First Snow at Hampden Place

And not a photo to show for it! My camera battery is recharging. But, glancing out the window, I suspect there will still be stuff on the ground tomorrow morning for a bit of a photo shoot!

It's pretty!

Although, I did have a bit of panic when I had to go around the block tonight to find a parking spot. There are streets designated as "snow emergency routes" here that means you can't park on them if it's snowed. They plow those so emergency vehicles can get around. Fortunately, my street isn't one of them, but displaced parkers from elsewhere have come up the hill, it seems!

After a tour around the block (none of the cross streets were salted or plowed, I might note), I found a spot right across the street where someone had just left. Yay!

In other news, I announce my retirement from knitting for others. Sort of. I'm going to knit a scarf for Jose because a) he asked a while ago and ordered the yarn, and 2) he's so appreciative. But no knitting for others! None! :) Especially not for those who come to me today because it snowed to ask me to drop everything to knit a hat for them, offering to bribe me to stop knitting my Xmas gifts just so they can cover their head.

I mean, really? And don't try to flatter me that you've come to ask since I'm the "best" knitter in the office when you've probably never really seen anything I've ever knit before. Srsly. No.

The Adorable Neti

I love my little Neti pot. It looks like this one:



I bought it after catching an episode of Martha wherein she has someone demonstrate it live. Looks hilarious! But I always wanted to try one, and this video definitely encouraged me to give it a go.

Let me tell you what: whenever I don't use it at the first signs of impending colds/allergy attacks, they knock me down for several days. Since I've started using the thing, I'm usually back on my feet in a day. Mind you, I still feel somewhat meh, and I might sound horrible, but I feel better.

Any time I mention it and my listener says, "Oh, but I do use my Neti pot!" and they're sick for days, I get the feeling that perhaps they are using it as a paperweight.

Yesterday, I commented to my co-worker Eric that they may be addictive. I've caught the local plague, and have been using the Neti pot every morning. I don't think you're supposed to use it multiple times a day, but boy, I sure want to!

If you've never used one, seriously, it's the best thing since brushing teeth in terms of hygiene!

Getting High!

I had a social weekend! Kicked off Friday night for Anna's Cheeeeeesecake Factory dinner, where I very wisely (and frugally) chose to have only cheesecake. As it turned out, one piece of cheesecake was almost too much, but I persevered and finished it all. Yay!

Saturday, I baked cookies. Not as many as I would have liked, but I did try out a new-to-me recipe called Coconut Crispies that is essentially a shortbread cookie with coconut (surprising, I know). You have to make these guys thin, though, or they might hurt. They are very crispy! I had a couple for breakfast this morning and sighed happily, for they are also very buttery. I love butter!

Also made some ginger and brown sugar shortbread. Meant do do Russian tea cookies, but didn't feel up for it as I had to get to Zeb and Helen's for their annual cookie baking and champagne party.

I skipped it last year due to a snowstorm; this year, it was cold and bright, and I am within walking distance. Brr! Lovely, brisk walk! Lots of cookies, as there had been baking all afternoon before I showed up. Sam L had made good use of an item I'd recommended to him a while back: ninjabread men cookie cutters. They were adorable!

Then Sam drove me home and helped me schlep the box with my headboard up the stairs. He offered to stick around and help me assemble it, but I declined the offer. I knew that Rex would help me on Sunday, so I was all set!

Rex, you may recall, is my Hitachi power drill. =)

In any event, Rex and I spent this morning together putting together my bed frame. I have always wanted this particular one; it matches my bureau. And, since it's a platform bed, I don't need a box spring. Handy that, since my old box spring is gathering dust in the Cat Room since it doesn't fit up the stairs.

This bed is really high. When I dangle my feet over the edge, I don't touch the floor. It's higher than my end table. I had to switch around what table I have my alarm clock on as I couldn't see it on the lower table.

I only hope that I remember in the morning that I'm now something like three feet above the floor and not just a mattress.