Snowy Scenes

I've been reconsidering my decision to discontinue blogging, and instead, as part of my goals to refocus, reorganize, and rejuvenate in the new year, I need to decide on a focus for this blog. My original intentions have been lost over the past two and half years, and I hope to emerge well-rested (in mind at least) and with new energies.

In the meantine, here are some scenes around the house today after a little snowfall. The snow is of the wet yet powdery sort that lightly rests on everything it touches. All of the tress and shrubbery are hanging on to every flake.

We drove through the prettiest area, with tall trees on both sides of the road that in the summer is always cool and shady. Today the snow is almost acting like the leaves in the summer and it was so still. Unfortunately, the roard was slushy and very slippery, so I don't dare venture back out to take pictures. I have to content myself with shots around our land.

Christmas Cat

Zuzu enjoying the day.

Wishing all my readers continued blessings during the Christmas season!

Boy's Best Friend

I really can't stay...

New (to us) Kitchen Table

While there are much more exciting things going on in the blogosphere, we've been in the midst of the little kitchen update.

Some close friends on ours have been moving out of their home into something smaller, and to help them out, we've been involved in the great Kitchen Table Swap of Aught Seven.

Their kitchen table and chairs are way to large for the new house, so here's what we did: my ever-patient DH spent yesterday morning dismantling our kitchen table and loading it, two leaves, and six chairs into his truck. (You can see our table, minus leaves, here.)

He drove one hour back to our hometown to my parents' house. There, he and my dad unloaded our table and loaded up their tables and chairs. They drove over to our friends' new house (just around the corner this time) and unloaded my parents' table there. (Following?) They then drove over to the friends' old house and dismantled their old table and loaded up it and six chairs back into DH's truck. Whew. My dad drove back to his our and DH drive an hour back here. Once he arrived, we reassembled our "new table" and promptly collapsed into our new-to-us chairs.

I should note: he collapsed because of all the physical labor. I collapsed due to feeling sick. Sidekick collapsed (or jumped) into his chair because he wanted a snack.




So everyone ended up with a "new table." I recommend this to anyone wanting to update their furniture without spending a dime! (Other than gas...)

I am completely in love with this new table, especially the fact that it's a laminate top (not oak) and doesn't need to be covered with a tablecloth all the time that will inevitably end up with drips, stains, etc. after five minutes. On the flip side, my mother is left wondering if her "new table" (our old one) is going to be too short to effectively use as a workspace. Both of us are satisfied, though, that we were able to help out friends in a tight spot and we hope they are happy with their new table!

A Year of Merry Months

Exposures is discontinuing their Merry Months Picture Frame series, so I finally bit the bullet and purchased them! At the end of each month, I'll add a new snapshot to the appropriate frame so we will always have a year's worth of photos on our wall!

Exposures has other sets of 12-month frames that are just as charming!

St. Nicholas Day

Mother's Song

The Gift

I love to listen to this song over and over each Christmas. Something about it always makes me choke up a bit.

Madonna and Child Tea Set

Isn't this lovely? A mom on one of my message groups is buying it for her daughters for Christmas. I think it would be a lovely addition for any Christian family!

Our Advent Calendar

Our little guy is having a wonderful time placing each piece in the manger scene this year. It's hard to wait for the next morning!

Memorial of St. Nicholas

As many of you know, today is St. Nicholas Day!

From Catholic Culture:

St. Nicholas was born in Lycia, Asia Minor, and died as Bishop of Myra in 352. He performed many miracles and exercised a special power over flames. He practiced both the spiritual and temporal works of mercy, and fasted twice a week. When he heard that a father who had fallen into poverty was about to expose his three daughters to a life of sin, Nicholas took a bag of gold and secretly flung it through the window into the room of the sleeping father. In this way, the three girls were dowered and saved from mortal sin and hell.

Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra, is undoubtedly one of the most popular saints honored in the Western world. In the United States, his memory has survived in the unique personality of Saint Claus — the jolly, rotund, white-bearded gentleman who captivates children with promises of gifts on Christmas Eve. Considered primarily as the patron saint of children, Nicholas is also invoked by sailors, merchants, bakers, travelers and pawnbrokers, and with Saint Andrew is honored as the co-patron of Russia.

This is our first year truly "celebrating" and honoring St. Nicholas. We've been reading as much as we can about the saint. Demi's books are some of my favorites and her book on St. Nicholas is no exception. (Also check out Mother Teresa, Jesus, and Mary.)

I don't know how traditional it is, but in addition to our small family celebration, we are having a St. Nicholas Party this weekend for our closest family and friends. Several St. Nicholas treats are on the menu, and I think we'll have the kids decorate some St. Nicholas cookies (and other Advent/Christmas shapes).

To remember the saint's generosity and because I am Czech, St. Nicholas fills stockings in our house (not shoes), so I'll be sure to share pictures later!

Now it's time for my Sidekick and I to start our baking for tonight and Saturday!