Christmas Wishes.

The other morning my feeling better boy (stomach virus) snuggled up with me on the chair and looked out the window. We talked about how we were happy he was feeling better, that he got a good night sleep, and so on. Then we started talking about Christmas. He started preparing his Christmas wishes.

First on the list was a snowmobile. I said Santa might laugh at that one in Tennessee. Second he wished for some Minecraft figures. (Mental note made.) Then he thought some more and said he’d like a jack hammer. Phew, I told him those are very hard on the body. He said, well okay then, a skid steer would do it. He just needs something to do some tunneling.

This boy’s destiny is heavy machinery. I’m just not sure how Santa will play this one.

Owls by Matt Sewell.

The most charming birds indeed, certainly a most charming book. The eye candy in this book is fabulous. Each page has a sweet illustrated owl with factual information about it. Yes, I lost track of time when I cracked it open! Sewell’s attention to each bird is fascinating (top right corner photo is my favorite – the Eurasion Pygmy Owl). His passion recognizable. Each picture made me want to flip to see the next, page by single page, slowly, savoringly.

But more than just the art, this is a valuable reference book for many years to come. One I will keep on the shelf and pull down again and again, it is timeless. It comes complete with a checklist in back to mark off the birds as we spot them. It’s a great handheld size too.

Matt Sewell’s site is full of illustrations to drool over. (He also has a similar book of woodland birds.) For any passionate naturalists out there, Owls is a book worth getting your hands on.

(P.S….I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review.)

Twisted Fingerless Mitts.

En route to my niece, a pair of fingerless gloves. When wondering what I should send for her December birthday, I thought winter hat. But then I channeled my inner teen. Duh! No girl wants a snug winter hat to botch her hair! Then I thought ear warmer, but in the end, the fingerless mitts won. They should go nicely with her plum winter coat. They won’t mess her hair, and in fact might even look cool? Dare I say?

The pattern (twisted fingerless mitts) was fabulous and feels so nice in the Mountain Colors yarn. Soft, stretchy, cozy, all good stuff. I shortened the cuff from five rounds to only two as I thought this length would suit her more. Last year I sent her boot cuffs which I hear are still loved and even borrowed to her friends. Definitely loving that!

Christmas Tree Drawings.

Inspired by a post of form drawn Christmas trees on instagram @waldorfeducation, we tried our own. We’ve listened to Hans Christian Anderson’s The Fir Tree many times, so we decided to make ours fir trees too. We started with the inner form in green. Then the boys shaded those, added a stem and colored the surrounding space yellow for the glow from the candles. They finished with a border. A lovely little start to decorating this season.

Molting Chickens.

Our White Leghorn molted a few weeks ago. Now the Red Sex Links are molting. They look much worse than the Leghorn did. They just look ragged. They really remind me of when they were about 6-8 week old chicks, gangly, wild creatures. I am finding tufts of feathers everywhere in and out of the coop. It must be worse because there are three of them.

They are in no mood for photos. I can’t blame them, but don’t worry gals, it will be over soon.

Martinmas Lanterns.

Martinmas came and went while we were a little busy. But, as things do, it settled down around here and I finished up the lanterns. Last year’s paper lanterns turned out so lovely, that I wanted to try another type of paper lantern. I followed this tutorial for these hexagon star lanterns. I must say they are my favorite, but of course I probably say that every year. Being so late it seemed a moot point to do a walk. Instead, we lit them all and fell asleep with them glowing in the house (with battery tea lights, of course.)

As I was tucking them away to make space for the next holiday, Dear Husband said, “Why are you putting those away?” I’m so glad everyone appreciates their beauty. They definitely can be out year round, I’m sure.

Mack: Our Shelter Dog.

Our old man can’t make it up on the bed anymore. Fortunately he has some other sweet spots to rest. Everyday, as I walk circles around my home (not aimlessly I swear), I see this fella perched and napping. Sometimes I ask him if he’d like to swap, do a little chores while I lay, but most of the time I think he is so darn cute and leave him be.

This man came to us from an animal shelter in Rockford, IL thirteen years ago. He was 5 1/2 months old, had long legs, big paws, and a good smile. I convinced Dear Husband he needed us, even though we had two dogs already. I’d never do that again, but I’m so glad we did.

We named him Mack, after the everlasting trucks. He fit right in, ready to play, ready to rest when the other dogs made him, and always good for some petting. Fences have been accidentally left open and he’s never left. Call his name and he can’t get to your side fast enough. He never ate through our trash, broke anything, or swallowed a baby chick. He has been known to wander to the neighbor dog’s house if left alone, but he’s always happy to return when you call his name. I’ve literally watched him chase rabbits to our property line and then stop. No fence, no underground fence, maybe a few name calls. He’s just an all around jolly fellow and a true good dog, the stuff of legends. Perhaps, that is why I don’t deny him his day long naps. He’s just a good dude looking for a little rest time. He’s totally earned it.

Simple.

I came upon this abandoned scene upstairs last week. At the moment I discovered it, as evidenced by shadow, the rainbow creation was resting in the windowsill. Serendipitous, don’t you think?

The boys have had this rainbow stacker for over five years and it is still in use. It dawned on me that simple toys (and things) just last. Simple things are uncluttered, unconnected, perfect for reuse. We have many other toys in the house, but some are strictly themed. When the boys play with Minecraft figures, that’s all they are. They are so distinctly Minecraft, they can’t be knights, pirates, Star Wars, or anything else. Yet these rainbow stackers can be used all the time because knights, pirates, Minecraft characters, or Star Wars guys might need ships or hideouts or hills. And man alive, wooden blocks! I can’t count the number of ways those blocks performed. Currently they are Minecraft islands, but previously they were Angry Birds courses, and before that Hot Wheels tracks. In fact, if I tried hard enough, I think I could link wooden blocks to their play all the way back to when they were toddlers.

As Dear Husband and I search for gifts for the boys this holiday season, I definitely need to pause and check the simplicity. I think we get our money’s worth when something is durable and simple. I’m leaning towards a schoolyard ball.

Soon.

Things have been downright crazy since Halloween. Well, the night before Halloween.

My son tripped the Friday night (before Halloween) in the yard and incurred a small eye injury. He’s recovering so well and is his chipper self again, something we all are super happy about. During this whole diagnosis and healing process, Dear Husband relocated jobs (closer, yay) and we decided to go on with a small construction project in the house. To squeeze more in, I ended up sick myself, which has now worked its way through the household (save for my son who had the injury, phew poor kid could use a break). A whole lotta toast getting eaten around here.

Truthfully, the past two weeks have both dragged on and flew by at the exact same time.

And participating in anything Martinmas was laughable. There was no way we’d be able to finish and light our lanterns… even if we remembered. I guess I should have finished them in October when I started them, instead of shelf them with “so much time left to work on them.” Soon though. Soon. I’ve been working on them little by little and we hope to use them soon.

Thankful.

I smile when my sons are witty to strangers. We high-five when they attempt something new and succeed. I’m delighted when they solve a problem I’ve had. It’s all the little daily accomplishments that make me so thankful. Thankful to have met my boys and to have shared parenting them with Dear Husband. Thankful I’m able to tuck them in at night and read to them. Thankful to share their interests in racing and drawing. Thankful that they are growing, interesting, healthy boys who make our days far from lonely and boring.

I have a thankful heart for these little men in our lives. I’m thankful for so much more to come.