It's All Said and Done

We did it. It's official, we're no longer home owners. We moved out with the help of some amazing family members and a trip to the children's museum Sunday. I tell you, those sisters of mine are amazing - all boxes were unpacked and in their place by mid day Monday.

We sold our house, we closed on Wednesday. It was bitter sweet. I cried some, but overall am sure that it was the right move. I tell myself over and over that it's just the house we left behind, the home comes with us where ever we go. I'll work to hold on to the good memories. So much of our life was lived there. We bought young, really young . Looking over the pictures of the house before we moved in we wondered what we saw, and what in the world made us think that WE could do everything that was done to make it our home. But we did. Life was even made there, twice! Born there once. We also experienced loss there, there are still days when I think Binger should be right around the corner or underfoot. Good times and bad times, joy and anger, and lots of love filled that little house. When we started packing I thought I'd take pictures of the house empty. But when I saw it, I knew I couldn't handle seeing documentation of that house, our house, void of nearly everything that is us. So there are no pictures, only memories that I hope will be forgotten. All our loss was softened by knowing we sold the house to a really nice guy, someone who loves it and doesn't plan to change a thing. He's even going to try his had at gardening in our veggie beds.

Apartment, in a complex no less, living isn't where we'd (I'd- Piper finds it to be a great adventure) prefer to be. But at least we have a roof over our heads. Things are different here, we now have a pantry that is bigger than any closet we had in our house, a dishwasher that isn't me, and a garage. We'll continue to try to make it feel more like home and less like a rental. I'm holding out hope that pictures on the walls and some curtains will the trick. Without putting holes in the wall, of course.

On this eve of the new year, we say goodbye to all that 2010 has brought our family. Look forward to what 2011 will bring...hopefully in the form of our perfect house.

Wishing you all health and happiness in the year to come.

Happy Solstice!

The return of the light! A sunny day, and some goodies - some homemade pajama pants and a winter book.

A happy solstice to all and to all a good night!

These Moments

Snow Flakes

Winter officially is almost here. The cold and snow, however, has been around for weeks now. One day last week Piper and I decided that it was time to take our fall leaves from the windows. After all, our inside no longer matched our outside - it was time. Piper did the take down and then both of us set to work at the mass amount of glue on the panes. Somehow it took a great deal of glue to how those guys up there. With all that scrubbing, I thought we best do our next installation with less mess and less permanency so we can take them with us. Oh yeah, did I mention we sold our house back in October and will be moving in a couple weeks?! We did. Unfortunately, where we'll be moving to isn't going to be our final destination, but a rental house.

So in the few minutes while Calder naps later than Piper, her and I cut snowflakes. She chose the colors. Really, I had nothing to do with matching the snowflakes to the curtains. Nothing, I tell you. I did the cutting - mostly.

Over the first three days of the week we decorated our windows. Piper picking which flakes hung in which window, and which were banished to the kitchen window. I chose to hang them with scraps of yarn instead of gluing them to the windows like we usually do. This way we can take them and hang them in our new windows. I like how they dance a bit when you walk by or the heat goes on.

Piper even make a couple of her own. Snowflakes that required twice as much tape as it did folding or cutting. And lots of 'writing'. She hung hers proudly on the door from the front porch.

We feel a little more festive, in season, around here now. Hope the same is happening in your home.

Mmmm, Smells Like Fresh Baked Pretzels!

We had a family baking night recently. Which was so much more enjoyable for me than baking day. Zac came up with the project, I located a recipe, and we were off. It was all an experiment as we'd never made homemade soft pretzels. Although, back in the day we had quite the short term obsession with the frozen ones you can get at the grocery. We knew where we were aiming for at least.

It was a leisurely baking escapade. We measured and mixed and kneaded. Then we waiting for a couple of hours while the dough rose.

Then we finally got to the fun part. Rolling and shaping, dipping and salting. Piper had one piece that was her's and her's alone. She worked that little piece until it was barely pliable. Then I helped her out with the shaping. A spot designated on the baking sheet so as to not mix her's up with ours, if that would have even been possible.

Into the oven, and a few short minutes later we had wonderful, delicious, hot soft pretzels. The cheese sauce we had was sub par - we'll have to work on that one for next time. I'm sure they don't cover all the food groups, but we made them dinner. Yum. And 'mmmm it smells like fresh baked soft pretzels,' was declared by Piper over and over.

Zac wants to try gummy bears on our next baking night.

Hope everyone enjoyed the weekends' snow. Happy Monday to all.

Weekend Doings

Weekend Doings

We went to bed to snow on Friday. Woke up to more snow on Saturday. Piper had to get out there as fast as she could. She had a new pair of snow pants she wanted to debut. Some pretty pink ones she chose herself. After bundling up well, she went out to 'help Papa shovel'. I think more playing than working was done. While out I heard talk of snowboards, snow angels and snowmen. She came back in rosy cheeked, cold and happy.

Hot cocoa was had to aid in the reheating and on we went with our days.

Hoping you all had a wonderful snow filled weekend.

December

I heard a bird sing

in the dark of December

A magical thing

and sweet to remember.

”We are nearer to Spring

than we were in September,”

I heard a bird sing

in the dark of December.

Oliver Herford, I Heard a Bird Sing

We woke to December with a dusting of snow on the ground and flakes floating through the air. Nothing of substance and I'd be surprised if it stuck. But it's here none the less.

Wishing you all an enjoyable December.