Holiday Thoughts

As we speed through the holiday season with thoughts of gift giving, decorating, visiting, and baking, let me request that we all have some additional daily thoughts.

A thought for those who cannot be with their families because they are on duty here and abroad.  Our police, firefighters, doctors, nurses, chefs, wait staff, kitchen workers, hotel workers, pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, shipping and freight carriers, and pharmacists, to name only a few.

A special thought for those in military service here and abroad.  They are always on duty so that we can be safe at home and abroad.

A fervent thought as an ambulance passes that the attendants, EMTs, and emergency room staff work up to their best potential to save that life.  If it is the destiny of that life to move on to the next chapter, that the passing is gentle and with grace.

And, finally, a positive thought for each of us.  Let us look around and see the plenty of what we have, the joy of our friends and family, and the hope and anticipation of the New Year to come.

NM State Fair, Food, and Jackalopes

I love State Fairs.  I love the exhibits (4-H and FFA), the crafts, cooking, sewing, and quilting submissions, the SPAM contest (as an observer only), the horses, the baby animals that grow up before your eyes, the food.

In our house, we refer to the start of the State Fair as the beginning of the "eatin' season".  On the heels of the fair comes the Balloon Fiesta, then after that it's Thanksgiving, and after that it's Christmas (or the Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, or the special observance of the winter season of your choice).  As a matter of fact, I advise anyone to either get their cholesterol tested BEFORE the State Fair or after the middle of January, because it's pointless to do it during the eatin' season.

A new creature this year in the Poultry and Rabbit barn is the rarely seen jackalope.  These were particularly special since they are of the mini persuasion, not the usual significantly larger persuasion that can get up to four feet tall, if you include the ears.

Here's a picture of the darlin' in his cage:

Here's a close-up of the little guy:

Hope you enjoy your State Fair!

Shopping at Joann's and Rebel Donuts

Did a little bit of shopping at Joann's -- jewelry making supplies are 25% off (today is probably last day) and stamps and stamp sets are 40% off.  But check their website -- they are having Labor Day sales and there are coupons.  Did pick up some jewelry making things -- will do a short "video" later today and post on YouTube.

Then on to Rebel Donuts, here in Albuquerque.  An independent donut shop with unique combinations of flavors, and they are making up new combinations every day.  DH had the maple glaze, which he pronounced as delicious and I had the Zinger, which was new that day -- raised donut with raspberry jam sprinkled with cocoanut and topped with a swirl of butter cream frosting.  Not a giant donut and the tart flavor of the raspberry jam nicely balanced the richness of the butter cream.  Yum, yum.  Highly recommend.  Open 7 days a week, 7am to 4pm weekends, to 6pm on weekdays.

My first post...

I suppose every new blog has to have "the first post"; so here's mine.

I do like to travel and friends ask me for my tips and suggestions on the places my DH and I have visited.  Will share those in the (future) travel section.

I started making cards (under serious adult supervision of the best Stampin' Up demonstrator, Kathy Morgan) about three years ago and am continuing to grow and learn.  Will be dipping into altering projects along this creative journey and will share what I've learned (good, bad, and ugly) in the (future) crafting section.

I have sewed in the past and am working on getting back into that; I also want to begin quilting.  I promise to share in the (future) fabric section.

And, when it's not 100 degrees, I love to cook and bake.  Now that I'm not working, I will be starting a sourdough starter and playing with that.  With just a spousal unit, we don't need all the results of the baking -- so we share with a couple of favorite restaurants.  Will share our local favorites in the (future) New Mexico section.

This blog is a work in progress -- heck, I'm a work in progress.  I've kept the format pretty simple to start and will add and configure things as I go.  I'll be working up some "CraftyTravelFrog Blog rules" to help me govern myself and how the blog is presented.  That will be in a future posting and saved as a document somewhere on the blog (as soon as I can figure out how to do that).


Be patient with me -- I'm learning this stuff as I go!