Anne Halpenny, December, Christmas Shopping

My goal was to be done with Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving... That didn't happen.

Most of what got in the way has to do with my new fiance (not to be confused with any old one). He kind of occupies most of my time. He is the most amazing man ever! He write me poetry; he cooks breakfast, lunch, and dinner; he takes my car in to be fixed; is very loving and caring; I wipe his nose - it's like we're married already!

And then there're my church responsibilities and library duties that keep me plenty busy the rest of the time.

But despite it all, I still managed to accomplish getting some things crocheted; a couple of ninjas, barrettes, and a "bad piggy" from Angry Birds (For those of you who remember the January post about the Angry Bird =) ); and buying a few gifts for some friends.

And then I also cut my thumb yesterday in a freak accident with a paper cutter. My coworker is to blame! I was doing just fine until he came up behind me and said, in a most dastardly manner, "Don't cut yourself." So I did. I don't know how, but I did. But don't worry, I'll get him back somehow. I'll put glitter in his hair gel or something. Muah ha ha!

As always, thanks for reading. Take care and have a very Merry Christmas.

Anne Halpenny, October, NaBloPoMo

Happy Veteran's Day!

My goal is for all you readers of blogs or readers of books. I had to get a blog for school but didn't know quite what to do with it. I finally decided to make it a Reader's Advisory blog. Reader's advisory is a major part of librarianship, especially in the children's department, and I happen to be very bad at it. I figured this would be a way to practice AND answer a frequent question from friends and relations as to what I recommend to read.

I know this is suppose to be the goal I accomplished in October buuuuut, oh well. NaBloPoMo is National Blog Posting Month, a.k.a. November. Bloggers are suppose to blog once a day for the whole month. (Blame my sister...)

Anyway, here she be!

"Think Fast, Rabbit" http://searchfastrabbit.blogspot.com/

Good Reading to you!
(...Hope you like picture books...)

Anne Halpenny, September, Online Courses

My goal was to take 1 online course and 1 webinar as continuing education for my profession as a librarian. I've been registered for an online course dealing with library programming for school-age children. This is the first one I'll have taken and I'm a little worried (I hate school, you see), but it's good to keep my hand in. I still need to take a webinar but at least I'm registered! Wish me luck!

I realize I didn't actually do this goal in the right month, (haven't done it at all yet) but it's slated to happen...

Anne Halpenny, August, New Recipe

I have come to the realization that as the year passes, the goals may still get accomplished, but my blog posts get shorter. July is now posted; please read because I make a request in it! My July and August goals were so similar, I did them at the same time (however, it happened to be in August) so here they get posted the same day.

I don't cook. I don't like cooking, I don't do it for fun, relaxation, or scientific curiosity. I do it to not starve. For this reason, I tend to eat a lot of meals from frozen foods, boxes, and raw fruits & vegetables. This month, I decided to branch out and practice a few things.

I fed the missionaries this month too. I set the bar low so the fact nobody died means my meal was successful! Although that elder did go home right after... Nah.

Double-cooked Breaded Chicken
It's regular breading (bread crumbs, seasoning, S&P, egg & milk mixture). With defrosted chicken, coat the chicken, pan fry both sides for about 1 minutes, coat the chicken again and bake in baking dish @ 350 degrees until chicken is done (20-30 minutes). The genius here was for my gluten-free friend; instead of bread crumbs, I ground up almonds. It tasted better!

Mashed Potatoes
These are soooo decadent! Yukon gold potatoes, boiled until soft enough for mashing. While mashing, add equal parts whipping cream and a grated hard cheese (parmesan, parmesan mix, etc.). Mine came out a little sticky because I didn't add enough cream/cheese. Add until creamy!

Lemon Broccoli
I got compliments on these! Cut the broccoli florettes off, the stalk doesn't really work for this recipe. And this might seem a little overkill (and it might be if you know a better method but) hand oil the broccoli... Yup, by hand, get oil on your fingers and wipe each piece of broccoli. It's gross but it prevents the broccoli from getting too wet. Add seasoning, S&P and roast in oven on a regular cookie sheet about 20 minutes. When they're done, sprinkle lemon zest and lemon juice (2 uses for 1 lemon!).

All done! So good! One missionary said it reminded him of Sunday dinners at home. The guy I was trying to impress complimented the broccoli as "actually like it." And the gluten-free friend had no issues!

Dessert was nothing special; literally what I had laying around. Ice cream was vanilla and over a month old. White peach was amazing! but unplanned. Chocolate I got at church that day. Still good! Now, it does get to be over 100 degrees here most days in the summer so ice cream anything is always appreciated.

This was the third time making this meal and it still took me over an hour to prepare. Fortunately, there's quite a few steps you can do before cooking begins.

Success! And I have a "fancy" dinner in my backpocket!

