How many days 'til Christmas?

That's the question I have to answer several times a day...

I'm fading fast here, people...it's that wicked thief of sleep, insomnia, and I have managed to run all day--well, I ought to say drag around all day--on three hours of sleep.  I awoke to the sound of Gemma using the bathroom at 1:30 a.m., and that was it for me.  I prayed for a while, took some homeopathic stuff, played a few games of Spider Solitaire on the computer and tried to return to sleep.  To no avail.  I finally got up at 4:10 and did my morning prayers and reading, and finished a hat for a friend's grandbaby.

Now I am yawning every half-minute, and wondering if the kids will have scrambled eggs or oatmeal for dinner.  Whatever it will be, I won't be cooking it.

The past seven days have been a flurry of packing up Etsy sales, making gifts, knitting gifts, wrapping gifts, last-minute ordering of gifts, baking cookies, mailing cards and making space in my workroom for "Christmas Central".  Today I was forced to slow down.  I moved through the day in slow motion, tidying my yarn stash, wrapping a few things, baking some easy cookies.  I listened to this CD and dozed off in my chair for 15-20 minutes.

The snowflakes above were made using the instructions here.  Really easy and fun for the kids to see, although the boys immediately began to think about dropping Lego men and other things into the solution.

G'night, folks...

The days of waiting

Every year Advent has come and gone with a lot less spirituality and a lot more fuss than I can feel good about.  But things are changing...my youngest is 3 1/2 now, so it is a bit easier to get things done.  My oldest kids are now old enough to give a hand with some of the preparations.  It's getting easier to enjoy Advent more without the anticipation of Christmas being bypassed in a blur.  Yes, I still haven't mailed or even written a single card, I have not yet baked a single cookie.  I still have some gifts to make and some to buy.  but I am just trying to pace myself and not go nuts.  Insanity is not a good way to celebrate the Incarnation.

Inspired by other bloggers, as I always am, I came up with a list of my own.  Mine is not it any sort of order, and certain items--reading books, watching Christmas movies or baking cookies--will be repeated a few times during Advent.

Things to do during Advent
Read the stories for our Jesse Tree and make ornaments for it
"Open" the days on the animated Advent calender from Jacquie Lawson
Unwrap and set up the nativity scene
Listen to Gregorian Chant for Advent
Create a seasonal story book basket (include books for O.L. of Guadalupe, St. Nicholas, St. Lucia, and the   Immaculate Conception)
Ask Papa about his favorite Christmas memory
Clear out our toy boxes and remove broken toys to the trash, and those no longer loved to the box to donate
Watch a favorite Christmas or winter-themed movie together
Read a favorite book together
Pick a gift to give from the World Vision catalog
Make Christmas cards for family members
Bake and/or decorate cookies
Make some batches of cocoa mix and chai mix
Go to a Christmas Parade
Buy and decorate the Christmas tree
Make birdseed ornaments for our feathered friends
Cut paper snowflakes to decorate the windows with
Rent The Nutcracker from Netflix

Some of our favorite Christmas movies:
Little Women
It's a Wonderful Life
Scrooge
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Polar Express

Jessica at Shower of Roses has the biggest list of St. Nicholas/Christmas books I think I've seen.  I definitely need to add some of these to our collection!

December

The first day of the last month of the year.  I don't even want to think about how quickly the last month--or even the last year--has gone by.  You'll have to forgive my neglect of this little ol' blog.

I've been filling orders for our Etsy shop (so grateful for the business--Bret's work has been a bit spotty, on and off, and it is so good to have a little coming in when there are so many additional expenses!), and this week I was getting ready for Gabriel's birthday.  My sweet boy is ten now, the first Tennessean of our kids, the first of three born in this house.

I spent the afternoon today bashing by brains out on the rafters in our attic crawlspace, digging out the Advent wreath and nativity scene figures.  The wreath was accidentally put away with candles, which melted onto it, and it is garbage now, so I will need to find another one somewhere.  I'll try to put out the figures tomorrow evening.

