Enchanted Mama

Festive::

The smell of ginger cookies winds it's way into every corner of the house these days.  Our holiday cards have been received by loved ones.  The errands are done.  Late night knitting sessions by the fire, result in the last stitches.  The whir of the sewing machine echoes from the studio.  Equal parts wool, wood, and fabric are used to create gifts that get tucked beneath the tree.  The arrival of snow and colder temperatures bring wool scarves and snowsuits from closets. The lights twinkle all through the neighborhood.  Tomorrow is the children's last day of school and will include an assembly and lots of cookie eating.  

The excitement is building.  There are many, okay all of us, who can't wait for holiday break this year.  Time to play.  Time to honor.  Time to create and give.  Time to sled. Time to wear pajamas all day.  Time to work on puzzles while sipping cocoa. Time to be a family.  

Yes, I have to say, it's getting mighty festive over here... 

How are things in your world?  

 

 

Glimpse::

A wee glimpse of our week via Instagram. 

What we treasure::

Yesterday we awoke to a light blanket of snow on the ground.  The children bundled up in warm hats, coats, gloves and snow boots and trudged off to school.  I drifted toward the kitchen and the breakfast dishes grateful that the big daddy was on school drop-off duty and the little one was occupied with reading books.  Warm water and bubbles filled the sink as I rhythmically dipped each dish in, washed, rinsed, set to dry.  The kind of known rhythm that you don't have to think about.  Similar to how I feel about knitting...click click click.

The feel this time of year varies from busy, too busy, to calm and quiet.  As I dried my hands and thought about what I "needed" to do that day I let my mind wander to what I would "love" to do that day.  Just a moment of bliss.  I'm pretty sure it included a fire, some knitting, good friends, a latte, a nap...not even in that particular order. Though I ended up doing those "other things" throughout the day, I did think back to that earlier moment and smiled.  I realized that sometimes it's just acknowledging what we love rather than dropping everything.  Then, who knows, the opportunity might arise and I'll know just what I want to do.    

This past weekend we attempted our holiday card picture.  You know the one where you hope to get all four children looking in mostly the same direction at the same time.  It proves to be a challenge, I mean opportunity, every year.  Though somehow in between the "look over here" , "no not at your sister", "smile everyone", "not that smile you imp" I have to laugh.  Laugh and know that these are the real moments of family.  The things they will look back at and hopefully find humorous.  

My three brothers and I were subjected to many, many holiday photo shoots.  Although I've frequently wished for the video of between the shots it is something we talk about often.  The smiling faces of the four of us forever captured.  My mom doing a dance/snapping/arm waving to get us to smile. 

The day we chose for the holiday photo was COLD.  Red nose kind of cold.  The kind of cold that had the children smiling fast so we could get back to the car. It all worked.  The moment captured.  

The irony of that whole adventure is that I'm finding that my favorite photos are the ones where the children aren't looking at the camera.  Rather they are giggling at each other or laughing as the big daddy danced behind me. Those are the photos that really tell the story of us.  

It's the moments you see.  That is what I want to remember.  That is what I will treasure.  

 

 

Knitting and gnomes::

There was BIG knitting going on around here last weekend.  With size US19 needles and three strands of yarn pulling through my fingers I tackled that project.  As one good friend said, "Big knitting means faster results."  Another friend piped in with "...and some sore wrists wielding those needles."  Both are correct.  I've had to knit less with the big needles yet it went so quickly when I did...I wonder if I actually saved any time?  Loving this pattern.

These cookies came out of the oven smelling divine and were gobbled up by me, I mean the children. There was warm chili ala the big daddy bubbling on the stove.  There were clementines eaten by the handfuls.  An advent spiral for our dear five year old.  Our littlest girlie decided to participate and carried her candle into the spiral, lit it, set it down, and walked slowly out.  Determined she is and oh-so-wonderful.    

There were alot of closed doors with posted signs.  Secret outings were made to the hardware store and bags held close as supplies were hidden.  I have to admit I'm a bit curious.  The two older children have not wanted my help this year which is frankly, too much.  I keep hinting that if there are "things" they need just let me "know".  No one's biting.  It's half frustrating and half satisfying.  My children are growing up and creating on their own!  It's what we want right?  Yet...it's all I can do not to want to "help" just a small bit.  I think it comes down to whether or not I can wait to find out their surprises until the holidays!   

Ideally though, it leaves more time for my own creating.  A lovely thought.  So I keep making lists.  Lists of how and when to complete "the project" that I haven't started yet.  I'm not sure if I believe my time to be unlimited or if the speeding days on the calendar are getting to me.  Either way someone ought to get to work....asap!  

