merry christmas, y’all.

Whatever it is you celebrate, have a lovely day off and enjoy yourself.  I’ma watch The Muppet Christmas Carol with my family and drink whiskey.

Image from the amazing Swillvill's 18th Century.

new traditions.

For the past few years my family has been going to Williamsburg to see the Fifes and Drums play as the cressets are lit in front of important buildings.  This year was the best year yet, with seven of us crammed into my parents’ vehicle, then enjoying the crisp air and chipper chirping of the fifes, and then dining on chips and Mom-made sandwiches on the way home, and laughing.  I look forward to this more every year.

of snow and strugglin’!

It snowed!

reveling!

This is the most I’ve ever been inconvenienced by a snowstorm, and I’m happy for it.  Usually it snows a little and then it’s gone the next day.  Since it snowed Friday night, the snow has only melted a little and is going to be there for a while.  Of course it threw a wrench into most of our plans, but I love snow so much I don’t care.  Oregon Hill is beautiful, sledding was fun, and we even ventured out for Bird’s fabulous Mad Men-themed party.  Everything feels so wintry.  Last night, the whole family went out to see the new Disney version of A Christmas Carol, which was not so great, but not so bad because the story is so fantastic.  Tonight we head to Williamsburg as usual to see the cressets lit and stroll down DOG St.

the hill -- looking so pretty in the snow.

our backyard.

sledding at the Overlook.

Brendan and Mia

Kathryn and Dan

just LOOK at Bird's dress.

Adventures usually include more than just blessings, though, so we have our share of challenges right now.  For example:

• The recession finally delivered a bad blow to our little family.  I prefer to think of it as a way to make sure we’re not putting our faith in false, worldly “security” and instead to just survive.
• We’re not running the heat in our house this year, because as I think I mentioned, it costs like $500 per month to run heat in a house with drafty doors / windows and NO insulation.  But even this isn’t so bad, because our rooms are kept toasty with space heaters and heated blankets.  We just can’t leave our rooms.  Haha.  I’ve been engaging in what I call “Wii Fit: Polar Bear Style” and “Cooking Dinner: Eskimo Style.”
• Right now we have no water because the water main froze and broke on Idlewood last night.  So I’m washing my face at work for now, and I’m sure we’ll be taking showers at my parents’.  The cats can drink snow.

So I think I’ve discovered that all we really need is electricity, and all else are just nice-to-haves.  When I think about the conditions that other people in the world are living in, I can’t believe I even think it’s a hardship to go without a few things.  Of course, the real test will be seeing how I feel after a few more weeks of this when the snow has melted and the “adventure” feeling has worn off.    My roommates are awesome and so far we’ve been enjoying ourselves and laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of the situation.  My hope is that instead of getting complainy and tired, we’ll just get stronger and become used to going without (ha, even more than we already have been), so that the end result is that we’re polished by hardship rather than worn down.  An awesome opportunity, really.

making do.

Lovely "Singer Print" by Clare Owen, via Design Is Mine.

I feel like a new person now that my holiday craft show preparations are over, because I went from planning the wedding to going on the honeymoon to crafting my head off, without a break.  And now I can do other things!  And the days stretch out beautifully before me.  Happiness is a clear(ish) calendar.

Things from the Richmond Handmade Holiday craft show:

Seen — A girl carrying a rabbit around in the hood of her hoodie.

Overheard –A conversation between a father and his tween daughter:

Dad: I just want you to get off it and stay off it! [I think he meant her cell phone]
Tween: Well what am I supposed to do….LOOK AROUND or something?
Dad: Yes!

Accepted — A compliment from an older lady:

Her: “I dressed up as you for Halloween!”
Me: [long silence]
Her: “I was a goth!”
Me: “Thank you!”

Traded my wares for –

Prints by Erica Vess of Bee’s Knees Studio.

A glass nugget from Jackie Mancini of Pretty Silly Things.

Bookplates and a mini letterpress wallhanging from Aijung Kim of Sprout Head.

And while we’re on the subject of her, I’ve been kind of obsessed with her “Inverness” poem lately.

…

It was by FAR the best craft show I’ve ever bothered with.

In other news, two tidbits:

• RVA playing cards featuring my friends’ tweets: WIN.
• Pick up my friend Ian’s comic for $3!

Aaaand a little something else pretty, for good measure:

Talk about a garment with great motion.

Richmond Handmade Holiday 2009!

Y’all know where I’m going to be tonight and tomorrow:

http://www.richmondhandmadeholiday.com

At the best place to get all your holiday shopping done (and support local crafters while you’re at it).