Deck the Halls...

Here it comes, the whirlwind of the Christmas Season.

In my case this December began with some breaking of tradition.

I decided to deck my halls BEFORE my Birthday this year!

Besides being thrilled at the personal growth I feel certain this step reflects,
I must now admit I did it simply because I love Christmas.

I couldn't wait to get out my box of lights and strange collection of ornaments.

Oh, and the Christmas music.

Amy Grant and I have been rocking out.
If you don't believe me, watch out, b'cause I might just come to your house to prove it.

I am now imaging myself in a long winter coat,
hair mussed yet somehow still cool
(just like John Cusack in Say Anything),
standing in your front yard blasting my Amy Grant Christmas CD
& singing loud for all to hear.

I love the sparkle and the cozy gatherings and the hot cocoa.

I love the wonder and mystery of the Holy God becoming man,
choosing to enter in to our weakness and helplessness,
giving generously and freely of all that He is.

This is what thrills my heart and gives me wonder afresh.

 My Mumsy & I (with the distraction of the eldest nephew J) sorted through our family Christmas boxes again, and tried to consolidate, get rid of,  and share some of these family treasures.
This is fun for me, not just because I am the self appointed Family Memory Treasurer,
but also because in "treasurering" I find things like this...

Ornaments hand made by my Grandmother

If your beloved Grandmother hand made ornaments representing you and your three siblings, wouldn't you treasure them, even if said ornaments made you appear hideous, puffy, and slightly monstrous?

I wish I had a photo of the one she made of Tim. It is quite possibly three times the size of the ones shown here, and really the ugliest one of them all. They make me laugh. And they make me miss my sweet and funny Grandma.

These ornaments are now in the possession of the sibling who shares their name, much to my sister-in-law Jill's chagrin because she has to hide her ornament "Timothy" at the back of the tree, and much to my chagrin because I think by themselves they are a little strange, but together they fit monstrously well.

I hope your season is filled with things that invoke wonder and delight...even if it is delighting in the wonder of Amy Grant & I "caroling" in your front yard.

We pretty much sound like this, so don't even think about rolling your eyes...

Shimmy & Shake!

 Have you ever gone to a Concert in the Park?

For those of us who live in this particular cluster of towns, it is a Summer tradition.

I have a confession.

I don't go for the concert part.

I don't go for the park part.

I go to be with friends,

to relax,

& maybe to enjoy watching the slightly inebriated lady who proudly shows off her one dance move (picture a shoulder shimmy shake thing whilst leaning forward....and then leaning back. oh, & picture that over and over and over....).

She is there almost every Friday night, and for some reason, her consistency brings me comfort.

The "friends" I love to sit closest to, in the traditional attendance of auditory art in the great square shaped outdoors, are the Dubs.

This Friday was no exception.
I tagged along with the Dubs and their special guests,
Uncle Karl & Aunt Kristy.

The difference was that I enjoyed the nephews dancing with their Aunt Kristy, all three of whom have way better rhythm & more varied dance moves than the slightly inebriated shoulder shake lady.

It was delightful!

This little man, besides being a great dancer....

is also skilled in the art of comedy!

He climbed up on my blue plastic lawn chair, and proceeded to play "peek-a-boo"....

& "Smoosh-a-face-a-boo"

& "Not-sure-if-I'm-breathing-a-boo"

& "Scrunch-a-face-a-boo"

 & "Peek-a-scrunch-a-boo"

 & "Oh-my-goodness-I-want-to-eat-you-up-course-you're-so-cute-a-boo"!

 After E-baby got bored, 

Pilot J tried out the "Smoosh-your-face-a-boo" too!

Pilot J abandoned me shortly after, because of important frisbee throwing business,

and left me to face the "authorities" by my lonesome.

I think Sheriff E-baby thought I looked suspicious because of the whole
laughing-so-hard-I-almost-peed-my-pants thing.

He let me go with just a warning.

Which really was only fair, since the fun I was having was mostly his fault

Owlish Occupations

I am not sure what "owlish"* means,
but I promise to look it up before I post this blog.

I found it in this neato book called 'Gregg Shorthand Dictionary'.

It was a gift from Brother Brian & Sister-in-law Susan.

I love it!

I've already copied out some words in shorthand in my other blog (also known as a journal).

It is a beautiful book, with brown leather, embossed lettering, a thicker uneven feeling paper.

It's one of those books that feels authentic, and smells old - in the best way possible.

Did you know about my obsession with smelling books?

I love the smells of smart, musty, papery, adventure.

(sniff)

So many things to take in, in one noisy breath.

*owlish: adjective meaning like an owl, solemn and wise in appearance

Mumford vs Mummies

Here is what moves me. 
This month at least.

Music.

Bon Iver to be specific.

I am obsessed.

Since I have been working a lot of extra hours & sometimes from home,
I log on to youtube,
go to his channel and play all.

love. love. love.

