Word for 2014

I was thinking I should write up a year-end review of 2013 to post. But 2013 can be summed in just a few words rather then a long post:

From January-March same old same old. From April until mid-November a haze of morning sickness & pregnancy. November 20th precious little girl number two came along. From November 20th until now...new baby haze/Christmas haze/Ree thinking she's a teenager haze.

The other day Twitter was abuzz with everyone talking about how they were thinking of the word or theme they want to carry into 2014. I've done this each year myself, only to have me forget by mid-January. This year I'm hoping it'll be different.

I've decided on the word Poetry.

Poetry in the sense that I need to see the beauty in the world around me. In the view outside my window; in the faces of my beautiful girls; in the love of my husband; in ME; in the words I read & the words I hope to write. I want to feel all the emotions of the moments around me. To be much more present in each moment of the day. And as I was thinking & pondering, the word poetry kept coming back to me. 

I've also come across this beautiful post "why Poetry matters" on the blog eat this poem. This was after I'd been pondering if I should use poetry as my theme word for the New Year. 

I'm not sure where this word will take me but I'm excited to find out. With the birth of the baby I'm finding my emotions are all over the place. Love for both my girls; the overwhelming feeling that there is so much to do & not nearly enough time to do it all; am I neglecting Ree while I care for the baby? she's been acting up so much is it due to the new baby? the excitement of Christmas? exerting her independence?

I'm hoping by trying to be mindful of where I am at this point in life, to see the poetry in all the moments of the day, good and bad, easy and difficult, I'll be more present. More calm, less likely to raise my voice. I don't know as one word can do all that but maybe it will center me a bit more.

Now lets see if I even remember what my word is come the beginning of February!! 

Make & Listen

My making is listening this week hasn't been too productive. I haven't started V's quilt. I wanted to make both girls new pajama pants for solstice but I haven't started them yet either. That's okay. There's plenty of time this winter for both pjs & quilts!

Ree & I did make peppermint bark & she made cookies with my mom. She's also been going to town with the art supplies. This week she's been making a fort out of paper & adding to it. I'll have to try to take a picture, but each time I grab the camera she says not yet, it's not finished!

As for listening it's been Christmas carols!

What are you making & listening to this week? Head over to Dawn's to see what other's are up to!

Two for one

A picture post today for the December prompts. Yesterday...late afternoon light. Today...baby it's cold outside. And with temperatures waaaay below freezing, the prompt today is perfect!

Weekending

This picture sums up our Sunday!

After a busy day Saturday, the morning spent cleaning...nothing like having company to get the house cleaned up. Although I kind of like the clean surfaces & floors! Visiting with our company; then Ree & I decided to make peppermint bark after they left. 

As dark fell the snow began to come down. When we woke up this morning it was a messy, yucky, rainy snow. While Ree & Daddy went to  Church and a stop at the grocery store, Baby V and I stayed home to do the dishes, have a snack, and nap for her while I knit a little bit.

This afternoon was cuddling with Ree & Baby V; a bit of knitting and watching football. All while eating too much peppermint bark and pizza for supper!

On the list for the upcoming week is finish wrapping for Christmas and getting started on Baby V's quilt!

Linking up with Amanda!

Something old

We decorated our tree last weekend. I love pulling out all the ornaments from year to year and remembering the stories that go along with each one. 

So many of my ornaments are handmade, most actually. Some I made myself but the majority were made by my mom. The two pictured here are my favorites. (There are a few other colors like these but those pictures didn't come out well).

She made these the first Christmas she & my dad were married. I have always loved them & they were always my favorites to put on the tree as I grew up. When I got married and had our first Christmas tree, she let me take one of each color. Considering that they are special to her as they adorned her bridal tree & that both of us have looked for a kit like this to make more for years with no success, I am honored to have them. 

The little drummer boy in the top picture is also an old ornament. That one was my grandmother's. It's not hand made but it certainly is old! 

Weaving words with the December prompts!

Make & Listen

There's been quite a bit of making around here the past week. Ree's favorite thing to ask these days (aside from can I paint?) is to make a Christmas art. My brain hasn't been too sharp so we've been going the simple route. Printing out ornaments to color, a tree template to decorate, a blank piece of paper to paint. I've also made out our Christmas card list & ordered the cards. Addressing & mailing those will happen in the next few days.

