Yule Report

While you were spending Christmas in your comfy pants, eating peanut brittle and turkey legs while watching your favorite holiday movie with your family in your warm home, I was being tricked into doing a 12-mile hike. And it was fantastic!

I didn't go home this year, which marked my second ever Christmas away from my family in Minnesota. I've got a pretty big trip coming up in February (so epic that it involves anti-malaria precautions!) and have no vacation time to spare, as well as zero patience or money for peak holiday travel, aaaand my parents were just here two weeks ago, so quit judging me already, OK? Instead Beard and I had brunch with our friends Matt and Jenny, and then we all headed to Forest Park to take a stroll with their vizsla and visiting border collie mix.

As you can see from the photo, Portland suffered an identity crisis, and it was a gorgeous day. Sunglasses were worn. One thing led to another, and the next thing we knew we'd hiked up to Pittock Mansion, where the photo was snapped, then on to the rose gardens at Washington Park before looping back to the car, three adventure-hike hours later.

Then I promptly went home, put on my pajamas, and stuffed my face with pizza and Jubelale and watched Home Alone with some buddies. You really can have it both ways.

Hope you all had a lovely holiday, wherever or however you chose to celebrate it.

The apron, revisited.

I bet you thought I'd moved on. Well, not quite. I stitched up this topless, shamrock wonder for one of my best pals, who recently transplanted herself from Madison, WI to the middle of NYC. Trust me, her photo styling and clever wardrobe choices make this little smock look far more darling than it does on its own.

I started with a Simplicity "It's So Easy" pattern (kudos to them for not cashing in on the obvious pun) but soon found that I have zero patience for double fold bias tape. None. In fact, I think it's pretty worthless. So I improvised, which at my beginner level, is bit cocky. For the most part, the project turned out OK. I am pleased with my first stab at pleats, but the straps ended up looking fairly ghetto. If I could go back in time, I'd trust my instincts and make them inside out, like I learned in my sewing class.

Oh well. At least the subpar portion lends itself easily to hiding. I just hope this creation serves the purpose I intended, and makes a new home in a new place a bit more cozy and warm for a dear, dear lady who deserves warmth and comfort. And cute kitchen outfits.