Laowai

I haven’t had much to say on my blog lately. Life rolls on and nothing big happens, but there are lots of small things to enjoy. Things like saying goodbye to Fall and hello Winter.

Here are are some other little things that I’ve been doing:

Making: The house feel festive.  

Cooking: Sometimes when I feel a little scattered and I don’t know what to do with myself the best solution is to bake. I always find good recipes on Smitten Kitchen – I made her Caramel Cake the other night – delicious! I also made Sticky Gingerbread Cake and Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies from a beautiful Nigella Lawson book. For the Sticky Gingerbread Cake you have to cook the spices and butter on the stove – it makes the house smell so so good! Also, a salad that turned out yummy: Nancy’s Chopped Salad.

Looking: At the fat squirrels outside my window.

Reading: Jane Smiley books – I enjoyed the farm family story of Some Luck and now I’ve started Private Life.

Wanting: A set of six of these chairs that I saw in Charles d Gaulle Airport. We sat in them for a long time while we were delayed this summer and I can’t get them out of my mind. Sadly when things are sold at a store and it’s called an atelier I think that’s a sign that they are beyond my budget. Oh well – I love to dream about furniture.

Enjoying: My anticipation and Bea’s anticipation of snow.

Waiting: For the leaves to fall ofF one of our maple trees – they just keep holdin’ on this year.

Liking: Lighting candles whenever I can. When it starts getting dark at 4:30 – a flickering candle on the table feels cozy and happy

Wondering: If I can finish painting my bathroom before Christmas. That’s my goal. I’ve almost got the awful wallpaper paste washed off the walls. 

Loving: Putting sheets away in my linen closet. I confessed to Brian that seeing and smelling stacks of sheets neatly folded in my linen closet is one of my best pleasures in life – really. Also loving the flannel sheets that Brian and the girls gave me for my birthday.

Listening: Christmas music of course. My favorite Christmas album is – Croon & Swoon

Wishing: Everyone a happy Holiday time of year.