Wordless Wednesday: Why did I just buy all those toys?

The Meaning of Christmas

I love Christmas, you usually love Christmas, but lately you have been questioning the “true and ultimate meaning of Christmas”.  You know the meaning of Christmas.  You have seen the It’s Christmas Charlie Brown special no less than 163 times.  Our hero Chuck can’t get into the Christmas spirit and is a bit frustrated by the commercial take over of the holiday, but Linus’ soliloquy (memorized at the threat of violence) is probably the best excuse for a joyous season that anyone could come up with.  It came out in 1965; it is 46 year old.  You are still reading a blog post entitled “The True Meaning of Christmas.”  If a cartoon cannot settle this debate for you, I clearly will not.

I know the true meaning of Christmas

Giving the gift of 'No' for the Holidays

So many articles tell us women, and moms specifically that the only way not to be overwhelmed by demands on our time is to learn to say no. I used to think that I was good at this. I mean I have only ever been to one block club meeting and I will never have a good thank-you note record. Which, I have met with a certain level of acceptance.

I have also been enlightened to the fact that a ‘no’ to one thing is quite often a ‘yes’ to some thing else. Meaning that no being in the block club means that my Thursdays open and instead of pondering the moral fiber of each less than considerate dog owner, so I may focus on some other aspect of my life. It is what my economics professor called ‘opportunity cost’: its not just the hour of my life spent on dog poopy but also the hour lost that could have been spent on something else.

I prioritize, I decline, I trust that some else will organize the holiday cookie exchange this year and even if they do not do it well, Life. Will. Go. On.

I have not mastered the art of saying no. Skipping on the pooped lawn discussions are easy,

Best Banana Bread Ever

Best Banana Bread

Adapted from here: http://www.thefreshloaf.com/recipes/betterbananabread

Makes 1 huge loaf or 3 small loaves

Preheat the oven to 350.

In one bowl, combine:

6 tablespoons butter, melted
2 eggs
2 or 3 very ripe bananas
1 cup vanilla or plain yogurt
2/3 cup sugar

Use a potato masher, fork, or spoon to squish the banana and mix the ingredients together. It is alright for there to be small (1 centimeter) chunks of banana in the batter, but you want most of the banana to be reduced to mush.

In another bowl, combine:

1 1/2 cup all-purpose unbleached flour (better yet put 2Tbl of each of the following: soy flour, powdered milk and wheat germ, into the bottom of the cup measure and then fill with flour, your picky eater need never know)
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix until the ingredients are blended together.

If you like, stir in additional ingredients here, such as chopped walnuts or pecans, dried cherries or apricots, or chocolate chips. A handful (about a half a cup) is about right. Walnuts AND chocolate chips are my new favorite.

Pour the dough into greased baking pans and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Small loaves take around 30 minutes, a normal-sized loaf takes around 50 minutes.

Remove from the oven. This bread is great warm, but it is excellent cold too.

After they have cooled for 5 or 10 minutes the loaves can be removed from the pan to cool. Once they are cool they can be individually wrapped and frozen.

I'll post a picture if there's any left!

Kisha Lynn Patterson-Tanski

Sent from my iPhone

Acceptance

Acceptance

I will never be a good speller. Anyone who has known me long enough
to see any of my writing knows that I have never been and will likely
never be a good speller. I nearly had strait A's in 5th grade but I
got a D in spelling. With the aid of computers and a phalanx of
trusted editors I really try to produce readible prose, at least. But
I have accepted this about myself, you will just have to forgive me.

I don't send greeting cards. If you have gotten a hallmark from me
consider yourself in the lucky few. I really do mean well, and even
have a drawer full of blank, birthday, thank you and holiday cards. I
probably bought one for you, but as the apointed time slipped away,
and the event faded into the past, I just felt more and more guilty
about not sending it on time. Ultimately, I just decided to send it
next year because who wants a three month late birthday card anyway. I
do feel really bad about not sending thank you notes, because I do
really appreciate the gifts given to me and my family. Just so you
know I even addressed and stamped the ones for my wedding gifts,
however postage has gone up since then. Thankyou's are particularly
hard for me because they require a little hand writen note, and this
tends to reveal my spelling difficulty. I hereby accept this personal
failing and will stop waisting money on un-sent cards.

As much as I love art, and I live to make beautiful and useful things,
I will never pen a "kids craft" blog, nor pull-off a 100% handmade
Christmas. My craft drawers are full of felt and glitter and I have a
new sewing machine. But for each completed project there are ten half-
knit scarves, un-hemmed curtains, un-ironed iron on, patterns, fabric,
buttons, paper, string and even an embrotery hoop. Who am I kidding?
I do like to try these projects but I don't really have the free time
or attention to detail. I have accepted this about myself. I do still
like to do my little projects but from now on I will enjoy the tatting
away in it's own right because I may never have a whole doylie ever
anyway.

So I will accept these things about me, and stop feeling guilty about
them. If one birthday or hoiday you actually get a hand knitt scarf
with a personal hand written letter from me ... DO NOT send me a
thankyou note, it will just make me feel bad because I'll never sent
yours.

Love,
Imperfect Kisha

Kisha Lynn Patterson-Tanski
Sent from my iPhone