I’m not dead, in a coma, or being held hostage in a third world country…but I have been busy…FOR THE RECORD:

-I went to Ireland with my husband – we drove 800 miles.  On the wrong side of the road!

-In November I went to Italy with my two daughters and my best friend.

-I came home from Italy and found a hen house complete with 8 chickens – I call them “Laura’s Ladies”.

-I hosted a sit-down Thanksgiving dinner for 43 people. The menu included 21 pounds of stuffing, 25 pounds of potatoes, 46 pounds of turkey.

-I will NEVER, EVER mash 25 pounds of potatoes again.

-Hosted a cookie decorating party – I baked more than 200 cut-out cookies and I made a vat of Royal Icing in 6 colors.

-I knit 6 hats and 4 cabled Christmas stockings in time for the holiday.

-This Christmas I received a record player (thank you Emily). My kids were amazed that I can’t fix glitches on my iPhone, computer, or the television; but I automatically knew how to use my record player.

-I decorated and undecorated almost every room in the house for Christmas.

Me and my girls!

The Hen House

Laura’s Ladies

The ladies hard at work in the garden!

This is what 21 pounds of stuffing looks like!

Twas the night before the cookie party!

One of four hand knit stockings!

One of six hats!

Holiday decorating 101!

The girls!