Pyrex Present

Our family often exchange used gifts.  When I opened the gift my parent's gave to me on Christmas Eve, I was happy to discover two individual-sized 'Forest Fancies' dishes!

I haven't used them yet, but I will.  I only have a small collection of pyrex and have never baked in it before!
Other kitchen goodies (new ones!) that we received for Christmas were: a heavy-duty pizza cutter, a recipe keeper binder, tea towel, filet knife, kitchen scissors, veggie scrubber, and cookbooks.  Thanks everyone!

Christmas Greetings!

Hello and Merry Christmas!


It has been a hectic few weeks with Christmas preparations, parties and the end of the semester.  We only got our Christmas tree up on Monday and I adorned it with all the garage sale and thrift store ornaments I found over the year.

We almost didn't get a tree at all. When we went to the tree lot (which is a fundraiser for the Boy Scouts) there were only 5 trees left.  At least that cut down on the decision-making!  We chose this one, and I think its spareness suits the mid-century glass ornaments.
I hope that you are all having as good a Christmas as we are.  I'll share some of the great gifts I received tomorrow.

Crafty Repurposing

Sometimes I like kitschy crafts too much.  On the weekend, I found myself invariably drawn towards this crocheted scrubby + potholder set.  Maybe it was the Christmas colours, or maybe because it was only $3.00 at a craft sale fundraiser.

But the best part was when I looked closer....the crafter used an old CD to be the rigid base of the potholder.

This seems to be one of the best ways I've seen CDs, CD-ROMS & DVDs repurposed.  Usually they end up as a sun catcher or ornament, but I like this idea better.  This set is going to be a gift for someone who recently started to host her family Christmas dinners.  Hopefully, she likes it...if not she only has to use it once a year!

Leftover Salmon

I notice that preparing for Christmas is on everyone's blogging radar.  Christmas is milestone day for another reason: frozen salmon should be used by then!  So I baked a salmon on the weekend and today we had to use the leftovers.  While I prepared individual shrimp and salmon pot pies....

...Hus mixed together and fried Salmon patties!

I just layered flaked salmon and shrimp with leftover potatoes in the ramekin dishes, added some frozen peas, capers and sautéed carrots and onion, smothered it all with a roux and topped it off with frozen prepared puff pastry.  The salmon patties are destined for the freezer; they heat up nicely in the sandwich press for a quick lunch or dinner.

Mugs

My last thrift shop purchase was this mug.

My eyes were attracted by the bold 80s graphics, and as my hand cupped it, my brain wondered "is this Waechtersbach?"  It was!  And made in "W. Germany."  25 cents.  I have never seen this pattern before.  But I am really digging the primary colours and whimsical design!


Speaking of whimsical, I bought this circa-1977 mug some time ago.

I hadn't seen these "Love is..." comics for quite a while, and the condition was too good to pass up.  Here is a little history of the comic strip.


I'm linking up to Her Library Adventures' Flea Market Finds.  Check it out to see purchases from thrift shops and flea markets around the world.

Friday's Freebie: Mid-Century Coffee Table

Somehow I neglected to post about this awesome 'freebie' that Hus and I received from his sister in the summer.  It is a teak and tile coffee table Hus's stepfather bought in the 1970s from a Danish interior store.  Hus's sister had it for a few years, and with two rambunctious boys, it is a little worse for wear from dribbled chocolate milk and the like.  She decided to give it up to us before it got any more damaged.

Now we have to do some research about how to refinish or refresh the teak.  

Sore Legs and Arms

So...I did it.  I ran the New Balance Fall Classic half marathon in Vancouver on Sunday.  21.1 km!  It was a great experience and I had a pretty good time of 2:18:45!  Yay for me!  When I flew home, Hus had a bouquet of Lilies for me.  Is it just me, or do some Lilies smell like hot dogs?


So I have been hobbling around for a few days, and my legs only felt like 'normal' today.  But, I had an opportunity to match my sore legs with sore arms!  It has been snowing all day and I've already shovelled the driveway twice!  I guess its good that I did my half marathon already since the winter is going to put a hitch in my running schedule.