Four - Preparing For A Christmas On The Road

The fourth candle is lit and although the house is decorated from head to toe in Christmas spirit, we will not be here for the holidays. Jay is already far away across the Atlantic (read here) and me and the kids will also be back on the road again for the holidays.

On Christmas Eve morning we will get up at 4am to catch a super early flight to Stockholm, Sweden. We will arrive to the summer house just before Christmas lunch with my family. Everyone will be there, only Jay will be missed and thought of as we open gifts, indulge in a traditional Christmas dinner and sweets until we all can fly high over the roof tops with big fat bellies! But even if Jay won't be with us for the classic Swedish Christmas, we will be reunited soon after.

A few days later we will fly to Miami to meet up with Jay and his brother's family in Coconut Groove. The kids are super excited about this part as it has been so many years since we visited the US. Christmas gifts this year are small and fit into an envelope rather than big wrapped up boxes; a sum of cash to spend on whatever they want in America. All agreed upon many moons ago. You can only imagine their excitement, right?

After a New Years Eve spent in good company there will be The Big Family Reunion. Jay's Grandma Flora turned 100 years old just recently and we have managed to collect a good 30-40 family members to celebrate this special event, people flying in from all over the world. We decided on a Cruise to Bahamas. A great place to gather all the people involved in one same place, entertainment available for all age groups, restaurants, shopping and our own cabins if need be to withdraw from the craziness. We are so excited. And my preparation list to be on the road and pull off all this is long. I better get started...

Note: The handmade Dala horse is a favorite ornament, received from blog friend Clare at Selfsewn. Her great talent is hand piecing patchwork quilts. She is A M A Z I N G.

Kärlek
Annette

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My Christmas Bed

When the bed sheets are changed into Christmassy red ones, preferable with a plaid pattern and purchased at IKEA (Who doesn't love IKEA??? -  put your hand in the air! I see NO hands... Twink...), then you know Christmas is already here. I love how changing bed sheets with seasons can make all the difference in the world...

The mornings have been absolutely glorious lately (between 7am until 7.20am) and one sun rise after another has really blown my mind away. Thursday morning I dropped off Jay at the airport as he is going back to Mustique in the Caribbean, to work during the holidays. Last year we had the great privilege of coming with him and it was one of our most fantastic adventures (see this, this and this blog post...), but this year we have other plans and that includes me being a "Single Mum" for a good 2 weeks (take a deep breath...).

The first thing I do is to invite Emmy Bo to sleep next to me in the big bed. And she jumps on the opportunity. And just to let you know, I did invite Luca Bo and Nelly Bo too, but they have reached an age when they prefer their own nests... I know... Kids grow up. They actually do.

Emmy Bo is a snuggle kind of girl, and often I wake up at night with her little legs wrapped up in mine, or toes touching toes. It is a good feeling. I'm really enjoying her "sleep overs" as I know they will soon come to an end... She is the youngest. I watch her leg sticking out, her hair being tossed over the pillow and how she holds her Ping Ping in a sturdy grip throughout the night. This is special. This is a blessing. Moments like this are to be treasured forever and ever.

Kärlek
Annette

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Crochet Gifts

Lately I've crocheted lots of Pine Tree Wrist Warmers just because it is such a quick and fun project to make. I came up with this pattern last fall already, but I never came around to complete it... But now I got the Pine Tree Wrist Warmer bug! The pairs are piling up and have become my favorite crochet gift of the year. These Pine Tree Wrist Warmers were gifted to my closest Swedish girlfriends here in Switzerland, wrapped up in cute gift bags together with a mini bottle of champagne and a pretty snow globe with a Swedish cottage inside. I have to say it was spot on a gift success!

The pattern is a work in progress and if I'm lucky I might be able to release it before the holidays starts, but I can't promise anything. I would love for you all to try this pattern out to make some "last minute" Christmas gifts. They are whipped up in just a couple of hours. Such a super cool little WiP.

I have great plans for 2017 and my crochet designs. 2016 was a crap year (pardon my language) for pattern writing. Many of my half finished patterns will be completed in 2017 and added to my Etsy store, and many more ideas are brewing in my head. These last couple of months I feel like I have done a big U-turn with My Rose Valley and I'm really getting back into my happy place, just like it used to be. It makes me incredibly happy and I just want to say THANK YOU to you all for your continuous support and encouragement.

Today I have a long list of "Have To's" to accomplish as we only have one more week to go before the holidays start. First up is the recycling station followed by house chores and last minute Christmas shopping, dropping off kids at friend's houses, mail a few last Christmas cards and when all that is done I'm hoping to squeeze in some crochet time or pattern writing time. Another pair of Pine Tree Wrist Warmers is on my hook in bright Christmas red. I know the perfect person to gift them to.

Kärlek
Annette

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