I'm making up a list this evening of things to do every day of Advent--making cards, cutting paper snow flakes, baking cookies, reading a favorite Christmas story or watching a Christmas movie...a little something for every day.  When I have it done, I'll try to be good and post it here.  I need to check out Catholic Icing and the Crafty Crow to fill in a few blank spots...

Have a great first Sunday of Advent!

Checking in...and the true gifts of Christmas...

I've not posted since Monday, and some dear friends were emailing me to find out if I was alright.  As I said on Monday, I have a rotten cough, and it has been keeping me up at night to the point where I can't sit down without the risk of dozing off in my chair.  That has made this week a bit difficult, but what had to get done did indeed get done.  I wrapped all the gifts; I finished up my baking (only 7 varieties of cookies, down from my usual 10!--must be the German blood in my veins!); my cards are all out, and with the help of Una and Sebastian, the tree got decorated.  I still have to do a wee bit of house cleaning, at least in the living room and dining room, and I would like to give the big boys haircuts--although, as my sister says, it won't be the end of the world if it doesn't happen.

Every year since Bret was laid off three years ago, I have anticipated Christmas with some anxiety.  I worried about money, and whether we would be able to afford any gifts for the kids.  So many expenses come up around this time of year:  propane for heating, insurance premiums, auto registration and so forth.  And then usually something big and unexpected hits us (this year it was the well pump going out; last year our van died during Advent).  I work hard to trust God and not to panic.

Boxes from Harry & David--which Una's Godfather sends us every year

And every year, Christmas turns out to be almost too much, too extravagant.  God pours out His generosity through the kindness and thoughtfulness of others.  Only two days after the well pump was replaced and I announced to Bret that we would once again have to dip into our meager savings for living expenses, he was rehired by his former employer.  It isn't yet 40 hours a week, but it is something!  

From family members, neighbors and our church, gifts and food have poured in.  My pantry is full; I have the fixings for at least three Christmas dinners, and I wonder if my children will be spoiled by all this abundance, when just weeks ago I was explaining to them that this Christmas might have to be a bit more meager than those in the past.  

Last night, as we prayed a rosary for all our benefactors, I made plans to return the favor.  We will enjoy the first day of Christmas for ourselves, but we will work to find ways of giving back in what ways we can during the rest of the Christmas season.  

And I will renew my resolution to trust in God's tender care.

Monday Musings--19 December 2011

Right now...6:55 a.m.  The kids are up except for Gemma, and Bret just left for the KY property to meet with his Mennonite crew who will help him get the roof trusses up on the house.  I was hoping that when they did this part, I would get to be there and take photos, but the weather delayed things so long that now it is too close to Christmas and I've too much to do to break away...

This weekend...was actually a lot of fun!  On Saturday we left the house early and went into Gallatin.  We dropped off a load of things at a thrift store, went to pick up a Christmas tree (30% off, it being so close to Christmas) and stopped at a store so that I could pick up a few treats for the stockings.  Then we went to a little Christmas party hosted by our local chapter of Vietnam veterans.  They had a brilliant Santa Claus there, and he gave each of the kids a present.  They sent us home with a lot of goodies, too.  At home I worked like crazy to get the stuff put away and put up the tree.   I only managed to get the lights on, which by some miracle worked (it seems I have to buy new lights just about every year most of the time)  We had pizza for dinner, and in the evening watched Christmas in Connecticut, which we really enjoyed, being fans of old movies.


Yesterday we went to Mass at the Chapel of Divine Mercy.  It was a lovely Mass, although Dominic was being a beast through most of it.  The Seminarians were back from school for their Christmas break, and I was so delighted to see them.  At home, I finished a few loose ends on some handmade gifts.  I still have a few gifts that need to be made, can you believe it?


Unfortunately, most of us are sick with colds and coughs.  I haven't much congestion, but I have a dry cough that is rather uncomfortable. Una has it, Gabe has it, Adrian has it, Dominic and Sebastian seem to have a bit of nasal stuff going on, and so far Bret and Gemma seem to be free from it--at least at the moment.


