Corner View: The December Holidays

It snows here all the time, and we say, "eh, snow." It's just the thing that happens, and we love it. We love playing in it-- exploring in it. Painting it and making candy in it.

We however do not love scooping it, getting stuck in it, driving in blizzarding conditions.

But when snow falls in big beautiful flakes on Christmas morning (in Alabama-- first Christmas snow since 1968ish) on a house full of cousins. It is magical. And when it's warm enough to play outside in your light coat with too-big-borrowed gloves on-- lobbing snowballs to your hearts content. It's mind-blowingly wonderful.

How were your Christmas holidays?

For more Corner View's visit here. 

Read Aloud: What to Read on an Airplane

I should never say I'm going to 'be here a bit' or 'show projects' because yikes! That never happens when I say it will. 

I'm sitting here with a cup of coffee mustering the strength to pull the children out of their warm beds and shove them into coats. Knowing that their night was far too short. And I am not ready to get out of my snuggly-amazing robe the kids got me for Christmas. It was such a good trip-- we went to visit family in Alabama. Warmth and snow, BBQ and sweet tea, red velvet cake and coffee... cousins and snow ball fights. Laughing, football watching, game playing, treasure map making! I just couldn't be more full of good memories.

We read Cinderella and Little Wizard Stories of OZ on our airplane flights. We read The Wonderful Wizard of OZ this summer and Little Wizard Stories introduces so many new characters.

And now the kids are interested on reading more about Jack the Pumpkinhead and the Hungry Tiger. Which aren't even in the movie (they haven't seen the movie... I'm not ready for flying monkey nightmares...).

So fun to see the kids imagination ignite with great literature-- without photos, just their minds eye to guide them. Isabel begged, "Read more! Read More!" I think that was my best Christmas gift this year.

How was your Christmas? Are you reading anything good?

Solstice

  

This night, last year I was with these people.

Tonight, we are celebrating again, family, food and perhaps a Mary Oliver poem. And this day starts a week of celebrating.

I'll be here a bit sharing some projects and traditions. I'm glad we are going to be warm and well on this longest night of the year. 

May your family have a warm and calm, refreshing and simple holiday week. 

Do you have anything special planned?

Handwork

Handwork is an important part of my life, it grounds me. My work life is all digital building websites and eStores, uploading photos... I am so connected to my computer. When I come home I want something in my hands to see the progress on-- the rhythmic pattern of knitting or a freehand embroidery.

So I wasn't surprised when my kids-- especially Isabel-- wanted to sew. They love picking out old scraps of to put into the embroidery hoop and picking out their yarn. They had been working on little 'blankies' and hand sewing at daycare (my friend and former preschool teacher now watches my kids and her kids... they have so much fun!). So now we have a handwork basket at the ready for story time or weekend movie watching. It is amazing to see her with her project and me with mine, elbow to elbow on the couch. We have a deep understanding, our minds are occupied, our hands are busy but, we're together.

Birch trees encased in wax...

This technique is century's old, there is nothing new. But this IS new, it's new to me. I've been thinking for years about painting with this golden glaze. I finally took the plunge and using my old candle making supplies from junior high, I melted wax in a double boiler (wait can you call an old Folgers coffee can a double boiler?), and with an old paint brush I began layering my birch trees with vintage sewing patterns. Creating an erethral space between each translucent layer.

 Encaustic painting as it's called, uses wax (traditionally bee's wax). It's been used to add texture and intrest, to encase a book page or a painting or when tinted used as paint.

This particular piece was done with melt and pour pellets from Walmart, I don't think century's ago they'd approve of using cheeeeap wax. But I thought I'd use it up before I upgraded to bees wax.

 And my brain has been a little dry lately, all of it used up for Spanish, work, family, home or holidays. So this evening of experimentation was just what I needed to feel refreshed and ready to take on all that this December has to offer.


Where has your creativity been lately? Are you crafting up a storm for the holidays?

Corner View :: Traditions

When you are young you mark time and season by the traditions we keep. Snow comes and in a while Christmas is here. A few weeks after Thanksgiving we hang stockings, put up the Christmas tree and make cut-out sugar cookies. Hot chocolate abounds.

My favorite Christmas tradition, is reading Christmas books all piled on the couch. Or seeing the glow of the tree in the quietness after the kids pad off to bed.

What are your favorite traditions?

For corner views and traditions from around the world visit here. 

Dear friends.... a graduation letter.

I would like to title this a Christmas letter. But I have no such letter written. I do have a tree up, but no presents wrapped. Half of them are not even made yet. BUT! I do have good news.

Yesterday morning at about 11:15 a.m. I graduated from college.

It was years in the making. Three measly credits in Spanish to complete so I could have that glorious piece of paper.

Well, after this morning's final,  the paper is proverbially mine (though not in my hands yet).

Needless to say, this little blog will no longer be so unattended. I actually have fun! Awesome! and exciting news to share soon!

So, in lieu of a Christmas letter, today. I hope you'll take this graduation letter, to tied you over for today!

In the Book Basket: Wintertime Books

My favorite part of Christmas is not the gifts (even though they're nice!) or even the food (but it tastes so good!), it's spending time with family. And now that I have my own kids, we are carving out our own traditions. And one tradition we have is gathering up all the Christmas books and each night we choose a few to read together. We pile onto the couch, under quilts and blankets... and I revel in those quiet moments together.

In our book basket this year, we've got some oldies and some goodies.

Here's a few of our favorites:

Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

The Mitten by Jan Brett

Red sings from the Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman

The Velveteen Rabbit By Margery Williams

Madeline's Christmas by Ludwig Bemelmans

The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel

What are some of your favorites? Maybe we could add them to the basket for next year!

We are in full swing...

 

Christmas season is just revving up for us-- last night we finished up the last of our christmas shopping. Our new tradition of shopping together but seperate. 

Eric took Isabel to go get secret things for Truman and I and Truman and I shopped for Eric and Izzo. It worked out perfect except that Truman doesn't understand the words "Top Secret."

So for now,  he's the only one who doesn't know what he's getting under the tree. 

This weekend we'll decorate and wrap gifts (and I'll disappear for the better part of a day to study for my final). And I have lots of sewing to do! 

Wishing you a healthy and happy holiday season!

If you want this awesome Rock Bridge Tree with Rustic Star... I found it on etsy.

Thanksgiving for food...

Two things you can be sure of in our families. Food and coffee.

It was a great feeling to wake up every morning and put on a pot of community coffee. This year Grandmommy had gotten starbucks Thanksgiving blend. We went through a pound and a half. Breakfast? We need some coffee. Afternoon sweets? Coffee! Leftover cupcakes and pumpkin bread. Co---fffeee! And with pumpkin pie? Pass the coffee. Ahhh isn't it beautiful?

For Isabel's birthday, our dear friend Melissa and her sister made these awesome cupcakes. Red velvet perfect glitter sprinkles and sugar, wonderful rings adorned each one. Totally fancy for our fancy girl!

Dad and Eric made breakfast together, pancakes and eggs. And of course good coffee, it reminded me of when I was little, every Saturday morning Dad would make batches of pancakes. Just the smell of pancakes make me happy.

Priscilla, my beloved mother in law made this spicy ginger cake with the kids in this ginger bread house cake pan. Isn't it perfect? I broke little pieces of it off all week to have with my coffee. O my. I think the trees tasted the best. A little crunch, lots of spice.

Megan, my sister had this awesome idea to make a pomegranate-jalapeno-glaze for the turkey. The recipe was for ham, but I suspect that you could use it for any kind of meat.

Ahh this post is making me hungry and a bit homesick!  Christmas will be here soon, and another round of food and coffee!