Eek…..we are almost half way through December and this is the first chance that I have had to sit down and write to you. It has been a whirlwind of everything Christmas around here.
In my last musings I was heading to Vermont for a weekend away. It was such a beautiful weekend, I wish it could have been longer. I met up with my lovely friend Jess and we stayed at the Woodstock Inn, had a pottery lesson with Farmhouse Pottery. It was so fun, but I know that I can't give up my day job and become a potter any time soon. Vermont is such a beautiful state and I know that I want to go back to visit on another occasion.
Photograph by Jess Vallance - of course!!
The first week of November was spent hobbling around with a sore back….I am not longer used to sitting down for a long period of time. I think spending a week digging and washing dahlia tuber and going straight into sitting on a long flight was not a good transition. My back was not happy with me. However, lots of stretching, using a foam roller (best invention ever) and having a massage got me back in action again.
I then started to gear up for Christmas. I start with table arrangements and the beauty of using dried flowers is that you can get a head start on them as they are everlasting. Then comes wreaths, so many wreaths! I create custom wreath orders plus for one of my CSA subscriptions includes a door wreath. I love creating wreaths that are just a little bit different and incorporating dried elements too - and of course velvet ribbons…..in the winter months everything must have a velvet ribbon!
As well as creating wreaths, I start the big harvest of fresh evergreens in preparation for our wreath workshops. I am lucky to have access to woods where I can harvest beautiful greens and honestly there is nothing better better than wrapping up warm and going out into the woods and enjoying the silence and closing out the chatter from the outside world. I know a lot of people don’t like the cold dark days of winter, but I embrace it. I love my woolly jumpers and hats. I have heard someone say once, it is never too cold outside, you are just not dressed appropriately. So if life is feeling a little bit heavy for you on occasion, wrap up warm and go outside - I promise you will feel better on your return home.
Thanksgiving also meant that my boys headed home from LA. A house full of noise, laughter and dogs which is my favorite. We decorated our Christmas trees - fresh ones of course. Sat around and chatted over a glass of wine and just enjoyed each other’s company. This new season of parenting definitely has its advantages. Once they headed back to LA everything seemed so quiet around here. Well, except that my son left his English lab here for a couple of weeks of what they call “winter camp” - so three labs in the house…..
Once those are completed things start to slow down a little for me. This is when I try to rest and recharge in preparation for the next year.
We are heading back to England for Christmas as a family and meeting up with our extended family. The boys are even bringing their girlfriends along with them, so it should be a lot of fun.
However you spend your holiday season may it be filled with love, merriment and joy.
Much Love,