Anne Halpenny, July, Organize Recipes

The age old problem of collecting recipes but not keeping them organized. In my defense, they are all together... Yeah, nobody believes that wimpy excuse. So let's get down to business.

The Process

I took all the magazines, index cards, grungy cookbooks, printouts, and photocopies of recipes, cut, ripped, trimmed, and pared them down to individual recipes. Threw out duplicates. And Let the sorting commence! These were my categories:

• Cooking Tips & Guides
• Drinks
• Sauces, Dips, & Decorations
• Appetizers
• Breakfast
• Breads
• Sandwiches
• Soups
• Pasta
• Fish
• Meat
• Vegetables (considered separating out potatoes and/or adding salads, thoughts?)
• Salads
• Fruits
• Desserts

It is true that some recipes qualify for more than one category. But being a librarian/cataloger, I considered the purpose of the recipe (showcase a salad or showcase a vegetable?; fruit on the side or dessert finale? Breakfast overrode all other categories). Anyway, all managed to find a home.

(If anyone has recommendations or is willing to post the categories they use for their recipes, I would love to see them! Not in love with my choices.)

The Equipment

I love, LOVE page protectors. Those things are heaven sent. Can't get enough.
Plastic cover binder (going to be near food, none of this fabric stuff)
Dividers (actual dividers, tabs, paper clips, anything so long as it's color coded! another love)
Paper (to attach all those loose recipes to) and/or
Index card box

The Outcome

You know those boxed sets of books you get at Barnes & Noble? I snagged one from work from a boxed set of "The Chronicles of Narnia" to use as my index box. Classy, sturdy, and educational! All recipes with fronts & backs necessary to the food, I put in the index box.

All other recipes were glued to paper, inserted into page protectors, and filed away into my binder. In this way, the binder didn't get too heavy and I don't have to take it apart each time I want to read the back of a recipe.

The Sentiment

3 times, I've made menus for school assignments/art projects. It was kinda fun to use them as decoration.

Anne Halpenny, June, Pen Pals

I didn't quite make this posting on time but then, this was a goal that I tried and failed at.

A year ago, on July 3, 2013, I met the 9-year-old niece of a friend of mine. She was the only girl in a family of 3 boys. I liked her and I think she liked having another girl around who talked girl stuff.

 

I wanted to try corresponding by snail mail. I wanted to be a friend to talk girl stuff to. Perhaps a little archaic, but letters are also a good way to practice handwriting, spelling, grammar, and linear thinking. I was hoping it would be fun too.

I started out in December with a Christmas card and gift:

 

She seemed to like it and responded. We wrote 3 letters each back & forth. Then she stopped. She's 9, school was back in from winter break, I wasn't going to see her again. There are many good reasons for her stopping, but I was sad about it.

 

I had work and got busy, but after about 2 months, I wrote her a note again (just 1, the others are visiting teaching):

 

After I moved, for her birthday, I sent her a card and a crochet hair barrett, with my change of address. I haven't had any response since January.

 

I tried but this was one goal that didn't play out.

Anne Halpenny, May, Apartment Move-In!

Well, I've done it. Not really but oh so close! I got a new job last February in the northern part of Los Angeles county. After months of training, prepping, and paperwork, I moved May 3rd to Lancaster, CA. I knew I couldn't move in completely in 8 days. And to be honest, I'm still not completely moved in now. What follows is a series of pictures I've taken throughout the 1 month and 1 week I've lived on my own.

 

My ex-room (everything I owned was in that room) all boxed up:

 

Empty apartment:

Yes, that is a walk-in closet. ...and fireplace...
Next are my moving day pictures:

My unpacking progression:

 Broke down all the boxes and Voila!

And my major purchase(es):

I bought the futon on moving day and the coffee table last weekend. I still need a bureau/dresser drawers.

I really don't have that much stuff!

Why this goal was because this was my first full time job, my first time moving out on my own, my first show of true independence (college soooo does not count!) and I'm very proud of it. Week 1 was a bit lonely (I'd previously lived with my sister, her husband, their 7+ cats, and cable), but I'm much better now.

Yay for elbow room!!

Anne Halpenny, April, Enduring to the End

This is, obviously, not my original goal. I didn't know when I was going to move (I had originally thought the beginning of April but it ended up being May.) So I haven't moved entirely into my apartment seeing as how it's only been 8 days. So I thought back over what April was like and I thought about the physical, emotional, and spiritual journeys I've been on.

Physical: I did move! I packed my life into a truck and drove to another town to live. I very much appreciate all the men/missionaries who helped with the heavy lifting. There are times when I'm grateful for missionaries. 4 companionships, plenty of muscle and short on brains, showed up... bless them. At the other end, unloading the truck, there were fewer people. I have asthma so my physical endurance is pretty weak. Grateful doesn't begin to cover the appreciation and love I have for my family who moved me in and have taken care of me throughout my life.

