Thursday, December 19, 2013

{p,h,f,r} Almost Christmas edition

{pretty}
Sunshine has completed the first sweater she has made for herself to wear! It is gorgeous! She worked very hard on it and it took her only about a month to finish it which prompted her older brother, whose birthday is at the end of January, to say, "So, can I expect one for my birthday?" We teased him that the Irina would not be the right style for him. And Pomegranate is definitely not his color! :)

{happy}
The O Antiphons have arrived and we've been enjoying listening to them chanted here. In keeping with the monastery tradition of a little treat for each night at dinner, I have a little something planned to represent each one. The first night, to represent Wisdom, it was supposed to be this version of The Christmas Carol in audiobook form {affiliate link}. But according to UPS, some undocumented catastrophe in IL postponed delivery from last week until yesterday. What's up with that, Illinois?

Last night was O Adonai, Lord and Ruler of the house of Israel who appeared to Moses in the burning bush. We decided to use some pretty beeswax candles I had saved from years past near our O Antiphon tree (just an extra little tabletop tree). Let me just say that THREE candles tied together can produce a lot of heat! They got a little too close and our little tree almost became a burning bush. Whoops!'
By the way, the O Antiphon ornaments seen in these pictures are from Jesse Tree Treasures. (Love their stuff!) Check them out when they open back up again next year!

{funny}
The other day, while I was talking to Sean on the phone, this little stinker stole the phone away from me, pushed the speaker phone button and ran off to her 'magination box. I didn't get to say goodbye to him but I really don't mind that much. I just wish I had a 'magination box to hide away in.

{real}
Shortcake was reading Hanna's Christmas to Cupcake the other night and making her own little voices to go along with the characters. Cupcake was a bit concerned at how grumpy the Tomten was. Her little brow was quite furrowed the whole time she was captivated by the story. If you haven't a copy of your own {affiliate link(HINT… set yourself a calendar note right now to look for them in June, not December!) you can be delighted by this version read by Melissa Wiley who bears a striking resemblance to the author, Melissa Peterson. (Or so I'm told, not that I've ever met either one of them in person! CoughcoughcometoTexasLissa!)
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~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~ with the lovely ladies at Like Mother, Like Daughter

18 comments:

  1. That sweater is just so gorgeous. I am rather jealous. I hate the sweater I made myself.

    I think you might be on to something, Charlotte. I think you might be able to market 'magination boxes for moms. I know I could use one.

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  2. Amazing sweater! Great job!!

    Love Jesse Tree Treasures, too. My good friend, Angie, is co-owner! :-)

    About Hanna's Christmas, so do you think the used ones are just cheaper in June? Or is it being re-released?? I would love that!

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    1. Sarah, I don't think it will ever be rereleased since it was a catalog tie in. I just meant that the prices for used copies seem to be more reasonable when it's not Christmas.

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    2. Oh, that's what I thought! I will have to make a note in my calendar to be on the look-out in June. I would love a copy of this book!

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    3. I purchased this copy back in September of 2009 used via Amazon and paid 17 dollars for it.

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  3. That sweater is beautiful! She did an amazing job. Our Jesse tree has fallen so far behind I'm not even sure if we'll be getting to the O Antiphons this year and our second and third week candles on the Advent wreath are almost as tall as the fourth one. At this point I'll just be happy if we have a decorated tree in time for Christmas Eve and a healed up finger. Maybe I need a 'magination box where I can go and pretend the past week never happened.

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  4. That sweater is beautiful, what an accomplishment! Good idea about making a note to look for that book at some time other than Nov/Dec. I've been able to get some good prices on books for school by looking in April and early May rather than over the summer. All it takes is a little organization... Too bad that can be so hard sometimes!! :-)

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  5. Ooh! Congratulations, Sunshine! Your sweater is beautiful - you should be so proud of yourself!
    Your O antiphon ornaments look lovely. Might have to hire an artist here to make something similar some year. Jonathan is trying to teach us the antiphon chants every evening. At least he sounds nice. :-) Love those two pics of Cupcake - hooray for big sisters!

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  6. Dittoing everyone with the beautiful sweater comments! What wonderful work!

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  7. The sweater is beautiful! She did a wonderful job!

    The author of Hannah's Christmas is Melissa Wiley. Wiley is her pen name. She decided to use her actual last name for Hannah's Christmas. She is a really sweet and beautiful person!

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    1. Oh, I'm sorry Marie, I was being silly. I know who Melissa Wiley is, in fact, her sweet daughter spent the night at our house once when she had some airplane difficulties. And I agree, she's a sweet and beautiful person who I would love to actually meet in person some day.

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    2. Haha, that's ok :) I actually did think originally that you were joking but wasn't 100% sure. Sometimes I'm just too literal ;)

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    3. Sweet and beautiful--that's the two of you! :) I'm fortunate to know Marie IRL, and Charlotte, I agree, one of these days you and I have got to get together in person!

      Can't tell you how much I love that photo of your little one enjoying Hanna. Hard for me to believe she wasn't quite born yet when K. visited--that seems like just yesterday!

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  8. Hurrah! for Sunshine. I didn't learn to knit until I was 30 and 20 years later I still haven't progressed beyond small items. It's wonderful that she had the confidence to tackle such a big project. Maybe she'll spark a revival of knitting among more young women.

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  9. Sunshine's sweater is beautiful. I can't wait to see it in person.

    You're going to love that audiobook. We just downloaded it from Audible, but I do think it'd be nice to have a hard copy of it. Enjoy!

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  10. Her sweater is truly beautiful.
    The 'magination box is priceless! I am looking up the audio book now, thank you for the tip!

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  11. I'm seriously so impressed. What an amazing sweater! Stunning!
    You're such a great mama. I'd love to spend a day in your house just to see what it's like. :-)
    One of these days I'm going to take your cue on O Antiphon treats. I thought I'd get it together this year, but never quite got around to it with all the Jesse Tree work. One thing at a time...one year at a time. You do inspire me!

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  12. Tell Sunshine the sweater is beautiful! I hope my daughters are that crafty when they are older.

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