Finally Something Garden Oriented

Ok, not really, but it's the best I can do right now.

For Christmas, my sister-in-law always makes chili. Not your standard Christmas fare, but having just glutted ourselves on Thanksgiving, chili is a wonderful alternative on a cold evening, even better so this year because it was snowing. She always makes two pots because my other sister-in-law doesn't eat red meat, but this year instead of a standard red chili with turkey, she made a white chili with chicken.

I couldn't wait to make it again, so last night we made the chicken chili but with the salsa I made from the garden - hence the gardenesque quality behind this post.
It was crazy good and I can't wait to try it again.

Kids and I have been enjoying our vacation, especially when I realize they've gotten too quiet, go to find them, and discover this:

They were hunkered down in the boy's room reading books for over an hour. The boy just got a new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book today and was engrossed. The girl pretended to read The Pigeon Wants a Puppy. Seriously, if you know kids, you need to find the pigeon books or anything, for that matter, by Mo Willems. By far, he's the kids' favorite author. We love the books also. Also, if I could draw your attention to the picture on the boy's wall of the train...my dad drew that. It's beyond fantastic, isn't it.

The day-o-reading as the boy put it continued after the man got home. This picture was taken on the cell phone and it wouldn't let me rotate it, but you get the idea.

Two kids reading (well, one pretending to) and I couldn't be happier. Gave me the chance today to finish reading Pope Joan. It was a very good read and well worth it. Highly recommended.

The morning comes early, or rather earlier for me recently than the kids as they're sleeping a bit later now that it's vacation time. Sweet semi-gardening dreams.

Follow up to the Missing Reindeer Story

The other day I showed you the reason dogs attack their owners.
Yesterday, Gibson took his revenge on the small.

No, actually, he was trying to protect the boy and skidded to a stop before he touched him, but it made for a good picture. He did not like it when the kids would lay down in the snow and would prance around them trying to get them to get up. That was, until he saw a kid down the road on a sled which then took precedence.

Not Since the 1880's Part II

If you missed yesterday's post, not since the 1880's has the Atlanta area seen snow on Christmas. This snow started Christmas day around 3:00 and we've been stuck under one snow cell that hasn't moved a lick since. It's still only a light covering, only an inch or two, but for us around here, this is big-time, so just hang with me here. No snickering, Toni. ;)

Here's the same picture of the house from yesterday with sunlight.
Loved this little snow covered bird nest.

Who can resist a snowy mailbox? Not me!

Ah, the obligatory snowy garden shot. Toni...I heard you. You snorted when you laughed. You know you did.

BUT! Before it all began, sometime on the afternoon of December 24 in Winder, GA, a reindeer was spotted shirking his duties:

If you find him, please report him to the authorities. Or at least bring him home. He's a bit pathetic looking.

Hope everyone had a safe holiday.

The morning comes early. Time to start training your body to stay up late for New Year's!

Not Since the 1880's

Never since the 1880's has the Atlanta area seen snow accumulation on Christmas.....

until tonight.

Bad pictures, great story. I'll have better pictures tomorrow. Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

The morning comes early. And it will be a white one, here.

Happy Holidays!

Seeds are ordered and in and the garden is almost planned. Well, as much of a plan as I'll stick to, anyway I suppose.

If you're traveling, stay safe. If you're staying home, keep warm. We're expected to see flurries here tomorrow evening. It's unheard of. We'll see if it really happens.

Happy Holidays, y'all.

Again, I Must Ask...What Garden?

Maybe it's just because it's the end of the semester. Maybe it's that my attention has been focused on the keychains. Maybe it's because I'm obsessed with my new NookColor. Maybe it's the inhumane and unAmerican cold weather we're experiencing; well, it's certainly the cold, but with everything else accounted for, I really need to get myself out to the garden and pick whatever is pickable and clean up what's not.

I'm looking back at my posts from last year and by this time I was chomping at the bit to order my seeds and this year I haven't even made a garden plan let alone shopped for seeds. It's on my list to do today, however. Maybe. ;)

What I can be grateful for is my girlfriend giving me some of her pesto, revitalizing my love and dependency on the stuff. She's such an enabler.
However, it's with much gratitude that I do say that most of my "alone time" this week has been spent making keychains! This weekend alone, I processed orders for 25 keychains which just made me so happy. The orders included this one for which all of the keychains are being used as teacher/Sunday school teacher gifts. The leopard print was free with her order of 5+.

This one below was fun to make. She needed a keychain for a girl whose cheer leading squad was pink and black, so I layered the black megaphones on the hot pink ribbon. It's so cute. The GT fob was hers free with her order of 5+.

Lastly, this one is going to Florida. She requested a Mickey Mouse ribbon, of which I still have some left. The layered ribbons all corresponded to school colors for her to use as gifts.

I couldn't be happier with how the Keychains for a Cause has been received. I calculated last night that we had done over $1,400 in keychain sales since July. Not too shabby, my friends!

The morning comes early. Sweet gardening dreams.

"You're the BEST Mommy." Darn right I am.

I'm just loving that we have to change the clocks in the winter.

It's pitch dark by 6:00 PM here and the kids think I'm the best mommy in the world and that they're getting away with something when I usher them to bed at 7:15 PM.

I don't plan on disabusing them of their opinions any time soon. ;)

But, spring's really going to stink.

Oh, can you believe seed catalogs are here already!? By this time last year I had already put in and received all of my ordered seeds. I'm falling behind this year. Better get on it!