This Perfectly Imperfect Life

in about 45 minutes, i'm off to st. catherine's thrift shop ~ one i've never been to before. i'm in search of christmas decorations! (and anything else that comes to mind when i see it!) outdoor and some indorr christmas dec's! thrift shopping for christmas dec's?! you say? in 2004 and 2005, when i was trying to rebuild my christmas decoration collection (that my ex stole/threw out after i kicked him to the curb), the thrift shops helped me tremndously and for little cost! (love that!) and you can find some really nice stuff, well worth the few dollars they charge for it! i'm not just talked christmas dec's here either! all over the house there are picture frames, candle holders, pictures and paintings, our spring through thanksgiving dishware set (8 full place settings ~ mikasa ~ for $5!!!), many mugs & glasses, pillows, throws, books, purses and jackets, not to mention other holidays besides christmas decorations, all from thrift shops! i...

to keep onions from being so potent that you tear up to the point you can't see while chopping, keep onions in the fridge! it cuts down on their potency and keeps them fresh longer! also, washing your hands immediately after chopping & handling onions does NOT get rid of their scent completely, especially on your finger tips! so, before washing, rinse your finger tips with white vinegar! then wash your hands as usual and the onion scent (as well as the white vinegar scent!) will be gone!

time for turkey soup! i planned ahead a bit when i saved 2 small soupd sized tupper wares of turkey broth & drippings on thanksgiving. i put them in the fridge and today, i skimmed the fat off that had risen and turned somehwhat solid on the tops and threw that out. (too much fat from chicken or turkey in home made soup can upset the stomach!) then i dumped the somewhat solid broth & drippings into a large pot on med/high heat, followed by 4 cups of water and a zip lock bag of turkey cuttings w/some bones from thanksgiving day. i opened and used a 1/2 bag of green giant frozen mixed veggies ~ which has way too much corn in it, so i dumped it out onto a paper plate and tried to seperate more of the peas, carrots and green beans from the corn before throwing the veggies into the pot as well. (i discarded the extra corn). then i drained and rinsed a can of del monte fresh cut diced potato's, threw them in and stirred. i'll let theat heat for a while before cutting ...

i broke away from the computer for a few minutes to see this from my bedroom window!

i started re-reading "the artists way" by julia cameron this past friday evening after having lunch that afternoon w/1 of my longtime best friends, "spirited singleton" where we discussed our very similiar writing struggles. i don't know what made me search for the book after my husband had fallen asleep ~ i was wide awake and a bit bored! there wasn't much on tv and even if there was, i couldn't turn the sound up very loud since vic was asleep next to me and i couldn't watch tv in the living room since my sister-in-law was out there sleeping on the pull out or watching the game show network before going to sleep! i remember noting in a sketch book @ 10:42pm that i had "that feeling" again ~ like i'm on the verge of something really good, even big ~ feeling inspired or creative or something". then i started reading and i noted the following also: "ya know what i hate?! intro's to books! everyone i read makes me think the ...

given all the decorations up around the neighborhood, i'm actually behind in the game! yesterday, i put up the lighted stuff in the front windows and some of the winter stuff (mainly snowmen & snow flakes) around the living room. but, i'm just not feeling it yet! usually, by this time i am & i'm itching to get all decorated for christmas ~ this year, not so much! maybe it's the weather! it's 61 degrees today!!!

i'm exhausted, stuffed & content! and no, i did not partake in 'black friday' shopping! i was asleep until 10am & not out of bed until 10:15am! i got together w/1 of my long time best friends, 'spirited-singleton' (see my links section for her blog!) for lunch and for tea here afterwards ~ it was sooooooooo good seeing her! (i've known her about 17 years though we've actually been friends & i've considered her one of my best for about 14 even w/losing tough for a time in that 14 years!) but, i digress for now and until tomorrow!