Merry Christmas!

Reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" on Christmas Eve.

The Gingerbread House decorated by the little people with Grammy and Bompa.

Jammin' on their new guitars with Bompa.

Christmas dinner....Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Gerie treated us all to an awesome prime rib dinner. They cooked all day at my Dad and Lu's house. Yummy!
(somehow Grandpa Chuck and Uncle Adam aren't in this pic)

Grandpa Chuck and Bompa

Winter Solstice Celebration

This year we celebrated the Winter Solstice with family and friends. It was such a special evening. Thank you to everyone who made the night magical!

Our Luminary Lit Path

The kids (all 14 of them) walked down the luminary lit path at sunset to the chiminea where we read some winter poems and my friend Piaf told a Solstice Story that her mom told her when she was a little girl. After a delicious dinner we each wrote a special wish or desire on the luminary bag and offered it to the new sun in the fire. The evening ended with caroling around the fire. It truly was a magical night!

Kris Kringle Cookies

KRIS KRINGLE SUGAR CUT OUT COOKIES -- My Gram's Recipe...


1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1 1/2 tsp soda dissolved in 2 TBSP milk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
5 cups flour

cream butter and sugar. when well blended add eggs, vanilla, milk and soda. Mix well. Add 3 cups flour and creme of tartar. Add the rest of flour as needed. Roll out and bake at 375-400 oven. (she didn't say how long) my guess is 8-10 minutes.

Icing.
Scald small amount of milk add confectioners sugar and almond extract.

Enjoy!

Trimming the Tree

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Demo Day

For the past 16 weeks the kids have been attending a one day home-school enrichment academy. The semester ended with a demonstration from each class and a pot luck lunch. I knew this was a wonderful place for my children to spend one full day each week. I knew that because they love it soo much. They come home sweaty, paint covered, muddy, singing new songs, and excited to share their days with me. All of the teachers are so loving and I love the Waldorf inspired day. Annie's classes included Rhythm Gym (bal-a-vis-x), Native American History, Waldorf inspired Expressive Art, Creative Choir/Drama, Math Through Movement, and Outdoor Classroom. Emerson's classes included Spanish, playing in the creek, running around, art, and simply playing with his friends. As always, these videos do not do the performances justice...it was truly a magical day for Mike and me.

Emer's Spanish Class

Annie's Creative Choir

The Math Through Movement class demonstrates "counting by" times tables using their whole bodies to create patterns and shapes....very cool.

Ren Fest 2009

On one of the man powered rides...

Princess Annie the Goat Whisperer...

We love going to Renaissance Festivals. They are just fun. We love the playfulness of it all and can't think of a better way to learn a little bit of history than through recreations and witty humor. I guess I love any kind of living history and any kind of dramatic play.

Rumor has it that the Texas Renaissance Festival is the largest in the country. I'm not certain of that fact, but I do know that it takes us two days to do and see all we want to and not feel rushed.

This year Mike and I dressed up. My dad made an amazing , to spec, Jester costume for Mike and he took on the alter ego of a Juggling Jester. He has pants, a shirt, a great classic Jester hat and cool shoe covers. (The pants, and hat were made out of recycled sheets from Good Will)
This is my costume....we didn't get any pics of all of us together so this photo is from the designer. I have a full skirt, corset, and full length chemise.

They each had $10 to spend and chose to get Racoon Tails, which they lovingly care for.

Until we meet again, fare thee well!

Skin Deep

OK, I don't want to be "in your face" about this but this is a good article from my gym's publication, Experience Life, about the products we use every day. Read it or not. Sometimes "ignorance is bliss" sometimes its simply dangerous.

Through the years strangers have tended to tell me their life stories while in the grocery store, the bank, the dr's office, or where ever. I'm not sure why I have this effect on people....maybe its the eye contact or because I listen closely and engage them. I tell you sometimes I come home from the grocery store feeling the heavy weight of their life. Sometimes I share their joy. Sorrow or joy, I always seem to remember the details.

Lately it seems I've noticed people have been confiding in me that they have or have had cancer. I always ask them if they know what caused their cancer and many do not have an answer.

So anyway, the Experience Life Magazine article is about the products that we all use everyday, from hand soap to make up and even after shave. Give it a gander if you have time. It is a quick read.

Beauty Beware

Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database

It's Snowing!!!

Yes, indeed it is snowing here on December 4th!

New Patio

Our front entry was a weed infested muddy mess with cinder blocks dating back to 1972. You stepped off the driveway onto five 12" square boring concrete blocks to enter the front door.
This is the only pic we have of it. You can see the cinder blocks and the concrete square ...I'm standing in the doorway taking the picture.

It really drove me crazy and Mike and I went back and forth trying to decide between a concrete patio and a natural stone patio. The decision was easy to make once we realized there were major roots to our beloved Live Oak trees in the way. (these trees are currently being treated for oak wilt and I don't want to injure them in any way)

We dug about 6-8 inches down, purchased 8,000 pounds of local flag stone and decomposed granite and went to work. You can see the roots in the photo below...

Actually, Mike and my Dad did 90% of the digging. The kids and I did a little....

It's 400 sq ft of natural stone patio with decomposed granite. It's porous so the trees can still get water.

Emerson at work with his mentor, Grandpa Chuck

We are so very thankful to Grandpa Chuck for all of his back breaking hard work on the patio. THANK YOU DAD!!!!

The image above was taken from inside the house on a rainy day... You can get a good idea of the variations in color, shape and texture of the rock.

We added some iron patio furniture and some loblolly pine stumps from our friends in Bastrop, TX.

It is so nice! We love it so far!!

Now I have to get to work on covering up the remaining cinder blocks, planting my herb garden under the window and painting the house trim. Did I mention I need a red front door? Eventually, we want to add a pergola and a water feature...eventually.