Just for good measure there seems to be an outbreak of "gnome" in the house.  They are everywhere.  Smiling from the shelf.  Being hugged.  Hanging around.  Baking bread.  It's...well...so GREAT!!! I love gnomes.  I don't really know why.  

I bet that's something you always wondered about me, isn't it?  

What about you?  Are you feeling crafty these days?  Doing creative things?  Baking?  Making lists?  

Let me know I'll be here waiting and...looking over my lists.   

 

Glimpse::

A wee glimpse of our week through Instagram. 

Enjoy!

 

This time of year::

Includes---

...bags of wool in my lap as I knit  

...my children who run to and fro, inside and outside, with hushed whispers and lots of shut doors and signs that read "Santa's Workshop please knock"  

...piles of holidays books tucked everywhere, even behind the curtains

...colorful letters that arrive in the mail  

...twinkly lights all over town (why do we only do this once a year?)  

...warm meals that cook all day and fill the house with delicious smells  

...children that consciously "try" to get along, even if they don't always  

...certain projects around the house that can be set aside to make room for the holiday crafting

...wool socks

...bowls of warm oatmeal for the children before school

... slanted light through the windows in the late afternoon  

...time for the big daddy and I to enjoy watching the tree once the children are tucked into bed  

...an attempt to keep things simple even when it seems impossible

...cello and violin that send holiday tunes up stairs every day  

...friends that send messages about good ideas for children's gifts  

...the smell of beeswax candles that send the hint of honey into each room 

...days that start out chilly

...snow??? please King Winter would grace us with that?  

...candles that light up dinner time  

...sweet paintings by my Five year old that make the best artwork  

...loads of ideas for gifts to make even if there's no way I could ever complete them   

...re-arranging furniture to make room for a lovely tree  

...decorating the tree with all the handmade ornaments  

...festive napkins that sit on the table for meals

...the twelve days of christmas cups that I found at an antique shop three years ago  

...deer foraging berries out in the yard  

...lovely chats on the phone with old friends and family

...time to love all those that need a bit extra this time of year  

 

What does this time of year include for you?  

 

Alrighty then::

Sometimes a gal has to admit when she's beat.  Sometimes she has to understand that no matter how far behind she is with posting the only way to remedy that is to actually post something.  Sometimes a gal, meaning me, has to just stop thinking and start writing.  

So, Hi!  It's been awhile.  I've been living, and journeying and adventuring with this fine gaggle of four that we have.  It's been fun and challenging and just as it should be.  Now with birthdays still to share. Adventures I've been on. Holidays with lovely family who visited from afar. It's full. ya know?  So full that I've decided to skip it for now.  All those stories will still be there and we can visit them another time.  Like an old friend that you pick up conversation with where you left it last.  That way we can move from this moment.  This story. Does that sound good?  Yes, to me too!  

I've been wondering what you all have been up to.  Are you planning, knitting, baking, scheming?  I am too.  It's kind of exciting to think of those few special things isn't it?  We are planning on our family name draw again this year.  Third year running and so far it's a hit.  Also, I'm subscribing to the rules of gift giving that I've seen floating around the blogging world.

1. Something they want

2. Something they need

3. Something to wear

4. Something to read 

It's a sweet little thing don't you think?  It's so easy to get caught up in the buyers flurry when you go out into the world.  All the twinkling lights, holiday music, puffs of breath seen as you bundle your scarf around your neck...it's easy to fall into the magic and forget that you want to keep things simple.  Simple because most days your children can hardly keep the few items they already have put away. <think lego piece in the middle of the night and bare feet---oooouuucchhhh>

I'm enjoying the challenge.  I believe it really is more of a challenge to do less than more.  Do you find that to be true?   

Oh, and this past weekend we hiked up a mountain per tradition and found our tree.  Early? yes. Excellent? absolutely.  Usually our tree lasts far past the holidays and I have such a hard time taking a living, pine cone blooming tree out to compost.  So this year she has more time to flourish.  She is officially up and decorated.  I'm staring at her while I type this little post to you in fact.  And, she's pretty.  Some may call her sparse, as most trees from the mountains that would be cleared by rangers usually are, we just call her understated.  Decorated with homemade ornaments from years past.  I love this more than the most elaborate tree because every piece on it has a story.  That really is what this season is about don't you think?  Creating a story.  

There you go.  That is what I'm currently doing.  Not what I was doing.  Or what I soon will be doing.  Rather what is directly in front of me.  I'll admit that there is some thought to a dear friend of mine who is due to deliver a beautiful baby girl in the next few weeks and I do think ahead to that.  But, who wouldn't right?  

