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This made me laugh today.

It's mustard Richard. MUSTARD.

Letters From Grandma

Dear Amber and Aaron,

Sorry I'm so late with a thank you for the beautiful picture and dish. They made the trip just fine. Right after Christmas I had a bad cold that kept me down many days. The first time I was out of the house was Jan 9.
My word is it cold here -- Brrr. We also have more than our share of snow.
We didn't have our sewing bee at Church this morning. Too cold for us. Last year we made 60 quilts for missions.
I went to my Circle meeting yesterday. It was nice to get out.
Heidi was here for a quick trip to officiate at a funeral for a friend who was killed on a snowmobile. Very sad -- left a wife and 2 children. Speed! Speed! That did it.
Love,
Grandma B.

Folk Craft at the Double A Ranch

We've been keeping busy lately. Aaron finally finished his first woodworking project, and it's beautiful. Bookshelves are in high demand, so it was a good project to start with.

Our downstairs library is finally becoming more library-ish and less boxes-piled-up-along-the-walls-ish.

I've been working on some small projects, myself. I've been having fun making these dolls (template here):

I sent the boy doll off to a new boy, even though he wasn't perfect. I was kind of torn about sending it...it's weird when something doesn't turn out just right...do you give it anyway, or decide to scrap it, even though it took you most of a Saturday to make? Working with velvet is tricky...any tips?

I also spent the later part of December teaching myself how to embroider, which is so much fun.

I think the windows need window boxes, so this isn't quite done.

Yearly Report Card

I always like to start a new year by summing up the last one's highlights and projecting goals/ideas/etc for this fresh one.

2008 was interesting. It was hard. The biggest deal: The wedding, of course. I am a married woman. The big question is: does it really make any difference? The answer: I think so. Not that anything has changed dramatically within our relationship, but I've noticed that outsiders treat us a little differently. It has indisputably validated and solidified our relationship in the eyes of others. All of a sudden, he means something. "My husband and I share a car, so we need to plan a schedule in advance. I'll have to talk to him before I can agree to work late."
"Husband" seems to be this ghostly presence looming over most women. Never seen, but always discussed. But, we are a team. We work a lot differently. I think I really scared some people at work when I called Aaron to come help after none of the volunteers we had lined up showed up for a big event we were hosting.
"He'd really do that?"
Uh, if I ask nicely, I guess.
"But there'll be children here!"
I'll tell him not to wear his coat made of knives? What?
Did that get them on to call their husbands to high-tail it out to help? No, I think there was a game on or something. I like us.

Other things: loss. 2008 was filled with sadness and loss. I officially lost my best friend this time last year. That was equally liberating and difficult. When you are so close to someone, it is really hard to get over something like that. Maybe it's just me.
And Cody. I think my mind is just coming around to the truth of it. For the last couple months, the shock was overpowering. I feel so sorry for my family and what they're going through.

Things to look forward to in 2009:
A better garden, more crafting, new reading goals, more responsibility at work, etc. In 2009, Aaron and I will have known each other for 10 years. I don't even know how that is possible, but here we are...