Christmas Wedding (Part One)

Just checking in with a preview peek of the bride and groom dashing out through a shower of rice. The wedding was gorgeous, Christmas was lovely, then the flu hit hard. Beautiful photos to come!

Inexpensive Wedding Napkins

I bought a few yards of bleached muslin, washed and dried it, and used pinking shears to cut it into 18" squares. We starched and pressed each napkin (it was awesome, mixing up a big basin of starch, dipping each napkin in and wringing it out--so vintage), then folded it into the squares you see. On wedding morning, each side will be pulled out so that each napkin will be a dimensional flower. In 100% cotton, which you cannot get at the rental store around here.

The Light in Winter

Why was winter never my favorite season? The light is so beautiful--the long shadows, the low sun, the golden woods.

Fruitcake Saturday

I had a great day of cooking and baking Saturday, with a cake count of six, and cake production pausing only for a quick trip to the bridal salon for Bella to be fitted for her dress. The girls and I had the Christmas crooners playing on a Pandora station and competed to see who could be first to identify Bing, Perry, or whoever else it was. Come what may this season, the fruitcakes are in the freezer.

Oil Painting: Roses (A Long Time Coming)

This painting has taken me a most uncharacteristically long time. The problem is that I slapped some big flowers down on a canvas with no real plan and set up some major compositional problems for myself.

It's been oriented this way. Also, upside down. Also, sideways. It's had any number of blossoms, from four to nine.

It's not done yet, but it's getting close. 

The Power of Habit

I am loving this book, The Power of Habit. It's making me rethink all of my routines and rituals, wondering how I can harness them up to hone in on things I want to change and accomplish.

It's a very easy read, and I've been reflecting as I go through the book on positive habits I've succeeded in installing (flossing, housecleaning, planning), and negative habits I want to ditch. It's the whole idea of changing your course by a single degree, to find yourself miles away from where you would have been. Exciting, and perfectly time for a new year!

Head Above Water, Barely, Again

Whew. This is just a busy, busy season. Travel, wedding, giant party, whole-house renovation, work. My idea is that all of it will be finished by January, and then I will sit down with Sister in my arms.

*****

I posted this last fall. I am reposting it again as my current truth, although I have finished my travel, am working more, and am only renovating a garage apartment. Besides those changes, I'm right back where I was last year!!