November's End & A Little Break

Can you believe we're at the end of November? Another year, coming to a close. It's been a good year, overall, for us here at Thistledew - one house built, the second house well on the way, a small but productive garden. The chickens have done remarkably well, especially considering most of them were housed in a pen in our master bath just under a year ago.

The horses are suffering from benign neglect (they get fed and watered, and the occasional snippet of attention, but there's no working right now) as there's so much going on. I've actually considered finding another home for my mare, as she won't be worked for another year if she stays here. But, that's another post!

I start my cardiovascular surgery rotation on Monday, so out of necessity I will take a small break from blogging. I will try to catch up once or twice a week, and I will be reading your blogs, but you won't see much of me for the next month. Actually, nobody (including the folks who share the farm here) will be seeing much of me for the next month. I'll pop in on the weekends, so I'm not abandoning the blog entirely!

In January, I'll be finished with cardiovascular surgery and only have an obstetrics rotation and about 8 months and then I'll graduate. It seems so far off at the moment, but everyone says that once you finish "hearts" you're on the downhill slope. I'll cling to that next month when the water gets rough! In the meantime, have fun with your Christmas preparations and I'll talk to you sometime next weekend!

Terri

The Ugly Gift Competition

Every year, Melissa and I have a little competition. We strive to find one another the UGLIEST gift possible. The loser of the competition has to display the gift in her home for the next year.

We're not looking for Spencer's-style gag gifts, either. Nor are we looking for homemade items that might not meet somebody's ridiculous idea of perfection - we love our handcrafters! We're really looking for serious items that paid designers designed ON PURPOSE for home decor, that just miss the mark. Or funny decor designed to be ugly. Or novelty items (like dead bugs in acrylic) that we can't imagine anyone over the age of ten actually wanting.

We have a budget of $10, because we have found over the years that it's relatively easy to find expensive "art" pieces that many of us would consider ugly, but it is somewhat more challenging to find a good contender on a budget. The item may be on sale or clearance, as long as you don't pay more than $10. This has always been a source of great fun and hilarity, and we use shopping trips together as opportunities to threaten one another with various items. We've even had coworkers get involved in the hunt before, so the fun isn't just for us.

The gifts are unveiled at our annual get-together (or mailed if we're not in close enough proximity for a get-together, as when we were both serving in the military) and famly members vote. The majority rules - the item voted ugliest is the winner, and the person who has been given that item has to display it.

We'll have to see how we handle the competition this year. The budget is really tight, so we may have to put it off by a year. I hate to do that, because it was always a much-anticipated part of the annual get-together, but we'll see. Maybe we can find an alternative solution!

Terri

Ramblings

This post doesn't really have a topic - I'm just writing random thoughts. I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving! We had a good meal but when we sat down to eat I realized I had forgotten to make mashed potatoes! Who forgets the mashed potatoes? But I did. There was plenty of food, and we had stuffing and sweet potatoes, but how on earth did I forget mashed potatoes?

The weather here is really weird sometimes. Last week it was icy and bitter and we had to bundle up in sweaters and such even in the house, and this week it is as calm and balmy as spring. Which stinks, because I can't enjoy the weather today - I have overnight call tonight so I have to go get some sleep. :(

Did anyone find any good Black Friday deals? We didn't go shopping. First, we're doing mostly handmade stuff this year, and second, I hate dealing with crowds. Third, I have to be up all night tonight so I wanted to sleep in, and then take a midmorning nap. I did look at the Amazon website but there wasn't anything I couldn't live without.

Okay, I'm off to take a nap (yes, it's a hard life!) - have a great day, everyone, no matter how you choose to spend it!

Terri

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a great holiday, everyone! Here's hoping that you have plenty of food and the company of your families and friends! For those of you with family members overseas, remember that we're thinking of you. My oldest son is in Korea and won't be home for the holidays this year, either. We miss him!

I'll take tomorrow off but should be back on Friday. See you then!

