Some enjoying catch-up here after taking a little blogging break. I’ve got a handful of holiday posts I’m photographing right now and an epic stocking stuffer guide (my favorite guide of the year–TINY SHIT MADNESS!) in the works, and with the Christmas bins out of the attic and all the gatherings we have to look forward to, I’m excited and grateful to have good creative places to pour energy into.
I’ve always been a little bit of a start-early girl when it comes to busting out the Christmas cheer, but it’s more because I don’t want to scramble. I want to enjoy it all, spread it out so that instead of slapping return addresses on Christmas cards and running them out to the mailbox to get it over with, I can have fun with it–watch a movie while I address them, use pretty pens and stamps, tuck stickers in for families with kids.
We managed to round everyone up for a family picture last week…(naturally, stripes on stripes on STRIPES)…
…and it allowed for a nice head start for a December evening I now look forward to: The Addressing of the Christmas Mailers. There’s a pile in the corner of my office ready for it: The Family Stone DVD, return address labels, Christmas stamps, cards, stickers, two calligraphy pens, colored pencils and glitter. The problem with getting ready too early though is that it allows time for you to expand the project, and with stickers and glitter, we’re already well past “STOP HERE.” Or so I thought.
“I’m adding something to our cards this year, ” I told Brett as I shoved him a finished card. “Here, smell it.”
“Oh my God, you did not order scented cards,” he said as he took a deep sniff. “What is that–pine?”
“Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree! I spritzed it with balsam & cedar room spray,” I explained. “It’s Christmas in an envelope, Brett. We’re delivering cheer and Christmas spirit. It’s like a gift from the North Pole. Wait, wouldn’t it be cool if you could lick the card and it tasted like cocoa?”
“You’re nuts, ” he concluded.
Like I’ve always said, I’m a minimalist. Okay, I never said that.
Needless to say, I’m happy it’s November and looking forward to the initiation of the season with Thanksgiving next week when we will gather with our friends and family and recalibrate all our love and gratitude for each other and the world.
With that said, I don’t want to ignore the political discourse and hurts of our country right now. To be honest, I don’t really know what to say, so I listen–to my friends who both think like me but also to those who don’t. I try to stay current and aware by listening to the news from responsible sources, but I also know when to turn it off and focus on my family–funneling my agitated energy into my kids, teaching them to be the kind of humans I think the world needs more of, telling them about the wonderful things being done by the people that make this country beautiful. I come from a long line of conservatives with politics often driven by faith, but I swing liberal and voted for Hillary. I have friends and family who did not, and I refuse to let our political views drive us apart. We listen to each other, learn from each other and respectfully challenge each other, and if we can do that responsibly and with compassion, we can strengthen our views, our voice and better serve our country and our communities, no matter what political party we belong to.
In between that, we hold our footing where the ground is solid and strong–in our homes, with our families, and in our communities, modeling love in every way we can.
Enjoying lately…
A trip to The Bird Gardens of Naples…
…a non profit organization that rescues and rehouses abandoned birds. No surprise, Dash was the only one of my kids who wanted to get closer to the birds.
It’s so nice having my dad and Gary back in Florida for the season.
Waiting for pizza is hard, Dash, isn’t it?
A little ice cream accident on the dock.
Afternoon walks to the lake.
People always ask when I reference our lakes if there are any alligators. The small lakes in our neighborhood generally don’t have any alligators, but it’s always possible in any Florida body of fresh water for them to find their way. Brett has taught me to scan the water and what to look for, and we never swim in the lakes. In the unlikely situation that an alligator would make its way to this small lake, our neighborhood would report it, and if it was sizable enough to be a danger to kids/humans, it would be removed.
In November.
Cynthia Rylant’s In November is such a delightful read for the fall and Thanksgiving season. We’ve reread it several times this month.
Early Nightfall.
I’ve never loved the time change and losing that extra hour of daylight as it often feels like less time to get everything done, but the silver lining? More opportunity for twinkle lights to have their moment. More cozy retreat, more family, more love in our living rooms.
Happy Tuesday. xo
Georgia says
That was another lovely post, Kelle. Thank you. I leave the Christmas-y things for December. I kinda have traditions for every single month of the year, for every kind of weather etc etc. I love keeping track of time like that…through food, decorations, books, routines etc etc. So, at this time of the year I am busy making persimmon, grape and bergamot spoon candy, apple pies, stocking on spicy & aromatic teas, choosing new books for the season, bringing in the tangerine& cinammon scented candles, adding little touches of red, orange and brown in the house and going back to warm, before-bed-time baths. So, still on Fall mode. If I see Christmas decorations, I turn my head the other way. hehehe. December 1st I will get all the Christmas decorations out and start with THAT routine. Being completely nuts…as you are. But in a cute way that makes myself and people around me smile. Because I am sure that Bret thinks you are “nuts” , but loves you for it! Lots of love from Greece. 🙂
Kelle says
You had me at “persimmon, grape and bergamot spoon candy!” What is this you speak of?! Your November traditions sound so lovely–thank you for sharing!
Sarah says
I was wondering the same thing. Recipe??
