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The weather outside is //
As I look outside my window // We’ve had a ton of rain lately. There’s nothing more uncomfortable than doing morning chores in the cold, pouring rain but I’m also so very grateful. We had a pretty significant drought this summer and our pastures were bone dry. So this rain is good! It’s even better when we can stay warm and dry inside by the fire. 🙂
As I look around the house // it’s beginning to look a teeny bit like Advent! We decorate slowly throughout December and I love how that simple action increases the Christmas anticipation. So far, we’ve put up the Nativity scene, window candles and a few twinkle lights. The tree will go up as soon as we can figure out how to keep Samson away from it! (He has a tendency to mark his territory on trees…ahem.)
Excited about // some fun surprises up my sleeve for Advent School this year. I bought this perler bead gingerbread house kit, this Countdown to Christmas advent activity book, and this Christmas watercolor book. We’ll also be checking out the Advent videos on Formed.
Pondering // this little paragraph from Come, Lord Jesus (this is my fourth year reading this book for Advent, I think?):
I love to recall the word of the poet Sister Madeleva that I find ineffably dear: “In Advent I always feel that I should walk on tiptoe.” Indeed, in the wonder of Advent, we should spiritually walk on tiptoe, full of expectancy, full of wonder.” (p.22)
Working // on so many creative projects and it feels so good. I’ve started on my “December Daily” junk journal. After more than a year (!!), I also pulled out my quilt and my cross-stitch sampler again and have been stitching on both. (I had not made much progress since I shared them back in this post.) In other crafty news, I fell down a new Youtube rabbit hole. Did you know there is such a thing as Flosstube? What “booktube” is for readers, “flosstube” is for cross-stitchers! They are arguably the most wholesome, lovely group of women on the Internet. Their videos are like a grown-up show and tell…I love it.
On this week’s to-do list //
– dry orange slices for decorations
– mail gifts for faraway relatives
– wrap a few presents
– work on Christmas cards
– celebrate St. Nicholas Day and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Currently reading //
- Fiction: Light Changes Everything by Nancy E. Turner
- Nonfiction: Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives by Siddharth Kara and The Ditchdigger’s Daughters by Yvonne S. Thornton, MD
- Religious: Come, Lord Jesus: Meditations on the Art of Waiting by Mother Mary Francis, PCC and The Practice of the Presence of God by Bro. Lawrence
On the menu this week //
Monday: hearty slowcooker beef stew
Tuesday: chicken pot pie
Wednesday: pasta with homemade bolognese sauce
Thursday: Refrigerator Clean Out Night
Friday: bean and cheese tostadas
One of our favorite Christmas activities is cutting snowflakes out of coffee filters. It’s relatively inexpensive- you can get 200 filters for less than $2- and they are so fun to put in windows. Maybe something to add to your advent activities!
We made snowflakes from coffee filters a few years ago and I LOVED them. Thanks for the reminder!
Looking at your menu list, just thought I’d throw out that I believe Friday is a MEAT FRIDAY!!!! since it’s the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Double check me though.
Oh my gosh, I think you’re right! I was definitely making my menu on autopilot this week…I’m going to have to plan something special. Thanks for that reminder!