I have a new friend who is 94. She'll turn 95 in early January.

She's a remarkable person, but recently lost her independence and it's really hard for her. As she said to me, "One minute I had my apartment and my car and the next minute I'm here..."

Driving home after our visit I was grateful for the periods in my life when I was infirmed and had to rely on others for help and accept their good will with grace. And I'm grateful for the times I've been able to take care of others when they were in need.

We need to know how to give help and how to accept it. We need to know how to be independent and how to accept that we can no longer be on our own. We need to figure out how to mourn the loss and move on.

The seasons change. So must we.

I was looking through some old pictures and came across this one of Jakie when he was a wee pup. Isn't it the dearest??? I just couldn't resist posting my little sweetie (who is now a BIG sweetie!)

Bad Mood Trifecta: Bush, Boredom, Bad Weather.

Blaaaaaaaaah-humbug.

(sorta like Bah-humbag but without the enthusiasm...)

It's snowing tonight.

Our home is snug and warm...all decorated...filled with the aroma of ginger and curry from the dinner I made. Tomorrow it will be even more fragrant when I make Indian Ratatouille for friends who are coming for dinner...cumin, cardamon, cinnamon, saffron...mmmm! I'm planning on making rich Pots De Creme for dessert...my mom's recipe.

Jake is asleep on the floor next to me and his tail is thump, thump, thumping the carpet. I wonder what he's dreaming of? Playing with his buddies at puppy daycare today? He's such a sweetie!

Emily's in San Francisco at the American Geophysics Association's annual gathering; she was selected to present her summer research with NASA at a poster session - her second year of presenting! She'll head home to Philly tomorrow. I miss her...

Meggie is doing such a great job getting all her applications to grad schools together and mailed - all while she's working and helping out around home. She is thorough and thoughtful. I know that once she is off and running she won't be home for extended periods. I will miss her already...

Next week I'll have my chickies in the nest again as we gather to celebrate Christmas.

I always sleep so much better with my chickies in the nest! (If I had a tail like Jake's I just know it would be thump, thump, thumping!)

Our home for the holidays!

It was in the high 5o's today and I was happy to be able to work outside without freezing. Tomorrow is supposed to be cold with freezing rain and ice - the perfect scenario for decorating the tree and doing all the inside trimmings! I think I may actually be getting in the mood for Christmas! Pretty soon it will look just like these pictures I took of the inside last year!

One can never have too many shops or blogs...

I decided that I wanted to use Lille Hus for my Etsy shop, and finally figured out how to accomplish that. Click here to see it!

And then, to chronicle the development of the shop and all the wonders that will be available there, I started a new blog: http://studioatlillehus.blogspot.com/

I could (and do!) spend hours, and hours, and HOURS on all this... it's so much fun!

Anyhoo - come on over and check it out - and let me know what you think so far!

While I'm doing all my other work today, I'll be thinking about the design for all the peripheral goodies like business cards and wrappings and the stuff I'll sell. Ka-ching!

A busy mind is a happy mind!!!

Christmas cards are printed, embellished and folded. Even the Christmas letter is written. All I need to do is stuff the envelopes and get them out! I offer, in gratitude for a productive day:

a winter haiku

red bird on white snow

fragrance of evergreen branch

soft breath of angels

And now I'm off to bed! Sweet dreams, all!!!

Three things I know for sure:

Clarity is healing.
Honesty is healing.
Time is healing.

Life is good and peace-full.

Down with a baaaaad cold, but did have a moment feeling well enough to discover a blog called 37 Days so I thought I'd share it.



Hope to be wheelin' around in the 'morrow. This is getting old REAL fast!


To health and feeling vibrant!

Karen Anne