molly irwin

giving :: tie one on

While I don't intend to reference every post from the One Good Loaf site to my home blog, this recent discovery certianly merits the mention.

Author of The Apron Book, EllynAnne Geisel, is hosting an event aptly called: National Tie-One-On day.  She suggests that on the day before Thanksgiving, we each wrap a loaf of bread, or other baked goods in an apron and deliver it to someone in need.

This is such a simple, yet compelling (and do-able) suggestion, that can yeild immeasureable results both for the receiver and the giver alike. 

Learn more about the concept and an exciting giveaway through the links provided here, or in my more detailed post at one good loaf.

the holiday crafting begins

 

Before the rain came last week I set out collecting. As the kids played in the park, I gathered these nice curvy, uniform reeds (or actually they seem more like super long leaf stems) that had fallen to the ground.  The goal: try my hand at Molly's stick stars.

Snipped to the same length with clothes pins securing the ends, I got into a groove tying them, layer upon layer.  I'm so very thankful for the tutorial because, honestly -- I cannot over-emphasize the importance of clothes pins in this project.  Those little ends just want to pop out every chance they get.

Now that I've got the process down, the short left-over ends just might have to be fashioned into a smaller version for the tree.

Here's a big thank you to Molly for sharing this project! If you are not familiar with her lovely blog, a Foothill Home Companion, you should really head over there and check out her warm stories and projects ... and I'm not just saying that because she is a Molly ;)

Holiday project number one: stick stars. They make me smile. Now I just need to decide where to hang them?

 

it was a happy one

 

She was a happy swirly, twirly witch. Now then ... on to November.

wearwolves of london, again

"You should really make your bed."

"Why?"

"It sets the tone for the day."

"How do you know what tone I want to set?"

Possibly the best line from a rather mediocre movie: Smart People.

--------------------

Ive been feeling mentally stuck somewhere between summer and Christmas.

Our garden patch still yields fresh roma tomatoes, until Monday I was wearing flip flops, and there's that nagging summer book just waiting for a bit more narrative text.  Then the temps dropped and the wind blew and my music choices and thoughts began to pull me toward the latter with an unstoppable force.

Historically I've had trouble getting into a Halloween frame of mind, and this year is no exception.  My best friend, Carrie (Hi Carrie!), loves Halloween with a passion and during what I would refer to as my 'drinking days' (more commonly as one's twenties) she was able to coerce me into some interesting, quickly assembled themes. There was the painted cardboard placard as a credit card, head-to-toe silver space cadets, the borrowed felt ducks, and then when she married, she and her husband partied as two of the hippest, color-coordinated nerds leaving me to wear my painted foam box of french fries all by my lonely self. I think that was the last year for me. Hands down though, Halloween seemed more exciting as a young adult amidst the dance-floor zombies out-horrifying each other, vying for a year's supply of free drinks or the $100 cash second place.

And so ... I've procrastinated all week about stitching up some pieces for a child's witch costume. A job that (as history repeats itself) was accomplished in a hurried fashion, however this time came complete with some useful self-taught lessons on my poor neglected Huskvarna Viking.  

When my daughter happily became a sparkly, self-proclaimed "princess witch" for her school party this morning it was then that I began to feel in the trick-or-treat mood.  And after choosing goodies from the seasonal remains of the grocery shelves, with the radio blasting the late, great Warren Zevon -- sunshine streaming across all those leafy golds and reds -- those childhood memories began to overshadow the crowded dance floor of my mind.

I'm enjoying today for just what it is; full of all its children's activities.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

Holidays :: plan B

A tree full of colorful lights like I had as a child ... hand made softies (a bear for Joan, a soft car like this for Marty) and a lovely little keepsake book documenting our story this month.   Ahhhh ... that was the plan in November.

Well, things rarely go as planned and the holidays are no exception.  You've got to roll with it; find alternatives.  What's the plan 'B'?

Yesterday I replaced colored lights with strands of white.  I just couldn't get passed that pink hue to get motivated to deck the tree.  We lost quite a few needles in the process, but it was well worth it to have the pretty red and white glow of glass, pine cones, butterflies and candy canes.  The girls and I are making some gingerbread ornaments this weekend to finish it all off.

My old sewing machine just isn't ready for use.  Frankly, I have to admit ... it scares me a little. It's been a while.  I think it may be time for a new machine, which I want now more than ever.  (Dear Santa)  So, my handmade gifts this year are small memory books for each child, highlights from our summer customized for each girl and a mini board book for M. I've been working on them anyway and now I'll just wrap them for under the tree.  I must say I'm really happy with how unique each one is turning out; how personally fit for each of my children.  I'll share them with you here, soon.

As for the "December daily" notion (I thought I would play along with Ali) but with my camera woes, (now my backup digital is going awry, too) I've decided to shoot film and start "documenting" next Wednesday with the kids Christmas pageant, journaling right on through our New Year's eve celebration with family.  That will cover our annual road trip and will be a really good reflection of OUR typical holiday experience.

Today I begin holiday baking!  We have sun streaming in the kitchen window for the first time all week.  The soft light + the sounds of this should make for a most enjoyable time making mini pecan tarts.

It's mixer time! Let's see if that works.

Happy weekend!

tradition: getting the tree

Annual holiday tradition: picking out our tree at the CYO lot.

December 2006:  just toddling around in soft-soled shoes.  falling down a lot.  picking up sticks.  always smiling.  Last year Helen and I went to a mother daughter cookie exchange instead of getting the tree.

