Currently, December 2024 Edition

It's my favorite week of the year! The week between Christmas and New Year's is when I sit back, hardly have a to-do list and just do what I want to. Like knit. Sew. Blog. Read. Walk. 

Today I've been blogging. Check out my other blog, where I just shared some pictures of a recent trip to Boston with Daniel and if you go further back, there's some travel posts from our Europe trip this past October.

Here's a peek into life recently.

Reading: "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier. It's my turn to host book club next month and this was my choice. It's a re-read for me and I'm happy to have my own personal copy, purchased in Berkhamsted, UK, two years ago when we were in England. It cost about 6 pounds at a used bookshop and it made my day.

My other book club is more of a "show and tell" book club. But we have decided to read "The Brothers Karamazov" by Fyodor Dostoevsky together. It's long. Very long. But I think we can do it. Currently it's my walking book to listen to. 

And, because I apparently like to talk about books with other people, I'm reading "The Whole Christ" by Sinclair Ferguson for a church ladies book study. It's by far the most theological book I've attempted recently and it's kinda deep. 

The one book not associated with any book club, is "The Booklover's Library" by Madeline Martin.

Playing: Chinese Checkers and Chameleon 

Watching: "The Man Who Invented Christmas"

Trying: A new Christmas cookie tradition: Moravian Molasses cookies, rolled as thin as I could possibly get them. 

Cooking: Ham and bean soup for Christmas Eve. That was a good decision; it didn't take much effort, it was cozy, and ready to eat after we came home from the Christmas Eve church service. 

Drinking: Coffee in the mornings and water throughout the day, in my new drinking glasses!

Crafting: Does wrapping gifts count as crafting? I did a fair amount of that last week. 

Also I dipped candles to gift to the neighbors.

For my book club members, I made bookmarks. They were so easy.

The kids and I also folded 400 little squares of transparent paper for stars on our Christmas cards. 

But upcoming, I plan to finish knitting a decorative throw for the end of our bed. I'm using size 35 needles and a super bulky yarn to achieve ultimate coziness and texture. 

Enjoying: Having a cat. Yes, for real. We haven't had a proper pet (chickens don't quite count) but we gave a cat to the children as an early Christmas gift. Anthea has been super sweet and a great addition to the family. Natasha named her after a character from her favorite book, "Five Children and It" by E. Nesbit. Anthea is one of the children and her nickname is "Panther". Clearly our Anthea, is aptly named.

Feeling: Rich. I'm not referring to monetary richness, but the fullness of life. I'm grateful for this time of the year, the dark cozy evenings, simple foods, candles, gifts to give and receive, basically the simple pleasures of life.

Listening: Literally, right now Lincoln has his playlist going which is currently on Disney's Lady and the Tramp "Siamese Cats" song. But otherwise, it's "The Brothers Karamazov." My audio version is 42 hours long. Gulp!

Celebrating: Christmas! I fully realize the big day was a couple days ago, but it's nice to know we can spread out the cheer for a few more days...even all the way to Epiphany on January 6th.  

Considering: What to focus on when we return to schoolbooks after the 1st of the year. I always take the month of December off, and it's a Very Good Break. But children get listless and we shall need to open our math books again soon.

But not yet. Right now, we're still in the middle of our low-key, doing-nothingness week. I hope you are too.