Sunday, December 16, 2012

oh, this busy holiday


such beautiful colors we are getting now... it's like a special easter egg hunt every time i go out to the coop.... duck eggs too! our americanas lay the minty green beauties, and either our cuckoo maran or our welsummer (or both) lay the deep chocolate brown ones... just lovely.


carrots and parsnips sauteed in butter.... kale steamed with a little water and drizzled with a sauce made up of apple cider vinegar, honey, and olive oil... currently two of my favorite things (especially together).


i just love the sweet little christmas programs... although i vow every year that i will quit trying to record it... the recordings never turn out very nice and it really takes away from the show. do you see my little eislee in the back there? she had a very special part this year pulling the little wagon at the back of the train... she was perfect.... so brave.... so oblivious.... so adorable.



one of my favorite things about the christmas programs is all the singing done absentmindedly at home. often times in the car eislee will sing "a fleece navee dad!"


we wrapped some presents up in newspaper and topped them with ribbon... i love how perfectly simple it looks... i wrap all of my presents with newspaper now... i just really like it.


we are planning to make jewelry for all the teachers with these pretty wooden beads, but of course we haven't even started yet.... hmmm.


my lentil soup... lentils, tomatoes, carrots, parsnips, celery, yams, and spinich... my favorite soup.... actually it's more like a stew really... but either way... i finally wrote down a bit of recipe as i was making it this time... i do a lot of that "a pinch of that" and "just add it until it looks right" kind of cooking... so making a real recipe is pretty hard for me.

i can't believe how close it is to christmas! we don't even have a tree yet... i suppose we will get one soon and keep it through new years. i do love christmas trees. the reason we don't have one yet is we were finishing the painting in our living room (thanks to someone called thomas... and to lisa for recommending him). thomas has not only finished our living but he is almost finished painting the entire upstairs... yes! 
if you like christmas music you should check out pandora's christmas station. it is wonderful! i can't get enough of it. they play every single one of my favorites! nothing makes it feel like the holidays more than nat king cole singing "have yourself a merry little christmas"... in my opinion anyway. 
enjoy the season friends! it is already almost over!

Friday, December 7, 2012

a little bit of christmas


so what do you think of the chocolate door? be honest. i'm not quite sure about it...


our new advent tradition (we changed it last year) is as soon as they are ready for school they get their treat for the day.... chocolate is wonderful motivation.


half of the little village that finds a new spot every year.


christmas books on the bed stand... a sure sign of the season.


eislee's favorites.... her favorites she must hear every night are "frosty the snowman" and "gingerbread mouse" which she calls "snow white and the mousey one" and she expects me to sing both of them.


layla's mess of a desk... next to my mess of a desk.... i sure have enjoyed the company but sharing the mess is driving me a little crazy.


they all love to "borrow" mommy and daddy's camelbak water bottles so this year in their stockings they will each get one of their own.


the painting is complete in layla's room (thanks to some outside help). i just love the colors... two shades of beautiful sage greeen. you can hardly tell (even when your in the room) but the ceiling is a much lighter shade than the walls.


i just love the holiday artwork they bring home when they're small... i have started keeping it in an envelope packed away with all the christmas decorations so that i can bring them all out each year.


the last of the winter squash.... i save these pretty green ones for last because i love the way they look next to red.


paperwhites... i don't think mine will bloom by christmas but i love the idea of them blooming along with the new year.


it's been very busy around here lately and i know i have been neglecting this space but i am so excited to show you all that has been happening! so much progress! happy holidays friends!