Professional Bench Builder

Merry Christmas to me. I should have bought a sander a long time ago, but made do with borrowing one every time I needed one. So for Christmas my parents got me an electric sander and I love it. My present also came complete with a lot of lumber to build a bench I had been eyeing the plans for. Yeah, some assembly required. But the best part of the present was due to some changes in holiday plans instead of being able to go home my family came to see me the week before Christmas and my dad and I were able to build the bench together. Which was good because I found out I don't know a lot about bench building.
My little cousin was watching my dad sand as I told him that the sander was my Christmas present. My cousin asked me why my parents gave me such a dirty sander.

Ta Dah!

Festive Frankfurt

My mom and I went to the Frankfurt area to get in the spirit of Christmas by enjoying all the German Christmas markets. We had a great time eating our way through the markets. But next year we're going somewhere festively warm.
Chalk artist

The important thing about this picture is I'm holding some pastries that were so good we bought 3 more (mind you each one was the size of a good dinner plate) and carefully carried them home. And grudgingly shared with dad and Brandon.

The Forgotten Quilt

I barely had this quilt in my possession long enough to sew it, as I had to hurry and get it done before my friend's move back to the east coast. I finished it last September for for my quilting sensei's new little girl. It was a lot of pressure to make a quilt for the person who taught you everything you know. But I think it turned out rather well especially considering I made it in a record time of 3 days. It was a long 3 days. I should have her take all my quilt pictures, she makes my quilts look much better.

It was the first time I'd picked out the fabric from multiple quilting lines and matched them all on my own. Unfortunately I think this one turned out so well it gave me a false sense of confidence. Other projects have not gone so well.

Sometimes I take my work home

So another aspect of my hibernation from blogland and real life is that I hadn't been feeling very well the last few months. Not to panic, I'm doing better now, thanks to my fantastic doctor, and no thanks to my immune system. I couldn't say anything at the time, as I was trying to hide it all from my mom, and would have succeeded until my parents surprised me and showed up for Thanksgiving day. Being the good mom she is, she worries too much.

I was on some medications that required me to get IV infusions twice a day. I had the option to be in the hospital for a few weeks or learn to take care of it on my own. Obvious choice. So I came home with a PICC line, laymans terms: an IV that goes to the heart. I'd like to say this is just a bad picture of me, as it is, but it's really what I looked like for a few weeks if I wasn't at work. It was really hard to wrap my arm for a shower, and then shower one handed, and get ready one handed. Plus, trying to find an outfit that hid my bulging bicep but would also fit over it, and that still left me access to it. Plus I didn't feel really stellar. Too much effort. So I bought 5 seasons (no, not season 5) of "Scrubs" and laid up on the sofa.

It's not even that I'm behind

Lame internet + lame social calendar = neglected blog

The Age of "Auntie"

My mom had a few good friends growing up. They became our "Aunties Marsha, Lynette, and Patty." They always sent really good presents growing up. I've now entered the realm of being the "auntie" and I'm loving it! The most recent little one I've become auntie to is this little girl and I just couldn't love her any more than I do! I got to go to Arizona and spend an entire weekend just holding and loving her and it was the best weekend. Not to mention her parents are pretty good company as well. We watched a few good shows/movies, went to the botanical gardens, ate good food. But mostly just got to know this peanut. And she has to love me forever because she pee'd on me within minutes of meeting.

Mark Your Calendars

I'm not a runner. I had a brief stint in high school running long distance track. I was pretty good. Just ask Lacey Fortier--she never could beat me. Now I don't even like running but I like to think I would like it if I just did it more. I'll learn to love it, I'll have to. I signed up with some girls at work to do the Ragnar Relay next June here in Utah. I'm actually really excited. A little scared but excited. So I expect all of you to be there next June 17 or 18th. I'm flexible, you can choose which day. In the mean time you can find me running somewhere around town.