My favorite of his is this live version of Skinny Love he played on Colbert

Where can I sign up to be one of his back up stompers?

 Mumford & Sons have a sweet mix of "dance a jig" and "search your soul" that gets me every time.

Roll Away Your Stone makes me miss the banjo that hung on the wall next to the fireplace in our little red house on the top of Ukarumpa hill.

 I like them enough to have bought a ticket to their show in Monterey in August.

I am excited, even though Marcus Mumford looks a bit like Brendan Fraser who is not my favorite actor.

The fact that they resemble each other makes me like Mr. Fraser better,
which is a great compliment to Mr. Mumford, in my opinion.

My roomie, FranTesska, & I have compared these two men several times,

and right about now Roomie would scoff, (slightly disgusted in her beautifully regal way),

and say that my dislike of the acting of Mr. Fraser is related to my general aversion to all movies from the nineties.

 I would counter that I do not have an averhate dislike of all nineties movies,

just most of them.

I do like The Shawshank Redemption,
Braveheart,
Fried Green Tomatoes,
& possibly more.

 I just think I have an averhate "strong impulse to avoid" most lame movies
and sadly, for Mr. Fraser,
that is most of the movies he acted in.

Roomie would then remind me in a innocently questioning way
" isn't your hatred" (her word not mine) "of all nineties movies due to the fact that the nineties were a difficult decade for you and you associate nineties styles, music, movies to that time of your life?"

I would probably at this point cross my arms and "harumph"
and remind her that
"You are not Brookie or Al, so STOP ANALYZING ME!"

And then I would roll my eyes so maturely and remind her that
"I am way older than you FranTesska, shouldn't you respect your elder?"

 And she would probably just close her eyes for a little nap (because of the narcolepsy),
 to which I might add
 "Is your stress at trying to analyze me making you feel narcoleptic?"

A pillow would probably be flung at my head at this point.

 I am glad for her insights, however many tantrums I throw.

And in some not-so-stubborn part of my brain, hidden just behind the hiccupotomas (I know it is not a real word), is where I like to keep that particular self awareness.

The nineties were hard.

 I survived.

Please don't make me watch Blast from the Past to prove it.

 I must now confess that there is a Brendan Fraser movie that I actually do like.

The Mummy ,

but just as Roomie might start to open one sleepy little eyeball at that reviving declaration,
my ability to avoid avoiding undislike of this one nineties movie may be due to Rachel Weisz, Richard Vosloo & Jon Hannah's acting and not Mr. Fraser's.

Shhhhhhhh!

Please don't tell Roomie,
 'cause I think she is actually sleeping at an appropriate time
and not in the middle of a fight dinner.

beauty & the rest

Since moving twice in the months of December and January, I am just now beginning to settle into my new place. Our apartment is upstairs in this little duplex close to downtown. Perfect location. Good space. Really great landlords. It was worth the stress of living in a temporary location so we could get it. Roomie & I have slowly but surely purged old things that don't fit, and added the things we like. I have enjoyed the process. I don't know how Princess Francesca (aka Roomie) has faired, but however she feels, she is beginning to put photos on the wall & pretty up her own room. I take that as a good sign. Through the process of working on my room, I have realized that beauty matters. There is something in the way I was made that needs a place of rest at the end of the day, and a place of rest to me includes order, color, & memory. Beauty inspires me. It invokes reminiscing, creativity, hope for change. The author of my favorite blog often describes the conflict between the desire for things to be made whole (a part of beauty) & the reality of a broken world. It has been freeing to realize that this desire is a part of God's image reflected in us. I believe God loves beauty, because He created it. I believe that He will restore this broken world, because He sent His son to do it. I like looking around my room and finding reminders of that. Come take a tour of the things that have inspired me lately... a quote board on the front stoop.

the top of my file cabinet, home to some bling & an african violet (which I am thrilled is still living)

notice the grey curtain in the background. My sweet sister-in-law found it, brand new & cheap, at our downtown thrift store. I had stopped myself four times from buying it at Target, so of course, I squealed like a girl. 'Cause I am a girl! I have had this cool frame forever, have wanted to use it, & finally did... This is still in process, but I like it. I used some of my favorite scrap fabric pieces and put them in some inexpensive crosstitch hoops I found. I bought the hoops to actually crosstitch, but am using them as deco until I learn how...

I took some more scraps of my favorite fabric & framed a card I like so much I can't ever seem to send it to someone.

I also, made this framed art from peacock feathers a patient gave me, burlap ribbon left over from cousin Jindrew's (Jina & Andrew) fall wedding, and more fav fabric remnants. A second card I couldn't part with so I framed it in burlap.

I actually tend to buy cards because they are beautiful, and end up saving one or two of them because I like them too much to use up completely. I decided to put them out since I didn't want to use them. I snagged a black wire angled file holder at a garage sale and have them displayed on my desk.

