Icy, Good food, Garland and Lights, Friends

1. We awake to an ice-encrusted world. Rain and fog continue throughout the morning. It forces us to stay in, lingering over two cups of coffee.
2. Baked one of my favorite dinners, Alsatian Potato Pie. It uses puff pastry, potatoes, leeks, garlic, Gruyere and heavy cream. Served with funghi in salsa di pomodori (mushrooms in tomato sauce) and tossed greens with Dijon vinaigrette. Oh boy...!
3. Daughter 3 fashions a pretty pine and holly garland for the stair rail. Nature's contributions add to the coziness of Christmas time. Twinkle lights make it even cozier.
4. Friends arrive for dinner, bustling in cold air, greetings and gifts!

Not made in China, Practical, Seriously baking

1. In the check-out line at the department store, I look at the tag on the scarf I am purchasing and see it is made in Germany. "Wow, it's not made in China!". The woman in front of me turns and I see she is holding the same scarf, different color. "I know, it's made in Germany", she says. "Very nice", say I. "And I drive a German car", says the woman. "So do I!", I exclaim. "What kind is yours?", she asks. "I have a Passat." "Well, what do you know, I have a Passat too! And before that, I drove a Jetta." She then goes on to tell me about the engine, but we must finish checking out so she bids me goodbye with a squeeze to my arm because now we are friends.
2. A. takes us to a store called, "Tractor Supply". I'm not expecting much within, just a heater for the water trough. But it turns out to be a catch-all store and we all find something useful to buy.
3. Everyone is out of the house and I am left alone to my baking. It is grand!

A note, Gathering the goods, Evergreens

1. I wake up and Steve is not home. I figure he was called to work when the phone rang during the night. He knows my routine, that I will be at the computer with my coffee. So he sends me an email to tell me where he is.
2. I go out early and I have all morning to do the grocery shopping. My list is long and I want to concentrate. I enjoy grocery shopping on these terms.
3. The sprigs of evergreens, when they are mixed together, make pretty bouquets. Spruce, boxwood and holly are wonderful companions.

Wee folk, Flying, Taking stock, Think tank

1. My wee folk have come onto the shelf for the holidays. I enjoy making these little dolls for all the seasons, but the red-cloaked winter ones are my favorites. These sweet little things stand only 1- 2 inches high and always make me smile.
2. As I drive over the rise, the valley stretches out before me with the wind-swept mountains on the other side. For a moment, I am flying.
3. I plan my holiday baking today and write down all the ingredients for shopping tomorrow. Heavy cream, unsweetened chocolate, mascarpone, nuts, confectioner's sugar, figs...wonderful ingredients. No ordinary "hamburger" shopping list here.
4. Even the shortest errands around here require a 30 minute drive, allowing me plenty of time to be alone and contemplate. I enjoy these mental wanderings while I drive. I have solved many problems, lifted up many prayers and had many revelations driving around our valley.

Rolling dough, Which one?, Bomber, Happy to see me

1. Rolling sugared triangles of dough into Butterhorn cookies. They don't have to be perfectly shaped to come out looking pretty. A very forgiving cookie.
2. She phones from the store with a question about choosing a gift for someone and I have the answer perfectly ready.
3. B. drops off fresh eggs. One carton doesn't close all the way and she says one of those eggs is a big bomber. My first thought is for the chicken who laid it.
4. Baby greets me with a smile when she wakes from her nap.

School's out, Great finds, Think quickly

1. I decided to cancel school until January. So today was liberating and we went shopping.
2. The antique shop had just what I needed for daughter #1 AND two Shiny Brite ornaments for my collection. All three items were very reasonably priced and I was very, very happy.
3. The clock was ticking and the pressure was on to start dinner. I had to think quickly and so I changed the menu from calzones to pizza. Much quicker to prepare, yet pretty much all the same ingredients.

The Virgin Sings Her Lullaby, Cutting the Tree, Traditions

1. The second advent candle is lit and voices sing, "What Child Is This". Beautiful lyrics capture my attention. "Raise, raise the song on high, the virgin sings her lullaby. Joy, joy for Christ is born, the babe, the son of Mary."
2. We bundle up and head outdoors to cut the Christmas tree. Even though they're grown, the girls are excited and it's contagious. It's a fun winter's day to be outside.
3. It's usually Steve's job to get the tree upright into the stand. We discuss the tradition of the need for a few cuss words being necessary to get the job done. Particularly when dealing with a crooked trunk.
4. Ornaments come out of boxes with exclamations of, "Oh, I remember this!"