Jane: Now a Facebook user

So yesterday, I started a project I had on my list for Xmas break: set up a Facebook account.

Although most people just think of it as socializing, Facebook is so much part of the online writing world--especially for those who need to know about guerilla publicity and public relations--that I figure I better figure out how it works! (I teach an upper-level writing workshop class that lots of PR majors take.)

When I got to my new Facebook page, it feels like I'm stepping into a lively party, populated by my friends. Some of those friends are people I haven't seen or heard from in years, some live far away. It's amazing to see them all in one place.

Like a party, it's loud. That's the only way I can describe it. Everyone's talking at once, and about all different things. I overhear conversations my friends are having with other people, and some people try talking to me amidst the hubbub. Some people don't seem to care if anyone's listening, some seem to need a response, others seem to be asking for a response from me in particular!

It's exhilarating. But it seems exhausting, too, like many big parties are. You have to be in the mood for it.

So I don't think facebook is going to replace blogging for me. I like the quiet of blogging, the time to think, the time to formulate some ideas and maybe come back to them. I like reading the blogs and long e-mail messages that my friends write, too--it's kind of like having a quiet one-on-one conversation with them. Actually, I am the sort who likes quiet one-on-one conversations more than parties!

Still, I'll check into the FB party now and then. And if you're there, stop by and say "hi." Or, as they say, "friend" me!

Jane: Xmas Amigurumi

Did you know Santa made amigurumi? These appeared in my boys' stockings on Xmas morning :-)

You might recognize the 1-up mushroom from Robbie's earlier post. And Eli kept saying this fall that he wanted a baby raccoon as a pet, so that's probably why that little fellow appeared in his stocking.

Jane: Fleece Mitts Instructions

After I sent those crocheted mitts to my sister-in-law (btw, the pattern's in Fall 2009 Interweave Crochet, and the yarn is a Japanese silk/wool blend), I heard that my niece Anna always has cold hands and was eyeing them covetously :-) So I decided to send her and her sister Maggie a couple pairs of fleece mitts. They take practically no time at all to make, and I love the ones I made for myself.

And in case Anna and Maggie would like to make a pair--or anyone else, for that matter--here are the instructions.

Materials:
scrap of fleece--at least 9"x20" or 18"x10." If you buy fleece you can get by with 1/4 or 1/3 yard.
1/4 inch elastic

Tools:
Sewing machine
scissors or rotary cutter, ruler, and mat

Begin by cutting out two rectangles of fleece, 9"x10."

Sew these rectangles into tubes the long way, sewing along the 10" side.
Shape them by trimming off a triangle at the top. Measure down 2" on the side without the seam to find the angle.

Cut two pieces of elastic 5 1/2" long. Measure 2" up along the seamed side and pin one end there. Then pin the other end of the elastic to the top of the seam. It won't be long enough!

Sew the elastic along the seam with a zigzag stitch, stretching the elastic so it fits.

It might help to have a friend stretch the elastic while you put in some pins along the way first.

Lay out the gloves, with the elastics to the outside. Next, cut the pinky slits about 1/2" from the top right next to the elastic.

Trim off the pointy tops above the elastic.

Turn inside out and put them on! Your pinky goes through the slit on the bottom of the mitt.

You can fold up the cuffs if they are too long, or tuck them into your sweater or shirt.

Hey, don't forget to tidy up your workspace!

A Funny Christmas Eve Story . . .

Last night, Bruce and I ushered at the Christmas Eve service. Robbie and Eli helped for a while, then retired to the couch outside the sanctuary, where they usually hang out.

The sermon was Pastor Paul, dressed as a 1st century shepherd who was looking for a lost goat, all the while telling us about the Good Shepherd calling to his sheep by name. "He knows your name and he's calling you!" he said.

At the end, he "found" the goat--and brought a real goat into the sanctuary on a leash! She was very well-behaved, but someone needed to take care of her while Pastor Paul changed back into his civvies . . . I saw him hand off the goat-on-a-leash to Robbie! The boys took charge of the goat, walking her around outside while we finished the service, keeping her from eating the poinsettias inside, and holding her while the children petted her on their way out of church. They enjoyed her company much better than sitting in church.

We'll always remember this Christmas Eve as the goat Christmas eve!

A merry and memorable Christmas to all!

Jane, Robbie, and Eli: Cookies

We made some unusual cookies yesterday: candy cane cookies.

The dough was pretty much butter and sugar with some flour and vanilla, too. We rolled the dough out into snakes, like play-doh. Then we twisted them into candy canes and sprinkled with some crushed REAL candy canes.

We ran into a problem when the dough kept getting sticky. Robbie had a solution to this problem: we put the bowl of dough into a pan with snow in it, and put an ice pack on top of the dough. This kept the dough cool so it didn't get melty and sticky. We also put ice packs on the granite countertops to keep them cool, too.

The cookies are great!

Jane: Handmade gifts . . .

One nice thing about being good with yarn or a sewing machine is that you can create one-of-a-kind gifts for people at times like birthdays or Christmas. This used to be especially essential for me--at times when I didn't have much disposable income for presents. Instead of going shopping and feeling sad because I couldn't afford to buy friends and family the gifts they deserved, I could stay home and create gifts--and usually creating gifts is less expensive than buying!

When I was a girl, I remember working for a year on a crocheted scarf for my grandmother (who taught me to crochet). I felt so proud when I gave her that gift! And I remember other hand-made gifts, too--embroidered pictures for grandmothers, Christmas doodads for mom and dad, etc.

Money was tight when the boys were babies, too. I remember using nap time (ah nap time! How I miss it!) to create a flock of fleece vests for my family! I found it relaxing to go downstairs and sew in peace and quiet while the boys slept.

I guess I still enjoy the creative process of making gifts . . . I still do it every year, even though money is no longer tight!

Here are a couple of gifts I've created recently. I'll share more later . . . :-)
Jigglypuff was for my niece Maggie, who loves video games.
These handwarmers were for my sister-in-law--my brother keeps the house rather cold :-)

I'll share more photos later!

Robbie: My mom is a N00B

I was playing Pictionary with my mom and brother and I drew this picture for 7UP.

For all of you other N00Bs out there, #00FF00 is the hexadecimal color coding for green and green mushrooms in Super Mario Bros. give you a "1up" (extra life) so there are 7 so that means that you get 7*1up or 7UP (the soda bottle was added so that my N00bish mom could figure it out.

anyway... until something better comes by (acekard 2i) Bobbert out.