I also have a copy of Amy's new e-zine Line. I've very quickly browsed through it and I LOVE it. She's done amazing work once again and I can't wait to dive into it with Ree. I'm thinking we'll wait until after the New Year. It'll be something fresh to look forward to after the flurry of the Christmas activities & fun. Head over to check it out though as Amy is offering a deal until December 31st: 20% off using the code HOLIDAY.

She has written a post with suggestions on how to use the new issue with another post coming soon with a round-up of other line-related activities. Lots of great stuff to check out!

Linking up with Dawn for Make & Listen Thursday!

illuminate

I looked up the definition of illuminate this morning. Not because I don't know what it means, just because I was interested in seeing the official meaning.

1. To provide or brighten with light.

2. To decorate or hang with lights.

3. To make understandable; clarify: 

4. To enlighten intellectually or spiritually; enable to understand.

5. To endow with fame or splendor; celebrate.

6. To adorn with ornamental designs, miniatures, or lettering in brilliant colors or precious metals.

We've certainly been illuminating things around here lately! 

Even the weather has decorated the outside world for the season. With a new baby I've been seeing the sunrise every day now. I enjoy watching the sun come up over the horizon as I feed her. It slowly makes it's way across the living room until it reaches her newborn head. In those moments of quiet, as I gaze on her new little person as she gulps her milk like there won't be anymore in a few hours, I am in awe of what I helped bring into the world. Just over 9 months ago she didn't exist. And then I grew her,  nourished her, protected her. And now she is here. A whole little person whose personality is slowly emerging. She is such a sweet, mellow, patient baby so far. We are so blessed that she came to join our family. 

For the past three weeks she has been the definition of illuminate in our house. She most certainly has been a light of joy to all of us.

Since it's Wednesday & yarn along day I thought I'd put up a picture of what I'm knitting. It's not much as right now I'd much rather be snuggling the new little one or doing things with Ree. But I did begin a new pair of socks. These are for my sister who asked for a pair the day baby came. I can't guarantee when she'll get them but at least I've cast on so when I get a spare moment here and there I can knit a row or two! 

You'll notice the knitting it out of focus but the baby isn't. I was going to re-take the picture but I thought it was fitting!

Again I'm following along with the December Prompts!

should | shouldn't

Writing along with the December Prompt A Day

I should

~have more coffee

~clean out some stuff before Christmas

~write more lists

~get outside more often

~see the beauty in everyone

~be more present in each moment

~be silly 

~read more poetry out-loud to Ree

~yell less, listen more

~see the Christmas season through Ree's eyes...it's more magical then through adult eyes

I shouldn't

~worry what people think

~be so quick to judge

~speak before I think

~worry about things so much...they always work themselves out

P.S. does anyone want to join me in Heather's new e-course, Hibernate? It looks fantastic! She has a special going on until the end of the week, bring a friend. We could sign up together & split the cost!
I signed up with Donna! But check out the Hibernate page...it looks like a fantastic way to start out the New Year!

Weekending

This was a good weekend for the prompt Bauble since we spent Saturday decorating the trees...inside & out. We put ornaments in the kitchen too.

Other then decking the halls & some Christmas crafts we didn't do much other then continue to gaze at the new baby. There's been some cooking. As I type the smell of roasting vegetables is filling the house. A baby is snoozing in front of the football game. Ree is "napping". The husband is doing the dishes. I think there will be a chance for a little bit of knitting...maybe finishing a pair of socks; defiantly some hot chocolate and sitting by the Christmas tree with a cuddly little one. Tomorrow we start a new routine...Daddy heads back to work!

Linking up with Amanda

Slant of Light

Once again I'm using the prompts from Amanda each day of December! Yesterday's was Slant of Light

As December dawns, the golden light of Autumn gives way to the slate gray light of early winter.

Around here the sky has been gray for almost a week now. The change in light is most evident to me as I sit in my chair near the window, looking out over the historical cemetary. Just a few weeks ago the sunlight was streaming through the yellow maple leaves. Now those branches are bare against the sky as the sun tries to break free of the clouds surrounding it. 

