Today we interrupt the holiday festivities - and celebrate instead, the birthday of a very special girl.
Eleven. Imagine that.
Emily - You always ask me to tell you stories about Mema, who you never had the grand adventure of knowing. So here is a tiny little 'story' (advice really) that I don't think I've ever told you before. Mema always told my mother that you know your doing a good job as a mom if you can look at your own children as they grow older and say "You know, I really like them." She wasn't talking about whether you love your children, of course a mother loves her children. But that you actually like them... as people, this was important to her. Well sweetie, I can say that I do, I honestly do. Sometimes I look at you and think how unaware you are of your own brilliance and goodness, I wonder where on earth the time has gone. And I treasure you - my god, do I treasure you. Happy Birthday.
I think I'll be signing off for a bit. I hope your days ahead are filled with peace and festive times with loved ones. And if you are still holding on to the hope of getting it all done, making it perfect and complete - take a breath, let it go, and settle in.
Too much snow, we stayed home. Our sitter (grandma) couldn't come to us, and we couldn't get to her... two towns away. Well, Adam would have gladly driven, he'll drive in any amount of snow. I suppose that's to be expected when your drivers ed experience takes place in the north woods of Vermont. But I'm kind of a wimp and my girl is irreplaceable and there are way too many people around here who did not learn to drive in the snowy hills and mountains of Vermont. They would be out on the roads too. We stayed home, my call. It's okay, I actually felt really badly for my friend. So much work and expense goes into that kind of entertaining... I hope many people (who had less driving involved in their evening) were able to go.
We spent the night walking around the neighborhood... watched Christmas in Connecticut... and worked on some remaining gifts that need finishing. Today, a little more of the same. More snow arrives tonight as well. I'm a big believer in if it's going to be winter, let it be white. So this is fine by me, it feels right for the cookie making that is about to take place this afternoon too. I've got two planned for today, one is new. The other, Chocolate Peanut Butter Bark, I've made for a few years now. I've said it before, Cheryl's recipes are always excellent.
What are your top two or three cookies for the holidays? Would you mind giving us a little list in the comments... links to recipes would be great too, if you have them. A sort of virtual cookie swap, fabulous!
I hope the comments work for you today, many of you have emailed and said that you couldn't leave comments here over the last few days. I'm so sorry ( and I miss your messages!), it is a Typepad issue and they are working on it...?
How could it be? Doesn't the universe realize the last time I got all dressed up, colored my hair, and wore sparkly jewelery was... oh, probably Becky's Christmas party last year? That even a barefooted, bellbottomed, treehugger needs a night out once in a while. It's in my DNA.
Becky's parties are legendary. Whether it's Christmas (sushi bar... heated tent with a dance floor on the front lawn...) Valentines Day (I've written twice about that), Fourth of July Barbecue (ice cream was flown in from across the country), or an office party to celebrate Ed's company's new location ("Heather, just so you know, aside from the chicken on a stick thing, I had the caterer prepare everything else vegan." eek!) - they are always out of this world. It's quite possible Martha could learn a thing or two from Becky, seriously.
Tonight's festivities are threatened by a gigantic snowstorm that is arriving any minute now... up to 12 inches of snow is predicted. I love a good snow storm, but tonight?
I have no clue how to play roulette, black jack, or craps (sad, I know) but I could learn! And I could be sparkly while doing it, right? And I could catch up with friends that I don't see nearly enough, yes?
Well, as far as I can tell the night holds two possibilities. Let's hope it's not me sitting at home crying in my el cheap-o gin and tonic. Safety first, right?
Fingers and toes crossed people, fingers and toes. Thank you.
I'm not one of those bloggers who has their camera with them everywhere they go. I'd love to be, but my camera is not a high performer, and it has at times been responsible for putting me in a frustrated tizzy when I am out and about trying to enjoy life and it isn't capable of capturing the shot with it's 5.1 mega pixels and it's 3x optical zoom. Of course it is with me often, many pictures do wind up here afterall. It's just not automatic for me, and frankly, sometimes it's best if I leave the camera and the tantrum at home. Recently I've tried to get in the swing of flickr and have been enjoying the editing features they offer. It has helped to jazz things up a little, and in turn has bought me a bit of satisfaction until the day an SLR enters my life.