I love how it turned out, and am please that this area of beauty is actually functional.I think functional beauty is also an important reflection of who God is. Please excuse this next photo, couldn't seem to hold the camera still. My Mumsy's husband (Papa Carl) made this chicken wire in a simple black frame.

I love having all my jewelry out, makes it easier to pick out what to wear. For the ones I don't tend to wear, I still can enjoy them. I added a mirror I found at Walmart, placed it behind the blinging chicken wire & viola...Functional beauty! I have this white milk glass light from my Grandma Ardis. I have had it for years & keep not using it because it just doesn't go. When I started thinking about changing my room, I kept coming back to this lamp. Because my space is small, I wanted everything to be white or glass. I gave this special inspirational piece a place of honor...

I am a little embarrassed that I bought the two books next to it because they were beautiful and matched my room. That was not the only reason I liked them, It was just the reason I bought them. I tend to read from either of them, A Field Guide To Western Birds by Roger Tory Peterson & Sonnets From The Portuguese And Other Love Poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, if I am having trouble falling asleep. The bird book has been especially entertaining since I discovered the section on owls. Peterson wrote and illustrated the book, but I don't just love it because it has pictures. HA! I love it also because he writes out the sounds that these birds make. For example, the Pygmy Owl's voice is described as " A single mellow whistle, hoo, repeated every 2 seconds. ALso a rolling series, ending with 2-3 deliberate notes: too-too-too-too-too-too-too-too-took-too-took. Wanna try it? I did & it's fun! These three lockets hang above the milk glass lamp & the beautiful books of fun...

The one on the left, a gift from Brookie & Rachie, middle - from Grandma Ardis, right - gift from Tim & Jill.

...which hang below a shutter I found at one of my favorite stores, Consignage,

...and whose color inspired the color of my room. I have been pretty occupied on working way too much, setting up my room, and not much else. Princess Francesca & I taking a break to walk downtown for a beer & tappas. Notice the crowded wall behind our heads. Yes, I have way too much up there, but the hall is small and hidden & I have tried to restrict my favorite things to a space that doesn't take over the place.

I spent a hot morning with Tim, Jill & the boys last weekend touring of the Warbird Museum. It is so fun to see Pilot J so so so excited about airplanes. I think he told me three times that day about getting to fly in an airplane. See Pilot J on Tim's shoulders & Jill in background with Dino E strapped in his "vehicle"

Dino E on the other hand, was so so so excited about walking, and was very clear that he wanted me to hold his hands so he could cruise "on his own".

The adults were thrilled about the delicious icies we pigged out on. Another fun reason to head out of the work / room set-up cave was to celebrate Dino E's 1st Birthday!

I cannot believe that he is one! He is getting so big which is great & also depresses me to no end. Why can't they stay babies? Today, I am spending my Saturday working, catching up on emails, praying for my sweet niece A.G. who is recuperating from surgery, & celebrating my sweet baby Sister-in-law Susan's birthday! Here is one of her presents, waiting to be mailed.

I hope you are finding moments of beauty today!

Girls Glorious Girls!

This post is long overdue.
And because it is so long overdue (1.25 months to be precise), I will not attempt to offer up all the details of my trip to Tennessee in December.

I will, however let you see three of the sweetest reasons I have ever found to visit a place...

Reasons #1 & #2, Ava Gray & Havyn, sporting their puffy pink marshmallow twin jackets in their brand new twin stroller.

These two love to be outside

& I think their momma already loves that they can be outside & restrained at the same time.

Another favorite is bathtime.

This is Ava Gray (pre-heart surgery) with her awesome in home nurse Ana.


Sweetest Reason #3 to visit The Volunteer State...

Rose glorious Rose!

In case you can't tell us twins apart, I'm the one on the left & she's the serious one.

I was so grateful for the chance to be with my sister & the twins for Ava Gray's heart surgery & to get a few precious days with Rose & her parentals!

It is never enough time, and I find it harder to leave every time.

So, I try to soak it all in while I'm there, and remember that I have the chance to be involved in their daily lives through prayer & Google+

Havyn (who shortly after this wiggled out of my clutches), me & Ava Gray (who rather likes being clutched & is sporting her "I can't be bothered to wiggle" face).

Don't let these next few photos fool you, Havyn may look like the ham, but Ava Gray just happens to be more particular as to when one should "ham it up". She seems to enjoy doing it when the camera is hidden while Havyn has a unique "camera only" grin ready the moment she sees it pointing her way.





This is the one of the dolls from many lands that my Grandmother, Ardis, made.
It represents the country of Japan.
I introduced Havyn to this doll when I was trying to distract her from eating power chords.
I showed her each doll sitting on the shelf and we talked about them.

She seemed to like all the dolls, but I think she fell in love with the Japanese doll at first hair tug. I don't know why she did, but I think it is sweet!