December 2007:  more sure on the feet.  running faster. still falling down, but not so much.  still with the sticks and the smiles.  We opted out of the cookie exchange this year; we won't be missing our family tree selection again.

make way for Christmas

   

Deadline met.

I'm somewhat reluctantly posting this image (taken with my phone) but I wanted to share the finished advent tag/tree project and what with my digital camera on holiday and all, this is the only instant method I could come up with.

How do the tags become an Advent calendar, you ask?

Each evening we'll take down a tag and replace it with a red glass ornament.  Then we read a bible passage that for tells the Nativity story.  Today: Micah 5:2-5a, which ends with "... He himself will be peace."  There will probably be a chocolate kiss, a peppermint, or hot chocolate some evenings with our little before-bed routine, too.

The tags are made with bits and pieces of things: a torn envelope from the mail that had a cute reindeer stamp, a couple of circles punched out of a starbucks cup, a Christmas tree cut by hand, a few fuzzy words, ribbon, some ric rac, a few chipboard shapes ... a real hodge podge.  They are thin wood, cut from scrap that we had around, but chipboard would work even better. Tipping the edges in red paint gave it a nice crisp outline.

edited to add yet another poorly scanned close-up:

Red circle number tags by Every Jot and Tittle.

We took a walk to the park today and collected the dry branches from the ground.  Add a little duct tape and some rocks and there you have it ... a potted tree. 

And so it begins.  While we still have Indian corn on the front door, the holidays are shifting inside the house today and I'm excited to document this month with my trusty older (but not old) Nikon N65.   

been working on ...

Advent tags, shown here in progress. 

Yes, yes, I know the project is due Saturday.  I'm never one to miss a deadline. I worked in advertising, and I'm well-schooled in a big push to the deadline.  Wish I could show an actual photo, as the scan is not great quality.  That's why they are shown smaller than actual size, which is aprox. 3 x 4.  They are made of thin wood, covered in patterned paper, with a few ribbons, words, etc. adhered.  Just a bit more tomorrow and they'll be ready to hang.   

to be continued ...

holiday reading for young [at heart]

Caution: a very linkey post - lots of jumping around.

Do you have a favorite book that you take out and read each year at Christmas time?

For some, it may not be a traditional Christmas-themed book.  My friend Terry would (for some reason) re-read JD Salinger's Catcher in the Rye each year at the holidays.  Not a choice I would make, but he said it took him back to thoughts of that particular Christmas as a young person when he first devoured that book.  He got something different out of it at different stages of maturity -- a mark of a good book, I'd say.

A few years ago, I borrowed a book called Two from Galilee, by Marjorie Holmes, that I really liked and could easily read again and again.  It is historical fiction, written from a the very human perspective of Mary, about the events that took place before the birth of Christ.  It really moved me to think of this time of year in a different way, as a mother; as a woman.  It's in my shopping cart at Amazon now.

Last year I picked up a second hand copy of Susan Branch's Christmas from the Heart of the Home.  Not so much an in-depth read, as a lovely flip-through.  While the recipe ideas and the illustrative style are not modern, this book has such a sweet appeal that I like to have it out handy on my table at the holidays.  I also reach for the Silver Palette Cookbook, for holiday hors d oeuvres and special, festive cookies.

As for the kids, we pretty much stick to Christmas (and winter) themed stories for the month of December.  Some favorites, pictured above, include: Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree (great for the younger set 4-6) Look a likes Christmas (a visual treat for all ages) An Angel came from Nazareth (beautifully illustrated with embossed touches) and the Wild Christmas Reindeer, a Jan Brett classic.  Others are classics we read straight through the winter include: White Snow Bright Snow, and The Snowy Day (Keats). 

I've just loaded up a large basket with all these and more to put in their bedroom. 

My girls are growing [too] fast, and we are ready for some more challenging titles that they can grow with over time.  I'm definitely taking Lori's glowing recommendation on this J.R.R. Tolkien book:

[photo courtesy of Lori Pickert, campcreekpress.com, click photo for book link.]

I find myself visiting Camp Creek Press daily.  It's always a great read, full of wit and wisdom.  It matters not if you are a homeschooling family; if you are a caring parent, that alone is enough to find gems among Lori's themes.  If you're looking for holiday gift ideas, you should check her posts on kids's studio art supplies and her post on book recommendations.  I love what she says about family time, education and mostly this post about keeping the holidays in perspective.  I want to know if she was writing it specifically to me, and so will you.

So ... back to the books:  Please share the Christmas-y titles that you and your family enjoy.  I'd appreciate your help as I add a few more titles to our selections this year.

Happy holiday reading!

the good day

The girls were busy crafting today - entirely their own ideas, since i was busy in the kitchen.  Funny thing with this one is the only "everybody" we had come over was their uncle.  Another version of used wood scraps is to the right of the noshes, below.  I don't think those leaves are going anywhere, anytime soon.

After collecting leaves for table decorations they settled in to some puzzles.  I thought it was interesting they chose this one today; a day with a uniquely American celebration.

Using heirloom pieces for the table setting made our dinner feel extra festive.  Who says a kitchen table can't be elegant?  The girls fell in love with the German figurine wine glasses (they drank cider) and although Paul and I worried that they might get broken, I really wanted to make a special memory for them.  They proclaimed these their favorite part of the meal.

And that was one of the last pictures I took before I dropped the camera.  Now everything looks like this.   

I'm pretty bummed, but I'm sure (????) that it's a simple, inexpensive repair (she said with quivering lip.)  But it was a great day even with a new thing to add to the fix-it list ... really great all around.  I'm so ready to go into this weekend with fun things to work on. 

Hope you all had a good day as well.  Soon it's December.