See. Life isn't always so calm.

We had a super busy weekend - a two day swim meet and piano recital plus our company holiday party. Can you say tired? Actually, that doesn't quite cover it. Exhausted is more like it. Sunday night I went to bed at 7:45 p.m. and didn't get up until 6:30 Monday morning. Just shy of 11 hours. Crazy, huh?

Monday was a snow day for the kids.  A pathetic - we had one inch of snow - day.  Considering our weekend, it was nice to have little on the agenda, but it is the last week that the kids are in school before the holiday break.  Losing a day kind of pinched my schedule.  I didn't get to quilting the one handmade gift yesterday.  I did manage to finish the quilting today, but everything shifted a day down the week and tomorrow the stuff on the agenda can't shift.  I found myself agitated and yelling at the kids.  Fatty saw it too - told me I didn't seem myself.  I hate this.

And then I uploaded my photos from the last two days and I saw calm in them.

I made a list, put my laundry away, went through the mail and neatened up the girls' rooms.  Then I walked the dog and celebrated Tuesday with Fatty and a bottle of champagne.  And then came to the understanding that I won't make any other progress on the gift wrapping and card addressing and quilt binding until Thursday.

I'm going to be ok with that.  I've made it 14 days into December without feeling a moment of this stress and that, my friends, is an incredible achievement for me.  So, yes.  I'm ok with a bit a stress because tomorrow the calm returns.  Until then, take care.

******

There are still a handful of camera straps available in my shop.  Orders must be placed by Monday, December 20th in order to arrive by Christmas in the U.S.  You can get 15% off by using the code CALM when you check out.

See. Life isn't always so calm.

We had a super busy weekend - a two day swim meet and piano recital plus our company holiday party. Can you say tired? Actually, that doesn't quite cover it. Exhausted is more like it. Sunday night I went to bed at 7:45 p.m. and didn't get up until 6:30 Monday morning. Just shy of 11 hours. Crazy, huh?

Monday was a snow day for the kids.  A pathetic - we had one inch of snow - day.  Considering our weekend, it was nice to have little on the agenda, but it is the last week that the kids are in school before the holiday break.  Losing a day kind of pinched my schedule.  I didn't get to quilting the one handmade gift yesterday.  I did manage to finish the quilting today, but everything shifted a day down the week and tomorrow the stuff on the agenda can't shift.  I found myself agitated and yelling at the kids.  Fatty saw it too - told me I didn't seem myself.  I hate this.

And then I uploaded my photos from the last two days and I saw calm in them.

I made a list, put my laundry away, went through the mail and neatened up the girls' rooms.  Then I walked the dog and celebrated Tuesday with Fatty and a bottle of champagne.  And then came to the understanding that I won't make any other progress on the gift wrapping and card addressing and quilt binding until Thursday.

I'm going to be ok with that.  I've made it 14 days into December without feeling a moment of this stress and that, my friends, is an incredible achievement for me.  So, yes.  I'm ok with a bit a stress because tomorrow the calm returns.  Until then, take care.

******

There are still a handful of camera straps available in my shop.  Orders must be placed by Monday, December 20th in order to arrive by Christmas in the U.S.  You can get 15% off by using the code CALM when you check out.

This year, I like December.  That's a new thing.  My goal was to enjoy the holidays and I'm glad my plan is working.  We have a busy weekend ahead, but I'm not anxious or stressed about it or how fast Christmas day is approaching.  The decorating is finished, the shopping mostly done.  I'm exercising, eating well and trying to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night.  I'm only making one gift and, although I haven't finished yet, I've enjoyed working on it and knowing that I can take my time and savor the process.  The holiday cards have been here for weeks, but I won't get to addressing them until Wednesday or so.  And I am ok with that.  To make things even sweeter, there were peonies at Whole Foods today. I splurged and I'm ok with that, too.

There is so much goodness surrounding me.  I am so thankful that I took the steps to slow down and enjoy the season.

So, yes, all is calm.

And all is bright.