Some plans for the week:  I can't write down my To Do list here--it would take too long!  Let's just say that it includes baking, cleaning, gift wrapping, gift making, two haircuts and decorating.

If I can find some time for myself, I would like to...[hysterical laughter]  Are you kidding?

I am grateful for...Good weather for getting the trusses up; Bret being back at work; the beauty of the liturgical cycle.

Some special prayer intentions:  That these colds are at least nearly gone by Christmas; that I can get done what I need to get done this week; that Bret's health and strength hold up while he works full time and tries to build a house; for the safety of all the men working on the house today; for several special intentions that are on my mind this morning.

Something that makes me smile:  Gabriel with "Santa"...he doesn't believe in Santa, but he enjoys pretending that he does.  And that makes "Santa" very happy.

Please do feel free to grab the header image if you want to do your own Monday Musings.  Link back here, if you would, and if you wish, you can leave a link to your own Musings in the comments.  Have a good week!

Monday Musings--Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 2011

Right now...it is about 6:30, and getting light.  Bret is with me, having coffee, as he prepares to meet--finally!--with our Mennonite crew to finish the framing of the new house today.  I am hoping to go out there when they put up the roof so that I can take some photos!  Gemma is yelling right now, Una is doing her algebra on the computer in the office, and I can see that the light is on in Sebastian and Gabriel's room.

This weekend was...a blur.  Not that it was more busy than usual, but I am sooo sleep-deprived.  Gemma has got to be our worst sleeper ever, waking almost hourly with shouts and yells.  When she goes back to sleep, I frequently do not.

I wish I could recall what I did on Friday, but I can't.  On Saturday I made butter and did laundry, painted for a little while, made up a batch of cookie dough for the freezer, and tried to get some gift-knitting done.  Bret took the little boys with him for haircuts (our clippers need replacing, and the little boys' hair had grown to where it was more than I could handle).  I set up a makeshift easel for Gemma with a big cardboard box and let her paint with some tempera paints.  And I bathed kids in the evening.

Yesterday we went to Mass at the Chapel of Divine Mercy, and I went to confession.  It was a wonderful Mass, and Fr. David Wilton gave a lovely homily on Christian joy.  You know how sometimes you go to confession, and then the next homily you hear seems like it is aimed at you?  It was one of those...

After Mass we made a stop for groceries, came home, got comfortable, and the kids watched a borrowed video while I made dinner.  In the evening we celebrated Advent with the usual sweets and candles and music, and then watched William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles in The Thin Man.  We really love old movies here.  I finished knitting some Christmas gifts as I watched...

Some plans for this week:  I had better make a list, because I am otherwise destined for confusion and scattered energies!  School will be limited to math, history and Christmas crafting this week!  I have at least 6 or 7 batches of cookie dough to make up in preparation for the mad, last-week-before-Christmas cookie baking madness; I haven't yet mailed a single Christmas card; I have to sew up doll bedding for Gemma's Christmas gift; I have to felt and sew the soles on a couple of pairs of Christmas slippers;  I have another hopefully quick gift to knit and another to sew; and then, of course, there is the regular house-cleaning, laundry, butter-making and so forth that must be kept up with.

I am grateful for...clear weather for building; a new well pump; paid work for Bret this week; a good confession; a decent night's sleep last night; the fact that my friend's house didn't burn down last week...

Some prayer intentions for this week:  that I can get things done!!!  That I can preserve peace and joy in my home while trying to get things done; for the repose of the soul of a friend of my mom's in Germany; for my parents health; for things to progress well and everyone to be safe on the job as they complete the framing of the new house.

Something that makes me smile:  When Gemma woke up last night, I didn't hear it at first and Dominic came to get me.  I tried to settle her back to sleep, but she kept crying, "I sleep Mama's room!"  As I gathered her and her covers, I said, "I hope you will sleep soundly--I don't know what I'll do if you don't keep quiet in my room!" and Dominic said, from his bed, "If she keeps you awake you can bring her to me and I'll take care of her."

And also:  our Sunday evenings during Advent:

Am I seeing a pattern here...?

