Christmas

It's Christmas but for my purposes it might as well be Thanksgiving. Or a combination of the two. I'm thankful and I'm committed. The details are fuzzy, but both are to God, I know that.

It almost seems, lately, the more fuzzy the details the more firm the basics, though of course what's considered a basic is a fuzzy detail. But I can never get out of my head and heart, no matter how much Cartesian doubt I employ, that there is a God and it's his side I want to be on, whatever that means. I'm hoping that 'want' counts for a lot in his book.

I can also not deny that my grievances against the world, others, myself and therefore ultimately God, are disproportionate and unjust. No matter what one lacks in relation to the world, others or self (and even the relatively rich in these lack, relatively) it could always, always be worse. If I can ever get myself to truly realize that then the beautiful flip-side is thankfulness.

Christmas, I suppose, is a chance to remember, re-commit and thank. There's a deep contentment in that whenever I can do it.

Blizzard '09

I'm back! I finished school a few days ago (I wouldn't say with flying colors, but at least I finished) and we weathered a weekend blizzard and Christmas gifts are almost in line (I even managed a few handmade gifts) and we had company (Val and her BF) over for the first time since this summer and we're in full holiday mode now.


This school term kind of wreaked havoc on our lives. I have not done laundry for a month, have hardly seen my local friends and haven't called my long distance ones, haven't filed any papers since August and there's a stack on my desk to prove it, I haven't cooked anything, in short I haven't kept up on any of the little mundane details that I've grown to love so much (laundry excepted). Zeb has been a trooper househusband, never once complaining and in fact apologizing if I ever feel the urge to clean the bathroom that he didn't get to it first. But I miss those things like sweeping and writing letters and hosting dinners. When did I become so domestic? Don't get me wrong I love the philosophizing that took over my life, but I wish it didn't have to take over to the exclusion of all else.

I must confess I'm a bit worried about next semester. The work will be more difficult, and yet nothing else in my life can give way any more than it already has yet somehow I'll be needing more hours in the day.

I'm trying to not worry about it, and trust that the resources will be there when I need them. In the meantime I'm going to relax hard, play in the snow, make eggnog and chicken liver pate for Christmas, hold babies who've changed so much I barely recognize them, and read M.F.K. Fischer instead of Freud.

And Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm sure it's obvious - I'm stressed. I wish I were as jolly as a jar of Lebedik Lollies. But my nails are nubbins. That hasn't happened for years.

Last week included 3 family portrait sessions, a headshot session with an opera singer from Boston, and shooting an Upsherin ceremony - today I completed one major exam for school, tomorrow we travel to Ohio for an epic family Thanksgiving, next week brother and sister come to camp out in our living room while I work on a Descartes term paper, all while continuing normal work hours and a regular school load don't even get me started about all those handmade Christmas presents I was going to make. I know better than to complain - almost everything in my life is there because of my choosing but have I mentioned before I'm a complainer by nature? So complain I do. And Zeb just makes me tacos and cleans the bathroom and I'll shut up now and eat tacos and maybe be back next week to complain some more.

So overdue there's no point in even apologizing, here are some pics from our trip to the Appalachian Mountains a while ago.

Most of you have seen these on Facebook already, but Dad never remembers to check Facebook, so here you go Dad!

Bev and Randy graciously invited us to crash their family getaway, and since the boy and I have been trying to do a cabin in the mountains type trip ever since we moved here were were thrilled to get a chance to tag along.

The cabin was right off the Blue Ridge Parkway, not another house in sight, and was infested with ladybugs. Of all the bugs to be infested with we figured ladybugs were pretty darn charming.

The food and drink were incredible. We had steak, seafood linguine, gourmet cheeses with salami and olives, wine that cost more than our usual $7/bottle, and huge cowboy breakfasts including Irish Coffee with Jameson's.

Bev and Axon make quite a team in the kitchen. And in general.

We hiked the Appalachian Trail. Since some of you (ahem, Mr. and Mrs. London-Gray) have hiked the whole AT I'm not going specify the exact distance we hiked, but let's just say it was enough to tick it off my list of life goals.

These beauties had me dreaming, again, of joining our local mycological association. What say you, Ax? This spring?

See, it wasn't just a random path in the woods. It was the AT for real.

I took a lot of pictures of him. Because he melts me with that look.

Fall is his color.

The view from my seat on the porch.

