I was going to share earlier this week, but needed to get the go ahead that phone calls had been made and I was in the clear to share that...

we are moving back to California!

We have been wanting this for a long time and had just about given up hope that it would come to pass.
Last week Wes got an email that changed all of that, and we had the weekend to weigh all of the pros and cons. (Just because you really want something does not mean that it totally works out logistically.) But in the end we decided that the sacrifices that would need to be made are worth it and we are heading back to our home state at the end of February!

There are so many wonderful opportunities there for all of us. We are just a little excited and a bit overwhelmed with the idea.

Right now we are trying to get through the winter holiday season before we get to dramatic about cleaning out (there will be some downsizing involved) and packing. But the cleaning out has begun in little bursts (a natural result of making and the expectation that new things will inevitably make there way into our home this time of year).

Speaking of this time of year, we are excited about winter solstice today.

A hike, a sun cake, the lighting of lots of candles (including a special beeswax bird candle the kids picked out), a few little gifts, sushi, and sitting by the fire and under the stars. A good way to welcome back the light... on so many levels this year!

So, this busy little life is going to get a bit busier in the near future, but we could not be happier about that.

There has been a whole lot going on around these parts... I can't wait to share some big news... but I must! Gah!

We have been making lots of lists and plans and dreams, that I will share about soon.

We have been doing some actual making as well. Some for gifting, some for sending, and some for us.

- Peppermint bark was the first edible of our holiday making. Yum. It could be true that I have already eaten entirely too much, but also true that I will eat a lot more, and may even make another batch before all is said and done.

- We made Phases of the Moon Lanterns for lighting outside while we watched the full moon rise, and to help us light up the night on Winter Solstice.

- We made up some nature boxes for sending, which included pulling out boxes and jars of nature from Nova Scotia to share. This was totally acceptable to my girl who quickly went to work making more museum displays in her room! Those boxes are so fun to make up and ship away.

I have also been making myself get to bed between 8:30 - 9:00 every night. (Yes, brother, when you texted the other night I was sleeping.) I have finally gotten back into the rhythm of waking early (usually about 4:00) and find I am so much more productive early, as I have always been.

We have been trying to play the holiday tunes lately but more often than not we have been enjoying the quiet of the season. Early nights and dark morning set the tone for more peaceful time here to begin and end the day.

Your turn.
Please share what you have been making and the tunes on your playlist. And don't forget to leave a link to your post if you played along so others can visit your Make and Listen posts. 

I have been trying to get around to visit your posts each week (sometimes it takes me a few days) and they are wonderful! Thanks, to all of you who are joining in and linking up!

We tend to take a pretty laid back approach to the holiday season, so the hustle and bustle we hear about on the radio and read about in the news has not filtered its way into our little world. That being said, the little people have been busy making around here, which is not highly unusual, but is highly secretive!

I can share that we have made the house festive with the addition of a tree. A certain kitty quickly claimed it as his domain.




I am not super happy with this one. I need to add more structure and redesign a bit to allow for bottles in various sizes. I would also like to take along more than four, without making the case super huge. A zipper pouch with elastic along the inside might just be the answer. I will keep working at it!

Of course, once the tree went up, the holiday music started!

Your turn.
Please share what you have been making and the tunes on your playlist. And don't forget to leave a link to your post if you played along so others can visit your Make and Listen posts!

While going through old photos for a post over at Mud Puddles I felt like I was going through a bit of a time warp. We discovered Crystal Crescent Beach during our first month in Nova Scotia and over the next five years returned countless times during all seasons - fall and winter being our favorite time of year to be there.

It made me think about how I don't make photo albums anymore. It is so much easier to have the photos on the computer and not take up shelf space with an album (or have the expense of printing). That being said, my girl loves to look at the few photo albums we do have and I would love to have something easy for her to pick up and look though old photos. A compromise is certainly in order. Maybe something digital is the answer?

I gathered quite a few that I did not end up using in the post. Here are the ones that did not make the cut... although I still love them!

The photos were taken at night and are pretty awful, but I like the way it turned out. A bit more of a "fashion" scarf than one worn for warmth but it is still cozy around the neck!

I also worked on some seaweed inspired bookmarks I had started. I finished five of them.


They are put together using the same technique as the scarf above and I backed them in the same batik fabric I used for the seaweed. I love the raw edges and colors.