an advent spiral – new traditions

By on December 2, 2015 in Handmade Holidays and Celebrations, Sewing and Crafts

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Every year during holidays, I have projects I try to accomplish and every year there are projects that do not get done.  An advent spiral has been on my list for the last three advents.  This log slice was packed at the old house and moved here and then taken out of my craft closet and put away numerous times.  Many times I feel that things just happen when they are supposed to and I am happy with the end result, which may have been different if I made them when I was supposed to.  So I once again I forgive myself for my eternal procrastination.

Last week I woke up thinking that once again advent was hot on my heels and so much to do.  I walked into my quiet studio still dark from early morning and pulled out the box with the log slice.  I drew the holes where I wanted them and got it ready for Eddie to drill holes for me.

I pulled out my box of wooden figures and a chose the piece that I would paint as Our Lady.  I realize how long its been since I have painted one of my little people and while painting her I got back lots of memories of sitting in my studio on countless nights painting hundreds of these for other people, mostly duplicating their families and I have decided that some time soon, I will paint my own family.  Its been 9 years since I painted the first family so I think its high time that I make ours now.

The beeswax candles from yesterdays post are all trimmed and sitting next to the advent spiral on our front room table and we can add another candle each night as we say the Saint Andrew novena.  I am quite terrible at saying novenas and I think its important to confess it because there might be lots of mommas out there holding onto the same guilt.  Let it go and try again tomorrow.  That’s what counts right?

Winter is definitely nearing around here.  Everyday this week has been cold and mostly rainy but not unenjoyable.  I know our days outside are numbered and I am not quite ready to embrace being inside all the time just yet.  The kids have gotten into the Christmas spirit and everywhere I look there is a little evidence of it.  We don’t really celebrate or decorate until advent is over but that does not stop them from leaving little hints of their happiness.

I am planning a 12 days of handmade Christmas here in a few days and it seems years since I have done one on my blog.  It is time.  I think this is the year that I will get all those ideas accomplished and so happy to be able to share it with you!

 

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in preparation for advent

By on November 30, 2015 in Handmade Holidays and Celebrations, Natural mothering

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The past few weeks around here have been a blur.  We have put everything to bed for the winter, garden is mulched and ready to sleep in the hopes of no weeds and easier prep time in the winter.  All the meat chickens are at freezer camp and we have another freezer full of deer meat given to us by our neighbors from right in our woods.  It is a good feeling I tell ya.  Good.  We are turning our attention to being inside and I am having more time to be on this computer and pull out some projects that have been waiting for my attention.

Fall has been so beautiful and I fear that I did not get one picture of it though I have not really looked through my camera and likely did.  Our woods are looking very different these days and its my favorite time to be there.  The leaves have all fallen and visibility goes way back into the woods.  The vines and brambles that kept us out all summer are gone and we can now walk anywhere back there and not just on the paths.  It has made for very entertaining hours these past few weeks.  We are soaking in every minute before Old Man Winter is upon us and we have to retreat inside.

We spent yesterday creating an advent spiral from materials we have right here (why not use what we have right?) and dipping candles to mark every night.  I fished out my candle wicks (and remembered the elderly lady who gifted it to me so long ago).  I will hopefully have the spiral finished up just in time to start the countdown tomorrow.  I haven’t painted one of my little people in years (do you remember those?)  and want to paint the Blessed Mother to go along with the candles each day.  So much to do.

Thanksgiving was nice.  Very relaxed.  So much in fact, that the turkey didn’t even go into the oven until 1 in the afternoon and we had quite a late dinner but fun and so much laughter.  I do prefer that to overly complicated celebrations with timelines.

I am going to miss the pumpkin spice essential oils blend that we have been mixing up here lately but the kids want some Christmas smells now so its time to break out the piney ones.  We also have a handful of small pumpkins that I need to turn into some kind of food and no idea if the ones sold at the stores for ornaments are flavorful.  Luckily, the big pumpkins on the porch were completely eaten by the chickens.  The day after halloween I saw them pecking at it and by the next day, two huge pumpkins were nothing but stalks.  Those chickens are great eating machines.  They have found the last source of wild berries outside and I find them perched up in that bush eating berries while the biggest girls, too big to get up off the ground really, wait for any to fall.  I am looking forward to those berries being gone though since I am sure those berries are causing our egg yolks to taste a bit off.

Today I will complete the spiral and the candles are hanging, waiting to be trimmed.  Tomorrow we start December and I need to get my gift list going.  What are you making this year for presents?  I can’t wait to hear.  I have been receiving lists from my little ones and everytime one of the big ones tells me of another request, I remind them to commit it to a list.  On paper.  Because momma brain.

Mateo has really taken to using his imagination and so now I must help him go and catch that swordfish, with his butterfly net that is living in our playroom.  See you a bit later.

 

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