Anticipation...

 We had an exceptionally pleasant Christmas. The house was cozy and festive. I enjoyed decorating and took a lot of pleasure in gazing at our tree, the vintage decorations, the little illuminated village, the roses, and the candlelight. I listened to beautiful Christmas music all month, and we viewed all our favorite seasonal movies. Holiday anticipation is really the best part, don't you think? 

On Christmas Eve, I drove up the road to buy some extra milk and took a selfie with Moxie, the Jersey cow. Moxie has spent time in our pasture the past two summers, and it was fun to give her a little winter smooch. She was decked out in red velvet with brass bells and looked particularly lovely. 

I spent the rest of the day in my happy kitchen, cooking. I made a favorite potato dish; it's a little fussy to create and contains more than its share of calories, but it is so worth it. Here is the recipe in case you want to try it sometime. https://www.thespruceeats.com/gratin-dauphinois-recipe-1375736  I baked a gingerbread recipe that has been in our family for over 100 years and a rum cake. Rachel made eggnog pie with a gingersnap crust. I made phyllo pastry straws stuffed with cream cheese and pesto, and Chris made bruschetta. I baked a batch of popovers, and Chris roasted an enormous prime rib to perfection. There were seven plus the Owlet at the table that night. Our sweet neighbor brought tasty Brussels sprouts and the most delicious squash. There was excellent wine and toasts and cheery conversation. No one went hungry. 

Christmas morning, the Owlet and her parents came for breakfast. We enjoyed it at a leisurely pace, then headed to the living room to see about the pile of gifts that awaited. The Owlet enjoyed opening things for a long while, but then she became weary of it. 

We had given her a sweet little toddler-sized bed pillow. She went to where her napping sheepskin and knit blanket were stored and brought them to the living room. She carefully placed them in the middle of the floor, surrounded by gifts and discarded paper and ribbons, and laid her little self down. She looked up at us with big eyes and said, "Cozy." Then she picked up a book her Grandmama and Aunt Meg had sent and coaxed her father to join her on the floor for a read. He patiently complied. 

Around the time we were cleaning up, she climbed up our stairs. "Seepy time. Lovie. Seepy time. Pop Pop, seepy time." I asked if she didn't want to go home for her nap. "No. Snuggle. Read book." So, we sent her parents home for some quiet time and had a cozy Christmas nap (after reading approximately 100 books.) It was a peaceful afternoon, with plenty of fine leftovers for supper. 

Once the days preparing for and enjoying the holiday were past the anticipation kicked into high gear, because we are all anxiously awaiting the arrival of our newest family member. The due date is today (12/28) and because this is a second child we all suspected it might arrive a little early. The expectant mama has experienced many taunting signs that labor would soon begin in earnest, but then the baby apparently decides to stay where it is safe, warm, and cozy. 

Today is chilly and raw, with leaden skies and a drizzly rain. Rachel and I went for a walk on the beach to see if the primordial sea and pull of the tide might trigger something. We stared at the pewter water, the foam, and the sand and sighed simultaneously. The waiting is difficult. 

But wait, we must, feeling like we are holding our breaths in readiness for the arrival. I think we are all ready for this "pregnant pause" to pass. We are all anxiously anticipating falling in love with the new baby. 

Let it blow, let it blow, let it blow...

 The famed Christmas song, "Let it Snow," kept running through my head today as we experienced sixty-mile-an-hour wind gusts. Today's storm was not Christmassy at all. The temperature hovered in the 50's, and the rain poured down in torrents. I had an appointment, and driving there was a little scary. As I drove, huge tree limbs fell on the road, and the wind buffeted my truck. When I got home, we had lost power. And a big tree had fallen near the end of our driveway and blocked the road. 

Although it was fairly warm outside, I started a fire in the wood stove. It was only mid-afternoon, but the house was dark because the storm clouds were so thick. I lit a bunch of little candles and busied myself tidying the house. Because we have a well, when we lose power, we also lose water, but I wiped down the kitchen counters and put away some things that were where they didn't belong. I played Christmas music on my phone and swept the floor. I folded a load of laundry and wrapped a few last gifts to tuck under the tree. 

Because we are expecting a new grandbaby any day I planned way ahead for the holiday this year. It seemed to me that it would be nice to be prepared in case the baby made an early appearance.  I did my shopping in October and November and even wrapped most of the gifts before I turned the calendar to December. This was a first for me. We had a baby shower here the first weekend of the month, which spurred me to put up any decorations I wanted to use before then. 

So today, while the tall firs danced at the edge of the meadow, and anything not tied down outside banged and crashed, and the wind had a loud voice, I puttered in our holiday-decorated house by the flicker of candles and chuckled a little when "Let it Snow" piped out from the speaker on my phone. 

Yule Season Sprinkle...

 Our daughter and her husband are expecting a new addition at the end of the month. Today, her wonderful friend Elizabeth hosted a "Baby Sprinkle" for her. Apparently, first babies are welcomed with a baby shower and subsequent infants are celebrated with a Sprinkle. Smaller gifts since baby number one already received a car seat, stroller, and all those biggish things that babies require. We had the party here because we had more room to spread out. Almost forty people came to celebrate the impending birth. 

Liz and her husband created the most gorgeous charcuterie board. 

Since the baby is due during the Yule season, the expectant parents have dubbed the baby "Yule," while they wait to meet him or her.  Knowing this, Liz ordered a cake from an amazing local baker shaped like a Yule log for the party. It was not only gorgeous, it was incredibly delicious. The largest piece was black forest cake, and the smaller front pieces were tiramisu. Everything on the cake was edible: candied rosemary and merengue mushrooms... every bit of it a treat. 

We had lots of other delicious munchies, too. Hot and cold dips, hot wings, deviled eggs, a make your own sandwich board. Everyone helped themselves, chatting and snacking and having a good time.

Many little kids were present, and they all went out and met the goats and chickens. The goats were wearing festive holiday ruffles and welcomed the company. 

They also decorated sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles to take home as party favors. 

It looked like lots of fun. 

There was a pile of presents. Impossibly tiny knit hats, wee little onesies, lots of diapers and wipes, and more. All to welcome a precious new babe to the tribe. 

I was privileged to meet lots of young moms and dads and their small children, friends I have only heard about. Family members drove for hours to share the day. Seeing the village that surrounded and supported my daughter's growing family did my mama heart good. A lot of love and joy was sprinkled today. I am so grateful.