Back to work

Well, the last almost two weeks off has come to an end, and today I get back to work, diet, exercise and regular life.  As Rob said, we're going back to work for some rest.  We managed to finish some of the projects we really wanted done and we spent a lot of time together and a lot of time on opposite ends of the house and we ate.  A lot.  I think we're both coming down from our two week sugar high.  And, I'm pretty sure that we'll be able to find things to do and be able to get along when we retire.  And, after almost two weeks off, I'm ready to retire.  

Christmas was wonderful.  Syd spent Cmas eve here and got up early with us the next morning for coffee and monkey bread and we opened presents.  Her boyfriend got here a little before noon and we ate a huge meal.  I had pulled out all the serving dishes and decided at the last minute not to use them and we served ourselves out of the corning ware at the kitchen counters, buffet style.  Dishes were done a LOT quicker than at Thanksgiving.  Everybody ate a good meal and watched some movies and napped in the afternoon and then they moved on to their next thing and we sat back and enjoyed being alone together.  Everyone enjoyed themselves and I was not exhausted when it was over.  

The next day, I decided I needed to do something for someone else, so I pulled out a Linus quilt top, took it apart just enough to change it from a square to a rectangle and pin basted it.  I spent time over the week quilting it and am down to the binding.  I have a fabric picked out, and will try to get it bound next weekend so I can add it to the pile.  

And, I finished a flower garden block.  I'm starting to realize this is related to Ruby McKim's original patterns, but I don't think these blocks are all just like the original patterns.  That's okay.  I'm still loving them.  This is supposed to be sweet peas and if you squint your eyes just right and turn your head just a bit to the left and give them a side eye, they look a little like sweet peas.  

The next block up is a Tiger Lily and I've done my tracing and cut the pieces and can start the appliqué anytime.  I think it's block 15 of 25.  The plan this time last year was to make it as a BOM and finish at the end of '22 so I'm a little ahead of schedule.  If I stick to one a month, I can have it assembled by end of this year.

We worked in the yard a LOT over the last two weeks.  I got all the plants I'd dug up for the new fence back in the ground and got the greenhouses ready for our first real freeze, which is going on now.  I took the time to replant things in what I think will be better places, even moving a few things I hadn't originally dug up and look forward to seeing the yard in spring.  But for now, everything that I normally grow in a pot is in the greenhouse, packed in tight and heated.  

I used the 6" bundt pan I got for Christmas yesterday to make a lemon cake.  I pulled the recipe from my cooking for two cookbook and remembered that the cakes from that cookbook have all been dry and disappointing.  I'm going to pick a regular size bundt cake recipe and try making a third of the batter and see what happens.  It sure looks pretty tho.

Since food was such an important part of the last two weeks, here are some other bakes that came out well.  Monkey bread from Christmas morning.  My family did this when I was a kid and I've made it a tradition for Syd.  

The Christmas cake, a spice cake with an espresso Swiss buttercream frosting.  I made a 6" cake this year, so I'm not still having to force myself to eat it to keep it from going to waste.  I learned my lesson last year.  

And a quiche made from leftover Christmas ham, broccoli and Swiss cheese.  That became breakfast for a couple days (please don't tell my doctor because I'm sure this was bad for my cholesterol)

We were sad on NY eve to learn of Betty White's passing.  We laughed at Sue Ann Niven and at Rose Nylund and had so much respect for the positions she took and the wisdom she shared and willingness to give the finger to social traditions.  She was a great role model for so many of us.  She's the last Golden Girl and the fourth MTM cast member to pass in 2021.  The world will be a little less wonderful without her.  Thank you for being a friend, Betty.  Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant.

Everybody have a wonderful week!  If you're like me and going back to work, then chin up and let's make the most of it.  If you have a job you love, the go at it with gusto.  And if you have a job you hate, then there's no better time to make a change.  Life is too short to do something you hate every day.  

Lane

P.S. We've been binging Longmire and Yellowstone and I'm thinking I might need a new pair of boots.