Actually, that’s not an exclamation; it’s short for “Ornament Of the Year.” It’s a tradition my parents started with me and my brother when we were little. So when we started our adult lives, we already had 20+ ornaments to put on our first Christmas trees. (I think I actually wound up with many more than that; I had a thing for Christmas decorations and somehow managed to accumulate more than one ornament a year.) I’ve continued it into my adulthood, making sure I secure at least one new ornament each year, usually purchased, but sometimes received as a gift. I’ve decided that since our tree is already getting quite full, the tradition had better stop with me this year since it will start with Anna next year. So here’s my last official “OOY”:

I like birds, so I chose this little goldfinch. This doesn’t mean I won’t get any new ornaments ever, just that I won’t intentionally look to add one every year.

Comments(1)

Here’s the tree, for anyone who’s interested:

I’m a procrastinator and never have any presents under the tree until just a few days before Christmas, so I always put stuffed animals under the tree when it goes up so it won’t look so pitiful and empty under there.

Comments(1)

I’ve finally decided to jump on the bandwagon and start my own blog. David has had one for quite a while, and while he’s graciously put up with my communicating with our friends via comments on his blog, it’s probably time I start my own. So, here’s a little bit about me:

I’ve been married to David since June 1, 1997. We met as students at Hendrix College. We’ve been living in Conway, Arkansas ever since.

I’m pregnant with our first child, Anna Elizabeth, who is expected to grace us with her presence around March 21, 2008. So far, everything is going great with both of us.

I like dogs; I do not like cats. We have a dog, Sasha, whom we adopted from a rescue organization called Last Chance Arkansas. She is such a sweetie and we love her very much. I am also a bit of a rescue-dog snob. I echo David’s feelings in his mini-rant, so I’ll just let you read that.

I worked for several years at Conway Christian School, but I quit a few years ago to be a full-time homemaker. I love it. Do I get bored? Nope! There’s always something to do.

I like to play music. I have played piano since I was a child, and a few years ago I picked up Irish pennywhistle. I would like to learn fiddle some day. I am part of the Arkansas Celtic Music Society, and I enjoy playing Irish music in our monthly sessions. I also play occasionally in church.

I like to cook. My cooking lies about halfway between what I call “cream of mushroom soup cooking” (like those recipes you clip out of the coupon section of the paper that call for a bunch of canned or boxed convenience foods) and gourmet cooking (with ingredients you’ve never heard of and that you can’t find at grocery stores in Conway, Arkansas anyway). I really like the Cook’s Illustrated/America’s Test Kitchen model; they make basic food that real people eat, and they make it from scratch using fresh ingredients. They explain why they do things a certain way; it’s not to make life hard on you—there really is a good reason! And if you follow the directions exactly, it will come out wonderfully, the first time. Thanks to David for getting me hooked on them.

I do not stamp. I do not scrapbook. I think most of my friends do. But hey, they can’t play pennywhistle.

I sew a little, occasionally. I made a quilt for my niece Addison when she was born, and I intend to make one for our baby Anna and one for our bed as well. I also made a small diaper bag for Anna. I’ve made curtains and throw pillows before—basically things with straight lines and right angles. I do not make clothes or anything round.

I wish I could say I love to read, but I really don’t. I do read books from time to time when a good one grabs my attention, but I’m just not the kind of person who gets lost in the latest bestseller and can’t put it down. Since reading is more something I do because it’s good for me, I usually prefer non-fiction books, or at least fiction books that I feel have some value to them.

I like Macs. While I don’t have the technological expertise to explain why like David does, it makes sense when he explains it. I just know Macs are way better than PCs, and that’s good enough for me.

Comments(3)