Count Down: Just About Two Weeks to Go!

These are Christmas colors aren't they?  Have a great weekend all you shoppers, bakers, and wrappers!

This Would Be A Longer Post........

If I weren't madly trying to get Christmas cards out!

Like the pic?  I found it via Delphine at ParadisExpress.  (Photo by BNPS - Bournemouth News and Picture Service - who knew?)  Do you have a tree yet?

Corner View - Youer than You

What makes

me ME.  And you?  A YOU-er you?  Have you ever thought about it before this Corner View?

What does it mean:  "Who are YOU?"  (WHO AM I?)  Is it who you call yourself?  Or what someone else calls you?

Could it be that you could be a YOU-er you......if?.......you'd studied something else,  married someone else, grown up elsewhere.

Is a YOU-er you always a good thing?

Is a you-er you, the things you own?  The things you'd like to own?  The way you spend your time, and with whom? Where you come from?  Or where you're going?  The things you've made.  Or the things you spend your time doing to hold all the rest together?

The things seen, read.  Any things unsaid?

Do your children, or your parents, make you a you-er you?  Or is it someone else?

Anything more you'd like to do?  To find yourself a YOU-ER you?  (With a little shoutout to Dr. Seuss.)

For a World of YOUS, via Corner Views:

Francesca, Jane, Ian, Don, Anna, Dana, LaNinja, Theresa, CherryB, Joyce, Natsumi, Lumetta, Kari, Bonnie, Cate, Dorte, Skylar, April, Lollipop, Janis, ibb, jgy, IdaNielsen, Liza, Likeschocolate, Isabelle, Lucylaine, Allegria, Pienduzz, Elisabelle,RosaMaria, Elizabeth, BichosdaMatos, Juniper, Victoria, Annabel, Angie, Emily, Kamana, Tikjewit, Tanïa, Barbara, Moetjatja, Dorit, Flowtops, Valérie, Juliette, Castor, Wanderchow, LouetTom, Lise, FashionCampagne, Tzivia, Cole,Juanita, Li + Belle, Sophie, Menthe blanche, Leslie...

  

Christmas Bests

Can I make some Christmas shopping suggestions from some of my web favorites?

Cards and prints from Suzanne Norris', Sakura Snow Etsy shop

 Winsome and witty little felt characters from Swig

Dreamy fine art prints from Jeremy Miranda

Luminous cards for the season of lights from Guillemette at Grey Lemon

Toasty alpaca fingerless gloves from LeafGreen Handmade

Inspired papercuts of all your favorite places at Famille Summerbelle

Inspiring paper cuts from cult cutter, Rob Ryan

All that's girly (and a little that glitters) at Anzu London

And the sweetest and most beautiful tribute in book and prints to a lovely little dog from Camilla Engman and Studio Morran

And from ShipandShape.  What do I need to add?

Click on the links to find out where to buy them.  Christmas is soon already, isn't it?  Done your shopping?  Sent your cards?

Monday Bites - Pumpkin Pie

Do you like pie?  OK.  I have to admit.  I've made FIVE pumpkin pies in the last two weeks.  Most of one is still in my frig.  I did not eat much of the first three that went to Thanksgiving dinner at someone else's house.  And apparently "abstaining" and being polite did not agree with me, as I hankered for MORE PIE for five more days before breaking down and breaking out the rolling pin.

I don't usually like pumpkin pie.  I used to always prefer apple pie at Thanksgiving, or chocolate cream pie, or custard pie.  But this year, I was asked to make pumpkin pie - and as I was making it under fairly challenging conditions in Hawaii - no rolling pin, no electric mixer, extreme humidity, I swore it was still going to come out......VERY RIGHT!  (And it did, whew!)  My secret weapon?  Dark rum, fresh ginger and allspice.  And keeping the crust in the frig for three days before rolling it out.  Did you know that a longer "rest" for pie dough is almost as good as for bread?  It improves gluten development somehow.  That is good.  If you eat gluten.  (The rest of the recipe comes from the side of a can of pumpkin).

I guess this pie was good.  Because I had to have more.  And I AM having more as I write this.

Is it bad form to enjoy your own cooking too much?  Do you have a recipe that you almost feel guilty about enjoying terribly?  Would you make a big recipe of something - just for yourself - and not bother to share it with anybody else?  The good news for me this week is that Mr. Paradis is not remotely interested in pumpkin pie.  And everybody else I know is PIE-D OUT!  And saving themselves for Christmas goodies.

So here I sit.  Eating pie.  With reckless abandon.  Am I a terrible person?  Or do I just REALLY KNOW HOW TO LIVE!!!!!!????????  Tell me it's the latter.  And I will try not to think about bathing suits.  

Somebody Else's "Sepia"

via thethinkingtank

We had a very windy last Wednesday night in L.A.  Many enormous trees have been blown over and many people still without electricity.  Imagine my surprise at bursts of blue light shooting across my bedroom walls at midnight as electricity transformers exploded half a mile away!  And plunged my neighbors in darkness.

Reminder of how nature is at once ferocious and fragile.

Hope you all are safe wherever you are.

Orange

Orange

you

first two photos via DearAda 

glad

 via PoeMa Bat Soilik

it's Friday

Sophie Munns' Seed Capsules

again?

Have a great weekend everybody!