Infuriating But Irresistible

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Those infuriating, irresistible, frustrating, seductive things called "Resolutions."

I think they are overrated and reek of self-effort, which quite frankly has not gotten me very far in life.

And yet, are they not seductive . . . new year, fresh start, and unbruised hope.

No, I cannot resist.  What is a new year without a few goals.  Yes, we'll call them goals.

I had to show you the beautiful picture above because I would have hated to have started out this post with this:

Goal #1 - Drawers/Cupboards/Pantries/Closets of the M Household.  There is a slight chance that by beginning to work toward this goal on 1/3/2012 they may be able to be organized, decluttered, corralled and brought under control by the dawn of 2013.

Goal #2 - Early to Bed / Early to Rise (see beautiful sunrise picture above).  I know in my heart this works.  Convincing my body of this truth is quite another matter.

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Goal #3 - More time spent out of doors with the three youngers . . . biking, hiking, enjoying creation.  Okay, so this is taken in Nepal and shows a professional mountain-biker riding an expensive mountain-bike, none of which has anything to do with my current situation.  But it is inspiring, no?

Goal #4 - Make meal plans, make shopping lists, grocery shop.  Repeat every 2 weeks.  No more of this running to Publix at 5:30 every night desperately hoping for inexpensive, quick and delicious inspiration to hit.

Goal #5 - Finish this lap blanket.  My children have been waiting for winter warmth for a year and a half now.  How can I continue to deny them?

Goal #6 - Begin my day with the enjoyable habit of a quick blog post and delightful visits to the blogs of other creative souls out there who inspire my day.

And if, as 2012 comes to an end, these goals remain elusive dreams, then I will wake up at the dawn of 2013 with yet another new year before me, with a fresh start and another healthy dose of unbruised hope.

Old Calendar::New Calendar

And so, in traditional New Year's Day fashion, the 2011 calendar was removed and the 2012 put in its place.

Wow, it was so past time for a new calendar.  The 2011 calendar had had it.  Over the course of the year, ripped from its cover, scribbled on by little hands, hanging hole ripped through repeatedly and taped, re-taped and then re-re-taped to keep it together.  Plans made, plans crossed out, things scheduled so quickly that the writing was illegible when the date arrived, and we were left scratching our heads and wondering where exactly it was so important to be at 5:30 p.m. on that day.  Knocked down, spilled on, glued, and yet, somehow still holding together on December 31st . . . if only barely.

A fitting metaphor for our life as a family, really, not just this year but every year.  Rips and mends, schedules and changes, messy scribbles side by side with neat script, always a slight bit of confusion (at times more than others!), and yet, amazingly, still holding together at the end of the year.

And now, up goes a spotless, fresh calendar, with all the promise of empty boxes in which to write.  A scrumptious new calendar of porches, looking out over landscapes of Italy, Montana, Maine, Greece . . . ::sigh::

A year to write on, mess up, fix and correct.  May we find ourselves, at the end of the year, still holding together.

No, not holding together . . . but instead, held together!

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together!!

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Coming Soon!!

Choosing Home

2011 said "good night" in a blaze of fuschia, orange and gold.  And surprisingly all but one of us are home!!  We had a NYE party invitation . . . fun times out in the country, munching on "breakfast for dinner," warming ourselves by a roaring bonfire.

But this year, I wanted none of it.  I wanted the calm four walls of my house, where I could sit and stare at one of those four walls if I so chose.

As it turns out, I am instead choosing to play King's Corner; layer crumbs, pecans, chips, coconut and sweet milk for the ever-popular Magic Bars; and watch the glittery ball drop at midnight.

It's good to be home tonight.

Good night, 2011 . . . good morning 2012!

Things Accomplished, Things Relinquished

At Christmastime, you can't do it all.  You just can't.  Well . . . at least I can't.  I try not to think evil thoughts about those that seem to.

This year, something I really wanted to do was to put a little time into wrapping presents.  Our tree was vintage papers and gold and lime green, and I really wanted a natural look with the lime green touch for the presents too.

Usually, I get around to wrapping all my gifts at about 11:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve and am doing well to throw some Target paper around the present and locate the Scotch tape.  That would be a good Christmas Eve.

This year, the presents were wrapped slightly earlier with some stamping, curling of ribbon, stuffing of tissue, punching (of different papers . . . not of family members) and gluing.  And then I arranged the lime and natural brown presents under the lime and natural brown tree and . . . oh, my heart!!  Worth every minute.  ::sigh::  Even worth seeing the presents ripped to shreds by teen-aged males without so much as a cursory glance at the stamping, curling, and artfully arranging.  Still worth it.

On the other hand, I relinquished all Christmas baking.  Yes, all.  I just never got to it.  With 4 now that struggle with wheat, many of the recipes just aren't the same with the GF mix.  And I was just never in the mood.  Not this year.

Well, I take that back.  In a fit of motherly guilt, I did throw together one small recipe of GF sugar cookies on Christmas Eve, let Youngest Daughter press out the bells and trees, and angels and then hurriedly frost.

Hardly to be called Christmas "baking."  More like a quick Christmas craft project.  But it made both of us feel better . . . she more creative, me more of a good Christmas-mom . . . a win/win to be sure.

Before We Leave the Subject of Christmas Decor . . .

Remember the child who was so desperate for Christmas decorations that she taped pieces of green and red thread to her wall?

Yes, this one:

Well, I can't leave the subject of Christmas decor without giving you a little peek in to her room.

Between school crafts and my cast off decorating goodies from year's past, she has managed to "decorate" every square inch of her bedroom . . . bringing herself much Christmas delight and good cheer.

Shiny red Christmas garland, snipped into little bits and taped (and apparently re-taped and re-taped) 

onto pieces of furniture, walls, and windows.

Santa stickers peeled and stuck with abandon onto other un-Christmas-y pieces of decor.

A little Rudolph for the door.

Gold ribbon to accent her wall art . . . 4 glittery ornaments taped on for good measure.

All dresser knobs sporting shiny Christmas balls and someValentine's (!!) ribbon to bring in a little red.

Crowning achievement:  Bookshelf stuffed with Christmas balls, golden crown, Christmas carousel, Rudolph, Christmas stickers, figurines, gingerbread boy, and some out-of-place white poinsettias.

I do fully expect that one day I will drive up to this child's suburban home and find a molded plastic Santa in her front yard, pulled by 6 pink flamingos.  Things just seem to be headed that way in the decor department.

Wreath with (more) Vintage Paper

Since I am soundly in love with my vintage paper strips, and since there were plenty,

I decided to use them as a "ribbon" for the front door wreath.  I just turned the strips in to loops (instead of circles this time!) and then used the long strips as long, flat ribbon.
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Loving the vintage, woodsy feel, with red berries, pine cones, and a sweet little "bottlebrush" bird.

The best part of my wreath?  At night, with the light of the house shining through the glass door, it fairly glows!