The results

The judges are still deliberating......

But, may I just say how fun all the ideas have been and how pleasantly surprised I am with the number of entries! I figure one of two things is going on.

1. you too are passionate about renaming deviled eggs
or
2. coffee is a good motivator

LOL

Did you know that LOL means laugh out loud? Well, not too long ago, I didn't. I assumed it must mean Lots of Love. :) As you can imagine, this caused a whole lot of confusion. The cherry on top was when I wrote a young woman who had recently lost her husband. I signed it LOL, Robin. Yikes.... Did you gasp? It's ok, breathe..... I didn't hear from her, which I thought was odd. A week later I learned the more commonly used meaning of LOL and I looked for a rock to hide under, but my kids found me right away. Let's just say I am so thankful for GRACE.

2 missing chickens...

Yes, Helga and Hazel are missing! It's been 48 hours since they were last seen and there are no clues to speak of. Harriet is still with us and seems suspiciously normal. Ted has already suggested I change my blog title to 'a year with chicken'. I, however, am an optimist and believe they will be coming back. If not, then it is off to the feed store in February to buy some cute lil chicks. So, Helga and Hazel wherever you are I hope you are safe, well and remember your way home. We miss you!

How do you see it?

When you just miss the green light and are the first car to stop and wait do you see this as...
1. Urggg I just missed that light. Why can't I catch a break?
2. Yes! I am the first in line for the next green light. The open road is mine!

Attitude is a big deal. It can brighten or taint our day, as well as our family and all those we come in contact with. So, I challenge myself and you to see the glass as half full, because it is!

I ate the egg on December 31st.

I did it! I survived! I would even do it again! I ate one of our chicken eggs.

It was prepared as a deviled egg (What a horrible name! I think we will rename them, any suggestions??) and it was positively scrumptious! I intended to bring deviled eggs as an appetizer to a New Years party, but Julia Child was correct, fresh eggs are not good for peeling. Why did I doubt her? It took me an hour to peel 5 eggs and they looked horrible! No need to worry, the kids and I ate them up and enjoyed every last bite. Yolk and all. Like the photo? Natalie took it. :)

In case you are not in the know on this..... I do eat eggs regularly, however, since we added 3 hens to our family last June, I have not been able to eat THEIR eggs unless it is in something. For example, no fresh fried eggs. Why? The yolks are so yellow! Healthier yes I know, but I am a chicken when it comes to food being different than what I am used to. (Ha, pun point, did you catch it?) Anyway, I plan on enjoying more of Helga, Harriet and Hazel's eggs.

My literal daughter, oh how I love you!

Natalie turned 6. A dear family friend, Lisa, sent her a birthday card with 6 $1 bills. Pure enthusiasm I tell you! After she counted and looked at it about 23 times, I read her the card. Part of it reads.... hope all your dreams come true. When I read that, Nat replied, "Well that's not true." Inside I thought you've got to be kidding me, my 6 year old already doesn't believe in dreams being fulfilled? I decided to dig. I asked her what she meant. She said, "Well I wanted more dollars and I got them. I wanted to ride a horse and I am going to soon. I wanted a new stuffed puppy like the one daddy got me and I got it for Christmas." I told her it sounds like her dreams did come true. She replied, "Not all of them. I don't want the scary dreams I sometimes have to come true." The light bulb went off. A card wishing Natalie for ALL her dreams to come true was not something she wanted. I love you Natalie. You rock.

These are a few of MY favorite handmade Christmas things!

Everyone in the family designed 2 pictures for Briggs. We used unlined index cards, black sharpies (As he responds best to black-n-white), and my laminator- which by the way I am in love with! Since this was free, we spent $10 on a wonderful photo mobile the cards can be clipped to. This is available at Wind Up Here (One of the greatest toy stores on the planet.) in downtown Oly or on Amazon by searching 'photo mobile'.


A Christmas shadow box of my 2 cute nephews and just a lil, HA!, Christmas glitz. I made this for my sister Tracy. We have a $10 limit, so creativity is required! It's a bit obnoxious, maybe, but fun to have out for the holidays. And can I just say, if you do not have yourself a glue gun you need to get one. They are so fun! I use mine so infrequently that when I do drag it out it takes about an hour to find.... but it is always worth the dig.


A hand felted heart ornament for my nephew Briggs. He had open heart surgery in December. And I only used half a box of band aids this time! (The needles for felting are wicked sharp.)