I need to start being more prompt with my baby gift sending. All the intended recipients of these gifts are likely too big for them at this point, and if not, they will be soon. Babies seem to never stop coming though, so there’s always people to give them to. I kindof like just seeing them hang in my house though. So darling.

I feel ill. Can’t determine the cause, although it feels like a mild nausea like might be from eating something icky. Hopefully a good night’s sleep will serve as the cure.

Today was so delightful. Since I had gotten to bed relatively early last night (went out and saw Benjamin Button but was still in bed by 11), I woke up on my own around 7:30am. Since I’d been going without coffee all week, I decided to treat myself to a pot of french roast for my Saturday morning. Yum. Coffee tastes that much better when it’s been a week since you’ve had it.

The whole morning I worked around the house getting stuff done. I…

Around noon, I decided to head out to do some shopping without any real direction. I knew I wanted to buy a Dutch Oven to try this bread recipe, and I wanted to check out some of the 2nd hand stores around town. Ended up stopping at Salvation Army and the Goodwill store. At Goodwill, I picked up a bread machine for $3, and a rice cooker for $4. Hopefully they both work, but I figure it was worth the risk either way.

I also stopped at a local strip mall to check out the stores that were there. First place I peeked into was Don’s Humidor and Coffee Beans. True to its name, it sells cigars and coffee. However, they also had a selection of loose leaf teas so I picked up some flavored black tea and look forward to trying it. The shop was darling and the folks in it were really friendly. Also in that strip mall, was a used book store (I bought Hard Laughter, by Anne Lamott), a cute little gifty shop called the Paper Bear, and a local sandwich shop called Schmaltz’s.

Oh man… I think I may have found my favorite local sandwich! I was surprised that it came warm, as I wasn’t sure what I was ordering when I ordered a “Small Schmaltz”, but it was delightfully toasted, on great wheat bread and spread with garlic butter. Oh, yum. I will be back. Best $4.35 I’ve spent on food in Waco.

I also stopped at Joann’s where I bought some yarn on super sale that I believe will become a baby sweater/jacket and some baskets for organizing junk in my bedroom.

Okay… I’m sure you’ve stopped reading by now, but I do want you to know that I DID get a Dutch Oven. I got this one! It’s a Cuisinart 7 qt enameled cast iron covered casserole. It didn’t say “Dutch Oven” on the packaging, but I’m pretty sure this will do the job. And… contrary to the $129.99 listed on that website, I bought it for $59 at Marshalls, which means it was my birthday gift from my parents. Yay!

The bread is currently rising… I’m hoping to be able to have some tomorrow night at dinner.

Midway though my shopping extravaganza I met up with a friend, and we hit a bunch of stores out at the Central Texas Marketplace(basically a huge selection of big box stores). I got a bunch of other stuff I’ve been needing like hot pads, notecards, scented candles, and also a few things that just caught my eye like a pair of earrings, a headband scarf, and a cute little leaf shaped candy dish.

On the way home, I stopped at the grocery store to get yeast and some salad makings for tomorrow lunch and arrived back home around 7pm. Yikes.

So, it’s been a great day. I wish I could have shared it with you… because even great days are better when there are more people I love around me.

Tomorrow morning I’m going to church…. even if I don’t feel like it. Feel free to hold me accountable.

G’night!

So… saying goodbyes in Columbus so soon after saying goodbyes in California is killing me. But… this week in Waco I found a house I love, although I’m not actually sure it is going to be in my price range. Would anyone like to move to Waco to get a job and live with me?! There are some awesome things about being single and being able to pick up and go and do things on your own, and then there are some really hard things… like trying to figure out how you will get your dresser and mattress up the stairs into your little temporary 2nd floor apartment without having to ask people you hardly know to help you.

But anyway… let’s talk about knitting. I finished the blanket a few weeks ago! The cats approve.

Also… my cousin sent this pic of her little boy in the sweater and hat I had sent to them a few months ago. It completely cracks me up.

And finally… some socks I finished and love how they look, but not really how they wear (they tend to end up with most of the fabric at my ankles. Maybe they will be display socks.

So anyway…there’s a couple of other things, too, but I’m too lazy to take pictures right now. Perhaps before I head out of here to drive back to Waco. The current plan is to get a hitch installed on the back of the Honda Civic I bought from Carina (who is moving to SWEDEN on Monday), and rent a trailer to carry whatever I can find here. At least this means I get to start with a bed and a dresser, although I still imagine that $5 Target canvas folding chairs are going to be my living room furniture for awhile.

Off to dinner at Buca di Beppo!