Terri

Yellepro

Waterst
Welsh
Sesate
Shrom
Worygo
Lingess
Ancoft
Slices

What do these words have in common? They're from all of your blogs - the word verifications! Sometimes they just strike me as funny, so I thought I'd write a few down. I know, silly, but sometimes you just need to be a little silly!

Terri

My New Favorite Blonde Joke

My uncle sent this one:

A blonde walks into a bank in New York City and asks for the loan officer. She says she's going to Europe on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5,000. The bank officer says the bank will need some kind of security for the loan, so the blonde hands over the keys to a new Mercedes Benz SL 500.

The car is parked on the street in front of the bank. She has the title, and everything checks out. The bank agrees to accept the car collateral for the loan. The bank's president and its officers all enjoy a good laugh at the blonde for using a $110,000 Benz as collateral against a $5,000 Loan.

An employee of the bank then proceeds to drive the Benz into the bank's underground garage and parks it there. Two weeks later, the blonde returns. She repays the $5,000 and the interest, which comes to $15.41.

The loan officer says, 'Miss, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a millionaire. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow $5,000?' The blonde replies, 'Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $15.41 and expect it to be there when I return?'

:)

Terri

Tending Fire

It has been very cold here all week. Yesterday the low temperature was 21 degrees. Brrr! Perfect fire weather, though, so I've built a fire in the fireplace every morning as soon as I get up.

And the fire needs to be watched until it's established. I have to sit and tend the fire. It isn't an unpleasant way to spend the first half-hour of a morning, sitting by the gradually warming fireplace with a cup of coffee, coaxing it to keep burning.

For us, though, the fire is a luxury and not a necessity. We have central heat which will make the house as warm as we like it (I try to exercise some self-discipline and keep it on 64 degrees F). We have an oven, and so we don't need the fire for cooking. In fact, if the fire simply refused to burn, I could give up and the only consequence would be that somebody would eventually have to clean the charred wood out of the fireplace.

Imagine getting up at 5 a.m. on a bitterly cold morning, and starting a fire to heat the house and cook breakfast. Imagine shivering in the cold as you wait for the temperamental logs to finally catch, and imagine having no firestarting accessories like we have today. You might have matches, or even (perhaps) a flint. Or, if you're lucky, there might be some coals left over from the night before, if you've banked the fire well enough. And if the fire doesn't start, you'll just be cold, and eat cold food. Or, if the cold is severe enough, you might die. Our forefathers (and foremothers) had a great deal of intestinal fortitude, I think!

Now I will admit that I have never started a fire out of coal, and coal was a popular fuel for at least part of our history. But I know that wood is temperamental, and I know that it takes a good hour for me to get an established fire that can just sit and burn without tending every few minutes. And I am very thankful for my modern conveniences - here's to heat and modern kitchens and firestarters! :)

If you're interested, the author of this article Build a Better Fire claims to have invented a more efficient way to use your fireplace. And now Melissa is here and we are going to enjoy the fire, so I will close this. Stay warm, everybody!

Terri

Mayonnaise on my Head

Yes, you read that right. I put a condiment on my head. On purpose. And I really loved the results! Let me explain.

This past week was my vacation. We couldn't afford to actually go anywhere because the budget's just too tight right now (and, yes, as Ron constantly reminds me, I CHOSE to go two years with no income, so it's my own fault) to make it work. So, I decided to use the week to get back to some basic self-care I'd been neglecting.

I've been exercising all week, eating healthy foods and giving myself home spa treatments - sugar scrubs, soaks, masks, etc... and every evening I relax by the fire with a small glass of red wine. Who needs a spa? :)

Anyway, I knew I wanted to do a hair treatment. My hair has a real tendency to be dry; it is also pretty thick, so I need a heavy-duty conditioner. That's where the mayonnaise comes in, and I found the idea here: Make a Condiment into a Conditioner. I used about 1/4 cup of mayonnaise and combed it through my hair. Then I wrapped my head in plastic wrap and then a warm towel. And I sat down to catch up on some blogs.

