The Presents

This year was a bountiful year of gifts received! I never quite know what to expect, thus I am always pleasantly surprised! Santa was very good to me this year. I would like to think it was due to my being very good despite my summer of intestinal hell. In no particular order are the wonderful gifts!

Now We're Cookin'!

We used the money my dad gave us to buy (hopefully) the last set of pots and pans we'll ever purchase. We put up the rest of the money to get this spendy set, but according to all of the reviews Pooky read, this All Clad set is the best. We christened our set last night by making a garden vegetable chicken soup. I noticed right away that these pots cook differently. I didn't need to go beyond 5 on the heat dial, and they simmered very well.

I'm Not Bad!

My sister got us the book written by the creator of the www.mycathatesyou.com website. After looking through all of the photos, I'm thinking I have some potential entries of pictures I have of Smee, Mr. Doo, and Mr. B. For some reason, Smee takes a very "bad cat" picture at times.

Heaven Scent

From Pooky's younger sister we received three Old Virgina candles. These candles are fantastic! They are so strongly scented that I can burn them downstairs and the aroma drifts up and I can smell them in the computer room. Of course I shouldn't leave a burning candle unattended! Anyhow, I was so impressed that I bought a few more of these candles. I think they will last for an entire year. I think going the candle route is more cost-effective than incense.

But Wait, There's More!

From my mom we received a set of knives. The ones we had were all serated and couldn't be sharpened. These are nice and came with a sharpening stick. Now I can chop, dice, slice, and cut my fingers off! I'm very pleased to have knives that work. She also got us a new food chopper. I couldn't find where Pooky put it. It's a nice 3 cup size and will make life much easier to chop onions, nuts, etc. The old one I had I could tell the blade was getting dull. I've had it for five years and it has been a little work-horse. It shall now be retired.

Measuring Up

One day I went for the mail and found a box waiting for us. I had no idea what was inside. I opened it and I found myself with my mouth hanging open. My dad had sent us a complete set of stainless steel measuring cups (with odd sizes) and measuring spoons! Plus a garlic press. This set was very spendy! What was ironic about all of this was that just days before I was admiring some measuring sets at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and was longing for the day when I could afford to buy a set of cups and spoons that had the odd sizes!

My Secret Santa Was Very Good to Me!

This year my Secret Santa was very good to me! I mean really good! The rules of the Santa-ness are that you spend $15 on your recipient and buy them something from their Amazon.com Wishlist. Well, my Santa (aka Kelly), got me Family Guy Volume 3 and Bride and Prejudice!

Bosom Friend

From dear Ro I received this adorable little jewelry box with a mirror. She sent it to me because it reminded her of Anne of Green Gables. I have to agree, it is something that Anne or Diana may have had in their bedroom. What is curious is that Smee loves to lay near this. I think he likes to check himself out in the mirror!

Enough Yarn for a Year

All of this yarn will (hopefully) be made into various things in 2006. I have grand plans and designs! I have ambition and motivation to crochet. I just hope that I don't suffer a two month dry spell like I did starting in September!

Tunes

I couldn't find the CD—I'm sure it is somewhere in the chaos of everything (Pooky has been rearranging stuff)—so I apologize for not having a picture of it, but my long-time friend from grade school, April, sent me the soundtrack to Bride and Prejudice.

The New Symbol of Christmas

While shopping at Archie McPhee, I was charmed by the new jumbo devil duckies! I had to have one with the additional Santa hat. This festive bird is nice and large and undeniably adorable! Smee was doing his best to curl up his ears to look like evil horns. Perhaps he should be known as The Prince of Darkness?