I did not mean to be away this long. I have been busy with all that comes along with this holiday season, both at home and at my kiddos' school. Seems like we just celebrated halloween and now Thanksgiving is only days away and Hanukkah is a week later on December 1st and all teacher's holiday gifts need to be wrapped and ready by december 16th. I'm slowly working on several gifts that I'll share soon but mainly I've been unusually calm this year. I'm taking one day at a time and focusing on being present with my family.
I especially love that Ezra arrives home an hour before his brother and sister this year - at 2:30 I drop everything so that I can spend this precious hour with him. We talk about his day while we walk the dogs, get the mail, check on our chickens and share a snack. This has become our daily ritual and I cherish every moment that my pre-teen wants to share his concerns and his joys with his mama.
Abigail has been busy decorating our home for the holidays.
We still had fall pumpkins and gourds on the table when we added bowls of halloween candy. Over the weekend she placed Hanukkah "gelt" (chocolate coins) right over the leftover candy. Just as it became nearly impossible to tell which holiday we were celebrating....
Abigail added this strawberry corn and declared us "ready for Thanksgiving!" While I'm not sure which holiday we are prepared for, we are giggling a lot at all the silliness around here.
And for the past week all of our baked goods have been arranged in a giant latke platter that the girly insists sit in the center of our kitchen table. This has resulted in nearly daily baking because a dozen muffins disappear quickly when stored in plain sight like this. (These muffins were made from Trader Joe's Triple Berry Bran muffin mix - yummy and healthy. I substitute buttermilk for the water and add vanilla extract and semi-sweet chocolate chips. I am not a purist when it comes to baking and often doctor up a boxed mix because my kids don't care - they just want baked goods that are warm out of the oven. Bonus - these muffins each have 7 grams of fiber.)
While we're keeping an eye on the calendar and all that needs to get done, we must not forget that our hens need tending each and every day.
These girls haven't heard about Thanksgiving or Hanukkah or Christmas or New Year's. They just provide us with the most delicious (and beautiful) eggs ever - each and every day. The kiddos have named all of our hens and each time I present a baked good or an egg dish they ask which hen laid the eggs they are eating. And it's not uncommon to hear,"I'll have one of Rusty's eggs - sunny side up." I had no idea the joy and laughter and nourishment that these hens would bring us when I mail ordered day old chicks last May on a whim.
And while we're on the subject of staying calm and present during this holiday season I'll share that while I finished the jacket I was knitting - loosely based on the featherweight cardi - I could not figure out what possessed me to knit a garter stitch collar. It is now ripped and i'm knitting a 1x1 rib instead. I was watching this film when I made the dreaded decision to use garter stitch and so I am tempted to blame Coco Chanel for this atrocity - but just thinking about that makes me laugh out loud so I will assume all blame, savor the process, and re-knit the collar.
The above photo was taken by Abigail who is six and it is not cropped at all. After we finished reading her book I asked her to take a picture of my sweater - and she stood so close that she managed to frame it perfectly. The wool used is Peruvia Quick by Berroco in shade #9137.
May you find a reason to celebrate today.
What happy days you're having at your home. I used to cherish the extra time my youngest and I would spend together after the bus brought him home from elementary school (before the big kids came in the door). Those days are gone now. Enjoy these moments -- and those eggs. I'm so jealous. I don't want the work of having chickens, but I would love to have fresh eggs. The blue ones are so pretty.
Posted by: Jodi | November 17, 2010 at 06:59 AM
It looks like you are really enjoying your days. I'm trying to keep in the moment as the days go racing by. Everything does seem to be coming quickly. I like all the holidays on your table.
Posted by: Beth | November 17, 2010 at 07:54 AM
I have such chicken envy! What a beautiful bowl of eggs. I'm so glad you're able to remain laid-back and focused on your kids while the season begins to swirl around us all. I am just now thinking that I should start prepping the house for company (my parents arrive on Tuesday) and for Thanksgiving (which is also my birthday--you didn't miss it!).
