Sometimes I wish I were a tree. A big, old oak or maple, that stands through time and weather. Watching how the world grows and changes through time.

It is cold here today. Yesterday was in the 60's and I thought today was to be just as warm. It is currently in the low 40's. I feel the cold all the way into my bones. I usually enjoy the cold, but today, I'd rather have warmth. It has also started to rain. We desperately need the rain, so I can't complain about that.

Today I have spent the day working on a new super secret project. It is something I have been interested in for a while, but didn't think I could do. I have been researching and realized that it might not be as hard as I thought and decided to go for it. I'm starting off small to see if it is really something I would like to pursue. It has the opportunity to become something big, something that could supplement my income and maybe work towards becoming a full time thing. I'm very excited about it. I promise to reveal details once I've finished the first couple of runs at it.

Another new thing is that I'm going to start doing tarot readings professionally. My friend that has a shop has given me the opportunity to read there once or maybe twice a month. I'm quite looking forward to it. Ever since last Halloween when I read for my co-workers I've been debating of whether or not to do it. I finally decided to just go for it. I that that is going to become my new motto. :-)

Tonight is dinner with my dad and stepmum, sil and brother. My sil turns 30 tomorrow. We had our celebration dinner with my mum on Friday. Tyler Florence's Horseradish and Garlic Prime Rib, Irish Potato Casserole, Green bean casserole, Caesar salad and yeast rolls. It was divine! We had the roast at Christmas and we all fell in love with it. There is a wild mushroom sauce thing with that recipe, but we didn't use it. We love Paula Deen's Brandied Steakside Mushrooms. That woman is just fabulous!
Oh, back to dinner tonight. We are going to Bravo! Italiana Cuisine. I like their food okay, but it would not have been my first choice.

I'm having a craving for cupcakes. I bought cake mix today, triple chocolate, and cream cheese icing. I might make them tomorrow night after work. If not then, it will be next weekend. This week is already set up to be a doozie. At some point I plan on making a batch of cupcakes from scratch. But right now I just want to have cupcakes! We really have become an instant gratification world, haven't we? :-)

Last night I finished reading The Other Boleyn Girl. It was excellent. I can't wait to see the movie. :-)

Well, I'd best be off, I need to try and warm up before changing for dinner.
Blessings,
~*~

Change is a good thing...

I'm trying out this new template. I found it a while back and have really loved it but am just not sure if it is for me. At least, not for the theme of this blog. I'll have to test it and tinker with it for a little bit to see what I think.

I'm still sick. I finally went to the doctor this morning. I have a head cold (I could have told them that!) and it is settled in very well. The right side of my head is completely clogged up. The doctor gave me two nasal sprays, some pills and some liquid medicine to take. Ugh... I hate feeling like this, especially on my days off.

I was able to get some errands done today though. I made it to the yarn shop where I'll be taking knitting classes to pick out my pattern and get the supplies. I'll post more on that later. I also went to the grocers to get supplies for my traditional new years meal. I always stay home on New Years Day and fix a traditional southern meal of ham, collards, black eyed peas and cornbread. I had wanted to go today because they are calling for rain and storms for the next few days and with this cold I don't need to be out in the weather. However, I did forget one thing that I desperately need... cat food! I have just enough to feed them in the morning and then I'll have to go out tomorrow to get more.

I was also able to get a little bit of cleaning done and also some laundry. Not much mind you, but a little. I feel better having done something since the last few days have been spent doing nothing.

Well, I'm off to play with my design and see if I can make this look the way I want. There may be some other changes coming to the blog...maybe.

Blessings,
~*~

*Yawn*

So sleepy... I stayed up late last night to watch the UNC/Ohio St game and was extremely pleased with the outcome and very happy that I stayed awake! Go HEELS! :-)

Needless to say, I'm pretty tired this morning. I didn't get much done last night as far as housework and knitting, but I did get Decembers bills paid. Yay! I'm very hungry right now, but we are going to lunch at a Japanese restaurant for lunch and I don't want to snack and ruin my appetite. Tonight I'm going to a friend's for dinner with her and her family. I'm looking forward to it as I don't get to see her very much and she is a great person to spend time with. :-)
I'm also taking her a few hard to find "supplies" that I have that she needs for a spell she is working on.

Tomorrow I begin another session of wreath making. I have been requested to make several of the mini's (they seem to be selling well) and I want to make a Yule wreath and a Tarot wreath. I hadn't realized where we were in the moon phases. It just passes so fast and then before I know it it's the Full Moon.

Anywho, I'll be busy with wreaths this weekend and also want to come up with a charm or spell to put on my new rings that I received. They are family heirlooms and I want to charm them to protect them. Then there is the usual family stuff and also helping my mum get her holiday tree and get it decorated. I still can't decide if I'm going to put up a yule tree or even decorate for the holidays. I'm so bah humbug right now. :-(

Better run and get some work done before time for lunch. Wish it would hurry because I'm hungry!

Blessings,
~*~

Busy week

It has been such a busy week, especially for a short one. Work was kind of busy the last few days but today was slow with nothing going on. We were allowed to leave early in celebration of the holidays. Last night I went shopping with Mum to buy our groceries for our Thanksgiving feast. We are having our meal on Friday instead of Thursday this year. You wouldn't believe how much money we spent at the grocers.

Today I went and picked up my rings from the jewelers. I had taken 3 rings in last week, all to be sized and two to be appraised. I'm so happy to have them back! One is my paternal grandmothers wedding band, one is my great-aunt's (on maternal side) engagement ring and the third is my maternal grandmother's engagement ring.

I'm leaving in a few minutes to go to Bravo! Italiana Cuisine. I haven't been there before, but am really looking forward to it. I've been craving fetuccini alfredo for weeks now. Hopefully I'll get it tonight! This is my thanksgiving with my dad. We usually go out someplace for an "ethnic" thanksgiving. This year it is Italian. Last year I think it was either Italian or Asian and the year before was Mexican. Anyway, I'm looking forward to it. The restaurant is new to this area and I've heard great reviews. I just wish it would stop raining before I head out.

Tomorrow my mum and I will take my Grandmother out for lunch and then start our prep for the Friday feast. Saturday I'm visiting with my cousins that are spending the night. I'm hoping to have the kids help me make christmas cookies.

Okay, I've rambled enough. Let me run now and get ready for food! :-)

Maybe I can knit when I get home while I watch the tarheels basketball game. Go Heels!

Blessings,
~*~

Slow day at the office...

I was so bored today. The day was long and there were no projects to work on. I spent most of the afternoon reading the latest Nora Roberts book. It just seems like it was a useless day. I had so much at home that I could have accomplished. Oh well...

I did start my Grandmother's scarf last night. I finished the first section and hopefully I'll be able to move it along now that it is started.

Dinner is in the oven, leftover chicken casserole sent by mum. I didn't have lunch today so everything sounds really good right now. I'm very hungry. :-)

We had really heavy storms last night and all the leaves have now come off my trees. Guess that means I can clean the gutters now. I was waiting until they came off so I wouldn't have to do it again until spring. I also checked the garden to see how my fledgling plants survived. They seem to be fine. I have 10 garlic plants sprouting and my collards seem to be starting to grow, however, it seems something is eating my collards. I need to find out what it is and figure out how to stop them.

Time to check the laundry and the oven, then I'll probably hang around on the net for a little while and hopefully get back to knitting later.

Blessings,
~*~