salt dough magic

I have been longing to do crafts with Liam this Advent but my outside workload has made the extras near impossible. On Tuesday morning, however, Liam had his friends Ava and Abby over and I took a break from work to be fun, crafty mom with salt dough. A neighbor had made ornaments like these with her kids and they looked doable. They were actually easy enough for five year olds to help with start to finish. Cheap, easy to clean up, and very gratifying.


To make the salt dough, we stirred together 4 cups of flour and one cup of table salt, then mixed in 1 1/2 cups warm water. Using my hands, I got the dough together into a ball in bowl and then dumped in out onto the counter and kneaded (with the help of my friends) for about 8-10 minutes. Then I rolled the dough out and let the kids each cut out four ornaments. With the dough that was left, they made snowmen, using whole cloves for buttons and eyes. Everything was baked at 325 for about 30 minutes.


Painting was everyone's favorite part. I used a wooden skewer to make holes in to top of each ornament before they went into the oven and then punched the skewer back through as soon as they were baked. None of this is rocket science, but the process and the results made three little artists very proud.

while ringing the Salvation Army bell

It was a cold, cold hour. We netted probably $15. But the memories with Liam made our efforts more than just a nice act of service.

"Try to catch me, lady," he called to me while running in circles around the bucket.

"Let's practice," he said when no one was near, and then repeated in his friendliest, cheesiest tone, "Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas." However, when a friendly soul came and put a buck in the bucket he wouldn't say a word.

My favorite, however, was when we rang and rang our little bells and a stream of people walked in and out of the store without pause. Liam studied them all for a bit then turned to me and said, "Mom, either these people are all out of money or else they think we're just here to play songs."

Not a cynical bone in that little body. What a way to spread good cheer.

news flash

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you this special report:

British guitarist Andrew Bordoni will cut his hair short if 100 people buy his new album by December 20. As wife of said guitarist, I am kind of excited by this possibility. It's time for something new around here. Plus, if it happens, at least 100 people will discover this amazing guitar-oriented instrumental rock album. It is sooo good. Hear a little for yourself. (Tracks 1 through 4 are on the new album):




Then, check out the website to order the album and be part of the transformation! (The ponytail will be donated to Locks of Love and 10% of the album sales will go to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.)

mornings like this

He is up before dawn every day now. With the Christmas lights, the cozy afghan, the quiet stillness of the snowy neighborhood, and this little friend who snuggles his blankie next to me on the couch, I almost enjoy it.

tree tradition

:: searching (for God knows what)


:: wondering (if my dad is as crazy as he looks)


:; waiting (for someone to please get me out of this cold)


:: finding (that being outdoorsy ain't all that difficult)


:: celebrating (every last drop)

...and that was the third hot chocolate of the weekend! A sign that it was a wonderful one, indeed.

good intentions

So much to make. So little time. But it makes me happy just to think about all the lovely, lovable and hilarious (oh yes, one of these will be very funny) results . . . if I can pull it off. If not, there's always next year. (And 11 months to get working - as if that would ever happen!)

Cookies, however, will be made. Lots of cookies. Stay tuned.

family friends

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival. - C.S. Lewis

This was a weekend chockfull of being with people we love - friends, family and most of all family who are friends. First, a two-day Thanksgiving whirlwind with second cousins, third cousins and first cousins once removed, all of whom are some of the most beautiful people I know. All of whom doted lovingly on my boys. All of whom I wished I could have lingered with longer.

Second, a lunch with a cousin who knows me like no other. A lifelong friend with history and connection. A sister in, oh, so many ways.

Third, a dinner party with longtime friends with whom we can always and everywhere be ourselves. No topic is off limits for discussion. No joy goes uncelebrated. No sadness goes unseen.

Finally, a sibling bash with all eight adults and four children in attendance. An incredible culinary potluck, heavy on the pastry-wrapped brie and the brownies. A happiness and togetherness that just is. A preview of a long-awaited Christmas gathering - in which new uncle Tim will finally get to appear in the family photo!

It's true that friends and family who are friends are not needed for survival, but as the weekend showed, life would be just empty and sad without them. It was a true thanks giving.