Sunday nights

a good fire

popcorn and caramel apples

apple cider

our new game, sneak attack

all we need for a great family night

Wishpot

This must be one of the best tools to organize your Christmas shopping: Wishpot. The ultimate wishlist, it pulls all other wishlists together into one central location. It also allows you to organize what you'd like to buy for others on your list, and even has a price comparison facility. For those who buy online or know those who'd like to shop for you online, this is a great tool. It's free to sign up, and the biggest thing (at least for me) has been the ability to create a wishlist for websites that don't have the facility (ie Vision Forum). And did I mention that it's got a baby and wedding registry? So cool. Check out my wishpot, if you're interested - you know, for research...

Recycling

So, remember that neck warmer I made for Toby? The one that was too small and I accidentally cut into when trying to modify?

Well, yesterday I ripped it out and made my own version. We're looking at a 2x2 rib running width ways and a sewn seam up the back. It fits beautifully, and I have some more of that lovely alpaca left (though not much).

I'm happy and Toby's happy. Not bad for a couple hours' work.

A quick poll

At the moment, orders can't be placed on my Phoenix website, but I am considering an upgrade. I'd love to know if anyone would be more likely or willing to place a card order if I put the payment facility on the site, or if emailing me orders is sufficient. Feedback, please!!

I'm not sure...

Most of this looks pretty cool, but the ginger just seems a bit of an overshare, somehow.

I *Heart* Yogurt Pots

I am a loser. I know. What else would explain such a lame title? But it's true. I've come to think of yogurt pots as one of the most versatile pieces of rubbish-fodder in our home. Their uses are legion, for example:

• Measuring cups - the cheap, store's own brand are about a one cup size, and they live merrily in my flour, sugar, rice, etc. tins.
• Bath toys - poke holes in them or leave them whole, the kids can't get enough of them. And if they get gross, throw them out.
• Painting pots
• Tea bag bins - not the most aesthetically pleasing, but it does the job and it all goes into the bin.
• Baby stacking toys - different sizes work better for this, but Ellie still had a ball with them during the girls' school work the other day.
• Playing telephone - yes, my kids still do this.
• Beach/sandpit toys - put a bunch of little ones inside one or two big ones, and you've got castles and turrets, and no one cares if you lose a few. Any leftover sand stays inside, if you're clever enough to keep the lid.

I know there are more ideas and I know some of you have them. Please share with the class. After all, I'm now loathe to throw them away and Toby's getting concerned that they're starting to breed.

The store is open!

Online store, that is. As of today, I have my own Phoenix Trader website where you can view the products, ask questions and find out more about the products on offer! Not that you couldn't before, but still...Come check it out!

Fort McHenry

The next installment of Why I Haven't Posted Anything in a While - after Toby's week away in Cranbury, NJ, he took a day off and we did the local tourist thing by heading over to Fort McHenry. It was one of those places you could live near for years and never get around to visiting, so it was nice that we did.

Not that you can tell an awful lot from the photos, but for the uninformed, this is where Francis Scott Key wrote The Star Spangled Banner during the War of 1812. Nice little bit of history for the English transplants. I realize only now that we didn't take any photos of the flag that inspired Key so. How dumb.

It was a nice day, though, made complete by listening to a rousing rendition of our national anthem by some school children on the way out. Very sweet.

Trunk or Treat

Goodness, this is out of date now, but I had to show off my cute family at our church's Trunk or Treat affair:

Falling in with the treats chest - my littlest princess clearly needs to work on "perching"

3 princesses, a knight, a jester, and (below) a queen on her throne (though Abigail insists I was a duchess).

Loads of people came and had fun, in spite of (and perhaps even because of) the rain. It was a great night, and I'm so glad we got to be a part of it!