As I look I think of all those beneath the headstones, gone hundreds of years ago now. Between the stones, the old stone wall and the Puritan gray of the sky I am transported back in time for a moment to what used to be here where my house is. All the living that has taken place on this land. And I realize that the same sky, the same sun, possibly even a few of the same tress, have been here since the beginning. The way the light streams down is no different today then it was when the first person was buried here. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We have so much to be thankful for this year! Especially for the safe arrival of this little sweetie pie! 

Baby V was born on November 20th weighing 6lbs 4oz and came home a week later after a few difficult first days of life. She is perfect & healthy and Ree is absolutely in love with her new baby sister (as we all are!) 

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Christmas knitting

And with the finished shawl & stocking my Christmas knitting is done! And with plenty of time to spare too, thankfully.

In celebration I cast on for a pair of socks for me. They are bright! But I do like them. Although I cast on for the small rather then medium. They are a little tight but I think once baby gets here & the swelling in my feet goes down, they'll be okay.

Oh. I just remembered my Christmas knitting isn't done! I have still have one mini stocking to make up. But that shouldn't take but a half hour!

I haven't been doing much reading. I did start The Language of Flowers but I think I read it before. I haven't read much of it except the first chapter so far this time.

What are you reading & knitting?

Weekending

This weekend has had ups & downs.

Saturday started out nice & relaxing. Then Ree decided to tantrum & a tired uncomfortable momma tantrumed right back. We both went to our separate corners for a little while. She's been sick almost all week and I think being in the house seeing no one but mommy & daddy started to get to her. 

Thankfully daddy got home from work to rescue both of us. He & Ree went out to do all kinds of errands. I went to the library alone where I was able to sit in quiet to finish my book. And pick up another one to start. Then I came home where we all stayed outside cleaning out the car so we can put the new baby seat in & hang up the Christmas lights (not to turn on yet, just so that's one less thing to do when baby gets here!)

After Ree went to bed (early), the husband and I watched a movie, I knit & had hot chocolate. 

Today has been much better! Church, coffee & home. Chili is in the crock pot, I've already knit a little bit. The rest of the afternoon will consist of wrapping a few Christmas presents, possibly making pumpkin bread, lots more knitting. The husband has been working on the yard clean up in between rain drops. Our weekly Sunday visit up north has ended until baby gets here. The thought of being over an hour from the hospital made my husband nervous. While I'll miss the weekly routine it will be nice to be home as a family all day long for a few weeks. 

Joining Amanda!

Gloaming

I'm joining in with the November prompt of the day. I'm not posting in order here at times, just as the mood strikes (and when I have pictures to go along with the prompt!)

I took this picture the other day as I was closing the curtains upstairs. This is on the opposite side of the house of where the sun sets. I tried to capture the moon rising (can you see it there, in between the trees?) There was a beautiful pink below it too. 

I love the twilight, especially at this time of year. I know some people don't like that it gets dark so early but I don't mind. At least in the beginning. There is something so cozy about closing up the house as the smell of dinner fills the air. I light candles both on the mantle and in the kitchen. 

It's time to start thinking about the transition into evening. Start preparing supper; getting ready for the husband to come home; heading into the relaxing part of the day when we all are home together, safe under one roof. 

With the darkness coming early the rhythm of our nights change. Warmer & earlier suppers. Earlier clean ups. More time together in the house after clean up to do some art, read books, knit, legos. Whatever Ree decides she needs to do with daddy. 

Now I need to go see about getting that supper ready, as we are nearly done with the gloaming & quickly entering into full fledged evening! 

On my Table

I've been keeping up with the November prompt of the day. I am loving the time I spend in the morning writing along with it in my journal. It's a good way for me to begin the day....with quiet, my cup of tea and putting pen to paper. I do want to share some of the prompts here, but the days just keep going by and before I know it another day is here!

Yesterday's prompt was On my Table

 

This is the scene on our table most days. Although usually a bit worse! It starts out as a blank slate, but as Ree gets going with her creativity for the day it fill up. Here she was in the middle of water color painting, using her colored pencils, and cutting out flowers. Many times admist her things are my own bits of creativity: my knitting, my notepads with lists, grocery ads, bill paying, etc.

As you can see one end of the table is usually the catch all. This drives me CRAZY. But no matter how many times I clean it off, within a day or two the pile is back. 