Posted by: Meg Evans | November 17, 2010 at 08:38 AM
chickens are the best! especially those black and red stars. so reliable and kind and they lay such wonderful eggs. our ladies are molting now so out of 50 plus hens we are getting roughly 8-10 eggs a day! it's good to count your blessings and your eggs ;)
Posted by: SpiderWomanKnits | November 17, 2010 at 09:24 AM
'Unusually calm' That's perfect for how I have chosen to spend my holidays as well. No rush, no fuss, all in good time. Isn't it wonderful to be able to enjoy the process of creating?
Posted by: ItsLily | November 17, 2010 at 10:20 AM
Sounds so busy and festive over at your house. I love hearing about your days and how you all spend them, it is so inspiring :) Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!
Posted by: Andrea | November 17, 2010 at 11:28 AM
happy everything! that sounds like the philosophy at your house. love the eclectic holiday decor....:) so apparently coco doesn't always know what's best, huh? those eggs are so beautiful, what a great decision you made when you got your girls. Enjoy your days!
Posted by: Lisa Q | November 17, 2010 at 11:55 AM
Well, of course, you're preparing for ALL the holidays! :D I feel like I'm a bit like your Abigail.
Your eggs are so pretty they look like they should be framed.
Your sweater is also gorgeous. I <3 that rich, plummy color.
And your tales of your special times with your oldest have me anticipating the days to come with my boys even as I savor their sweet 3- and 1-year-old-ness.
Posted by: christina | November 17, 2010 at 12:08 PM
Pretty sweater... I love the color. I see photography in Abigail's future.
Posted by: Mary | November 18, 2010 at 12:53 PM
Those fluffballs of a few months ago have grown into gorgeous creatures. Backyard chickens are now verboten in my city thanks to days and days of city council wrangling after someone complained about a neighbour's birds. 'Encourages rats' they said! We are an old seaport on the Canadian East Coast, what's another rat or two???
Posted by: Rachel | November 18, 2010 at 06:14 PM
I love reading your posts, Larissa. They're so full of goodness, calm, and contentedness.
Posted by: beki | November 18, 2010 at 08:03 PM
Sounds like you are really enjoying life! I love reading your posts, they're always filled with so much warmth, happiness and love for your family. Incase you're not here in the coming week, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your's.
Posted by: Stephanie | November 18, 2010 at 08:31 PM
What a great post. I love hearing about your family and your commitment to living in the now. It's inspiring.
And I really want some chickens. Those eggs are the prettiest I've seen. I told my Mr. and he looked at me like I was full of crazy.
Posted by: dani | November 18, 2010 at 10:38 PM
What a lovely post. :-)
Posted by: Amy Herbst (Herbst Handmade) | November 19, 2010 at 03:41 PM
What a nice post. I love that you are savoring life in so many ways, especially the time with your son. He will be blessed for that, all his life. This year, we're going to have an advent wreath, which we've never had in our house. I was reading the comments on the back of the candle box and it talks about the waiting part of Christmas. I hope I can convey the beauty of now as well as you are!
I also prefer ribbed over garter collars. Good luck :)
Posted by: Karen | November 21, 2010 at 09:47 AM
I am drawing from the calm that is within your post. Maybe a need chickens??? ;)
I don't think I ever did thank you for your wonderful message you left on my post showing that I treated myself to a embroidery foot for my machine. That was wonderful advice. Thank you.
Hoping you have a wonderful Holiday this week. I'm sure Abigail has added even more wonderful touches at this point. She is just too cute. :)
Posted by: dodi | November 21, 2010 at 12:32 PM
your sweater is beautiful..and I see you enjoy every moment of each day..that is good.
Posted by: theresa/t does wool | November 21, 2010 at 10:00 PM
enjoy your alone time with ezra.
my charlie is home an hour early (from high school!) and this is truly one of my favorite times of the day... he TALKS! a lot! it is important to grab it when you can. ;)
so... am i understanding this correctly... you ripped the collar that is shown out? i really liked it! and the color. nice job on the photo, abigail!
Posted by: leslie | November 27, 2010 at 02:45 AM
I love how you're capturing each and every morsel of goodness in your life right now and then sharing them with us! This post inspires me to slow down and enjoy THIS moment without anticipating the next moment! thanks for that. xoxo
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