Christmas Around Our House

The smell of pine was alluring to me this year, but I wasn't up for the effort it takes to set up and maintain a tree.  I decided to check out what my local garden center had in stock and ended up coming home with a bundle of mixed pine branches with a little eucalyptus thrown in.  I made 4 pine bouquets and spread them around the house.  It hit the (scent) spot and seems to be lasting longer than a tree would have.  Next year I plan to get one of the beautiful wreaths the staff at Mother Earth Gardens were making when I picked out my bundle.  They were the most beautiful wreaths I have ever seen!  (It was dark and cold and I didn't have my camera when I was there, so you will have to take my word for it.)

front porch pine bouquet

Part of our holiday was spent at home with the pets.  Tchazo got a new, squeaky santa toy.

Waiting patiently for santa.

Fanny destroyed a bow and hung out in her new box.

Jack got a new coat.  He is getting so old!  Sometimes he falls down or slides off of things and decides it isn't worth the effort to get back up.  He will just lay there for a while until he decides it is worth the effort to get on his feet again.  I think he was pleasantly surprised when sliding off of the dog pillow landed him right on top of a heating vent. Serendipity!

These doggies sure do love to snuggle together when the temps outside dip down.  We've been letting them spend their nights like this instead of in their crates.  I think their night time mischief making might be behind them, so they have earned pillow privileges in their old age.

More Christmas fun to come!

Ramona in Purple

My knitting project for my San Francisco trip was this hat.  The pattern is called Ramona Lace Helmet.  I started the hat while I was travelling, but didn't finish it until a bit after I returned home.

When it came off of the needles, I was concerned it might be too small.  But, I trusted that it would grow when I blocked it and it did!  It fits me exactly how I wanted it to!  It is sort of magic when it works out that way.

I altered the pattern by completing 3 extra lace repeats before starting the decreases for the top.  I like how it sits with that bit of extra length, plus my row gauge was tighter than the stated gauge.

I recommend the channel island cast on that the pattern indicates.  It is extra work but I think it makes the edge look really smart.

I wore this hat endlessly until I was forced to transition from my fall to winter coat.  As it turns out, my winter coat is a shade of maroon that looks horrendous with this luscious purple yarn.  Oh well!  You can't win them all.

Thanksgiving and Challah

There is no arguing that I am way behind on blogging.  This post goes all the way back to Thanksgiving!  We were asked to contribute a loaf of challah to the Thanksgiving meal this year.  My mom's husband Roger is Jewish.  He doesn't have a his immediate family around to help keep their traditions going, so my mom thought he would appreciate the addition of a loaf of challah to the meal.  Paul and I were happy to oblige.

Neither of us had made challah before, but we took on the challenge by making a 6 stranded loaf using a brioche dough from Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day.  Braiding 6 strands is tricky!  Paul read the step-by-step instructions to me as I braided the strands.

The dough rested for a while, got a little swipe of egg wash, a smattering of sesame seeds and then went into the oven to bake.

It turned out beautiful!

My Uncle Bill, Paul and I have enjoyed sharing our homemade goodies and know-how over the past few years.  This year, we brought some of Paul's home-brewed beer, some grape juice and a jar of our recent batch of sauerkraut for a family taste test.  Bill and the rest of the family gave us the seal of approval on all of our offerings.  It is fun to be able to share what we make and especially flattering to have our German relatives who grew up eating homemade sauerkraut approve of our kraut.

Despite Jessy having a bitty boo boo on her elbow, she was able to rally and enjoy the meal.

Thanks to my mom and Roger for hosting the extended family for Thanksgiving every year!

Happy New Year!

Today marked the 4th annual New Year's Day Crafternoon.  It has become a tradition I look forward to.  I love spending the first morning of the first day of the new year in the company of a group of crafty, smart and cherished friends.  This year that group included Jill, Jamie, Jessica and Missy.

We ate really well, which is an important part of this tradition!

We crafted, we chatted and we enjoyed a warm morning/afternoon inside while the temps were very January-like outside.  And, as usual, I was focused on the socializing and hosting duties rather than my camera.  These are the only 3 photos from the day!  That is ok, though, because it is the time together that really matters.

We started the year as I mean for it to go on, which is what is at the heart of this annual Crafternoon gathering.

2012

2011

2010

A very happy New Year to you!  I hope you are starting it as you mean for it to go on.  

I am spending the rest of my afternoon/evening trying to wrap up 2012 pictures and posts.  Check back this week for the onslaught of 2012 F.O.s, pet pictures, some food highlights and a rundown of back to back to back holidays that happen in my family during October-December.

Happy Winter Solstice!

I know this space has been silent for nearly a month.  Although I haven't been posting, I have been cherishing time spent with my loved ones, time spent stepping into other lives through movies and books, afternoons and evenings passed with a combination of snow-gazing, baking, cooking, knitting and time spent celebrating the normal days and the special ones....you know, LIFE!

I plan to return to the blog very soon.  I've been amassing photos, stories and finished objects to share.  But, for now, I am going to hold tight to this memory of a winter solstice spent at my friend Jill's Unitarian Universalist church.  Tonight's service was dedicated to acknowledging the value of the darkness and of the returning light.

This year, I am appreciating the darkness and the winter in a new way.  I am relishing the season that inspires me, and others around me, to bring people together, to host at home, to hold still with a book, to knit under blankets and to s l o w down.  I need a season to remind me of the importance of those things.

And then....and then I need the light and warmth to return! I need to dig in the dirt and begin the work of restocking my pantry with all manor of preserves.  But, for now, the memory of a packed house of candlelit faces is what I am digging.

Wishing you just the right balance of darkness and light throughout the coming year.