This is the scene at the end of the day. Supper waiting (the junk pile is still there...although I did clean it up a bit); a candle lit which I often forget. Thankfully Ree loves candles and reminds me most of the time to light one.

After supper it's cleaned off again ready for the next day's activities around it!

Yarn Along

There hasn't been much knitting going on the past week. There hasn't been much of anything going on except a little bit of cleaning, a little bit of birthday shopping & wrapping (Ree turns 4 three weeks from today!) and a whole lot of sitting reading The Signature of All Things. It's okay. The beginning was really good. Now it's kind of dragging along. But it's a book to read that is keeping my mind occupied so that's good!

I did finish Ree's Rainbow Boneyard shawl. As you can see, it's blocking right now. It's been done for about a week already but I kept putting off the blocking process. But it's all blocked and now just drying. I hope she's excited on Christmas morning that this is her's!

I also cast on for Baby V's Christmas stocking. I didn't bother with a picture for that though because that's pretty much all I did...cast on! 

Ree has been sick since this weekend so that means long nights & longer days sometimes. I'm just glad baby hasn't arrived yet so that I can be here to take care of Ree & not worry about germs getting to the little one! 

Happiness is...

Sharing my list for today's prompt!

*feeling baby V kick & stretch in my belly

*morning notes from the husband every day

*spontaneous hugs from Ree

*morning November sun through the orange leaves

*a hot cup of tea & a pile of knitting

*hand knit socks on chilly mornings

*early evening dark needing the lighting of candles

*pile of Momma made knits for my girls

*clean dishes piled high

Just a short list of what happiness is right now!

Weekending

This weekend the nesting instinct kicked in!

There was cleaning of the breezeway....taking everything out, giving it a good sweeping (there would have been mopping of the floor but the mop broke & I haven't replaced it yet), throwing old broken toys away, putting everything back. Seeing it nice & clean makes me happy. That's the entrance we use to the house. It finally looks put together & nice!

Then there was a stop at the big baby store to pick up some needed items; a stop at the library's book sale; running Ree home so I could go do a few errands for Santa; back home to fix supper; cleaning out a few bureau drawers & putting a pile of baby laundry together to get washed.

After that there was sitting & knitting. Finishing some socks, casting on for another pair, writing a list of other things to knit before (maybe) baby comes.

It was a slow Sunday morning with the time change. Dark & overcast out. A little bit of knitting; some laundry; dishes washed; church attended; a stop at the mall for a little more Christmas shopping...now done aside from some gift card purchases!

This afternoon has been more knitting; more laundry; more organizing for baby. My husband has started watching me like a hawk to make sure I don't over-do it and also marked it on the calendar...with Ree I got all this nesting energy two weeks before she was born. I'm hoping at least 3 more weeks for this little one! 

How was your weekend? I'm linking up with Amanda!

Halloween

Halloween has never been my favorite holiday. Then Ree came along and it was fun to dress her up. This year she has been talking non-stop about it for weeks. She plays dress-up pretty much every day but I guess a day set aside just for dressing up is the high-light of a little one's life! It certainly isn't the candy for her. She doesn't like any of it! At least not to eat. She loves sorting & stacking & "shopping" with it. And she knows EXACTLY how many pieces of each kind she has. I found that out earlier when I snuck a piece to eat. She got a little testy at me that I messed up her piles!

She & Daddy went to about five houses Trick or Treating and then she decided she wanted to come home to pass out the candy. That was fun until scary people in costumes came to the door. I was afraid there would be some nightmares last night but thankfully no!

So another year of Halloween is over and she's already talking of what to be next year. I told her she doesn't have to wait until Halloween to dress up & that made her happy!

Hard to believe today is the first of November already! This weekend Ree wants to make count down charts to her birthday & the new baby's arrival. I think seeing the days quickly disappear that way may send me into anxiety fits!

Today is also the first day of daily prompts that Amanda has put together for us to follow along with. I like this idea because it gets me to think & get back into the journaling habit. I'm not sure how I'll share some of the words or photographs that I'm hoping to come up with each day, but I'm sure some of them will find their way here. 

