Christmas Presence...and presents

Here it is, the night before Christmas Eve, and I don't remember a more relaxing holiday. This year we really focused on slowing down. Less shopping, more money, more time, less stress.

Last week we had soup and cookie night, one of my favorite holiday traditions. We feasted on homemade chili, applesauce and cornbread, and after dinner it was cookie time. Last year we used lots of sprinkles. This year, we took a bag of Nutter Butter cookies, dipped them in chocolate, and decorated them like reindeer with M&Ms and pretzels.

What I didn't anticipate was that they would stick like cement on a nonstick cookie sheet! 

So we started over, with waxed paper. Aaaah. Much better.

And while the kids got ready for bed, their Mom and Dad did a little relaxing.

The next day, Mark and I left for Pismo Beach, on the central coast of California, where it Rained.The.Whole.Time.

While the rest of the country was buried in snow, we were still looking at green grass!

But we were warm and cozy in our room, with treats from our friends, George and Cheri

and an afghan I brought along for snuggling.

Today, Maggie and I went to Starbucks and worked on our hexies.

(A totally staged picture taken when I got home--because I forgot to bring my camera...)

Spending time with people you love is such a gift.

Speaking of gifts, along with Christmas presence, there have also been Christmas presents!
Jessie made me this luscious green stocking hat:

This pattern unexpectedly showed up in my email mailbox this morning. Thanks, Becky!

And Terri sent these goodies in the mail--a little notebook, calendar, tape measure, and needle case--out of my favorite Henna Garden fabric

And this cute ornament.

Thank you to all my family and friends who have such a special presence in my life.

Merry Christmas.