Yesterday we went to a Holiday Light Parade down by the shore. My mom's friend recently opened a candy shop right along the parade route, so we headed down to see Melinda's adorable, sugary shop, and to take in a really festive parade. I decided to bring my camera, and indeed there were moments of frustration, but there were a few really good moments too... I'm glad I brought it along.
Here is a little scrapbook of the day.
See, ten minutes out of our little city, driving through the country... we stumble upon a jolly old man in a warm red suit. See him at the back of the tractor... driving down the road? Complete with hay bales, and the smell of diesel in the air. We actually used to live in this town, right here on this green. There is a great deal of Revolutionary War history here, a battle was fought on the field you are looking at. George Washington slept in a house just to the right of this shot. Now part of the green is flooded in the winter by the local fire department for a very safe four inch thick pond hockey surface. Makes this mama not worry so much.
Then we picked up my dad (mom was already down there) and as the guys hung out in the front talking about hunting and drywall and blah blah blah...
Emily and I had a little photobooth-ish fun in the backseat.
Then we arrived to Melinda's store, Gumdrop's and Lollipop's. She had it all sparkly and dressed for the occasion.
A little corner inside the store.
A beautiful view behind the store. Doesn't it make you want to beg for a summer job? This would be a pretty sweet spot for a lunch break.
Then it was time for the parade. There were firetrucks...
And gingerbread houses...
And girls who danced in twirly skirts...
And there was this... before you click on it, maybe you should read below.
It was a really lovely time, so many local dance companies, churches, and other groups put in a lot of work dressing floats up with twinkly lights and Christmas music. But there was one float that left me pretty amazed. It's hard to get your mind around the idea that this is the local auto parts store and not some major commercial endeavor. I remembered last minute that my camera could take video, I hope you enjoy it. I know it's not the same as being there. But imagine being at your local parade and everything is lovely, creative and at times homespun which is wonderful. Then this rolls down the street, stopping every hundred feet or so to perform it's little number, seriously incredible. The creative energy that went into such a project was huge and felt by everyone. I wasn't able to capture too well the pirate ship and flag that rose out of the top, or the smoke guns that went off. Yes,a pirate ship.
I hope to be around this week, but I'm not sure how realistic that is. Things are getting rather busy around here. How about you? Are you checking things off you list? I think it's time to break out the clipboard, that always helps me stay focused and organised.
It never fails to surprise me how little sauce results from pounds and pounds of apples. Every time I make applesauce there's a "no way, that's it?" moment. Never fails. But this is it, the very last of the apples (picked in the fall) have been put up to get us through until next apple season. Those apples in the basket don't count, they are from a friend... for snacking. Total apple-y goodness tallies for the season are:
6 quarts applesauce (freezer) 8 1/2 pints applesauce (canned) 12 apple pie fillings (freezer) 12 1/2 pints apple butter (canned)
And you know what? Crazy as it sounds, I bet it won't be enough. But it will make such a huge difference. Dare I say 200 pounds are in order for next year?
I wanted to take a moment and say thank you for your considerable support and generosity in my little shop lately. It has truly meant more than I can really convey at this time, but I am incredibly grateful, thank you. I do have an idea that I hope to share on Friday... hint... custom mantra quilts. Your mantra, maybe your child's name, you decide the word(s) then choose from 5 fabric combination options. I design and ship it out to you.Awesome! I suppose that was way more than a hint... if you think that might interest you, look for the details on Friday.
Cathleen's knitted dishcloths. (oops... I just nabbed some. don't worry, there's more. and such a bargain!)
Rhonda Jean's latest post at Simple Green Frugal Co-op.
Rubarbsky- I love Carrie, she is so funny and always has rockstar recipes. I wish she lived closer.
