What is Christmas, Really?

I've been working hard at not expecting Christmas to be like the ones of my youth: masses of people, mass, tons of gifts, a lot of noise, card-playing, tons of food and drink and a lot of people crammed into the same house, living together for a few days. 

 Nowadays, Christmases are minimalist: lights, a tree, some music and scents from SAJE, a couple tourtière, a cozy dinner for four around a fondue pot. Supper at a restaurant on Christmas day... V and I are not buying each other gifts as the renovations to the kitchen and now for the downstairs bathroom are taking up the cash flow. The kids prefer money to buy what they want and who can blame them? Now, if we need something, generally we buy it and so some of Christmas has lost its magic for this girl. 

 Did I tell you that T & A are expecting a baby around Valentine's Day? Now THAT is a gift! I am cautiously imagining Christmas with a little one and I say cautiously because our son and his spouse live far away and don't typically visit at Christmas time. 

 I've been listening to my favorite Winter Solstice Albums by Wyndham Hill. They are soft and easy listening.

I pair the music with diffused oil blends by SAJE and let my soul swell with the memories of Christmases past and imagining future Christmases with grandchildren, a noisy, packed house, a lot of noise, tons of food, good games of Catan, tons of gifts...

I have reread this and notice that I appear to feel sorry for myself.  Nope, I'm just a girl having feelings around Christmas given how the world and therefore Christmas have evolved.  I have much to be grateful for: a husband that I love who loves me back, two great boys and their partners, a lot of good friends, health, enough money to live comfortably and a good imagination.

A Little Crochet

My sister is a crocheter, not me. My Mom and my other sister crocheted too but me, I'm not as drawn to this craft. Are you? The good news is, I have finally found a knitting/crocheting friend and we get together every couple of weeks to advance together in our stitching crafts and Kim is a very talented crocheter so... A couple of years ago, I learned to crochet a basket and I am proud to say that I made a cat basket for my grand kitty Mulan. Here she is in all her torty glory sitting in said basket. Said basket reposes on her Mom's work desk and there, she keeps her company most days. O says that Mulan makes her work-from-home days more bearable. She loves the basket as it is made from a wool roving from Woolen Custom Mills in Alberta.

Having gained a little confidence, I moved forward to crochet a cotton basket to hold yarn. I enjoy knitting baskets, they are pretty and functional. Now, I'd like to crochet purses.

Yes, my ambitions are quite lofty for a non crocheter but when in the presence of greatness, one cannot miss the opportunity! Thanks Kim!