Leftovers

I've been taking a break from the blogosphere lately for a few reasons... One, the reason I started blogging was to feel less alone while I was living abroad in Charlotte, and now that I'm home and near family I feel less so.  Two, not much has been going on other than general daily living in a typical New England town.  Three, I just didn't freakin' feel like it.  :-P

Maybe it's cuz I've been in general contact with all you readers.  Or maybe cuz I felt like being more private.  I apprecate the emails asking how I'm doing because the blog has been on pause- it means a lot.

So expect new posts, but maybe not as often as before.  Between facebook, email and this blog, my entire life is pretty much out there.  But it's still fun to chronicle happy events, from time to time.

So speaking of happy events, I haven't done much talking about this year's Thanksgiving weekend, which was fantastic.  In a sibling rebellion of sorts, my family surprised everyone (me especially) by descending upon my small apartment.  I had about 48 hours to organize, clean, and transform my small space into a holiday-worthy environment.  I was extremely busy, but I love hosting, and I was thrilled to pull out the good dishes for a change.  Everyone brought something.  The numbers broke down as follows:

Lbs of Turkey:  18.5
Jars of gravy: 4
Cans of cranberry:  3
Bottles of wine:  1
Bottles of beer: 6
Table:  1 Ikea workbench covered with a curtain
Seating:  4 chairs, 1 trunk and 1 ottoman = 7 people

Family really makes an apartment feel like home, which is a wonderful respite from it's typical hostel-type atmosphere.  It also forced me to decorate, which was wonderful.  I wish people had stayed longer, but I'll take what I can get.  :)

The next day I enjoyed the crazies of Black Friday, landing myself 3 sweaters for $50.  I've decided Black Friday is a Me-Holiday- I've usually figured out most gifts by that point.  I'm really thinking about getting a Macy's card for that extra 20% off.  Maybe next year.   

Friday I got to see my friend Bob at the Gulu Gulu Cafe in Salem, who is still splitting his time between working in South Carolina and visiting his family at home.  I hope he finds local work soon!

Saturday was spent with an old and wonderful friend, Kate, and her family.  It kicked off with one of my absolute FAVORITE things... Proper English tea at Mrs. Bridges Pantry in Woodstock, CT.  A small room with a dozen tables clustered together, a small fireplace, salmon-cucumber sandwiches, scones and clotted cream, people, clotted cream.  I haven't been so excited in years.  It was a truly nostalgic experience, reminding me of my year in the UK and my trip to Canterbury where I had my first real tea experience in the House of Agnes, where Chaucer wrote his Canterbury Tales.


They even had tea cozies!

But I digress. 

Kate looked GREAT.  And her two girls are precocious with such different personalities!  The most impressive moment was when Julia (18 months) looked at daddy and said "Potty".  And off they went, while I scooped my jaw off the floor.  Amazing.  After coloring, eating awesome fondue and putting the girls to bed (I got to put Julia to bed and we read together), we drank and laughed...which we don't do in person nearly often enough.



Lovely Kate!

  

Eric and Julia



3 yr old Caralyn with a chalk goatee

Truely a wonderful weekend with family and friends.  And now that I've finally thrown out the leftovers, I've been working furiously on Christmas.  The kissing ball is up, since I can't really justify a tree this year, and the wreath is on the door.  I was hoping to give folks mostly handmade items... we'll see how that works out.  In the meantime, here's a teaser of what I did last night... but looks may be deceiving!