Middle of the week mess

My favorite reading chair in mid-week mess. Most weeks, I try to put back all the accumulated books I've taken out, but sometimes they just pile higher and higher to near-toppling point. Other than a yarn diet (which I will eventually explain), my only other resolution this year is one that I made and kept last year. And the year before that. To use every book I own. All craft books, cookbooks, homeschool books, reading books, etc. I thought maybe I'd reference my piles and what I've looked at this week thus far.

On the bottom left are kid type books on indoor and outdoor activities. I'm especially digging the new "Let's Go Outside!" book by Jennifer Ward on the top of the pile. And Ed Emberley's "Fingerprint Drawing Book" is excellent for rainy day fun.

On the bottom right and on the right arm are crafty books I'm going through for upcoming gifts for expectant loved ones as well as my own munchkins. I finally found a fabric to make my boys some reusable sandwich and snack saks with. Betz White's book "Sewing Green" suggests PUL but I'm going to try somethin' else... we'll see how that goes. And, if there's enough time, a purple gingham elephant from the Claire Garland book "Toys to Sew".

The entire top of the side table holds the cooking and baking books I've looked at, referenced or used this week. The Involtini from "Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen" came out tasty! The Irish Stew is currently on the stove from "The Irish Heritage Cookbook" and is always a hit in this house full of carrot and potato lovers. ... uumm, what else? Oh! Casatiello bread from Reinhart's "The Bread Baker's Apprentice", Cream Cheese Dough from Nancy Silverton's "Pastries from the La Brea Bakery", and hopefully tomorrow night, a Kougin-Amann from Gale Gand's "Butter Sugar Flour Eggs". Tonight I've had a hankering for Bialy's. so I'm reading up on those too. Yummy! Now I'm hungry!

Next week, more books and hopefully some food and craft photos as well.

What is on your bookshelf? What books never seem to stay put and wander around to your reading nooks and crannies?

Happy New Year!

Just a photo, not much writing tonight... I somehow badly sprained my wrist, so no crafting for me and the boys today. A bit of baking... brown sugar cookies and brioche cinnamon rolls.

Blog ideas are piling up in my head and on bits of paper, taking over my inspiration board. It feels like the right time to come back.

Halloween Done Up Good!

I'm just now thinking to post these!

One of the new tombstones this year

Dinner on Halloween:  turkey meatloaf with smashed potatoes

East side, during the day it's not too scary...

West side at night, complete with ghostie!

Re-opening soon!

I have been very humbled by your wonderful private and public comments about my wee blog and have decided to keep CelticMommy open!

But, I need to re-vamp it and change it up a bit.

So, this Sunday, I'll begin again. :-)

Thank you all for your loving support!

Hettie

Closing up shop

Hi everyone!

With my wee one (who is no longer wee-sized!) starting school next week, I'll be closing up CelticMommy. If you want any recipes or how-to documents, please copy or print them now as I'll be closing up this blog on Friday the 4th.

Thank you so much to everyone who has read and commented and inspired and enjoyed!!
Hettie

Summer fun at The Getty

( In the Family Room. Em-5, Dom-6, Vin-3, Ro-3)

Gathering sunscreen, snacks, camera, water & wee ones... do I have everything and everyone?
Picking up NaNa & PaPa fuel the excitement!
Where's the tram? Oooh, there's the tram, everyone pick a seat by the window!
Hello cars on the 405 freeway below... we see you as we climb climb climb in the tram to the tippity top. We're here! We're here!!! Where are we again Mommy?!
Down the winding walkway, following the babbling water to the Central Garden-- we find every color, count petals on flowers, ooh and ahh the hummingbird. Turning around, you can see where we've come from... the hills!! The grassy hills! Let's go roll down the garden hills!
Sculpture viewing? Check! Photography viewing? Check!! Impatience leads us to the Family Room where we can be loud and silly and hands-on.
Much time passes... we've made masks, recreated tube sculptures, read in a French bed room (the bed is the whole room!), recreated manuscripts and finally begun to slow down.
Back outside, we break for snacking and water garden viewing. A bit of a rest before the trip back down the tram.
A great day! A long day for the Mommies... boys nodding off as we wave goodbye.