Laowai

We had a lovely family Christmas – we call it our Swiss Christmas. We started out with a big breakfast and a walk.

Claire and I did some baking.

I set the table with my favorite table linens (Vera Neumann). And Brian made some delicious fondue.

Next year this room will be painted green. Stay tuned.

Bea made a very cool gift for Brian. An origami icosahedron made out of Swiss maps.

And now it's the morning after. The sun is finally shinning so I think I will go for another refreshing walk. And then I'll clean up.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Here are the girls and Brian at the Stuttgart Christmas market. We bought those stuffed animals for them and they were so happy. Those were the days… when it was so easy to make them giddy and excited. 

Brian has been traveling to Boulder, Colorado lately. He sent me this photo of the Hotel Boulderado where he has been staying. We stayed there many years ago and it was so charming. Wish I could go with him on these work trips.

I finished this scarf for Brian.

Need to get a photo of him wearing it.

This is a photo of a snowy sky.

I've attracted six squirrels but where are the birds?!?

What is it about holiday decorations – why do we do it? It seems so silly to get out a bunch of trinkets each year. Silly to place useless items around the house just to clutter up the space. And then we have to pack it all up at the end of the season and haul it all back to the basement – that's no fun.

It's a mystery to me, but I know I love to see all my pretty and sentimental Christmas things around the house. 

This year I made a fat wreath out of my hydrangea blooms. 

I picked a not very big tree because all the trees seemed expensive this year. My favorite style of tree is a natural sparse looking one but I'm thinking next year I might let the girls pick a more full style just for a change. We'll see…

I added one new ornament – a Santa from the Chicago Christmas market.

The weather cooperated with some pretty snow this week and I feel grateful when I sit in my living room with all my useless items.

We've gotten a little snow and it was very windy today. We all needed a piping hot cup of cocoa when we got home.

Zooming in and focusing on some winter flowers at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Cinnamon, ginger, cloves and pepper – those are the essential ingredients for a gingerbread party.

Also a little frosting and patience.

Add some good friends.

And if the party is interrupted by a BeReal moment all the better.

Mmmm a gingerbread party smells so good!

Our annul trip to the Lightscape exhibit at the Chicago Botanic Garden was lots of fun.

Seems like I write less and less on my blog these days. I guess things just keep ticking along. I feel surprised at how grown up my girls are and I no longer have cute little stories to tell about their favorite toys or their latest milestones. And while I am happy – I can see how each year turns over with the same patterns and routines. Most of the time my head is filled with thoughts of pretty things or things that grow or what to make for dinner. And those are the things I take photos of and post here on my blog. It's a habit now.

So here are a few photos from the last few days. First, we went to Michigan for Thanksgiving. Bea wanted to drive over to Sanford where the damn broke. Here's a photo of what used to be a lake.

I took very few photos but here's a nice one of Jennifer bringing the turkey to the table. Yum.

Back at home I was eager to get our Christmas decorations up. The girls and I decorated our little Christmas tree tonight.

And I enjoyed putting out some other Christmas decorations. Brian and the girls gave me that wooden tree for my birthday. I filled it with glass ornaments. Some of the old ones came from my mom-in-law and I think they belonged to her mom. I love the sparkle.