Yarn Along

I finished these at the end of last week. Some little stockings to hold gift cards this Christmas season, and a little hat that I was thinking baby would wear on her way home. But as small as it is I think it still might be too big!

I'm still at the point of making the heel on my purple socks. But I have been knitting like crazy on the Rainbow Boneyard shawl. That is because of the World Series games. I'm hoping tonight will be the last game of the series which would mean the Red Sox the whole thing at home tonight. The first time since 1918! 

Due to the very late night baseball games my reading hasn't been happening lately!

Currently

This weekend my sister held a small shower for the new baby. The cake, decorations & favors were all owl themed! So cute!

My lists are getting longer as the weeks till baby are getting shorter. But I am slowly crossing a few things off!

In all the flurry of baby preparations, Ree isn't letting me forget that Halloween is this week! We've done a few crafty things; picked out her costume; found a pumpkin to carve (after going all over the city we FINALLY found one!); she picked out the design she wanted on it and Daddy carved!

Her birthday presents are all bought & waiting (with baby due right around that time I wanted to make sure Ree's birthday wouldn't be lost in the shuffle!) Christmas lists are all made & many gifts have been purchased. I am shocked at myself & know that this time next year I will most likely just barely be starting to think about Christmas!

All the Christmas knitting is so very close to being finished. Baby knitting is finished, except for the few things I want to make. But all the MUST make things are done.

Next up: make a few meals to pop in the freeze for us to pull out when baby comes. We harvested all the eggplants from the garden this weekend so that's on my list now to do before they go bad. 

Today we're having an impromptu Halloween party with my sister & her little's. We'll make cookies & have a tea party. 

The days & weeks are full and as we get closer to delivery day I am even more anxious to meet this new little girl. But I'm also trying to remain present in these days. To savor the last few moments of it being just Ree & I. I cannot wait to see her interact with her baby sister but at the same time it's a little bittersweet that our days of my undivided attention being with Ree are quickly closing. The family dynamics are about to change & I cannot wait to meet this new little person who already has had such a big impact on us!

Tuesday Tea Time (On Friday)

A few weeks ago I came upon the Brave Writer website through a bunch of mentions of it on Twitter. It is an awesome site on getting kids to write! (Most of it is still a little old still for Ree.)

But one thing that I saw and immediately decided to add to our routine is Poetry Tea Time. The day of the week that Julie has set aside is Tuesday, and she shares people's tea time's on her blog each Tuesday too! But we've never managed to hit it on a Tuesday so I kept putting it off.

Last Friday afternoon began the "yes to Ree weekend" and she wanted a tea party. Before I had a chance to put a table cloth on she had already set it with her tea set (also before I had mentioned we could use Mommy's tea set). I did put the candle out & she had picked out the treat of mini Oreos at the store earlier in the day so I put those out too.

She then picked out two books and I made the tea. We sat for a long time reading & just chatting. She enjoyed it so much she's already asking for next time...and I'm putting poetry books on hold at the library!

Weekending

This weekend was a "say yes to Ree" weekend. 

There was a tea party & nail painting session.

She wanted to ride her "motorcycle" (tricycle) on a real road. So we called up my dad who came with us to the local bike path. The kid rode her bike for 2 hours. And only once said her little legs were tired.

We decided next spring she'll graduate to a big kid bike. She's thrilled since she saw one that had pretty sparkly tassels. She "needs" those on her bike!

We were near the train station so we sat & watched the trains for awhile. She's now making plans for a train trip. (She wanted to do that yesterday too. We didn't say yes to that)

Then she wanted to go to Nana's so we spent the afternoon & evening there. Sewing & knitting & drawing. 

It was then home for bed. Ree fell asleep in the car. Then Momma & Daddy watched the Red Sox. Just when I thought it was all over....a GRAND SLAM!!!! Whoohoo for the World Series! I see some serious night time knitting in my future!

After Church this morning there was a trip to the mall (another say yes to Ree thing). Thankfully it wasn't very busy. We got a bit of Christmas shopping done. And Daddy decided Momma needed a Red Sox ALCS Champions t-shirt. We found one that would fit now & most likely not be too big once baby is born. 

This afternoon was naps; making apple crisp then heading off to my sister-in-laws for the evening. 

A full weekend but a very fun one! 

Linking up with Amanda!