handmade gifts

 Mad last minute shopping frenzies in my opinion are a choice you make and as for me not a way in which I choose to spend the last days of Advent. I desire to be home making lists of cookies to bake, meals to prepare, planning how I am going to set my Christmas table, and getting the house ready for the arrival of family. And since I do like to make simple handmade gifts for the grandchildren if at all possible, these days leading up to Christmas may provide just the needed time to do so. I have been nursing a sore throat for several days, drinking mug after mug of herbal teas and taking elderberry syrup, therefore, sitting in my sunny sewing room to sew those gifts are delightful,  just before Rose and Ivy arrive tomorrow night and my days will look quite different.

A flannel nightgown for Ivy(31/2), an apron for Breanna(9), and I am just now ready to begin knitting red mittens for Gordon(23 months).

He's coming home, arriving at the airport late tonight after traveling for twenty-two plus hours. It has been five years since he has been home for Christmas, therefore, celebrating Advent with Alan this year is making this mama's heart stout.

Amidst the busyness of this past week we are decking the house with festive things, which interestingly is apparently the thing to do in Thailand too!

onstage

I have about forty minutes to write a brief post. The Christmas lights are shining brightly warming me on this bleak, cold rainy day, and anticipation is on overdrive since tonight is Opening Night for the annual Nutcracker Performance from which Charlotte dances, her twelfth year!

This entire week was spent practicing at the theater for Tech Week and this year there were two performances of Act Two for the local schools.

 Shhh! No photos are allowed, but during this morning's school performance I snuck upstairs to the balcony and took this shot with my phone.  I have been helping with the costuming and backstage for about nine years now and what a privilege to be such a huge part of my daughter's life. My fingers are sore from all the hand stitching and my older self is weary from being at the theater every night and out of the house by 7:30 for the past two mornings, but what a joy to see her onstage.

And Breanna, my granddaughter is also a part of the performance. I am doubly joyful!