Quest” is to visit all, and camp in as many as possible of
the state parks in VA next year. There are 35 of them. It’s gonna be a long
year. I’m up for it though because it is going to be great fun. Especially
since we can take the pups with us, to liven up the campground if it needs it. We
all know they are good at that.
Our
first trip is coming up mid January. I’ll let you know how it goes…