Just stopping in quickly between multiple loads of laundry and house cleaning.  Finally having some dry and sunny weather, albeit cold, after so much rain.  Winter here is mud season.

We have water again after three days, and we actually managed to squeeze in showers before going to Mass last night (I am so grateful).  It cost us month's worth of living expense money, but we got the new pump in, and it is so nice to be able to flush a toilet again.

The thing is, something BIG always seems to go right around the holidays.  Last year we also were without water for a time, but Bret managed to get it fixed.  The big thing was our van, which died on us while we were visiting friends.  The year before that, it was my oven that went dead on us.

I reread last year's post from December 7th, Meeting Him With Empty Hands, and so much of what I said makes such good sense.  But the year goes by, and we forget, and so we are destined to repeat the lesson over and over again.

Humility.  Trust.  Gratitude.  Those seem to be the lessons that I am supposed to be learning as we head into Advent each year.  Why am I so obtuse?

Anyway, I am filled, once again, with a sense of how lacking I am in humility, thinking that life should somehow be easier than it is.  I am aware of my lack of trust in God, and how much more my prayers are of petition and not thanksgiving.

But now I will give thanks...because I am aware, and perhaps repeating the lesson again this year, it may begin to sink in, and one day I will come to the Feast of the Nativity with a truly humble, trusting and grateful heart, one like Mary's.  And with a heart like hers, I can love her Son as she does: perfectly.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Happy feast-day!  We would be on our way to an early Mass this morning, but we are on day 3 of having no water, and the electrician is supposed to be here in an hour or so with a new pump, alleluia!  Our water supply for flushing toilets and washing the few dishes I have been using has come from gallon jugs filled at my mom's place, but yesterday Bret had to make a trip to the KY property and filled up a 50-gallon barrel to refill up our cows' stock tank.  It has not been fun.

We will have to go to Mass this evening.  And my plans for today?  Well, if the pump is functional by lunch, I intend to run my dishwasher, which has been full for 3 days, wash a mountain of laundry and take a shower!

I am so sleep-deprived, I am probably capable of doing something really dumb this morning, like putting the milk away in the cabinet or something like that.  Gemma had a bad night and for whatever reason could not get into a deep sleep.  she kept waking every 45 minutes or so, and yelling, sitting up in bed, calling for me, etc.  At about 2 I brought her into my room, where she continued to keep us awake until around 3.  After that, I moved to the sofa with my pillow and reheated rice pack.  I got up at 6 so as to have some time before the coming of our hero, the electrician, but I feel like my head is full of wool.

One of my favorite Catholic art blogs has this interesting post on a particular painting of the Immaculate Conception, if you are interested.

A Happy Feast of St. Nicholas to you!

Yesterday was a challenging one--abysmal rain all day, cooped-up kids bickering incessantly, a long to-do list and then, as I was preparing throw in a load of laundry, start the dishwasher and get started on dinner, the water pump went out.  No water.  It was going to be dark soon, and it was nearly milking time.  Bret tested the switch and the fuse, and went to dig in the back of the house to find the wiring.  Not fun to think about, working with electricity in a driving rain.

Bret told me to tell Sebastian that he would have to milk Nuala on his own.  Now, Sebastian is 10, and he has been going out with Bret to help with the milking for the past few weeks.  He had a scare a couple of weeks ago when he forgot to tie Nuala up and she finished her bit of grain and decided to leave the barn, knocking Bret off his stool and onto his back.  Sebastian was stricken with self-reproach, and had a hard time going out the next day.  Anyway, Sebastian had never milked on his own without Bret standing by, so he was rather pale as he went out, like one on his way to the guillotine.  I sent Una out just to give him company and moral support.

Bret tried to fix the problem, but in the end had to call an electrician, who will be coming out here this afternoon (yes, I have been doing everything with some gallon jugs of stored water).

Before bed last night we made ready for the visit of St. Nicholas.  The kids cleaned their boots and I made some last minute preparations.