The Japanese maple in front of our house is my favorite tree. When we had it trimmed this summer, the arborist told me it is the largest green Japanese maple he has ever seen. I don't doubt it. It's huge. It has started turning deep red and the leaves will drop soon.  It's always the last tree in the neighborhood to go, signaling winter is on its way.  I feel it coming too.  It's time for soups and stews, baking bread and making quilts, wool sweaters and socks.  I'm ready.  Well, I will be when we find the bin of hats and gloves.  I wonder where in the world I could have put it.

There was no school on Thursday and Friday so we took advantage of our day off and went apple picking.  It'd been a few years since we last went and it was wonderful to spend some time outside on such a beautiful day. As the girls get older, they pick more fruit and can last longer out in the orchard.  As a result, I will probably be making applesauce for days.  Boy oh boy, did they pick a lot!

Fall's arrival had me hankering to knit.  I want to tackle hats and sweaters and mitts and cowls.  I want to sew pillows for the family room and make a bunch of quilts.  I want to cook soup once a week and bake bread.  I want to drink tea with honey in the afternoon and maybe even make some apple cider donuts.  I want to read books in bed and take hot baths.  I want to start making my holiday gifts.  I know I won't get to it all, but I am determined to create and produce this season.

Do you have big plans for fall?  What are you planning on making?

I'm feeling sort of quiet these days so I thought I'd share some photos from this weekend which was full of good friends and good food.  Hope your week is off to a great start.

Hazel came home last week, right after we returned home from London.  She's a 3 or 4 year old chocolate lab (no one knows for sure) that we adopted from the Kentucky Lab Rescue.  We've been talking about getting a dog for about a year and, admittedly, I was the one holding us off.  I wanted to wait until the weather was nicer and the kitchen construction was finished.  We've had labs before and I was pretty set on finding a dog that needed a home.  I'd been visiting the rescue website about once a month and when I saw the photo of Hazel, I filled in the application.  It's not that there weren't other dogs that would have fit well with our family.  It was because she was about the right age (not a puppy, but still young) and she had the right name.  I know, it sounds crazy.  It's just that Fatty loves the name Hazel.  He would have named a child Hazel if I didn't feel so strongly that Hazel Harris just doesn't work (Go ahead, say it aloud).  When I saw her and her name, I knew it was a sign.  It was meant to be.

She's sweet and gentle and has adjusted pretty well to our life.  We had a rough first night, but since then, it's been great.  Well, the 4th was trying with the fireworks, but that's to be expected.  She's good with the kids, follows me around wherever I go, loves to go on walks and is a happy house dog.  Scout was not happy at the beginning.  There was lots of hissing and big tails, but I think they are coming to an understanding.

I call this feigned indifference.  They were purposely ignoring one another, but it gives me great hope that the two of them will be buddies after some time.

I also have a ridiculous notion that I need to sew one or two things for this dog.  Stay tuned.

Hazel came home last week, right after we returned home from London.  She's a 3 or 4 year old chocolate lab (no one knows for sure) that we adopted from the Kentucky Lab Rescue.  We've been talking about getting a dog for about a year and, admittedly, I was the one holding us off.  I wanted to wait until the weather was nicer and the kitchen construction was finished.  We've had labs before and I was pretty set on finding a dog that needed a home.  I'd been visiting the rescue website about once a month and when I saw the photo of Hazel, I filled in the application.  It's not that there weren't other dogs that would have fit well with our family.  It was because she was about the right age (not a puppy, but still young) and she had the right name.  I know, it sounds crazy.  It's just that Fatty loves the name Hazel.  He would have named a child Hazel if I didn't feel so strongly that Hazel Harris just doesn't work (Go ahead, say it aloud).  When I saw her and her name, I knew it was a sign.  It was meant to be.

She's sweet and gentle and has adjusted pretty well to our life.  We had a rough first night, but since then, it's been great.  Well, the 4th was trying with the fireworks, but that's to be expected.  She's good with the kids, follows me around wherever I go, loves to go on walks and is a happy house dog.  Scout was not happy at the beginning.  There was lots of hissing and big tails, but I think they are coming to an understanding.

I call this feigned indifference.  They were purposely ignoring one another, but it gives me great hope that the two of them will be buddies after some time.

I also have a ridiculous notion that I need to sew one or two things for this dog.  Stay tuned.