The Accident

Last week we received the shocking news that Nelson's parents had been in a massive car accident. Dory had a broken rib and massive skin abrasions, requiring a skin graft. After 5 days in the hospital, she has come home and is receiving good care from a home nurse, Nelson, and his sister.


Wes had a torn aortic valve, lost his spleen, broke all the ribs on one side, punctured a lung, and broke his leg. He is in intensive care on a ventilator. He has slowly stabilized, but as this has happened more injuries have become apparent including a cracked vertebrae and a possible skull fracture.

Needless to say this has been an agonizing week. We have set up a Caring Bridge website which has been a huge help in connecting to the many friends and family who want to be in touch.

You can also find me and further updates on Facebook.

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Twelfth Night

We had a quiet Twelfth Night. The girls were back to school so in the afternoon we made a cake and took down the tree. Helen found the hidden coin and got a wish.

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The Year in Review

January brought sledding and snowshoeing.

February brought a birthday girl

and a winter weekend with extended family.

March brought a trip to the ocean with friends

and a trip to Florida to support Papa through surgery.

April brought a trip to Gettysburg,

a Green Mountain Youth Symphony Concert,

our final VT Symphony Concert with Yo-Yo Ma,

and a haiku-writing Easter bunny.

May brought Crew to our family,

a Knighting Ceremony,

Maypole Dancing,

modern dance recital

a 15th birthday,

and a class play.

June saw us up high in the mountains

and down on the rivers.

July saw Helen away for 6 weeks singing with Village Harmony.

August brought us to England --the British Museum,

Oxford,

and a week on a canal boat.

August also brought blueberries,

a final lake house visit with cousins,


and Hurricane Irene.

September brought 7th grade, 10th grade, fall crew,

and a final trip to the ocean.

October brought picnics on village greens,

some knitting,

and an odd Halloween.

November brought a big food drive and Martinmas party

and a snowy Thanksgiving.

December brought Revels,

a Green Mountain Youth Symphony concert,

a birthday,

lots of gift-making,

and many family visits.

What a Year!

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Handmade Christmas

I have two final handmade gifts to share.

Liz and I made these woven reindeer for my Mother. Years ago a basket maker showed me how to make these and I finally managed to have the materials, the instructions, and the IDEA all at the same time. They are actually quite quick to make. I used materials from a basketmaking kit I had. The splint was a bit wider than the measurements that came with the instructions, so I split it in half and we made two reindeer. I imagine these could be easily made with paper, card stock, or even stiffened fabric.

Liz made Helen this jewelry organizer. She got drawer pulls and a piece of molding from the hardware store, polyurethaned the molding, and put in the drawer pulls. Here it is hanging on Helen's bulletin board already full of necklaces.

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Christmas Eve and the Handmade Gifts

Christmas Eve featured appetizers such as this cheeseboard of Vermont cheeses and a final feast of lobster casserole.

We read from my Christmas journal. Every year I keep a journal beginning on the first Sunday of Advent and ending on Twelfth Night. The girls always request a reading. This year I read from 2002 (the first year I began keeping it) and from last year. It is fun to remember back to all the things we made and did.

We listened to music, played Victorian parlor games such as charades where we acted out various Christmas songs, and looked at some of our favorite Christmas books.

After dinner we opened our handmade gifts. I love how excited we all get about this tradition. The focus is definitely on giving and every year the girls sigh and say they would be content if this was all we did. Here's what we all made~

Helen made me this set of napkins.

Liz needlefelted me this beautiful picture which I need to get framed.

I made Liz this owl and a matching buckwheat/lavender pillow.

Nelson made the girls fingerless gloves from thrifted sweaters.

He made me this bag dryer to go on the kitchen sink.
I have been wanting a good way to dry bags for years.

I made Nelson this work apron.
Here he is opening Helen's gift.

Helen made a set of 6 coasters using maps from each place we've been on summer vacation.

Helen made Liz this music folder out of duct tape.
Duct tape is a popular craft medium in our house these days.

Here is Liz with her duct tape folder.

I knit this elephant and sewed these pajamas for Helen.

For the final gift I printed out 2 copies of my blog from 2009. I made them each a copy because I know when they are old and grey, they will each want it. Now I need to get 2010 and 2011 printed. I'm a bit behind.

I'm so glad we started this tradition. To see more from over the years, click on the Handmade Christmas link on the sidebar of the blog.

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