I think my favorite family St. Nicholas tradition has become the writing of the note from St. Nicholas, which has been done for the past three years.  Oddly, I really do feel that I am inspired by the Saint to write the things I do.  These notes of encouragement usually focus on what the child has been doing well this past year and an area where the child ought to seek to improve.  There are little precautionary admonitions and praise for growth in one area or another.  I save these so that the children will have them to look through one day.

We left a candle burning to greet St. Nicholas.  And, of course, he came.

Monday Musings--Late, late edition

Right now...it is 6:40 p.m. and we have cleaned up after dinner.  The kids are in the living room putting on improvisational skits for one another.  I have about 20 minutes until rosary-time, so I am trying not to go off on too many tangents!  It is the winter solstice, and although we don't celebrate it per se, it is still nice to think that after tonight, little by little the days will grow longer and the nights shorter.

This weekend...was busy and rather nice.  Friday we went to the thrift shops and I found a few items.  Nothing for myself, but a few items for the kids.  When we got home, I unpacked groceries, and did a bit of work on a couple of projects.

On Saturday I decorated a batch of previously made cookies and got ready for a little party thrown by the Vietnam Vets here for some local families.  They had a present for each of the kids, refreshments, a rather authentic looking Santa (big old guy with his own white beard!), and they sent us home with a couple of hams, among other things. We picked up a Christmas tree at Lowe's, and on the way home we stopped for Adoration and spent a few minutes giving thanks for all our blessings.

Mass on Sunday was lovely.  Fr. George McInnis, CPM, is a wonderful homilist and I went to confession again.  We didn't have to go anywhere, so we got home and Bret brought in the tree.  I had a terrible time with the lights.  Wanted to use colored lights, but only one strand was functional, so we had to go with white.  By evening I was feeling really lousy. Achy from head to foot, scratchy throat, hollow feeling in my chest and exhausted.  I took vitamin C, garlic, echinacea, zinc, Tylenol and melatonin and retired to the bedroom.  I watched something from Netflix on the laptop for a while and then turned out the lights by nine.

Felt much better this morning!  I decorated the tree, did some laundry and baked toffee bars and thumb print cookies this afternoon.

Plans for this week:  two more cookie varieties, gift wrapping and figuring out what we will eat on Christmas Eve.  I also want to make an appointment to get my hair cut and trim the boys' hair.  And I need to do a bit of house cleaning.

Special prayer intentions:  for the repose of the soul of our friend Dale's dad; for a happy and holy Christmas for all the world.


Something that makes me smile:  Una, wearing the hat I found for Sebastian at one of the thrift shops.

And this septic-pump truck.  The bumper stickers read, CAUTION: Hauling Political Promises

Have a happy fourth week of Advent, everyone!

More making and baking...

OHMIGOSH!  Are we really only a week from Christmas Eve?  I am only just over half done with my baking, and I haven't wrapped a single thing, the tree hasn't been purchased and, well...I am mysteriously calm about it all.  Must be the grace of God...

It has been a productive week, anyway, in spite of the fact that I had to take some time out for eating, sleeping and caring for my dear children.

I really enjoyed making this little church, the pattern saved from an old Martha Stewart Living Christmas issue.  The photo doesn't do it justice.  It really sparkles, and I left a hole beneath it for a battery powered tea light, so its vellum windows glow.  I guess it's about six inches tall.

Stockings for the nephews and niece.  Remember the scrap of "Believe" fabric you sent me last year, Regan?

It is a good kind of busy.  I'm off now for a cup of tea and then decorating some of the cookies baked this week.  Have a good weekend!

Oh, and don't forget to take a look at Natural Suburbia for Creative Friday.  It is astounding what creativity there is out there!  I'm full of ideas for next year...

{this moment}: waiting

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  Hosted by SouleMama.

Yarn Along--snowed in

Well, not really, but with temperatures in the teens and low twenties, I don't feel compelled to go anywhere.  It is much nicer to be inside with the kettle going, the cookies going in and coming out of the oven and something constantly on the knitting needles and craft table.

