Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter
December Newsletter
On our walk to the library this morning, we stopped to admire some dying marigold heads. Their orange color remaining bright despite being housed by now-shriveled stems. On the way home from the library, I spotted a tiny pine tree growing up between sidewalk cracks: a fitting image of hope for this first week of Advent. During story time, our librarian read Kenard Pak’s book “Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter.” We are fully immersed in this seasonal transition.
Our real tree is up and decorated - I’m pleasantly surprised at the relatively great spacing of the ornaments considering quite a few were adorned by the two-year-old and thankfully white-versus-colored lights has never been a spousal issue. We held a cookies & milk picnic by our newly decorated tree before heading to bed. A Balsam Fir candle is burning most days and dried orange slices are in a bowl waiting to be strung on a garland for the porch. We have made one kind of Christmas cookie thus far - Peanut Butter Blossoms (my personal favorite).
It has been extra fun now that Jael is older this year so we have been doing a book advent where she gets to unwrap one of our Christmas books each day and we read it while she enjoys a chocolate gold coin treat. Fun fact: Chocolate coins at Christmas are in remembrance of St. Nick using gold coins to pay for the dowries of three poor women. I do need to try to get a few more Christmas books at the thrift store for the last few days. As a child, I always looked forward to my mom getting out the Christmas books and doing our advent calendar. Doing a Book Advent has been a fun way to combine traditions in a way that felt manageable for me. Plus, I need zero excuses to have extra time snuggling with my girls and reading books.
Writing
I have written several poems the past month and featured them on my Instagram.
…And this very fun crowdsourced collection about traditions that I made!
Good List
Land of Color’s Winter Wonder playlist on Spotify
walking through an art show a friend of mine had submitted pieces to with another friend of mine. The theme was “Vivid” and it was fun to see with all the ways people played with color and objects in various mediums.
The book “Subpar Parks” had me giggling and showing family members different one star review.
Using metal sheet pans under kid crafts, art, sensory play, etc.! It definitely helps to contain the mess a little more.
I’m currently listening to the First Nations Version of the New Testament on audio - so powerful!
What is a tradition that you love this time of year or something that makes your home feel cozy for winter?
Love the chalk idea - I'll have to try that!