burlap stockings

Surfing on etsy one day I came across these adorable burlap stockings. And then I saw the price tag. And then I went to Hobby Lobby and bought some burlap and flannel.

  

ice skating

Last weekend I took Margaret on a special mother-daughter date to go ice skating for the first time.

She loved it.

The parking lot was packed, we had to wait in line forever to get in, and to get Margaret's tiny little rental skates. Fortunately, most people who go ice skating last about ten minutes and then get hot cocoa from the concession stand. Margaret utilized every minute of our hour of skating time. We only got off the ice when the rink employees forced us.

I was mildly concerned that I wouldn't be able to support Margaret while on ice skates myself, it had been a few years. Fortunately, all of those skating expeditions throughout my childhood and adolescence proved themselves worthy. I found myself cruising by everyone in sight, flying over the ice with Margaret in front of me, holding her skates together as I introduced her to the joys of skating.

I felt so cool, until that 5 year old boy with the hockey gear zipped by us.

There was a reason why I spent more time hunting for hockey pucks in the snowbanks around the Bar River outdoor rink in Ontario, and not in the midst of the sporting action on the ice. Still, I put in my hours, and could hold my own in any skating-for-pleasure expedition. I have fond memories of trekking through the snow to go ice skating in some woodsy pond, with my hockey stick and skates slung over my shoulder. Skating with cousins in New England, and our pond hockey games and explorations of a frozen Vermont marsh. Not to mention the countless hours spent throughout high school at the local ice arena.

Margaret was fascinated by the fact that I had my own skates, and hintingly asked, "did your mommy buy those for you?". I told her when her feet stopped growing maybe I would get her a pair too. Unless we move back to the frozen north and start skating every day of the week. I don't foresee that happening. I was proud of her dedication in figuring out the art of skating. And in her amazing progress throughout the course of the hour as she learned to push and glide while holding lightly onto my hand, instead of taking short choppy steps while clinging to the wall.

The minute we were back in the car she was campaigning to go again. Ice skating as special Advent treat = huge success.

jolly old st. nicholas

Today is St. Nicholas Day. 

 Clay and I have decided to add this holiday to our family celebrations and traditions. We like to give our children gifts on Christmas morning that are from us, because we love them, in imitation of Christ loving us. That's how we roll. However, there is no denying that Kris Kringle is a pretty fun guy, so celebrating St. Nicholas Day on December 6th - recognizing the real man behind the festive red suit - is a nice addition to the Advent season.

Since a large percentage of the St. Nicholas Day festivities come from the Netherlands, we borrow a few traditions from our Dutch neighbors. Including waking up to find Dutch wooden clogs filled with oranges (or cuties) and chocolate coins. Except I forgot to buy the chocolate coins in time, so the kids got chocolate chips and pepernoten cookies. Next year I will do better and remember the coins so we can leave the pepernoten cookies out on Sinterklaas eve, along with a carrot for his reindeer - or big white horse, as celebrated in Holland.

This was my first attempt at making pepernoten cookies. They came out a little hard - as I guess they are supposed to - but go fabulously with milk. Clay and the kiddos apparently love them.

 This recipe is from the St. Nicholas Center website:

Pepernoten (Dutch Peppernuts)

In Holland St. Nicholas visits the children on December 5 accompanied by his faithful helper "Black Peter." He, or a black gloved hand, distributes the peppernoten to the children by throwing them through the door before the arrival of St. Nicholas.

2½ cups (300 g) flour
1½ teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup (75 g) brown sugar
1 egg yolk
4 tablespoons water
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon cloves
pinch of salt
¼ teaspoon anise seeds optional

Knead all ingredients into a soft ball. Butter two baking sheets. Form about 50 marble-sized balls. Place them on the two sheets, so that they are the same distance from each other. Flatten each ball slightly.
Bake at 350º F. (175º C) 20 minutes or until done. The cookies will be very hard, but they will get softer as they get older.
Makes about 50 peppernuts.

aged beauty

Clay and I were presented with this family heirloom on Thanksgiving.

Old instruments fascinate me. Imagining all of the stories they could tell, all of the beautiful music and festive gatherings they have been a part of. I guess it is the romantic in me.

My own violin has always held that appeal for me, being somewhere in the vicinity of 200 years old. And this 'new' violin has even more character. It is in rough shape, and very likely may never be playable again. Its origin is unknown, but it entered the Gilham family in an un-padded cardboard box shipped to Clay's great-grandfather from someone in Texas. But the really amazing thing about this violin is the hand-carved scroll.

William loves it. He loves anything with lions right now (as well as hippos and alligators).  

 

Now I need to plan a trip to St. Louis to get both of my violins looked at and appraised. See what kind of miracles it would take to get this beauty in working order, or at least how to preserve it. I love the old cracked and worn wood. I love the lion's head. I love the wisps of wavy horse hair falling off of the bow. It's a lovely addition to our house, and collection of family heirlooms.