The Fair!

On Sunday we went to the North Florida Fair. Here is a picture of my knitted afghan - I won first place! I've been (inconsistently) working on the thing for at least as long as we've been in Tallahassee, and finally managed to finish it up just in time to enter it into the fair. It is folded up for display, but it is big enough to cover a full-size bed I think. I haven't laid it out on a bed yet to check because I literally finished it on the day of the deadline to enter it.



This is a picture of Tray and Penny at the petting zoo in front of some goats. I tried to convince him to let us take the stroller, but he wanted to carry her, so he did. She fell asleep not too long after this, but she did seem to think the goats were neat.

Christmas Q&A

Ok, so this is a list of questions from my sister-in-law's blog and I am answering them here. The theme of her post was handmade gifts, so my answers have that bent.

Gifts
1. Do you have a favorite gift that you love to give?

I have a few friends that wait all year to get a jar or two of my apple jelly. I love giving it because it is easy to make, and they are so appreciative.

2. If you’re making gifts this year, what are you making? (Post photos if you have some, and if the recipients won’t find out via your post!)

I don't think I will make much this year. No knitted gifts for sure (no time any more), but I will probably still make some apple jelly and maybe give some of the muscadine jelly I already have.

3. Do you have any good stories about handcrafted gifts you’ve given or received?

Handcrafted gifts are funny things. I feel like most people think they are neat, but then wonder where their "real" present is. One year I made bath salts at a cost of approx. $15-$20 per person but the impression I got from people's reactions was that I was being cheap in only giving bath salts. So, I kind of feel like handmade gifts are "extras" to go with an "actual" gift. But, I don't feel that way about receiving them myself.

4. Do you have any great gift compilation ideas (a grouping of gifts just perfect for certain recipients?)

As I mentioned above, I have some friends who like my jelly, so sometimes I make kind of a gift basket with several jars - perhaps of different types. And maybe put some homemade cookies in to. I think our bees need to build up for another year, but we'll probably start adding honey as well.

5. Name one thing on your personal wish list.

Hmm, well, there are a bunch of kitchen things I need/want.

Traditions
1. What is your favorite family Christmas tradition?

Putting up the Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. Oh, and my grandmother's cookies.

2. Have you started any new traditions with your family that you didn’t practice growing up?

Not really. I guess the only thing that is different is we sometimes open gifts at different times of the day now depending on when everybody can make it home. We used to always open gifts on Christmas morning.

3. How are you teaching your children (if you have them) what the REAL meaning of Christmas is?

As an anthropologist there are lots of ways I could answer this question, but I would start by saying that whatever your meaning is, it is no less real than any one else's.

4. Name one way that you are able to keep the focus on Christ during Christmas (attending special church services, family Bible story readings, etc.).

I try to keep the focus on family and friends by getting together.

5. What do you love most about the holiday season?

Cookies.

6. What do you like least about the holiday season?

The shopping crowds.

7. What is your favorite holiday food?

Hmm. It's hard to pick just one. I'll go with my grandmother's pecan sandies.

8. Do you have a great recipe to share?

Sausage Balls:
1 lb. hot sausage (Jimmy Dean)
2 c. bisquik
1 c. grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 c. water

Cook the sausage, drain, and then mix everything together. Form into balls and bake on a greased cookie sheet at 400-450 degrees (depending on your stove) for 12-15 minutes or until brown. May be frozen and reheated.

Dinosaur Kisses

Penny has started being able to hold on to stuffed animals. Here she is with her dinosaur. I took a bunch of pictures and it was hard to just pick one or two for the blog - she was so cute. I tried to pick a couple that really showed how she was holding onto it. She has a little teddy bear that is a bit smaller than the dinosaur and softer. She can really get a hold of it. It's really neat to watch her development because just a week or two ago she could not have done this.

Rock the Vote

Today Penny and I went to the polls and voted. She rode in her snugli on my front as I cast my ballot and she smiled at everyone who came into view. Here's a photo from after we got home. She's wearing a onesie that my friend Kelly painted for her and her new cargo pants her Daddy bought her.

Overalls

Daddy went shopping for himself some clothes - and came home with a bag of baby clothes that he "couldn't resist" (haven't we all been there?). He bought me these way cool overalls and shirt. The overalls have a raccoon on them and say "little explorer". Admittedly, overalls aren't exactly slimming, but mommy thinks I look adorable in them.

Dexterity

The parrot's wings make crinkle noises and up until now we had to crinkle them for her - but now she can crinkle them herself! Check out how big her eyes are. She gets the same look after Tray gets her with the pooty-monster (blowing raspberries on her tummy). She's pretty excited about her new trick.

Halloween

Nobody trick-or-treats in our neighborhood and it's pretty far to drive into town to do anything else, so we had a rather conservative observance. Penny dressed as a black cat and we carved a jack-o-lantern, which she thought was pretty neat.