Just popping in quickly to say that Christmas was lovely but very busy — Christmas Eve with over 40 of my nearest and dearest (my siblings, their partners, the next generation and the one after that! Quite wonderful! Quite noisy!) at my sister’s. We had a full house here for two days (son, daughter-in-law, two Littles, one crawling everywhere) and hosted dinner for thirteen.
Had not quite 48 hours to collapse with books and tea and Christmas leftovers before we had a (24-hour) Sleepover with a Six and a Three. They’ve just gone home, and I have a book all lined up for reading in between dough-folding for the next batch of bread. . .
But I thought you might like to see this quick addition to my journal, sketched lsat night while the Two Young Artists worked
Not sure I should transcribe this for you, given what a certain Six asked me, as written in the top left-hand corner: “Nana, Why does Granddad have no white hairs, but you have so much?” She’s drawing his portrait, so she’s been observing carefully. . . And turns out she’s speaking truth. . . [more accurately, he has a few, but probably less than 15% — and his hair’s cut so short, they don’t show up]
Harriet’s printing is quite clear, so I’m sure you can read her words — I couldn’t resist gluing her note into my book — I love you so mush. . . 😉
Middle right: These two — Harriet and Fergus — are here for a sleepover — a 24-hour sleepover and it’s been raining and raining. Luckily, they are both happy to settle in with the art supplies.
Bottom right: Hot chocolate, Whipping Cream (in a can!), Shaun the Sheep! (oh, they laughed, so did we); Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches, Two helpings each of Gingerbread Trifle . . . Mmmmmm. . .
And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be putting the kettle on and downloading C.J. Sansom’s Dissolution from the library. My queue’s a bit backlogged there, so I’ve some serious catch-up reading to do.
I wish you all a good balance between the festive and the regenerative tranquility. . . Are you finding that right now?
Daughter has gone home and Monsieur's sister, brother-in-law and niece have arrived at La Casa del Océano Azul. We're reading and they're hiking. It's cloudy but warm today. Lazy lunch of cheese quesadillas. Have you watched Roma on Netflix? Does VPL have Hoopla? Richmond Library does and it's an additional resource (although you may not need one.) I quite like this family away from home experience.
What a grand way you've arrived at for celebrating this festive season — sounds perfect to me. Yes, we watched Roma the other evening — it's really good, isn't it, albeit very slow to establish context and forward movement.
Not sure if VPL has Hoopla — I'll have to check — there's definitely an app for borrowing/streaming all kinds of digital media. . .
I love that sketch of Fergus – his cheeks:). And Harriet's note. I love it when children nurture us in their own ways – kind of just by being themselves.
Yes! What a good way to say it!
Happy New Year, Frances. xo
and to you!
Good that your granddaughter is so observant at an early age; tactfulness she can learn in the coming years. 😉
Ha! So true and such a clever outlook!
Those Littles will one day cherish Nana's sketches of them when they were little.
Best wishes for 2019!
I love to think that. . . Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, all the best for 2019!
Suz from Vancouver
Thanks, and the same to you!
Love the sketches of your little ones. Capturing the sweetness. After a busy week, we're cocooning here, too. I'm into Louise Penny's latest and looking forward to enjoying it tomorrow along with copious cups of tea. Happy New Year, Mater.
Reading and tea in that wonderfully fallow time of year between Christmas and the day that everyone heads back to work (which, of course, is a limit I no longer have to observe)
H. and F. are wonderful!
Happy New Year!
Dottoressa
I have to agree 😉
Happy New Year!!
Wonderful drawings! We had a roller coaster – both sons and daughter-in-law with us, but two of us got really sick, son got furloughed by the federal shutdown and the diva in the extended family outperformed herself. A crazy end to a crazy year!
OH Lynn, that sounds really tough! (every extended family seems to have at least one, don't they?! ours on one side has cut us off and we're not so devastated about it 😉
I wish you a much better start to 2019 and continued happiness (and calm?!) throughout the year.
"Regenerative tranquility" is our stage here in Southern California. The four grandkids (8 yr old twin boys, 5 yr old boy, 3 yr old girl) and 1 yr old granddog left on Sunday after a three day/two night stay. I'm still picking up melty beads!
But we are so thankful for time spent with them. Such memories! This was their first stay after a challenging year of health issues for their Papa (my hubby). They fussed over him and he reveled in it! At one restaurant, the couple in the next booth stopped to tell him how well behaved his grandsons were! He floated out of that place.
We have now had two quiet-filled days of rest, laundry, and delicious leftovers from Grandma's special cooking for grandkids. :).
And I finally have a moment to drop in and wish you well in 2019, Frances, as well as Thank You for your continued sharing of your wonderful life, travels and insights.
Here's to you and yours!
That's a houseful, Charlene!! But what a happy one, I can tell. Lovely to hear how much Papa enjoyed their care and attention and all-round good behaviour — so nice when people take time to comment on children's positive comportment.
Happy 2019 to you as well, Charlene, and thank you for being part of the community here. All the best to you and yours!
I so enjoy and appreciate your heart for embracing ALL of us. Thank you!