What day is it? Really? Already?

So it appears as though it might be December 19. I don’t see how that’s possible, but there you go. My whole year ran away from me, and the last few days are probably going to sprint past me at light speed.

So I’ve been quiet in December, as opposed to my frenzy of posting in November. Fact is, the end of the year in my particular type of employment tends to get pretty nasty, plus there are family visitations, and it’s just busy.

If you’ve ever wondered why I post so much about charity on my blog, it’s because I am a fundraiser for a living, which means that I see firsthand what kind of work charities are faced with every day, and how small their budgets are. Most charities are not big like the Sierra Club or the ASPCA. Most are like mine - local, with a huge responsibility in the community, with a shoestring budget, too little space to work in and a dedicated but skeleton staff.

I believe in the work of charity because I believe in compassion and empathy, and I believe that we all have a responsibility to help out our neighbors. Everyone needs help from time to time - we are not islands of self sufficiency in a sea of humanity. Everyone will face hardship through a medical problem or loss of income or something else, and it’s not easy to get back on your feet. There are so many who are helpless - people in shelters, abused animals. So I consider it my responsibility to help. Plus, I am realistic - I know that I could be that person who needs help and doesn’t know where to turn, and I’d like to think someone else would help me if I needed it.

I am inspired to wax poetic today because December in this fundraising sort of job is big and important - people in the US give 50% of their charity dollars in December. Which means for my charity that keeping our name in people’s minds at this time of year is critically important. In this age of multiple means of communication, producing multiple communication tools means reaching more people, but also lots more work. That’s what I do. I’m also the person who is responsible for processing the money when it comes in and saying thank you to everyone as well. In December, I work a lot, and I work hard getting ready for December as well. What happens this month is what will get us through about a third of next year.

I am filled with the holiday-ness of spirit in December — crafts, food, family, tree, lights… But my job requires that I see the other side as well, what wintertime also means - that people are having a hard time right now. Winter is really difficult for people with very little and causes a lot of health problems, even here where it’s relatively warm. So many are not having a merry time at all. This job is an experience as much as it is a means to feed myself - and it makes me, I hope, more thoughtful …

So I post a little less in December so my energy goes to work instead, and buy fewer things than I might so I can give some to others rather than giving in to the relentless consumerism of the season. That, too, is why I took the Handmade Pledge - so that what I do spend I put into someone’s two hands, so it’s more meaningful. I try hard not to be irritating or sanctimonious (ick) about my insistence on charity, but it’s hard to watch the sorts of things I see and not want to encourage everyone to help however they can, y’know?

Cheers to all, and I’ll see you in a couple of days

Cheers to finishing a holiday present!

I’m having a lovely holiday-ish day & evening, which my cat Callie is helping along … doesn’t she look helpful? She’s a whole pile of fluffy trouble.

Today began with a very large breakfast …  so I’ve said I’m nuts about weekend breakfast, but I don’t buy two packages (each) of bacon and sausage like my dad does. When I came downstairs this morning, there was an awesome superfluity of protein and condiments.

I had my dad put away the baking mix, though. Baking mix doesn’t get used in my house. I’m very serious about this. I use my classic Betty Crocker pancake mix, and don’t try to make any other kind of pancakes Chez Miriam.

Then it was off to spend a lovely afternoon with my friend Paula at a craft fair. I got some good stuff, I thought, and I was impressed by the number of vendors who were candidates for running pipe shops. You cannot see what I bought yet, because then people won’t be surprised. I believe possibly that I have triumphed in relation to a certain younger relative while still maintaining my buy-handmade pledge, but we shall yet see.

I am very appreciative of my couch right now, which allows me t0 relax and watch the Food Network. There’s a Paula Deen/Cat Cora vs. Robert Irvine/Tyler Florence Iron Chef Battle on and today’s secret ingredient is sugar. I love Paula Deen - I can’t cook any of her food for fear of instant heart attack, but the woman is hysterical and her food appeals to the southerner in me.  I like cooking fritters, too.

I think it’s worth noting that I finished a holiday present - a scarf for my brother’s girlfriend. This was the scarf that was intended to be plaid, however the plaid did not work out although I did do some helpful experimenting, so it turned out to be a lovely striped scarf. The last step was fringe … and then the scarf was done!!!

The scarf finishin’ was not easy because Callie took a great interest in it, although at first she pretended to ignore me… but eventually she had to give into her instincts and try to take it away from me.  She was very interested in the process of trimming the fringe.  The picture after this that I didn’t take is of her leaping on me and trying to take the scarf away.  But I rescued it, and all is well.  My brother is pleased with the result, and I hope Stephanie will be

That’s an incredible outfit

That took a long time to crochet.  Talk about your unique outfits.  Wonder if he has more like that??  What do you suppose he’s working on next? (via Charchaa)