
Decorating at Yvonne's apartment, where we tried out a few things before we really got going. At first we loomed in despair at our failed Target decorations, but we figured something out, and although it's not exactly what we expected, it's just enough that it feels good in here. I have a stock of decorations from my grandmother that are in storage on the east coast. Hopefully next year I'll be able to fill my house with all the trimmings that make this time of year feel so good. From my great grandmother's ceramics, to my nan's garland; that vision of Christmas is just right.

A great place for golden garland.

Refrigerator Refacing

Remember when I said she went to see Lionel Richie a week or so ago. Well tis proof.

Grating potatoes for latkes that my great grandparents would be really proud of. Making potato pancakes with Yvonne was a really great way for me to remember how special the memories that I have with my family are.

MMmm. My grandmother would say the same thing.

Since I grew up with my grandparents I was raised on all sorts of culinary traditions that my friends couldn't even fathom. Here Yvonne learns the true meaning of home- made while she smooshes apples through a wire sieve. Mmmm. Ms. Motts, eat your heart out.
Oh just knitting with Brian and Yvonne on a Saturday night.
Finishing up a stellar little box with accordion awesomeness.

Craft Safety 101

Oh my. Tis the season to get down with serious domestic duties.

Hit a Grand Slam, knock it out of the park, hole in one....all of that.
Worker Girl, week two, Complete.

One night a few of us ended up staying at the office a little late, when a little sing-a-long broke out. Actually, just two colleagues sang, but it was really fun, and sweet. This day, it felt really good to be working in America again.

and I saw mommy kissing santa clause...

My laoban.

More singing at a cocktail party. So sweet.

Yvonne's Christmas Dinner was really sophisticated.
Mmmm, an amazing array of starters. Cheese, salmon, salads, figs, mmmm.
\
Sitting down to eat an amazing dish.

Ha, look how adorable they are... Yvonne with Brian, Kristin( bobble head?) with Mark.
Brian trying, ineffectively, to get away from the camera. I recall an entire dinner table shouting at him to get out from under the table.
Yvonne is lucky to work with really fun people.

This dish was a surprise called Vegetarian with Love. Mmm. So delicious. A big wonderful roasted butternut squash with 3 different mushrooms all slopping around in an amazing sauce, some greens, and mmm so good.

The following night. Yvonne made dinner. Mac and Cheese, and Crackers.
Almost as good as the butternut squash from the night before, especially with SOY SAUCE. Erin swears that the best accompaniment for Mac and Cheese is bread crumbs, but soy sauce has always been my favorite.

Wild about ribbon








Girl, you know you look good.
When it's cold in LA, there's only one thing to do to stay warm. It starts with reading an awesome book cover to cover in a few hours, accompanied by periodic breaks for snacks, pigtails, dancing, laughing with my room mate, and then of course, out comes the camera and guitar.

It's not that often that a recommended book actually works out. After I went to yoga this morning, I needed to go to the library. By the time I walked out I couldn't stop reading, and a few hours later, the little sucker took me completely.
see you ny style, really soon.