Violet's Secret Garden

Yesterday was Peter's and my 5th anniversary. Yep, I don't regret marrying this man. He is sweet and loving and stable and sometimes the absent minded professor. I'm less gentle than say Rosemary West to Rev John Meredith, but he does not hold that against me (I hope). 

Due to the extreme generosity of my sister Treloar who babysat the kids, Peter and I got to go have an adult dinner at Blue C Sushi and then we went to the movies together for the first time since Ingrid was about 15 months old. We saw the Hunger Games (my 2nd time) We were joking that we didn't even remember what movie we saw the last time we got to go, though I do know that it was at the Crest theater and that Danielle and Eric watched her. I did look back in my journal and we saw The Dark Knight. We thought it was a Batman movie. 

Apparently the kids were awesome for my sister and went to bed without a hitch. Horray! 

Posted by Karen Backman at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We finally got the queen bed home from my mother in law's house. It only took about 2 months. First it was the rain, then the truck had a dead battery. I fixed the truck battery very easily and then it took until the weekend to do the deed. 

We got to go out to visit with people and have dinner while Megan watched the kids for us. I can't even express how appreciative I am that she can and will watch the kids for us. And they love her. 

We are going to go over with food to my mother in law's house for her birthday tomorrow. Apparently she's been telling Peter that she doesn't want to celebrate her birthday this year, but I think the boys have a different idea. Anyway, I thought if a good gift and need to head out of the house today to get it and run an errand. 

My sister Treloar and my closest in age cousin on my dad's side, Aurora are coming over for dinner tonight. I haven't seen Aurora in far too long. We're having tacos. 

I've been working on Spring cleaning the last couple of days. I got my bedroom cleaned up mostly. I need to put away laundry. While cleaning I found my favorite dress, which I thought got lost in the move and I danced with glee. 

Posted by Karen Backman at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My grand idea to have neighborhoods come over and string popcorn and/or cranberries never got further than here. 

I could blame my lack of good sleep, or Finn being sick, but really it's just me not doing the things I think that would be cool to do because it either is too much effort  or I don't make time for them. 

So let's see, what's been happinging. . . 

I had plans to go out with my husband that fell through because his mother was in the ER with chest pains. She's doing much better, it wasn't a heart attack, but rather inflamation of the sack either around her heart or her lungs. 

I met a bunch of the other parents at Ingrid's preschool and was informed that a little boy told his mother he was going to marry Ingrid. 

We got our Christmas tree at a u-cut place. It was fun. We were going to go get one from the forest service, but they said there was 3 feet of snow blocking the way to the cutting area. 

My sister and friend Megan are coming over on Saturday to make cookies and holiday treats.  I might try making small popcorn balls this year on my own as well. 

I did get some christmas shopping done. I have it pretty easy this year. We have spending limits and assigned giftees on my side and spending limits on Peter's side. 

Megan mentioned she read The Hunger Games a few times and since I got a Kindle Fire for my birthday and it comes with a month of Amazon Prime, I used the Amazon Library and got the book to read. I am really liking it so far. I mean it's a grim sort of dystopian fiction, but it's an engaging story. 

I'm still plugging away on A Breath of Snow and Ashes for the Ravelry swap that starts the first of the year. I've been asked to be the Murray Clan Chieftess and so I am. 

Posted by Karen Backman at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I have been having a really hard time keeping up with everything lately, even though I don'thave much going on.

We did host Thanksgiving dinner here yesterday for my in laws and it was nice and relaxed.  I didn't have to do the turkey or anything. Doing that made me want to host a housewarming party, but I'll probably suffuice to do a holiday party instead. 

In fact maybe asking the few neighborhood kids if they want to come over and string popcorn, cranberries and mabe make salt dough ornaments would be fun.  It might give Ingrid a good chance to hang out with the kids and let us get to know them. 

Having a more adult holiday party or New Year's party might be nice as well.

I had a huge brainstorm earlier today about a ton of stuff I wanted to write here. WOuldn't you know, since I didn't write down notes for my ideas or come write imediately, I've lost it. Maybe it'll come back to me, at least in part. 

On the reading front I'm tandem reading. I'm rereading A Breath of Snow and Ashes in order to be up on the events for the swap coming up, as well i'm reading the Frugal American Housewife. It's strange how I'm so drawn to do it from scratch old timey texts. I am amassing a collection of cast iron pots. and items that will work in all circumstances. 

Oh I remembered one of my ideas I was going to write about, hurrah! I came up what I think would be an awesome cooking show idea. You know how a lot of shows just focus on one meal, or a theme ingredient. Well I think it would be great to do a show that focuses on making all your meals for one day or even one week. People don't seem to be very good at knowing how to plan meals for a longer period of time. 

Posted by Karen Backman at 2:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I am really having a nice day so far except for the "get back into bed!" command issued to me when I got up this morning. 

My family made me cookies and coffee for breakfast and gave me very sweet cards and presents. I got chocolate and Lush products from Peter and Finn and Ingrid. Peter is giving me a Kindle Fire. 

I bought myself a trench coat. Not a super long one, but not one of the mini's either. I also got a couple pair of Addi Turbo Lace knitting needles with a gift certificate that my Sister-in-law got for me. 

I got the greatest cast iron dutch oven ever! It's Sur La Table enameled in a beautiful burgundy. I used it to make stew last night and it made the stew taste better! I'm anxiously awaiting my new apron so that I can be all Betty Crocker. I got a 3 slot buffet warmer from my mother-in-law and a tart pan from my sister and brother's mom and a lovely sweater and warm socks from my other sister. 

Birthday's aren't all about the gifts, but they certainly are nice. 

To top it all off, my sister Tre is coming over tonight to watch the kids for me while Peter and I got have dinner with Janusz (my birthday brother), Alex, and Megan. 

Since my sister is so kind to watch the kids, I was going to make one of her favorite foods for her and the kids for dinner, Quiche. 

Posted by Karen Backman at 9:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)