Around Here.

Today was my day here at home (well, except for a quick trip to the vet ... no worries, Holly's fine!, a quick stop at my mom's - lots less boxes!, and a not-so-quick trip to Costco) and I finally got gifts wrapped and "stuff" cleaned up enough to make my annual photo walk through the house. Sadly, we have not seen the sun (in days!) so the light's not great, but it is December!

Here's the view from the front door. Four poinsettias by the stairs and three trees. The poinsettias are struggling (not as bad as last year); I'm not sure if it's lack of sun (I moved all of them in front of the windows for most of the week, but it hasn't been sunny) or overwatering, but I think I need to consider a new plan for next year.

Off to the right is the dining room. Much the same as previous years except for the table. The tureen in the middle of the table came from Marc's mom and is now our new centerpiece; I dressed it up for Christmas with a sugared fruit wreath I've had for years.

Continuing down the hall, here's our advent calendar/tree

with just two photos left to hang.

Then into the living room ... the word tree and the "big" tree.

The mantle here is just greens and mercury glass. Katie and I shared a bunch of mixed greens from Home Depot this year; worked perfectly!

Turning the corner, here's the family room

and the view I see when I turn my chair around. (well, except that now Marc and Sara are sitting on the two sofas and there's a movie on the TV)

I think this might be my favorite year of decorations since we moved into the house (in 2012 - yikes! how can this be our sixth Christmas here?!). It was relatively easy to get everything out (the artificial tree helped with that a lot), it looks warm and cozy (and red!) and I'm not dreading the un-doing.

Thank you for taking this walk with me while I made the notes for what to do next year!

Wishing you and yours a warm and cozy weekend and a very Merry Christmas (if that's the holiday you celebrate). I'll be back on Tuesday with a recap of ours.

p.s. I made Katrina Kenison's Cardamom Granola this afternoon. It smells wonderful and tastes delicious ... highly recommend!

Around Here.

... it's beginning to look - and feel* - like Christmas. I took a few photos this afternoon and wanted to share them with y'all (and document for myself so I remember next year).

Here's the entry hall. Just three poinsettias. There was a fourth, but he went into this week's trash. maybe because that splash of sunshine didn't come until just a few days ago. or maybe because I overwatered...

Looking off to the right is the dining room. Those big poinsettias flanking the breakfront and the greens topping it are traditional, but the centerpiece on the table is new this year.

It's fresh greens, crystal, mercury glass and candles. We'll be eating Christmas dinner here this year and I wanted something low and bright.

This little arrangement took the place of the bird tree. I do love it, but I miss the twinkle lights. Next year maybe I'll just put lights on the railings!

Up on the left is the living room. I decorated the mantel with more fresh greens and more mercury glass.

Our Advent Tree sits opposite the mantel. It's a combination of holiday words and beloved photos.  One more photo to go and it's full... of memories, good times and family.

This is the view just past that tree, looking to the right.

and this is the view looking back.

It's all much simpler than in years past and I'm happy with it (well, except for the dead poinsettia). I think next year might see even more simplification...but I haven't quite figured out where. yet. 

Thank you for walking along with me as I made these notes!

Wishing each of you a warm and joyful weekend. xo, Mary

*until you step outside - and realize you don't even need a coat. We're having nearly record warm weather right now. and I'm taking that as a good sign for my mom - who will be moving here from Florida next summer. The last forecast I saw showed 68 degrees and sunshine for Christmas Day. I'm not sure we'll have the windows open, but we will, for sure, not be wearing coats!

Around Here | January 2014.

this morning's journal time

Ali's done a few posts like this and I love that it lets me document the right here right now without the constraints of -ing words. And documenting the right here right now seems the best way to dive back into blogging. Not that a single post proves anything, but it's a beginning. I can only hope it's a good one.

Around here the weekdays start dark-early (5 am for me and 5:30 for Marc). He typically leaves for the office by 6 (gotta love a man's up-and-out routine that takes less than 30 minutes!), but was home this morning until 7. He worked at the kitchen table while I checked emails and blogs at my usual kitchen-counter spot. It was nice to connect at the beginning of the day… even if we both had our minds mostly elsewhere, we chatted a bit and we were together.

Around here the days are noticeably longer. Little bits of sunlight start to peek through just after 7 o'clock and sunset isn't til nearly 6. This week it hasn't rained, but it's been cold (Atlanta cold anyway - lows in the teens and highs in the 30's) and the sky has been clear blue with white clouds. It's energizing to be outside, as long as you're dressed for it.

Around here I'm drinking lots of coffee. Santa brought me and Sara one of the "free refill" mugs from Starbucks and I'm averaging at least one cup a day (not to mention what I brew at home).  There's a Starbucks about a mile from my house that's conveniently on the way to just about anywhere I go, and there's another one next door to the yarn shop. I hope it's not going to be too hard to break the habit when I have to start paying $2 for those refills!

Around here my daily routine always includes journal time, usually just after Marc leaves. I love the quiet and watching the day come to life outside the window. I started journal #20 on New Year's Day. It's still hard for me to believe I've filled up 19 books with thoughts, doodles and other stuff…I wonder how many more there will be?

Around here my daily routine also includes Instagram, #fms prompts(!) and - most days - 10,000 steps. Yes, I love my fit bit. It's helping me focus less on miles and more on simply moving.

Around here I'm in two book clubs and some months (like this one) it seems I barely have time to read two books. I just finished the second one - Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey. I'd barely started it when we met last week, but the discussion really drew me in. Turns out the "real" Downton Abbey has much to offer - Edwardian England, World War I, King Tut, royalty, wealth and quite a few charming characters. Yesterday, I started the first February selection, House of Sand and Fog. Somehow I managed to miss the book and the movie but just a few pages in I already sense this story isn't going to end well. Fortunately, I've already read the other February selection (Light Between Oceans) so next I'm going to finish Mary Poppins.  I started it last month before we saw Saving Mr. Banks (a wonderful movie for anyone who loves Emma Thompson or Mary Poppins…I happen to love them both!) and I'm pretty sure it has a happy ending!

Around here Katie, Sara and I will celebrate the last spring break (yep, Sara graduates from college in May!) with a girls' weekend in March. We had our hearts set on San Francisco, but I finally accepted the reality that it's just not feasible for the three of us to fly to the west coast to spend four days and three nights in an expensive city. So we'll go someplace closer with good restaurants, a little shopping, nice scenery…maybe Highlands, NC?

Around here on the needles - a sweater for Katie, a shawl, and a cowl and mitts for myself. Mindful of the resolutions I set for this year, my next project is a prayer shawl, with yarn I already have. …and hopefully mittens and a hat. Boy it would've been nice to have those these past few weeks!

Around here there is still Project Life and One Little Word. I look forward to sharing more on both…soon.

Around here it is now nearly 11 am and I must get Holly out for her walk.

Would love to hear what's happening around you!