Forty minutes later (hey, you guys are an engaging read - what can I say?) I realized how much time had passed and decided that perhaps the mayo shouldn't become a permanent part of my hair. So, I showered and washed it off. It came out of my hair easily - I didn't have to use extra shampoo. I did use my normal hair conditioner after rinsing, just in case. But I shouldn't have worried. My hair - oh, my - it feels like silk and has a soft shine that looks like I had a salon treatment.

I was skeptical about trying it, but I am so pleased with the results that I may just make it a weekly thing! Mayonnaise is less expensive than even the drug store deep conditioners, and, trust me - I've tried almost all of those. So, if your hair is already suffering from winter dryness, the cure may be a few steps away - in your refrigerator!

Before I close this, let me tell you about yet another great giveaway - and this one's full of surprises! Check out Susie's blog here: Digging in the Dirt and sign up to win!

Terri

Giveaways and Pay it Forward Slots

Okay, I'm leaving two slots for Pay it Forward open, and if you are interested in that scroll down and post a comment - I've found a couple of neat crafts that are actually not outside of my ability levels, so you might be pleasantly surprised! And I found more cool giveaways - check it out!


First up is Jenny at Wonders of Whimsy - she has an altered art kit to give away. If you've ever wanted to try a new craft but NOT wanted to spend the money for the initial supplies, here's your chance! The little tool kit alone has applications for multiple crafts and projects around the house. While you're there, signing up to win, take a minute and look around - it's a great blog!



Second up is Trudy at Crows in the Attic Primitives - the name of this blog alone made me want to stop by and I wasn't disappointed! She's giving away a book from her Christmas reading collection, and who doesn't love a good holiday read? She'll let you pick as many titles as you like, and if you're the winner, one of those titles will be on its way to you in the mail!




Third - a stocking filler giveaway at From a Creative Heart - this blogger is from my neck of the woods - we're practically neighbors! The stocking fillers she's giving away include a candle, a cute little recipe box, a prayer journal, some melters, a rice bag, and some gift tags... really, a nice little assortment! Her post about gratitude is really inspiring, and she has some great things going on over there, so stop by, enter the giveaway and check it out!

There's not much going on on the farm front right now - just lots of little maintenance things until spring comes. I do need to clear out another garden bed - may get to that this weekend if the weather warms up a bit, but then again, I might just put it off. It isn't going anywhere!

Stay warm, everyone!

Terri

Pay it Forward

I love the concept of paying it forward. So, when I visited Threads of Friendship and saw the post about bloggers paying it forward, I knew I had to get involved. I was lucky enough to be one of the first 3 people to sign up there and now its my turn to do the same!

So, how does this work? Well, for the first 3 people who post a comment to this post, I will make you a handmade gift each. The rules are that you have to have a blog yourself, and be willing to pass the 'Pay It Forward' concept on. So you will then have to put it on your blog and make three gifts for other people. Let's spread some happiness and have some fun! The rules state that we have 365 days (ample time!) to make a gift in. I'm more than happy to send something internationally - so everyone can be involved!!

Won't this be fun? Although, here's my disclaimer, BEFORE you commit: I am not the most crafty person on the planet. In fact, I may be the least crafty person on the planet! I can promise you, though, that I won't send you anything I wouldn't be willing to give as a gift to a friend or family member, or willing to use myself. Fair enough?

Let the posting begin!

Terri

Blog - Jack - Austin Fun

This is hilarious! I took the Jane Austin Quiz on behalf of Terri to see how I read her.....I couldn't believe the result.....

Take the Quiz here!

I almost took the test again, changing the answers because I'm not sure that's her....
Then my conscience kicked in and I decided I must be fair or I'll feel guilty. Does this happen to you???? You really want to adjust reality to suit you, but your integrity gets in the way? I really envy people who can disregard their conscience and not even worry about it...