And, what's a link list without a you tube contribution... my favorite Graham Parson's song, She, performed by Norah Jones, so pretty.
Hope you are enjoying holiday preparations and are making it top priority to keep it mellow and stress free. I am pretty deep into gift crafting myself, which explains why I am blogging about apples in December - can't show much else here right now! I love being a busy elf...
Today we cast aside struggle, focus only on our blessings, and feel tremendous peace and gratitude. May your day be filled with the same... and your belly filled with all things homemade and yummy. Happy Thanksgiving!
Hey there. Just some photos today of Easter Sunday at my Aunt and Uncles house. As I was going through these tonight, trying to find the words to capture the day... I realized it wasn't necessary. The day was beautiful and joyful, these pictures say that better than I can.
Jim and Janice, you rock for hosting this motley crew... we are many!
Thank you Sandy and Dan for being with us, you both make every day brighter.
Emily had three wishes on her list for Santa this year. I really meant it when I said I'd post about Christmas until the summer, bear with me.
1. Old school roller skates. This kills me because I had them as a kid, the kind that were made out of metal, rusted easily, had four big red wheels (no inline business back then), and the perpetually missing skate key. I wish I had saved them for her because I know she stumped Santa big time with this request. There is a very good chance the elves who once made these skates, back in the day, are long retired and living fat and happy golden years alternating between fireside naps and belly filling feasts, provided by the Mrs.Claus.
2. A 1930's little girls dress. My recommendation to Santa for next year would be to invest in the expertise of Miss Peter Pan Collars, Wiksten-Made. These things are best placed in the hands of those that know what they are doing. I'm not doubting Santa, goodness no. I'm just thinking that those plump, retired roller-skate making elves of his have long forgotten the ways of whipping out those peter pans... even if they'd have been willing to share their wisdom with the new elves on the block.That's my guess anyway as to why such a dress did not arrive under our tree.
3. A hat. The kind a hobo would wear. Or a runaway. Or a train conductor. Or a little boy from the 1930's. We're pretty fascinated with the 1930's. Somehow Santa was able to pull this one off, I have no idea how but I am so grateful because man, this was one hell of a list.
The hat gets worn a lot! It has proved to be a most versatile accessory, working it's way into all sorts of play.
Santa, no worries about the other two items on the list, another time. And I do hope you visit us for many years to come.
I think if I continue with the pace I'm on, all that I have to share from the holidays will be just about complete by mid-summer.
This incredible quilt does not belong to me, though that is my bedroom in the photo... the quilt was given to Emily by my mom and dad for Christmas. I immediately asked Em if I could borrow it, I've got such a thing for blue and green together lately - and this chartreuse with the funky mod flowers I pretty much am head over heels for. There was a tiny glimpse of it revealed in a post here , which my mom of course read. The next time I was at her house she gently commented that she had seen my new quilt on the blog... I of course quickly tried to defend myself... "oh, yeah - I'm just borrowing it - we haven't switched Emily's bed yet." Right...
There is an older lady in Northern Maine who makes these quilts, her daughter helps her now as Bernadette is quickly advancing in years. I've mentioned a little about her and these amazing quiltshere. The way she whips the quilts up with the softest cottons, new and old is overwhelming to me and inspiring at the same time. She never uses batting or an inner layer of any kind. And the backs are usually a bed sheet. Because they are thinner than traditional quilts it's so easy to throw in the washing machine, no worries there. Anyway, back to the quilt that I stole from my daughter... my mom wasn't really buying my defense and asked me if I'd simply like a quilt for myself. Upstairs we went to the guest room where her abundant stash of quilts is kept. She almost always pays a visit to the quilt ladies when in Maine, and always finds at least one (usually several) to take home.
Here is the one I chose. It's not entirely "me" but was the most "me" of the collection and I love it so much, for reasons beyond the fabric colors and combination. It's funny, the top quilt says "Heather" all the way - but I love them both exactly the same. Does that make sense? I bet you all get that.
