Soledad's Journal

Happy Birthday, dear curiouswombat!

I hope it was a great one, with good food, family, friends and lots of love and joy.

Here, have some virtual calories that won't ruin your girlish figure! I hope you like mango cake.



Love, Soledad

Today, I mean. Not that I'd have been exceptionally lazy - aside from the two short naps I simply had to take - but all activities of the day were for my own delight. Lots of me-time, which doesn't happen too frequently.

In the morning, I gave the rag doll a try. I've sewn the body together, cut out the various parts for the head and stitched on the front part of the hair. The paper patterns I've conjured up from the scratch worked well enough; there are a few small details I'll need to modify for the next time (and there definitely will be a next time - three more baby girls under the age of a year that need something to cuddle), but all in all I'll be able to put the doll together without great difficulties. Aside from the shoes, that is; I still don't completely understand how those will come together. I'll have to watch the video for another twelve or so times. *g*

I didn't have to cook together - long live the leftovers! After lunch (and some crap telly) I turned my attention to writing and actually managed to write several pages, moving the plot of EMV III a bit forward. The fact that I had to consult the Klingon dictionary (the printed, Marc Orkrand version it, also the canon one) slowed down the progress quite a bit, but in the end I've managed to bring to paper about 90% of the scene, so I'm well content.

My oldest cousin called to (belatedly) congratulate us to our name day (Mum and I happen to have the same given name), and then I talked to H. and her son (the IT expert) via phone. H's son and family might visit us eventually; I'll have to write down all my questions (or at least those I remember when someone with knowledge comes my way) to be prepared.

After family time I took another nap, so with the two naps and the previous somewhat short night I almost got together 8 hours of sleep... in three different rates, but still. An old hag like me needs her beauty sleep, even though the "beauty" part of it doesn't really work. *g*

... was finally well and truly lazy. We got up an hour later than we usual do because Mum attended to midnight Mass via telly, so we got to bed even later than on a regular day, and from that on we didn't really do much. Well, I rearranged the remaining cookies and freed up five tin boxes that are now airing in the kitchen, and Mum insisted on washing up a few tea cups that usually just stand on top of the fridge, but other than that we were just... lazy. Ate leftovers, took naps (there was basically nothing on the telly), I solved some crossword puzzles and even wrote a bit. After lunch we took out the rubbish and Mum did some cardio exercises (= climbed some steps), but that was basically all.

We really didn't miss the big family events a decade or two ago when we had to spend hours upon hours in the house of one of my cousins that could only be reached by car (which we never had, so we were forced to wait until someone declared themselves to take us home). Sometimes we both complain a bit about our twosome loneliness, but the honest truth is, we like our Christmas quiet and peaceful.

Still no crafting; I think I've run out of steam right before Christmas and actually like the fact that I have no projects in the making at all. Even though I know what I'll do next: mend one of our decorative pillow cases that's about to fall apart and give these rag dolls a try - with small modifications. I certainly won't make them such square faces, and I won't do anything by gluing. Small children can easily remove glued parts and swallow them; it's better to sew anything on firmly.

But that's all in the (hopefully not too far) future. Right now, I enjoy being just lazy. I'm so ridiculously tired all the time; presumably the stress of the most recent month or two is getting to me belatedly. But that's okay. I don't mind lazing around a bit - as much as one can do that while being a full-time caregiver.

Another semi-lazy day. The morning was a bit busy, starting with Mum's weekly shower and continuing with sorting out seven (!) drawers and throwing away a great deal of junk; a job that had been long overdue but got postponed because of more urgent things to do. At least I managed to free up one small drawer where I've squeezed in several boxes of lolly sticks and pegs and other wooden items for later crafty purposes. I just hope I won't forget where I have put them - that's happened frequently in the past.

After a late breakfast and some telly-watching I took a nice, long nap. Then I did some cooking; fortunately, Topfenknödel are neither complicated nor time-consuming to make. After lunch we watched some more telly, then went for a bit of exercise: Mum wanted to climb some steps to keep her leg muscles from athropying due to the lack of enough movement.

We came back just in time for Mum's friends to call her on the phone; me, I did some fanfic readings on Methuselah-the-laptop who can no longer connect to the internet but serves just fine as a reading tool due to its nice, large screen; plus, I can lie down on my front to use it and so take my still considerable weight off my poor feet.

In the middle of some "Houston Kinghts" fanfic (anybody still remember that series? I saw it on Hungarian telly and loved it once) my friend Evie called, and we made a deal that she'll come and visit us on Boxing Day. Now we have to come up with a decent idea for a gift, since she's also having her birthday and her name day tomorrow, and while I made a large box of cookies for her, that alone wouldn't do. Decisions, decisions.

I'm still on crafting break, although the real purpose of it - to do some decent writing - still hasn't been fulfilled. But I'm not giving up. There's still a whole week left of this year, I might find time for writing yet. *fingers crossed*

Happy Solstice to all of you who are celebrating it!

I've decorated and put up the artificial monstrosity otherwise known as our Christmas tree today. It isn't custom in our family to do so before Christmas Eve, but I didn't want to be dead on my feet on that day, so I thought a couple of days earlier won't be such a breach in the centuries-old tradition. I've managed to put away the box with my best felt ornaments so well that I didn't find them, but I think the rest looks good as well. See for yourself:



Everything save for the small papermaché bird sitting in its nest is handmade by yours truly. Mum gave her approval, so I think we're all set.

