Day Twenty-nine: 3:59 AM
My mum called at 3:59 AM to tell me my father was in emergency heart surgery. He is in hospital now, recovering, with more surgery on the horizon this week.
Needless to say, the day was not quite what I had planned. I made the drive to Monterey, ever astounded by the beautiful mountain views. We haven’t had snow yet.
I spent an hour with this beauty.
I learn something about her with every visit. Today I learned that if I’m heavy on the stops and add the swell to the great, the action is labored. It was work to get through the postlude as I’d voiced it. Work well worth it.
I stopped in to my home church to see the decorating. One of our focuses is on intergenerational events, connecting our youngest and oldest. This is my favorite image from today.
These connections are beautiful to me. I am glad that my bears know extra grandmas and grandpas. They have an Auntie Brigade that is large in number. They know adults in the church care about them and value their presence. The bears missed decorating this year and were disappointed. I was happy to learn that the tradition was important to them too.
Now at the end of the day, the bears are home from their journey, the grandpa is resting, the sanctuary is bedecked in blue and waiting our return.
I am easing into another baby project. My cousin’s son is still small, but my needles had better fly for this one!
Advent has begun. My favorite season of the Church Year. Waiting in community. What will surprise us this year?
Day Twenty-eight: Reading and Relaxation
The lineup for tonight’s bedtime reading includes recipes, quilt patterns, sheet music, and a novel. Anne girl and I have been discussing reading habits. We are so alike in other areas, but when it comes to leisure reading our paths seem to diverge.
She is a fan of the light read. I don’t enjoy much more than one beach novel a year. At lunch today her father said something that helped me understand what might be the difference. “I read for relaxation.”
I don’t read for relaxation. Reading is relaxing, but that isn’t my primary motivation for picking up a book. I want to learn something or be challenged by a new idea. Too much light reading makes me feel like I’m wasting my time. If I’m seeking relaxation specifically, I’m much more likely to hop into the bathtub or put my feet up and knit.
It’s not that reading falls completely into the task bucket either. It is enjoyable and an activity I regularly and easily make time for. But I want more out of it. Two for one.
I will be thinking about this more, I’m sure, trying to understand the ins and outs of what motivates and delights me. For tonight, I’ll enjoy these minutes before sleep as I review my service music for tomorrow. And then I’ll reread the article on meatballs from the current issue of Fine Cooking. 2016 may be the Year of the Meatball and I want to be prepared. Colorful patterns from Quilters Newsletter will inspire me to dream up new design ideas and maybe urge me towards finishing the green quilt I have in progress. And I’ll steal a page or two of Tove Jansson’s The Summer Book before I give in and turn out the lights.
Whatever the source of this urge that drives me to read more and more, I am thankful for it.
Day Twenty-seven: Stitches
A podcast and a half, a cookie, and a cup of tea later…
…and the sleeping bag has two whole sleeves. I thought there was more knitting to do, but no, just a zipper and this pretty little thing is done!
Can I get this in the mail on Monday?
Day Twenty-six: Abundance
The Kettle Slayer made the cornbread and the sweet potatoes.
I made my new favorite squash recipe from The Splendid Table – Butternut Squash Gratin.
Our dinner partners brought a maple cured ham from a pig raised by Jenna Woginrich at Cold Antler Farm. It was delicious.
The Pondering Ham
We even ate some vegetables!
There was thankful weeping (mostly by me) and gales of laughter.
The cranberry sauce altar burned bright.
And we were once again reminded of how much we have and how many blessings are all around us. It is my hope to remember this not just today, but every day. Our abundance is not ours to hoard, but ours to share. We are thankful.
Day Twenty-five: Warmth
The weather finally turned chilly this week. I still managed a good walk on my lunch break. Hat, scarf, and mittens are now required. The wind is biting and everything in me wonders why I choose to live in this place where the cold and grey last so long. Then I remember the windchill in Wisconsin and realize all over again how wonderful New England is, even in the winter.
The wood stove is my favorite thing these days. The Kettle Slayer and I spend our evenings close by its warmth. So many things to be thankful for.
Day Twenty-four: Birthday
First birthday in the Blue Castle: singing from my parents, too many meetings, cake, more cake, dinner, tea, presents, singing from my sister and nephew, so many texts and messages, fire in the wood stove, chinese delivery, singing from smallish bears and the Kettle Slayer. A very happy Magic Princess.
Day Twenty-three: Elemental
There is a chemistry project due tomorrow.
You can guess how I spent the evening.
Done before the 10 PM. I’ll call it a success. The larger bear agrees.
Day Twenty-two: From Above
We did not climb the ladder.
We stayed at the balcony level.
Just a couple of hours later, the sanctuary was full and the music soared. So. Much. Singing.
Day Twenty-one: Evidence
The entire week is here on this table. Evidence of days full of blessings. There is a bright and sunny housewarming plant and early birthday presents. The Christmas Book with Vital Information for 2015 is open, ready for grandma’s questions and emails to aunties. We drank all of the milk and I drank all of the Dr. Pepper. The larger bear had a sinus infection and we were able to quickly and easily get medicine. A friend stopped in for tea. The smallest bear got out the eggplant napkin rings for a pretty table (early in the week, when the table top was still accessible). We bought candy for the Advent Calendar and lights for the bannisters. Dear friends brought a card to celebrate our new home. A card and a truck load of firewood. I mended a homecoming dress. We gathered groceries in preparation for Thanksgiving feasting. A colleague gave me a gift basket as a thank you.
I was upset about this table all week. My instinct is to be impatient with myself and others because we can’t seem to pick up after ourselves regularly. Today I looked at the table and saw so many happy moments. I will still clean it up tonight, but as I put each thing away, I will remember to be thankful. I am ever reminded that our cups runneth over.
Day Twenty: Who Will?
Today a hymn has been in my heart and on my lips. I hummed it waking and hummed it walking. What is it? I couldn’t place it. At last, a few words bubbled up, “Through the flood of starving people, warring factions and despair, Who will lift the olive branches? Who will light the flame of care?”
Yes. This. I choose love before fear. I will loft the olive branch. I will.
Naming Mountains 