Emotional: Stef will tell you, I cry during sentimental commercials. It's a release for me, to cry it out. I think it's better than getting angry or ignoring the problem. Not that there aren't times for those as well, but at least no one gets hurt with my crying and I can do it alone. Anyway, people in my life are facing new things for them (some joyous, some not) but I'm grateful I can be there to share it, sympathize, empathize, rejoice with. (I happen to be able to empathize really well) For myself, I've been dealing with something long-term. It's not in the forefront of my thoughts, but the thing that hangs in the back, always present but not hogging the attention. I hope and pray everyday for it to be concluded. This month, I realized what I should do in the meantime, while waiting for the issue to take care of itself. It's a hard thing to accept, but it brings peace for now.

Spiritual: I realize I was purposefully vague on the last section and I'm sorry I can't elaborate. However, this month, I've developed a habit: I look forward to Sacrament meetings. It's a time I've gotten many answers to prayers. It's a peaceful time, I'm alone regardless of the people around me, and I've tried to utilize it. I'm glad that I've been writing down my experiences in my journal through the years because I will go back to a certain Sunday and read what answers I received that day, just to relive it and feel the confidence I had in the spirit and myself.

Enduring to the end is one of the hardest principles to succeed with because one, we haven't succeeded until we die, which means we're all still in the middle of it. And two, it's not a one time deal. I write in my journal, done. Baptism, done. Sacrament, done. Temple, done. But enduring, it's not a single step to do and be done with. It's a lot of little steps to juggle and continually juggle for...ever. Looking back at time periods of length, I wonder how I survived the passing of the days. One prayer at a time, I find...

Well, thank you for letting me ramble. It's been a spring where nothing happened and yet I changed a lot.

Anne Halpenny, March, Storytime

I started a new job in February. I was going to show a storytime I planned and presented but circumstances being what they are, I am unable to write about it, even though I did accomplish the goal. Until I get approval to post about it, here is another project I accomplished in March. I learned how to make flannel stories. I selected 2 poems/stories that I could use the same flannels for:

I learned how to make templates, cut out the flannel, and was introduced to fabric paint(!) I know what I would do differently next time, but I'm rather proud of how they came out.

I'm sorry this is so short but it's not what I wanted to post. It may change.

Anne Halpenny, February, Pantry: Organized!

My goal for February was to help my sister, Jane, with her New Year's resolution. Her goal is to clean one room/closet in her house each month; February was the pantry. Jane does not like to clean and organize but she has high hopes and big dreams when it comes to her house (she's an architect). That's where I come in. I love organizing and am highly motivated to be so. Therefore, she often recruits me to help. She thinks my process is funny but since I'm doing the work, she never complains.

My process has a couple steps, most of them common to everyone (empty the shelves, better support for heavy items, etc.) but the one Jane chuckles at is I sit and contemplate a project before I begin. I draw diagrams to optimize use and time. I tell her to "be one with shelf." =D

The Project:

Funny story: a couple years ago, I organized Jane's pantry because it was completely haphazard. No rhyme or reason, everything shoved in wherever it would fit. I organized it. And here we are again, 3 years later to do it again. Needless to say, it wasn't nearly as bad. Below are "before & after" from the first organization:

Before

After

Followed by the latest organization:

Before

After

Yippee!

Anne Halpenny, January, Crochet Gifts

Hey, I'm Anne. (ATL is my blog name "Anne the Librarian") I live in Los Angeles, I'm a librarian (currently with 2 part time jobs, soon to be reduced to 1 full time job...Yay!), and I just bought my first car. I ended up on ProjectConnect because my best friend, Stefanie, sister-in-law to Nora, "dragged" me in. Actually, I love organizing and I'm not creative so seeing other peoples' creativity is helpful. I'm excited to see all the ideas!
This goal was two-fold. First, I recently took up crocheting again and this time I've gone wild! I learned how to read a pattern and I've branched out from the regular afghan or blanket. Second, my sister, her husband, and her 4 children live in England. Every year, the Christmas presents that need to be sent to England never get sent until January. Since I made them this year, it took me a little longer than usual.I usually browse Google Images for fun patterns and I stumbled upon the Angry Bird. My nephew (2 years old) loves Angry Birds so I'm really excited for this.

I started out making the purse for my niece (5 years old); it was one of my first projects.

Finally, my other nephew (6 years old) likes pirates. I couldn't find a (free) pattern so I created one. I found a pattern for a beanie, found a nice skull & crossbones, and the genius part, the back ties from a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle hat(!) to create the pirate hat. This was the tough part because I do not make my own patterns.

Gifts. Done. I'm excited to see how they like them.