Anyway, I get to her site and what do my wondering eyes should appear???? I read Terri exactly the way she read herself. And even more amazing is that Terri read me the way I wanted to see myself, not the way I do....before taking the Quiz, I wanted to be Elizabeth Bennett, but my answers revealed I thought of myself as Elinor Dashwood of Sense and Sensibility.....Terri thinks of me as Elizabeth Bennet of Pride and Prejudice - perfect....I suppose that is really Elizabeth after all, she doesn't see herself as others do.

Command Performance

Okay, Melissa is playing today, and she said I had to go take the Jane Austen Quiz. So I did.

Take the Quiz here!

I'm Anne Elliot, and I'm ashamed to admit that I've never read "Persuausion" but I suppose I will have to do so now. Here's the description of Anne Elliot:

"You are Anne Elliot of Persuasion! Let's face it; you're easily persuaded, particularly when friends and relatives try to use "the Elliot way" against you. But this doesn't mean that you don't have conviction. Actually, your sense of duty is overwhelming. And though you won't stick your neck out too often, you have learned to speak up when it counts. To boot, you know how to handle sticky situations. You love deeply and constantly."

Now Melissa is going to take the quiz for me and post who she thinks I am. And I guess I am easily persuaded, because Melissa said to do this and I did it! :)

Terri

Gratitude And a Great Giveaway!!

I listen to a morning talk radio show on the way in to work, and the host encourages you to think of three things for which you are grateful every morning. It's good for me, because I am generally grumpy in the morning. Don't get me wrong - I love mornings. I just don't love them quite as much when I have to get out in the cold and dark and drive to school, where I work all day for free. So, his suggestion every morning puts me off thinking how grumpy I am, and puts me onto thinking about how fortunate I am.

And I am fortunate. I am healthy. I have a husband who loves me, and really dotes on me. I have children who are happy and healthy. I have a very good friend and sister-in-law next door. I have healthy pets. I live in a beautiful area of the country - I can see the Smokey Mountains off in the distance whenever I leave the house. Right now it is particularly beautiful because of the fall colors. I have the ability to further my education, and am not persecuted for doing so.

The great thing about it is that once you get started, the list expands - you find all sorts of things to be thankful for! So, can you list at least three things you're thankful for? I'll bet you can!

Terri

PS - Head on over to The Robin's Nest for a truly spectacular stocking giveaway filled with handmade goodies - you won't want to miss this one!

Five Things Terri Would Never Say

Hello Blog Friends,

Terri is on vacation today, most people on vacation do things for themselves, but Terri is up to her tricks and acting very clever....she hijacked my blog and said some pretty ridiculous things about me.... I am therefore, compelled to return the favor....Terri is often reluctant to talk about herself, so I will educate you on things she would never say...

1. Is that rigor mortis or algor mortis?

Terri would never say this because she is familiar with all types of mortis including brick....she's in love with nursing but also with rocks. I once jogged with Terri for over an hour discussing the properties of mortis to assist her with an upcoming test. She also sent me a book about making a mud house....see the two have nothing in common - you just have to follow along - nod and smile....

2. Do these colors go together?

Terri would never ask this because for some reason she thinks she has no color sense - but we all know better....her color combinations always seem to work - remember her color combination of peach and dark green?, which made my mother laugh and a customer take out their checkbook????

3. That looks way to hard, lets just buy one already made.

Terri is convinced we can not only do a project better but more economical - while sometimes this is the case it has not always been so. We once spent $50 on materials to make a $25 ornament ----we still have a ton of stuff and none of them turned out like the one the artist had for sale (the artist probably hated us for saying we could duplicate it....when I hear someone say this about my art - I just smile!)

4. Does this make me look fat?

Terri would never say this because she's tiny and cute and she knows I would hit her.

5. Let me throw that away.

Terri is the queen of recycle - not only her stuff - table scraps into chicken eggs, but other peoples hand offs. She has found the coolest stuff on Craigs List!

Have a great vacation Terri, you never have enough to do!!!!!!