Wait, What? December is here?

Wow, I can't believe it's the Christmas season already. I lost a week or two during my illness, but thankfully, I'm all back to normal again. Lots going on at school and at home, but mostly it's all about getting ready for Christmas and trying to enjoy the process. Steve is super stressed by it all as usual, but I'm enjoying it. (Christmas, that is, not his stress.). We both have such different experiences and expectations about this holiday that it usually creates a certain level of friction between us, but after seven years together, I am getting better about protecting my joy at this time of year and letting go of my need to bring him along. To put it another way, he owns his experience and we don't have to look at the holiday through the same lens. Not that I always remember this, but I think I'm getting better at it. Having Melissa spend the night last week and moving the mouse on our Advent calendar was an occasion for joy!

Thankfully this doesn't mean we don't share some things as a couple. Last night we went to an ugly sweater Christmas party and today the two of us spent a couple of hours walking around Ghent, doing all of our errands on foot, including popping in on Melissa, since she moved to that area this month. The weather was grey and chilly, which was perfect for enjoying my hand knits! Now we are both home, listening to Christmas music and the rain that is pouring down, enjoying the calm.

 

This couple was my favorite,

 

unless you count these two cuties! Gotta love that crooked smile.

 

Meanwhile, I have a hat I need to knit by Monday, Christmas cards to finish for the staff at school, and I need to make at least one batch of my Toffee Pecans, but at least I have mailed the cards I wanted to mail, the tree has been bought, and most of the gift making is done. Plus, I finished and gifted a cute baby sweater for a coworker's first baby, who is due any day now.

 

Used less than one ball of Berroco Comfort and this pattern. Not sure why I don't have a picture of the front of the sweater, but hopefully Meg will give me a picture of the baby wearing it once she's born.

 

Here's the recipe again, in case you need it. Remember, it's highly addictive stuff!

• Toffee Pecans
  
  1 cup (2 sticks) plus 2 T unsalted butter
  1 3/4 cup plus 2 T sugar
  1 T kosher salt
  3 ½ cup raw pecan halves
  
  · Line baking sheet with parchment paper
  · Place butter in a large heavy bottomed skillet over med-low heat until melted. Add sugar and salt and stir briskly until mixture comes together. Add nuts and cook stirring evenly and constantly until sugar caramelizes and coats nuts.
  · Cook until the sugar turns a beautiful oak brown—5 to 7 minutes and quickly/carefully pour hot mass onto the prepared sheet. Quickly separate with tongs or a fork.
  · When cooled, transfer to an airtight container.

Hope your advent season is a wonderful one.

 

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