Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Keeping track

I was filling out the new calendar from the old calendar a couple of days ago (primarily birthdays) and I noticed all the additional stuff that had been written in...doctor's appointments, get-togethers with friends, vacations, and so on. I realized that i had probably forgotten a lot of details of those events that might be helpful for my occasional pastime of scrapbooking, which should be more fun because of the Sizzix die-cut machine I requested and got for Christmas.

Therefore, I will occasionally be recording the excruciating minutiae of my life, not because it's good reading, but I've discovered going over old blog entries also helps me remember things.

My first act will be to record what I can recall that I got for Christmas 2005: the aforementioned Sizzix, Eminem CD (Curtain Call), slippers,slipper socks, a Pilates ball and DVD, (and I also gave Ron one, which is OK because they come in sizes according to your height)(Ron); a crystal candy jar or vase (Princess House)(Jeff and Roni); Sweater with crocheted hem and neck (Jamie); Le Creuset ceramic baking pans and a silicone one, jewelry box, and holly chip and dip server (Jay and Shari); scrapbook stickers, bath gel, and a Linkity game (Joe and Julie); money (Mom) :-) ; a "popcorn" container filled with movie snacks (Bob and Sherry); bottle of wine and candy (Jodi and Karl).restaurant gift certificate (Kathy); and various gifts & hostess gifts from friends--pedometer, A Christmas Carol DVD, teacups and homemade tea mix, cinnamon-scented gingerbread man trivet.

We had the usual Christmas Eve open house. Cheese soup and Yule Log were the biggest hits made by my hands, Ron made the Gascony beef stew which I usually make (but his was awesome, baked in the cast iron pan in the oven the way it's supposed to be) and Jamie made a fabulous, two-tiered chocolate cake chocolate frosting, decorated with gumdrops, candy canes, and gumdrops. it was beautiful like the front of a magazine. Hopefully someone took pictures and will give me one.

Just like Josh takes lots of pictures of buildings with no people in them, I find myself increasingly traking or collecting pictures of food. Now if I can just keep photographing it and not eating it, I might be able to keep one of my New Year's resolutions.

4 comments:

Dana Watson said...

I am destined to be eternally sad that I never got to go to one of your Christmas parties. Pat assures me they are always quite the event.

Anonymous said...

Is there any chance of my getting the Gascony Beef Stew recipe mentioned? I had one from Ladies Home Journal, Xmas issue, either 1978, '79 or '80. Unfortunately, I disposed of the magazine without realizing I hadn't clipped the recipe. Tried getting it from Ladies Home Journal, but I never got a response. Would be eternally grateful! Stephanie Jacobs

Mary said...

Stephanie, Ladies' Home Journal is exactly where I got the recipe. I believe it was 1981, and it had a menu and recipes for a French Christmas buffet. I keep my Christmas recipes in a folder, but I can't find that folder right now. *slight panic* When I find the folder, I will put the recipe on my blog.

Mary said...

And Dana, if you ever return to this fair city and state and it happens to be Christmas Eve, you are always welcome at my party. (You are always welcome at my house any time, but I can only guarantee obscene quantities of food at Christmas time.)