Georgia says
It’s traditional spoon candy we do here in Greece. We take any fruit that is in season and we make spoon candy out of it. It’s a way to keep track of time. It is quite similar to making jam, really. You take the fruit and you put it in sugar for 24 hours. Mix it with your hand every now and then. It’s approximately a kilo of sugar for a kilo of fruit. After 24h you put everything in a pot, add a glass of water and let it simmer until the syrup is…what you call it in English? Let’s say when it turns from water&fruit into water and syrup. You put everything in mason jars . We serve a tablespoon of that along with coffee or tea. We also put it on ice cream! For persimmon and grape, you put them in as they are. For bergamot, you have to grate it. Not in reeeally fine pieces, though. They might melt and you would end up with jam, instead of spoon candy.
Heather says
Has Nella’s eyesight improved? I notice she rarely wears her glasses.
My son has recently started removing his when he is doing homework or on the computer (14 years old with autism) so a visit will be happening soon that will involve a lot of testing to see if his vision has changed to the better.
Kelle says
No, she actually wears them a lot and all day at school. And we patch 2 hours a day.
Julie says
Isn’t it funny, what we get used to that worries others? Like alligators? I’ve always lived rurally where coyotes and cougers are around, in further South and North of us, wolves have been re-introduced. I’m always surprised at the number of people who are afraid of coyotes- most who have them around here view them like giant rats. But I know if was in Florida I would probably worry excessively about gators!
We are putting up our tree this weekend – I used to wait until Thanksgiving evening, and that was our tradition, but with a three year old (as of tomorrow!) and a 14 month old and a ton of morning sickness that even Zofran just kinda manages, I’m ready to spread it out so it doesn’t overwhelm my slow moving butt ???? and I can enjoy it as much as possible! The plus side is that being bedridden for a month and half means that I finished about 85% of my Christmas shopping!
Maria says
Kelle~
Alligators don’t bother me nearly as much as snakes..UGH!! I love Florida but I am absolutely terrified of snakes. Do you see many or have you had any problems with them? Just curious as to how you deal with it.
Maria
csmith says
A while ago you did a post featuring chart and diagram gifts for guys, I have searched and searched your archives and can’t find them. I would love to get one for my husband, a little help please!
Kelly says
Would you mind sharing the source for Dash’s firetruck shirt? So bright and fun! I have a little guy that would just love that.
Thanks so much,
Kelly
Kelle says
It’s from winterwaterfactory.com
Brit girl says
Hey Lady K! You popped into my head the other day as we were reading a book called “Millions of Snow” and there is a character called Nella in it. I think you should check it out for your winter holiday book collection (I know you have one!). Glad to see you are all still enjoying life. Much love from across the pond.
Kelle says
My Brit Girl! xo So good to hear from you. I’ll check it out. And yes! Just putting together our winter holiday book collection now.
Brandy Bruce says
Awesome pictures!
Jenny says
Hi Kelle,
I just wanted to say 2 things. Thank you for the “In November” book recommendation. I ordered it off Amazon and we’ve read it 3 times already. Very sweet book. Secondly and more importantly. Thank you for speaking about politics with a voice of love. I truly think so many Americans want the same things, they just want to go about it in a different way. We are all so much more alike than we really are different. Each time a writer or celebrity, etc. goes off on an angry political rant I cringe and back away. No matter what any of our views are, whenever we step out, we are potentially creating rifts with both people we love and strangers we don’t even know. Thank you for consistently being respectful of that. Thanks for being a genuine, radical voice for love every day. I love coming here because you shed light even when life is heavy and hard. I appreciate the little cup of joy always overflowing here. Your friend from Wisconsin, Jenny
SHANNON says
Kay. You just can’t talk all that scented-glittery-cocoa-flavored-holiday-wonderfulness and not expect your readers to beg to be added to the Christmas card list!!
This post made me LOL! (And I’m probably gonna put my tree up tonight.)
Kirsten says
Have you ever read “Thanksgiving at the Tappletons'” by Eileen Spinelli? It’s hilarious and it should be on every kid’s bookshelf in November!
Kelle says
We have it and are ready to read it this weekend!
Kirsten says
Enjoy!!
Tara WermUth says
Beautiful as always, Kelle. I’m totally scenting my Christmas cards now!!! Haha! I also definitely appreciate your respectful voice when it comes to politcs. I think you’re a true example of a liberal practicing what they preach; tolerance. Thanks for the reminder that we all can make a small difference to make the world a better place, simply starting at home. I’m probably looking a little too forward to your stocking stuffer post, until then thanks for the inspiration!!! XO
Brynn at The Domestic Dietitian says
If I received a christmas tree scented card or one that tasted like hot cocoa, I would frame it (after the smell/taste was gone) and hang it up like a beacon of holiday cheer!
My husband is so anti anything “tradition” or “extra holiday-cheery” but now that we have two little kids I keep trying to get him on board with the holiday train! We are the magic makers for these little bright eyed wonders and I love that your posts around all holiday times just ooze tun and festivity. I’ll have to take baby steps with him (christmas music being baby step 1) and try to prevent myself from jumping right into a live family holiday christmas talent show filled with all things christmas and lots of sparkles. A girl can dream
michelle says
I love your posts. I am having a very hard time with the election results and am trying not to be biased.. It is hard. I know for my daughters that I need to show a strong front and I am trying to show them what love is.
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