Susie's Leaning Tower of Chocolate for 2004 December 1

Wed Dec 01 2004 09:53 MST: Last night, I attempted to make a tree skirt for our Charlie Brown tree, as well as stockings for John and myself. Ours are in Mom's scary shed and we didn't remember to get them until it was dark. There is no light in the shed and I don't think I'd want to go there at night anyway.

I followed Mom's tree skirt pattern: Fold fabric in half. Cut giant semi-circle. Hem. Trace around dinner plate in center. Cut out. Hem. Unfortunately, this will only work on fake trees. I think real tree skirts (including ones previously made with this "pattern") have slits down the side. But I had already hemmed it (twice) so we took the bottom off our tree to put the skirt on. I am going to glue some trim to the edge once I borrow a glue gun. All in all, it didn't turn out too badly. John helped me pick out red fabric with embroidered snowflakes and a white and gold twisted trim.

I also followed Mom's pattern for stockings: Draw a stocking on newspaper. Cut out. Repeat until husband is convinced this pattern will make a decent stocking. Fold fabric in half and cut out two identical pieces. Turn wrong-side-out and sew (but not the top!) This is all I've done so far. We used red and white fleece. I am going to put a contrasting cuff on each and I'm thinking about doing a slip stitch around the edge in contrasting yarn, at least for the red, and embroidering our names on the cuff. I don't know how to embroider. Oh well. The fleece was on sale.

(6) Wed Dec 01 2004 21:07 MST Sorry, Mom: Today I mailed letters from Santa to 100 or so children. It was fun! That's saying something, considering I was really just stuffing envelopes. They also got a picture to color for the coloring contest. I brought home the ones we had printed out but decided not to use, and John and I each colored one after dinner.

Speaking of dinner, I got home and it was all made for me! John made chicken with a peanut orange ginger glaze and rice and carrots. It was delicious, especially that part I didn't have to cook. We have determined we will be unable to make Tomato Fennel Soup, and Mazto Balls. Couldn't find fennel or Mazto anywhere. Mer.

I may have already mentioned this, but Linda and I have been told we are wrapping the employee gifts this year. It's been quite the ordeal, but today our errand-runner took the wrapping paper to Maintenance. She had the entire rolls cut to the width we needed, then made one of the guys hold it while she cut it into lengths on the giant paper cutter in Graphics. Brilliant. Linda and I have a quota of wrapping 20 per day to get them done before the party.

You would think I am becoming an expert wrapper, but I just wrapped something for Leonard that didn't turn out so well. All of you coming to Utah post-Christmas are getting more gifts than are at Mom's (sorry, Rach). I keep remembering things I was supposed to buy, or that have been hiding the closet.