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.