I took a lot of pictures of him too. Because all of a sudden he became comfortable with a camera right in his face and he gave me lots of cute poses.

I find these weeds beautiful. Someday maybe I'll do a series on beautiful weeds.

Next post maybe I'll catch up on the last month and a half. Maybe not.

Craigslist Outdoes Itself

As I've mentioned, many times, most of my home was furnished through Craigslist. Many of my Craigslist finds have been cheap and essential, such as a dining room table, but until this weekend my favorite find was this antique cabinet that we now use as a linen closet. It was free. Every time I look at it I feel lucky all over again.
Until this weekend when I begged, twisted arms, inconvenienced multiple parties and scored 3 citrus trees. For free.

One bitter orange (seen here), one lime, and one lemon. A citrus tree, just one, has been on my Christmas list for years, and here were three five year old, dwarf trees for the taking on Craigslist. I could hardly sleep I was so excited.

Those are oranges growing in my dining room. They are miniature and tarrrt. Try one when you come over. My sister had to drive 2 hours to go get them (why my sister was involved is part of the twisting arms part - she was such a good sport). She drove Lisa's truck, so Lisa got the lemon tree by way of reimbursement.

That lime? That is growing in my living room, and will be plunked into a frosty gin and tonic this weekend when its fully ripe. Its friends will be made into salsa and mexican chicken soup. And more gin and tonics.

Here's another baby lime on the way. Now the trick will be, of course, to keep them alive. Given my track record with plants that will be difficult. I'm super motivated about these, I'm reading Gardenweb.com (thanks Aunt Mimi) and everything. But if anyone has any experience or tips please help me out.

Twins at 2 Months

We spent a lovely weekend in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and while I had every intention of finishing Fashion Week with a picture early Saturday morning and late Sunday night, it was just a little too much. Besides, so many pictures of me was freaking me out. I'd rather look at babies.

Specifically Mia.

Or Mia and me.

And that's the end of Mia because Honnah proved herself more cooperative that night.

Mia's not quite smiling yet but Honnah sure is.

Man oh man, they just melt me.

Fall Fashion Week Day 4

Friday (inspired by Lisa)
Top/Dress: From Double Dutch in Baltimore
Belt: Thrifted

Pants: Old Navy
Shoes: Dolce Vita



So many fun new ladies have stopped by here because of the Fashion Week, thank you for all the nice comments! Here's a list of others who are participating:
Laura @ Every Path
Mama Bird @ Three Birds
Kalle @ Growing C's
Marla @ Today is Mine. Tomorrow is not my Business
Katy @ Trying to Live for Today, While Looking Towards the Future
Jilian Dee @ Jilian Dee & Dexter too
Amanda @ Lullabies to Terrorize
Marianne and Baby Penny @ Ancora Imparo

Indy & Summer @ a shot in the dark
Christina @ he.makes.all.things.new
Rita @ Me & My Shortloffs
Mrs. Boo Radley @ just like camping

Fall Fashion Day 3

Thursday
Shirt: F21
Dress: American Eagle clearance
Leggings: F21
Boots: Gift from Zeb (thrifted)
Earrings: Made by me
Glasses: Zenni Optical

Note: I am standing straight up in this picture. The bookshelves, all askew behind me highlight the fact that our building is tilting toward the sea, if it weren't snuggled right up to the next house over it probably would have fallen over by now.

Fall Fashion Day 2

Wednesday
Dress: H+M clearance (I understand the clearance part now that I see in this photo that the hem is uneven. Details, details.)
Tights: Target
Shoes: Anthropologie clearance


I don't think there's a single room in my house big enough that the camera could get me in one shot. So here are the shoes. They hurt. So bad. I switched to flats for the rest of the day. If that's cheating don't tell me.

Charlie

I had the pleasure of spending this afternoon with Mr. Charlie Hartman. Charlie is my friend Sarah's son. I was itching to try out a new lens, so in typical me overkill style, I shot about 200 pictures of Charlie over the course of a few hours.

I still don't know how my lens works though.

These first few pictures of Charlie are rare ones, because he's almost always smiling. He's a dream baby, always happy as a clam.

Valerie was his nanny for the first year of his life, she came over for some Charlie love.

Charlie's into saying hi to everyone, cheerios, and kissing things.

This, this is typical Charlie. He cracks up at everything. He'll just look at you and laugh. Or maybe it's just my face.

Next up - the twins at two months!