tuesday night

 tree lighting shenanigans . . 

 tree lighting treats . . (i made a batch of biscotti after baking the gingerbread for chanda's ballet teacher).

 morgana is back home! she had been in london, visiting with her friend jenny and interviewing at mountview college for a playwriting program.

ready for the ornaments . .

tuesday afternoon . .

 the french chocolates and moon cookies . . 

 chanda made a card for her ballet teacher to go with the gingerbread i baked earlier today and the set of brambly hedge books by jill barklem. irene has a three year old little girl and nine year old boy.

waiting for the trimming.

monday christmas tree expedition

 this morning we were on the road at 9:30 am for our christmas tree expedition. last year we were unable to cut down our own tree from the tree farm we've been going to for several years as greg was very busy with work and we didn't want to go without him. this year we planned it a month in advance as korrina and brian wanted to get their tree from the same place, and they needed to request the day well ahead.

 the day was very dark and grey . .

 chanda instantly ran off to look for the concolor firs. their branches are a little longer, softer and paler . . if you scroll down on their website you'll see their tree selection guide.

 

 i made a sour dough bread last night and baked it this morning. i actually hadn't done this in a very long time! we had sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies (which korrina made) and hot chocolate. the nicest part was warming up by the fire and smelling the wood smoke. i usually like to say hello to the oxen fred and pete, but they're not always there on a weekday.

 we dropped chanda uptown at a babysitting job she had and then drove korrina and brian out to brooklyn.

 we were fortunate to find a parking spot directly in front of their building . .

 and then we headed back to manhattan . . and home . .

 and dinner.

korrina's tree . .

third sunday of advent

song 3rd by an old shepherd

when silver snow decks sylvio's clothes,

and jewel hangs at shepherd's nose,

we can abide life's pelting storm,

that makes our limbs quake, if our hearts be warm.

whilst virtue is our walking-staff,

and truth a lantern to our path,

we can abide life's pelting storm,

that makes our limbs quake, if our hearts be warm.

blow, boisterous wind, stern winter frown,

innocence is a winter's gown,

so clad, we'll abide life's pelting storm,

that makes our limbs quake, if our hearts be warm.

by william blake (1757 - 1827)

 we celebrated the third sunday of advent at breakfast this morning before chanda ran off to her old ballet school's holiday dance performance at la guardia community college in queens.

 greg and i prepared the room for the christmas tree which we'll get tomorrow. we moved his desk by the bookcase, and moved the big chair next to it . .

 madeline adapted well to its new position . . 

 she loves being top cat.

afterwards, greg and i ran several errands (separately) in the heavy rain. it was not the best day for outdoors, being wet, rainy and cold. chanda met me at trader joe's to help carry home groceries and an evergreen wreath . . but then we left the evergreen wreath at the container store when we stopped for a few wrapping and food storage supplies . . so i went back for the wreath while she went home with the bags and reheated leftovers for dinner.

 leftover chicken with sweet potato fries and broccoli . . 

 and panettone from trader joe's!

 all set for the tree . . 

 we just needed to make fresh bread, french chocolates, moon cookies and hot chocolate mix for the picnic at the tree farm. i did the bread, chocolates and cookies while chanda grated the baking chocolate (it gets mixed with cocoa powder and sugar). my job may sound like a lot, but her's was the more difficult one. next time we'll try a blender, though the chocolate often melts with the heat of the blades.

ah well . . we got the job done though it wasn't easy.

a december visit with nana

 i drove up to connecticut on wednesday so i could put our car in the shop and visit my mom. our car has been stalling at odd moments and monday we would like to drive to the tree farm to get a christmas tree with korrina and brian. there are some steep hills on the way to the tree farm. i wouldn't like to get stuck.

the assisted living community is decked with holiday decorations.

it felt wonderful coming into a warm fire after a walk outside. it was cold on thursday.

on thursday i heated up progresso split pea soup and then made my mom a chocolate egg cream (which does not have an egg! it's chocolate milk with seltzer), and on friday i brought new england clam chowder from whole foods and a chocolate haagen dazs cup of ice cream.

reading about princess diana in the upstairs library.

we also played pool in the game room . . 

every room has a shelf upon which the room's occupant displays photos or knick knacks. i love this santa in his dressing gown.

flowers on my mom's dresser from the care committee at my sister's church . . the porcelain christmas tree on the right has been in the family for years. i'm not sure who gave it to my mom, but she has set it out every christmas since i was a child.

mom had a haircut last week . . 

which looks really nice on her.

my sister and brother-in-law's house is still being renovated after the mold problem. they now have new ceilings in three bedrooms and the den and everything is being taped and painted. this is toby's special corner . . underneath a side table.

the living room is also a bedroom . . with the couches from the den and a bed from the upstairs bedroom.

here you can see the ice covering the lake in town.

the hydrangeas are brown . . i wonder when the petals will blow away . . 

bundled up . . thursday was very cold but she didn't complain at all and napped in the little bit of sunshine we had. friday was cloudy again, but a little warmer . .

and saturday was cloudier still! (and the car was fixed. it needed a new starter part by the engine.)