I don't have much time to read, other than picture books to the children, but i am browsing through a lot of my Christmas books, most of them, like this one, thrift shop finds.

I have two of the six roses knitted with which to embellish Una's scarf.  I think she will like it (I hope!)

If you'd like to share what you are reading and knitting, join Ginny's Yarn Along on Small Things.

Leo's favorite ginger crisps

These are not your typical ginger snap or ginger cutout cookie; they are much lighter and very crisp.  Rolling them in yellow coarse sugar before baking gives them a wonderful sparkle.

And who is Leo, you wish to know?  He was my cat, who for seventeen years would come into the kitchen whenever he smelled these baking, and would not leave until he was given a cookie broken up into little bits.

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 stick) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
coarse sugar for coating

Sift four, salt, soda and spices together in a bowl.
Beat butter and sugar together until fluffy.  Beat in egg and molasses.
Stir in flour 1/3 at a time.  Chill the dough for several hours or overnight (you can even freeze it at this point).

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees; Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment.  Roll dough into 1" balls, about a teaspoon at a time, and place in a pie pan or cake tin with course sugar.  Roll them around in the sugar until covered, then place on the cookie sheet.  With a flat-bottomed glass dipped in regular sugar, press each ball flat.  There should be about 2" between cookes.

Bake for about 12 minutes, until tops are crackled.  Cool on a rack.

Makes about 60 cookies.

Monday Musings--December 13, 2010

Right now...it is 6:00 a.m., dark, and the wind is howling outside.  Nearly everyone is asleep still, although I just heard someone go into the bathroom.

This weekend...was busy, but not too crazy.  I managed two more batches of cookie dough, finished the chenille scarf (still have some decorating to do on it), made a few ornaments for the Jesse Tree and took the creches down from the attic crawlspace.  I also got a few more Christmas cards out.

We went to Mass at the Chapel of Divine Mercy, which was so good--there are always a couple of priests hearing confessions before and after Mass, which is something I really miss whenever I go to Mass elsewhere.  The parishes which are in the hands of the Fathers of Mercy all have this benefit.  No having to squeeze confession into your Saturday!

We stopped at Walmart on the way home, which was a bit of a pain, as we are having a winter storm, and everyone was there clearing milk and bread off the shelves, no doubt in preparation for being snowed-in (it really isn't that much snow; I grew up in Bavaria, and had to march to school even when the snow was knee-deep.  This is only a couple of inches, higher in the drifts, but Southerners panic).

We had lunch and I worked on Christmas gifts while the kids watched Toy Story 3 from Netflix.  In the evening, we lit up our nativity scene and our Advent wreath and ate lots of cookies from Aldi (they have all sorts of German goodies this time of year).  I haven't a big sweet-tooth, but after having no sweets all week, it sure did taste wonderful!

This week I plan to...do some serious baking (I have a lot of cookie dough, but haven't baked anything yet); finish Una's scarf (I am hoping I can learn to knit roses in a hurry); send out more Christmas cards and work on a few more gifts and Jesse Tree ornaments.  I need to finish up all the gifts so that I can clear up my work room for gift-wrapping activities!  Towards the end of the week, we will have to go looking for a Christmas tree.  Unfortunately, with Gemma being at a grabby age, I think we will have to go back to a table-top tree this year if we don't want to lose any ornaments...

Today we will have cinnamon rolls for breakfast, since I didn't get my act together for the St. Lucia buns.  I am hoping, in the midst of my busyness, to make some snow ice cream with the kids.

I am praying for...the grace to have a really lovely Advent.  I have a lot to do, and I don't want to get all bent out of shape over the externals of Christmas.  All the annual rush and fuss has made me seriously consider doing what Ginny does, and just give small gifts and treats in stockings on Christmas and save the great gift exchange for Epiphany.  It would certainly help keep the Feast of the Nativity more holy.

I am also praying for work for Bret, but work that will keep him close to home.  I have gotten used to having him near, and it would be hard to have him working a commute away in a job without any flexibility.

Something that makes me smile:  kids braving 16-degree temperatures to play in the first real snow of the season!