I can't believe it is December already!
I remembered at bedtime last night that I needed to get out and tie up the little Advent bags I made last year...it didn't seem real to me that the end of November had come so fast.
(I put something special in one bag each night leading up to Christmas.)
It also doesn't look like the holiday season outside--we had so much rain lately, that yesterday we had quite an impressive flood out behind our house. And so far we have had only an extremely light dusting of snow which didn't last.
But, the calendar does say December 1st. Yikes!
You know, a little while ago I was in the dollar store (buying some Christmas tins to use for giving baked goods to Kira's friends). It was very busy, and I couldn't get over the feeling of almost panic that I sensed there. The feeling that I sense in every store this time of year. Everyone is frantically trying (or so it seems to me) to buy everything they need before it's too late. It is a very unpleasant feeling in the air. I would like to say that I am beyond all that holiday anxiety, but it wouldn't be true. I admit, I feel anxious right now too. I may not buy very many things, but there are so many things I would like to make for Christmas and I know I will get little of it done. It just seems that there are too many things going on in my life--all good things, but still. Sometimes I feel like I have more blessings than I can take!
(Actually, I have been considering lately giving up blogging. I love it, but I just have so much to do, and I seem to be having a harder and harder time, since the baby was born, to find time for it. I haven't made any decisions yet, just thinking about it.)
It's strange, that this time of year, when the darkness and cold should be forcing us to slow down and hibernate, we instead pick up the pace, rush around buying things, baking things, making things. Even for someone like me who is trying to keep our holidays low key--I am not even exchanging gifts with the extended family, and we will only be attending one party this year--I still have a lot to do. I can't tell you about the projects I want to do, of course, for those children of mine who can read.
I will say though, the quilt I am making for Jasper is simply NOT coming along at all. Day after day I try to find time to work on it, but it doesn't happen...but somehow the kids manage to spend time in my work room even if I don't, and mess it up to the point where I'm going to have to clean it for half an hour before I will be able to do anything. *sigh*
It doesn't help that Amy just cut another tooth. I am just not getting enough sleep. My energy levels are not what they should be, despite all the vitamins I take and the water I drink. I know all the moms out there understand, so I won't complain any more. :)
One project I hope I'll have time for is making some festive garlands to decorate up the house--I'd like to use some fabric scraps I have to make a yo-yo garland or two, like this one I saw here:
I feel so lucky that earlier this year, a friend gave me a big stack of Christmas fabric squares, among other fabric. I know I will be using up these bits for years to come!
Of course, December also means baking. I have a list of things I want to make: Chocolate covered pretzels, like we make every year, candy cane bark, date squares, truffles, sugar cookies, and cherry shortbread. Nothing in the list is too complicated, I should be able to manage it all.
Does anyone have a favourite truffle recipe they'd like to share? I think maybe when I get started on my baking, I'll make the truffles first...I could use a few myself. :)
By the way, for anyone who wants to spend some time reading with a big mug of tea...the Winter edition of Rhythym of the Home is up (our Etsy shop is a sponsor there). For those not familiar with it, it's a quarterly magazine for parents filled with lovely seasonal craft ideas, recipes, interviews, and articles about family life and celebrations. Just throwing that out there!
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