Make Your Own Paper Notebook -- and Fire 'Logs!'

I have a shameful confession to make.

I love notebooks.

Big ones, little ones, doesn't matter, as long as they have clean-smelling pages (gold-tipped edges are even nicer), pretty covers...and a pen's nearby. (Preferably one of those old-time fountain pens with silver nibs.)

And now, thanks to a new blog, The Art of Stinginess, I know how to make my own from scrap paper! Basically, he cuts two covers from something hard(er), a batch of pages (slightly smaller than the covers), clamps them together, glues them along one edge, then pastes on a spine cover.

Looks wayyy easy.

Hmmm. Couldn't I print out book pages and bind them this way for private editions? (I've been working on a cookbook of family recipes for the girlies, as well as Nephew and his wife, and Niece.) I'm going to try it -- will let you know if it works.

In the meantime, visit Mr. Stingy's Nov. 26, 2009 post. (Unfortunately, I can only give you a blog link, not the specific post link. Something about the way he set things up.) And when you're done there, go to the Nov. 20 post to know what to do with the paper leftovers -- very cool paper log/briquettes!

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Mom's here, cozily ensconsed in Daughter #1's room (where it's warmer). I got an electric fireplace from Sam's Club, which she seems to really like. Basically where I need to go, she goes with me, including a pit stop at Big Lots to buy Swedish ginger thins (Husband's favorite cookie, only comes out at Christmas), imported olives and other goodies for Christmas stockings.
It's nice to have her here.

Welcome to the New North Pole

Went to Safeway last night to redeem the free clementines coupon. By the time I got back outside, the temp was -13!! I was afraid Buck, who was waiting in the car, would be a giant Weimie popsicle...but he was fine.

By the time we got home, some ten minutes away, it had moderated. To a balmy -9.

That's the story right now in Colorado. At least the snow has stopped, and we have plenty of sunlight...albeit no warmth.

The movie 2012 postulated that the earth's poles had shifted -- the new South Pole was now in Wisconsin. Gee, maybe it really happened, and someone forgot to tell us!

Time for some pork loin in the crockpot, with mushroom gravy, a shot of wine and a handful of chopped celery. It will be bubbly by the time I get home from the airport. I'll be picking up my mom, who's had two flights cancel on her since 'our' blizzard started making itself at home in Michigan.

Mom hates planes, and avoids them whenever possible. (I find that very amusing, since much of my business life is spent par avion, heading to or from somewhere.) At least my brother got her the last seat on a direct flight -- all she has to do is get on in Grand Rapids, and get off in Denver. I'll be waiting for her by baggage claim.

The dishes aren't done (yet), the tree (cut from National Forest land last weekend) isn't trimmed. But it will be lovely to have her here for the holidays.

Hang in there, Ma! I'm coming...

Some Random Stuff...and a Very Weird Experience

The "Barrel Man" , Tim McKernan, is dead. He's been sporting an orange-painted barrel and a cowboy hat for years at Broncos games. Football fans will miss his enthusiasm.

Safeway is offering a free five-pound box of clementines if you become a fan on Facebook. (The offer says good today (12/7), but my coupon's for use on December 8 only.) I also grabbed a $5 gift subscription to Good Housekeeping for Mom. (Other mags, including Country Living and Redbook, are available for this rockbottom price for a short time on Amazon. Thanks so much for passing the word, Coupon Cravings!)

An interesting post on low-cost and fast evening meals.

And recipes for Gluhwein (German-style hot mulled wine) and Christmas Glogg.

See...I told you it was random!

Went to see the movie 2012 last night. According to director Roland Emmerich, "I said to myself that I'll do one more disaster movie, but it has to end all disaster movies. So I packed everything in." He keeps his word, all right -- you've got everything from Los Angeles to Yellowstone to India being crashed into, breaking off/apart (I lost count of all the airport runways splitting juuuuust behind Our Heroes' taking-off planes), blowing up or (Emmerich's favorite) being inundated by ocean waves. It was fun in a weird sort of way, though I found myself rooting that the Hero would eventually be toast. (I still like Emmerich's Day After Tomorrow better, though it's also got plenty of hoke.)

The strangest part, though, came after the movie. We'd been having this whispery, heavy snow all day. The roads were slippery. Only a handful of people were at the 8 p.m. showing. We stayed to watch the credits -- alone, as usual -- and by the time we walked out, about 11 p.m., the lobby was deserted.

No one at the ticket counter. No one in the halls. No one in the office. No one at the popcorn counter.

Three cars in the deserted parking lot -- including ours. Lights gave a spooky, surreal glow. A light but impenetrable curtain of snow fogged the sky. Dead silent.

Only two people at King Soopers, where we stopped on the way home. (And they were clerks.)
Since 2012 ends with only a handful of people being saved, I started to wonder...did the rest of the world know something we didn't??

But then we saw a sheriff's patrol car at the stoplight, using his flashlight to trigger the green 'Go,' and I figured -- hey, if he's still around, probably all's well.

And it was.

Meredith's back!

COLD here...and has been snowing since last night. Light, tiny flakes. Unfortunately, they're not thick enough to force no school for tomorrow -- or so Husband thinks.

One of my favorite bloggers, Meredith at Like Merchant Ships, is finally posting again! I've missed her so much. True to form, even when she's talking about a subject that doesn't help me much (a Nutcracker's Suite ballet party for little girls), there's something wonderful tucked in as well -- like these cute little chocolate mice that may make an appearance in Daughters' Christmas stockings. (Here's another version, made with dried apricots.)

Tune in tomorrow for the results of the Great Stationery Giveaway. See you then.

Living Within Your Limits

It's hard for me to fathom living from paycheck to paycheck -- we've saved and scrimped for a long time, to keep from this happening. But I've also learned from the examples of people who do it regularly. (Here's another example of same.) You might, too.

Especially hard for those who get in this situation because of no insurance and high medical bills. Both Daughters do not have health insurance right now -- a reality that bothers us, but we can do little about. Neither is in school full-time, and that's the only way our insurance will cover them.

But if you can spend less than you earn, reality changes for the better very quickly.

It's a good reminder, when we're being pressured to buy, buy, buy during this holiday season.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells...

Snow, all right... about 6" so far, and coming down steadily. The birds are having a heyday under the feeder; I put in just sunflower seeds, and that is apparently caviar to them.

Take a minute -- send your favorite people a phone message from Santa, Sammy the Snowman or NASCAR driver Tony Stewart! And it's free, courtesy of King Soopers. There's a long list of names to choose from for your recipient; I was able to cover everyone but my mom (Bonnie).

The top guy on the list was brother Mikey, whose birthday is in two days. He'll get to hear from Santa about that. Only two days, also, to enter the stationery giveaway -- fire me a comment, and you're entered!

Getting Ready...

Restless. What the heck is wrong with me?

I think it's a combination of things --

*some business stuff needs to be finalized (boring paperwork-type stuff)
*the girlies have gone home
*back to 'normal' life -- washing, dirty dishes, bits on the carpet
*a long-worked-on job...that still needs another week's worth of effort
*schlepping everything out for decorating -- I want it out, just don't want to put it out!

Gripe, gripe, gripe.

Also, a blizzard is moving in...a prime ingredient for restless temps and feelings.

I stopped and had eggrolls with Daughter #1 on my way home from Denver this morning. Better. A few hours of cleaning...that business paperwork worked on. Salmon and sweet potato fries for supper; Husband and a friend to share it with. Best of all.