#62 One year. One day...

A year ago today I became a vegetarian. It's made such a difference in the way I feel - both physically and emotionally.

Today I've haven't had anything white to eat. No white flour. No white sugar.

This change may be harder to make, but it's worth a serious try.

Because I'm worth it. And I owe it to this body that has seen me through so much to do the best for it that I can. White flour and sugar is not the best I can do.

Are you feeling ready to make some healthful changes in your diet/life?


-karen anne

#61 For Megan...

My older daughter, Megan, has finally arrived in Krakow, Poland after an exhausting 24 hours on a train. She started in Brussels where she had planned to hop on a Ryanair jet and be in Krakow some 90 minutes later. Heavy snows closed the airport, however, and flights were canceled. Not one to give up, she figured out how to still make it to Poland for Christmas. I can't wait to hear the tale of her trip! The bits I heard, from quick phone calls along the way, reconfirmed my belief in the kindness of strangers. Angels are everywhere - especially at Christmas! I'm grateful to all of them that appeared and helped her on her journey.

Since she couldn't be at home with us, I took a few pictures and posting them here seemed to be the most expedient way to show her what we were up to. I would have gotten them up sooner, but I've had my nose in my new Nook - the color version! How lucky was I to get that for Christmas, huh? But I digress...

Christmas in Carlisle:

Wrapped up and ready to go!

Things with wings and petals on our tree. There are quite
a few eggs, too. It's an optimistic tree, somehow, with all
the references to nature and transformation.

Fire and Ice (on the coffee table)

Centerpiece in the Dining Room

Side table in the Dining Room. My mother-in-law gave us
the sweet demitasse cups for one of our first Christmases together.
I love bringing them out and using them every year!

I love these dishes from Crate and Barrel that Dean gave me 

a number of years ago - I think before the girls were born!

Santa's Weird Helper

Jake is such a good sport!

Jake with tissue paper stuck to his chin... he loooves
Christmas wrapping paper!

Looking for more fun paper to shred but frustrated The Dad 

put it all in a bag. What a spoil sport!

Christmas Dude Resplendent in Polka Dots

The Aftermath. With Fire. (Love that On Demand option!)

It was a nice Christmas and I'm glad everyone I love found their way home - even if it took 24 hours on a train!

I hope your day was wonderful, too!

-karen anne

#60 Blessings of the Solstice...

I was up in the wee hours sitting in my backyard gazing up into the heavens. As the moon darkened the stars became so bright - a wonderful example of the universe in balance. Would that our world - this crazy illusion we humans live in - could find it's way to such balance. My hope is that we realize that the illusion is just that - a figment of our imaginations - and that if we change, it will change. There can be Peace, there can be Love and  Light. We can find the Balance that we seek.

Last night I looked in the heavens and I looked in my heart.

Today is a new day. I can begin again.

Just watch this little light shine!

-karen anne

#59 What's not to love???

 

I mean, really - what's not to love about these sweet little stools made of recycled wood with crocheted seat cushions? They are available here! Wouldn't they be great to sit on by a toasty fire while sipping hot chocolate? ( In a red mug and with whipped cream and a candy cane, of course!) 

Hope you're staying warm. It's really cold here today!

-karen anne

#58 Defying Gravity...

There's a certain lightness that has recently been filling my heart. Partly an anticipation of the holidays and the prospect of having close those I hold dear.

But it feels more than that somehow.

I'm looking forward to the New Year, and I finally seem to be at ease with being 60. (Which is good since I'm now past 60.5!) So those things are certainly a part of it, too.

But there's something in the air - it quivers almost. A quickening of something new and wonderful. A floaty, magical something.

Just a feeling.

It's delightlful and lovely. I hope it stays!

Are you feeling it, too???

-karen anne

#57 Back home again...

Last week, since I had my tree up and cards all finished, I decided to head south to Norfolk, VA to have a Just Me visit with Mom and Dad. I stayed with my sister and brother-in-law so I could see them after they came home from work. It was a wonderful few days! I helped Mom and Dad put up their tree and it was so much fun to see all the ornaments that they collected as I was growing up. I love that the most special "ornament" is the star on top; they purchased it for their first tree for ten cents at the dime store!

And I like that they have the tree up on a trunk in front of a mirror - it makes the whole vision doubly wonderful!

Mom always decorates their mantel and mirror with the little Jule Nisse she got when we were in Norway. I love the way she poses them to look like they are scrambling all over:

That's my Dad reflected in the mirror - handsome, isn't he???

My decorating is very much like my Mom's now - and I realized even our trees are quite similar:

This year I tried out the 3-M command hooks so I could hang garland on both fireplaces. I like the way it looks and sure hope the hooks come off as advertised after the holidays! (The coffee table I painted green this summer looks especially nice at Christmas - fits in nicely with all the red and green.)

I love these old Christmas ornaments in my great grandmother's cut glass punch bowl. They look like old mercury glass, but are really just old silver ornaments with the silver worn off.

Emily will be home this weekend so I think the Christmas baking will wait till she can help (with the baking AND the eating!)

How are your holiday preparations coming?

- karen anne

#56 Some things fall through the cracks...

I've been so busy getting AHEAD this year with Christmas doings, that posting has fallen through the cracks.

Sometimes ya just gotta change your priorities, ya know? Especially when you're expecting a visit from Santa Claus.

Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

So go outside and play in the snow and I'll make some hot chocolate and we'll visit again soon.

I promise!

-karen anne