{pretty, happy, funny, real} new year, new posts

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Brought to you by Like Mother, Like Daughter

Something happened to this blog. I just got tired of posting. Or maybe I didn't see why I should keep posting beyond my regular Thursday miscellany. I do post regularly at my writing blog, Red Letters. But I think what I've missed about posting here is taking the time to reflect on our week, to look for the little moments of beauty and contentment, to create a little snapshot of our lives, more for myself than anyone else. That's what {pretty, happy, funny, real} is all about.

{pretty}

Pretty are the gifts of the sea in the center of the table, and the cups of tea in celebration of a new year.

 (You can see in the background a chunk of birch log found by Micah and the kids after the high water - chewed at both end by an industrious beaver! It was also deemed centrepiece worthy!)

At last, after our very green Christmas, the snow began to arrive.

{happy}

Happy are little hands in new mitts, home-grown pork ribs, and the ringing in of a new year!

(Their Christmas gift to each other this year were these hand knitted mitts, bought at our local Christmas craft fair. Arden picked Christmas colours for Jack. This was Boxing Day, still green. But the snow followed shortly, and is still here, much to everyone's delight. )

Happy New Year!! This is the first time we've really marked the new year with the kids. We celebrated "Greenwich New Year" - midnight at Greenwich (you know, the place where time is mean) meant 8:00 here, just perfect for these two. We found a live feed from London which counted down the last minute with a big projection on a tall building, followed by fireworks over the city. At 8:00 the kids were allowed to make as much noise as they wanted to with shakers, whistles, drums and shouting. They thought it was great fun. :)

These are our midnight clock hands, in case you are wondering!

{funny}

Funny are these two and their faces in their (frequent) silly mood.

{real}

Real are our winter days, and sibling love growing with shared adventure, indoors and out.

Yes, winter has its own brand of contentment!


~lg

Christmastime!

This Christmas was memorable for many reasons, most notably the wonder and joy on two little faces!

The day began in a flurry of unwrapping…

Stockings! Chocolate for breakfast!

The little prince
(Note the very green grass out the window!)

A rainbow princess

She found her name on something!

Meeting her Nutcracker Prince

Books from grandparents

Laying tracks through the chaos

Happy, busy

Important words

The brunch bunch - our very own bacon and eggs

This was the mildest Christmas I have ever experienced. Not just green, but warm (+15 celsius), with wind, rain and flood warnings! Late morning there was a bit of a lull in the downpour so we drove up to Robinson's Island on the north shore for a walk on the windy beach…

It's a bit blurry, but there's that 15!

Beachcombing

Merry Christmas to the ocean!

Soon after we got home, the power went out, and stayed out till dinner ended. No one was complaining about the candlelight… and thankfully my propane stove kept on cooking our Christmas dinner! We had our own home-grown ham, mashed turnips and apple sauce, and scalloped potatoes. It was just us for dinner - calm and bright.

Crafty in jammies

Lights! Camera! Bedtime!

Merry Christmas from our little island hearth and homestead!

~lg

The Eve of Wonder

Trying the stockings on for size!

Saint Nicholas decked out "with the glory of God" (courtesy of Arden)

A visit from Saint Nicholas

Magic and mystery, salvation history

Heaven descends to the earth

Sweet revelation of God's incarnation

Here at his moment of birth

Joy to the world

Heaven and nature sing

O come let us adore Him

Christ the Lord!

~lg

Preparations...

We marked Advent in our quiet way,  every Sunday lighting a new candle and teaching the kids another verse of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." Gradually the decorations came out, and there was much excitement to be had when we finally got our tree the Saturday before Christmas.

Gathered foliage from a mostly green Advent season

"When can we light the pink candle?"

Those are some funny looking elves...

The conquest

The helpers

Homeward bound

This way!

The Christmas Train - as beloved as the tree itself

Smiles

Sillies!

~lg

One day

Cold, crisp afternoon, big sister helping little brother build ice castles in the yard, two bundles of winter coats with faces peeking out. Two loaves of bread in the oven, stirred and patted and blessed by two helpers. Two big piles of laundry to fold in the warm kitchen, keeping hands busy while the mind wanders to other mysteries of life. Two minutes of silent peace, breaths in and out and up as prayer.

One day out of one life to live well, one life to determine a course, one life to own and offer back.

~lg

{p,h,f,r} on September 25

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~ 

with Like Mother, Like Daughter

Only one photo at the end of a busy day, hopefully an omen of more to come! (Yes, it's been six months since my last {p,h,f,r} post.)

The onion harvest

Stay tuned...



~lg