It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year...

Hangin' at home and continuing blessed traditions from childhood and making a few new ones...

licking the beaters...

wearing my apron Meg made me...

making cheesecake for the first time...

hushed, secret gift-wrapping time...

bellowing through the wrapping paper tubes...

brown paper packages, tied up with strings...

"no peeking!"

some lucky person is going to get Oliver's mini-van :)

knitting, just like Great-Mama taught us...

creating books of the Christmas story (idea from here)...

(no room at the inn)

(im)patiently waiting for the glue...

painting Christmas scenes on the windows...

keeping the mint hot chocolate and marshmallows on hand...

diving into the cookie jar filled with goodies from our sweet neighbour...

relishing in the details that make the holiday perfect...

playing with the nativity scene...

O Come Let Us Adore Him!

Stitches of Love

It's that time again. The cool weather seems to bring out the crafty side of us. We add in more art and more handiwork in late fall and winter than the rest of the year. Last winter, Meghan practiced her knitting skills which Mama had taught her while she was still with us. I have photos to remember this--a great blessing. This year, Meghan shared her love for knitting with her sister, Molly, who is thrilled to find she picked up the skill quite easily. Emily, of course, would like to be a part of the big girls' knitting club and so I began a tiny square for her, explaining that knitting isn't always simple for little fingers. Not several minutes later, she held it out from her body, remarking that she was done with all this. Perhaps next year.

Our goal last year was to knit enough squares to make a blanket for a homeless person, through the organization, "Blankets for Canada". Since we needed a little more practice, we're hoping to try again. Please check out their website and be inspired and if you're from the U.S., maybe there's something you can do in your area as well!

http://www.blankets4canada.ca/