As the children are tucked into their beds, dreaming of sleeping all-the -way-through-the-night, I see holiday boxes that will need to be put away tomorrow.  I'm listening to the dishwater do its nightly tune and I'm watching the fire dance and the lights twinkle on the tree. I'm grateful for all that is this moment.  The season of going inward and tending to the warmth inside.  

What are you doing?  

 

p.s. Notice all the questions I'm posing?  I'm hoping for more of a conversation between us.  Like good friends.  I want to know about you as well.  What do you think? 

 

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The Wish::

Autumn Weekend::

As simple as::

Over the Rainbow::

Even though my guy asked me, for a year, for a rainbow sweater I can't say he was over the moon about this one.  He smiled slightly when opening it on his birthday...though not as broad a smile as when he opened his elephant or the puzzle.  

That's okay I suppose.  It is the risk we take as knitters.  Never quite knowing if the recipient will love or not love the item.  Whether it will fit or whether you have to re-do the neck three times like I did.  

It's a gamble.  One I'm usually willing to take.  Although with this recent sweater, the "Rainbow Sweater", I may have started to think differently.  First of all I finished on time.  No late night, before the birthday knitting like some other years.  In fact, this sweater had time to block as well as dry!  

The moment that changed me came after he opened it.  Yes, I was disappointed not to have received the full chandelier smile for a job well done on the long awaited rainbow sweater.  Of course, I would have loved that.  It really wasn't when the big daddy had to convince him to look at the sweater for longer than two seconds.  The moment happened when we went to have him try it on.  You knitters out there, I know, can see this coming a mile away.  We put it over his head and wait!...It didn't even come close to making it over his head.  NOT.EVEN.CLOSE.

Deep breathing at that point wasn't really helping.  After weeks of gleefully planning and scheming and knitting this was NOT what I had expected to have happen.  I believe I took the sweater gently from his aching head, as I will admit that I did tug a bit thinking that somehow this couldn't, shouldn't be happening, and set it on the table behind me.  A small time out for the sweater.  

A week later after feeling sick to my stomach about what to do I just buckled down and did it.  I ripped it out. The whole neck. Then commenced on a different type of neck and voila...it fit!  Well almost.  It's not as roomy as I would like.  I've decided though that seeing it on him finally made me ignore that little fact.  

So, that's it.  The rainbow sweater.  The good and bad of it.  Though at this point I can almost forgive the sweater when I see my little guy swinging in the front yard, rainbow flying in the air.  

I've decided that there will be no more secret knitting...at least that is what I say now.  Time will tell.  I'm serious though.  I'm pretty sure....

Ravelry notes here. 

His day::

His day...was sweet. simple. The morning filled with fresh baked lemon zucchini muffins and a few gifts.  The afternoon held a small little "woodland" party for him.  Since his sister and brother had gnome and faerie parties years back it seemed only right that my five year old have a woodland animal gathering.  He loves animals. Loves being outside. My child who seems so at home in nature and is a master grasshopper catcher.  

The couple of friends he invited to his party were quiet and oh-so-agreeable.  They were happy to sew little capes and don acorn caps for their dolls. Play games. Eat snacks, especially the squirrel snack of nuts and berries.  They adored the cupcakes and were found outside in the yard playing when their parents came to fetch them.  It may have been one of the simplest parties we've given.  

They went home with a bulb to plant and a wee bear and notebook.  All were happy.  

My birthday boy spent time at the park biking his next favorite thing to do after catching grasshoppers. We ended the evening with a delicious-daddy-made cake with chocolate mushrooms.  A good day. 

Now my boy is five and it seems as though it were just the other day he was bundled up in my arms.  Oh how time does keep moving.  

 

Autumn Weekend::

There was spectacular snow. Planning, gathering, and decorating for a middle school dance.  My girlie's first.  There was much excitement, nervousness and hair being "done".  How is it possible that she is old enough to attend a middle school dance when I myself can remember in detail my first dance.  Boys on one side. Girls on the other. NO ONE dancing!  

There was surprise mail from a dear friend who made me lovely, cozy boot toppers as a birthday gift. Oh, and there was my birthday.  My "39"th, gulp.  Why does "40" sound so much younger than "39"?  

My day was so lovely.  Full of family and sweet, thoughtful gifts.  My honey helped make the day just fabulous.  Time to play, time to relax and knit, and time to have lunch outside in the sunshine while the snow melted all around us.  A delicious, really delicious, chocolate cake ala the big daddy.  A glorious sunset resting on the mountains. Followed by the Wonder walk at the children's school for Halloween.  

Such a delightful weekend.  I wouldn't change a minute.  It was all a gal could ask for.  

Our Autumn weekend via Instagram.