#29 Host Open House each December

I added this item to the list because I thought it would force me to finally invite people to the house. (We still haven't had a house warming!) Last December, I had to pass, since I was still hobbling about on crutches; sometimes life just gets in the way. This year, I had my family and some outlaws over—fourteen in all. We enjoyed appetizers, bigos, pierogis, and cheesecake, and because it was the fourth day in row we were with all the relatives, plenty of alcohol. After dinner, we played a chaotic game of What Were You Thinking? The game is fun for small and large groups, and very easy. All you have to do is think alike! Then everyone had had enough, and I was left with tons of washing up. But it was fun, and I haven't yet tired of the complements on my cooking and decorating.

I started with a recipe for the bigos, but in an uncharacteristic move, I improvised it on my very first go.

2 lbs sauerkraut
1/2 lb bacon
1/2 lb veal
1/2 lb pork
1/2 lb ham
1 kielbasa--don't know which kind, but next time we're doing it with "hunter's kielbasa"
small head of cabbage
3 onions
1 lb mushrooms
butter
dry mushrooms
2 c boiling water
2 bay leaves
1 T caraway seed
1 beer, I used Sam Light since it was the only lager in the fridge (and I wasn't using the Skullsplitter)
3 tomatoes

Bring the sauerkraut (with juice) to a boil. Meanwhile, fry bacon. Throw the bacon in the pot with the sauerkraut once it is browned. In the bacon fat, brown the meats. Add to the pot. Slice the cabbage and add it to the stew. Chop the onions and brown in the butter. Slice the mushrooms and cook with the onions. Throw the cooked onions and mushrooms in the pot. Put a handful of dry mushrooms in the boiling water. Once they are reconstituted, chop the mushrooms. Add the mushrooms and their (strained) liquid to the pot. If the liquid level seems low, add a beer. Add bay leaves and caraway. Chop and add three tomatoes (you can used canned).

Bring it to a boil and simmer for a couple of hours. The stew is purportedly better after a day or so. Boil it every day. I made the stew on Sunday and the dude boiled it on Monday. We didn't get to it on Tuesday, but heated it up (to boiling) well in advance of the party on Wednesday. Everyone raved.

Notes: The original recipe called for 1/2 c red wine instead of beer. It also suggested a chopped apple to sweeten it (it's a little tart from the sauerkraut). It called for 1/2 lb game (rabbit, venison) which is a little difficult to procure at the last minute. (But my father had both moose and venison in the freezer, if I'd only known!) And it said you could throw in any other cooked meats you might have. Which is why I decided I could play fast and loose with the recipe.

#36 Finish 3 FUFOs as pillows

I have finished my third pillow—I still only have two photos of these, though. I’m feeling very confident in my pillow making skills these days. Everyone raved about Sissy's pillow. She was just happy that it was a finished gift! (Which is a sad comment on my gift-giving history.) I should definitely work on finishing more of my stitched pieces.

#74 Repaint brown bathroom

I finished four coats, just in time for Christmas and the visit from the relatives. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to put up the blind, but soon. Very soon. I’d show you a photo, but it’s a picture of a bathroom painted white. With pink and burgundy tile (which is why we wanted it to be brown. But with no bathroom fan, there was no way that paint wasn’t bubbling.)

#63 Visit England just before Christmas

I can’t believe we forgot to bring the camera. With any luck, my inlaws will send some photos of us soon.

It was a whirlwind tour! We spent two nights on the floor of a front room in Surrey before being transferred to Wimbledon for two nights on the lumpy fold-out couch in the front room. And then two nights in a proper bed in Durham (with “Cathedral views”—in America, we wouldn’t lie; it would be “Cathedral peeks.”) I fell in love over and over again with my nephews. My SIL has two boys nine months and three years. My BIL has two boys six and four and a half. Am I allowed to have favorites? Because I’d have to say the four-and-a half year old is it. But they all have their unique charms, and I do hope we will get to visit them more often. The happiest part was that we were able to share Christmas with them all. Usually, our parcels arrive in February or April. I reported on the trip here.

#40 Take a sewing class

Sweet, sad, neglected little blog. I haven’t been writing but I have been crossing items off my list.

My sewing class came to an end just before I left for England. Of course, then the Christmas hubbub was upon me. I did finish two projects and begin a third. I made these placemats. (photo to come) My goal is to make matching napkins—I bought plenty of fabric. The napkins will match the little yellow corners.

I also made this bag for my aunt. I’m pretty sure she likes it.


I started the Amy Butler overnight case, and I’ve decided to sign up for the class again so I can finish it with help from a more experienced person. This class has already born fruit: see number 36 above (to be added soon).