Other than that, we did another batch of laundry today, and Mum insisted on putting fresh doilies everywhere in the living room, so the "lazing until Christmas" part of the programme got postponed once again. I think I can strike it off my list entirely. *sigh*

At least I didn't have to cook today: we had leftover soup and leftover Zwiebelkuchen, and we've generously sampled my cookies for dessert. Talk about small blessing. After having put away the boxes, I fell asleep for an hour and a half, and am planning to type up some already written stuff, so that I can start posting the new EMV story in January.

The non-resting tendency continues...

In the morning, I took down the dried washing, then packed for tomorrow's cleaning frenzy. Our trip to the corner café got delayed because of the unpleasant weather.

In the afternoon Elise came to fetch her share of biscuits and the finished Christmas book. She was very happy with both, so I'm happy, too. My attempt to make a video failed due to the fact that I didn't have an extra hand to turn the pages. Ah, well, at least I do have a vague idea how it works.

It will be a (relatively) early night because our cleaning lady comes early in the morning and has been very punctual so far. There is never enough sleep. *sigh*

Another day on which I was not being lazy. Surprise, surprise - NOT!

In the morning, I fetched Mum's medicine from the pharmacy. Then I visited my friend and ex-colleague, Ilonka, and delivered her share of cookies, a duck plushie and Mr. Meece for her grandchildren.

After that, I went to one of the Christmas fairs and took a lot of photos for Mum who could not come with me.
These were the best parts. I also bought two chimney cakes, one with vanilla flavour and one with cinnamon. We ate the cinnamon one for lunch, with some eggnog, the three candles lit on the Advent wreath and Christmas music playing, and pretended that she was on the fair, too. *g*

I took a nap and watched some telly afterwards, and then my friend Eenie came over for a visit. We chatted a lot, and she introduced me to Duolingo. If I manage to get my head around the technicalities, I might learn French, after all.

I also delivered to our neighbours their share of cookies. I think I could make a convincing Mrs Santa.

How is it the 3rd Sunday of Advent already? It's insane! But I've finally written all my Christmas cards and readied them for the big journey on which they'll start tomorrow. So I'll ask the following lovely ladies to watch their post boxes and drop me a line, should their card arrive somewhen before next Christmas:

- meathiel
- chocolate_frapp
- curiouswombat
- adafrog
- mirasaui
- aeris444
- badly_knitted
- the_wild_iris
- akane42me
- noadvertising
- elwenlj

Should I have agreed with anyone else to exchange Christmas cards with and forgotten to add the to list, please, say so. I have enough cards left, and since they'll be late anyway it won't count if I posted them later in the week.

Originally I wanted to start putting away all the crafty things and clean up the mess in the study/workroom today, but instead I spent the morning with creating Mr. Meece.

Meet Mr. Meece!. Isn't it amazing what one can do inspired by discarded shoulder pads? Mr. Meece is actually a hand puppet (if said hand is rather small), and will serve well for the two-year-old grandson of my friend Ilonka.

Not much else got done today. I'm still deadly tired from the previous two weeks, and writing the cards ate half the afternoon, so everything else got postponed. More so as we had laundry day and I had to improvise a quick lunch, too. Later on H. called, and I listened to her for a good twenty minutes, so that took care of the rest of the day.

First and foremost: the picture I've promised. Here I am, with this year's spread in my booth:



Superstitious people say Friday 19th is an unlucky day. Fortunately, it wasn't true for me today - unless getting up an hour earlier than usual counts.*g*

In the morning I went to the hairdresser's because I looked like an agitated hedgehog with too long thorns (is that what it's called concerning a hedgehog?). The weather was nice, dry and not too cold, so I didn't have to ruin my new hairdo by wearing a hat. Then I visited the craft shop, where I didn't find anything worth buying (definitely a lucky thing; I've got too much stuff already), but in the Müller drugstore the quality chocolate Santas were offered 20-50% cheaper, now that St. Nicholas's Day is over. We didn't really need more chocolate, either, but there were two new designs, a Lindt one and a Milka one, that we never had before, and I got them 40% cheaper each, so I decided that we do need them, after all. Mum actually approved because she found them very cute.

We then ate leftovers (postponing the carrot soup I made until tomorrow), watched some telly, and then my friend Evie called and we talked on the phone for about an hour. After that, "The Repair Shop" started, which we watched again, had a light supper, and now the day is almost over. Again. I can't understand why time seems to fly by so much faster now that I'm old.

Thanks to:
meathiel
the_wild_iris and
noadvertising
for the beautiful Christmas cards. Mine will be sent on their way on Monday; I have to select the best ones from the remaining embroidered cards (it turns out I have sold 11 of them, after all), prepare the envelopes and go to the post, but I'll do it on Monday, I swear. If we're lucky they'll reach the recipients around Easter. *g*

I've packed my last surprise gift box and finished my last Christmas card. I hoped to make a round number - that would have been 40 - but I seem to have lost motivation to make a mad dash one day before the fair. So, it's 39 cards; I'm sure noadvertising will approve. *g*

For a late lunch (Mum had a visit from the hairdresser) I made apple betty, since we had apples and rolls that needed to be used up. For the rest of the afternoon, I was basically sleeping. I must have been more worn out than I had thought.

Mum, all prettied up: