Gather Around Jesus

Yes, our home-grown Christmas tree is sprouting again, though less than some years. It smells lightly sweet & woodsey in here!

One Sunday I knit this snowman from my home-raised, homespun wool.

Every ornament on our tree has special meaning and memories attached!

Last time my neice visited, all the human figures in the Nativity scene gathered closely around Jesus (while the animals gathered around the campfire).

Let's do the same... all year round!

~ Hannah

December 2024

Remember how I mentioned birthday season began with Mom's a couple months ago? Well, it turned out differently than expected as the flu took over two December birthdays. But first, we gained a new one-year-old!

Hopefully the yak-down sweater I made him will last our big boy a couple of years.

He already loves books... especially if they have real paper pages, which are usually off-limits. But having his very own board books is great too!

Dad still looked and felt pretty awful from the accident, and we were all traumatized to be among any traffic as I drove the hour from home, but we were so grateful to still be all together to celebrate!

A week or two later, Dad was up to getting back to camera club, but still not able to move his body freely enough to drive, so I drove him in. Praise God, He had restored the joy of driving to me again by this time!

On the way, we stopped by to get our last belongings out of the wrecked van, and it looked even worse out of the snowy ditch. What a miracle to see Dad standing by this! The miracle of one or two seconds delay in his turn kept this hit from being full on his door.

With Dad's ongoing pain levels, this was my first year to cut down the Christmas tree on our property. 

Elsa helped me each step of the way!

While later than usual, we got it up just in time for Elsa's birthday!

The new fireplace looks great, but still requires open windows and an exhaust fan as we continue to burn off the new smell on warmer days.

I have even gotten out to knit in the warm corner of the deck a couple of sunny afternoons!

Due to that flu I mentioned earlier, our two birthday girls got to celebrate along with Jesus' birthday party this year!

Three year old hands needed new, wool mittens!

"Grandpa, you look better!" Yes, he does! Still dealing with pain and lack of stamina, but even his numb teeth are starting to feel better, thank God!

The day after Christmas was perfect for exploring on the kids' new snowshoes.

And the snow was perfect for building a snowman!

Then we warmed up by the basement wood stove with a sweet and spicy project: orange pomanders.

And there was even time to try out our old, candle-powered steam boats in the bathtub. What a hit!

Now the days are getting longer, and we look forward to a new year, knowing that our Good Shepherd will continue to lead us in His love and grace.

Happy New Year!
~ Hannah

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Question: Can you name the source of this quote? 

“Tidings of Comfort and Joy”

Hint: It's a Christmas carol.

That was the inspiration for my latest phone wallpaper design above. (Feel free to tap it and download for personal use.) I don’t know about you, but if I keep the same picture on the background of my phone for too long, I soon don’t notice it anymore. And since that is something I see throughout the day, it’s a great place to put what I want to be reminded of.

Have you figured out the name of the Christmas carol yet?! Answer: “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”

I have heard the old English of that title explained as follows:

Rest = Keep

Merry = Mighty

And don’t forget to put the comma in the correct place! This is not talking about rollicking men in top-hats, despite all the illustrations and musical arrangements to the contrary. 

Thus all mankind is being told, “God keep you mighty! Let nothing you dismay!” 

And why? What could give that sense of wellbeing? Read on!

God rest ye merry, gentlemen,

Let nothing you dismay;

Remember Christ our Savior

Was born on Christmas Day

To save us all from Satan's pow'r

When we were gone astray;

Oh tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

Oh tidings of comfort and joy!

Find the rest of the carol's verses for more of the story of the one true Source of comfort and joy. And...

Have a Mighty Christmas! 

~ Hannah

(Photos taken today, on a frosty Christmas Eve)

January Highlights 2024

• January 2024 •

We had a little bit of snow in a winter of drought and unseasonable warmth.

Elsa and I got away from inflammatory basement reconstruction dust for a few days of Sister and Auntie time.

We spent several evenings on the annual Train-Dominoes Tournament. 

Sunny afternoons warmed up the rebuilt and insulated porch for even some wintertime use.

Our homegrown tree set a new family record for staying up until February 10th. It began growing indoors and was such a warm, bright spot that we just kept enjoying it week after week!

Long, dark evenings helped us slow down with handwork and family audiobooks.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Friends!

I haven't been online much this month, which feels great! But there has been no lack of activity...

For one thing, we welcomed an overdue November baby at the beginning of December!

All the waiting was worth it for a precious new nephew!



Big brother is enthralled and was already reading (reciting a favorite book) to him on Day 2, after suggesting that I start reading to the baby. Such a responsive listener! 





A devoted big sister tries to help as much as she can with care for "My baby..."



In spare moments, I developed a new product line for The Nautical Nordic: Scandinavian Mitten tree ornaments!





Meanwhile, much of November and December was filled with the sounds of tools for demolition and carpentry. The husband and wife team are more than meticulous finish carpenters, but have also become friends!



Gone are the old construction stairs that were under the carpet we ripped out two years ago...



What a beautiful change to the new maple stairs with the old bannister skillfully reinstalled. Without all the creaks and cracks, we can't hear when the stairs are used anymore!

The basement trim is also done, and new basement stairs will be the project to start the new year! 



With all the action indoors, we didn't start decorating for Christmas until the middle of the month, but we were thrilled to get back to cutting our own real tree after several years of using a vintage artificial tree due to allergies.



Decorations were ready just in time for our original December birthday! (Don’t try to figure out Elsa's complex math involving the candles we had on hand... but with some division, multiplication, and addition, they stood for her age, which isn't far behind my four decades.)





Three days later it was time to celebrate a 2 year old!





[Can't get enough of this baby face!]



The 2 year old got new booties knit by Elsa for growing feet, and the doll, Daisy, has a new dress sewn by grandma and a poncho crocheted by me.



And of course a bunch of new books! Her reading aloud is mainly a combination of sounds from her favorite words: baby & kitty.



Our whole family Christmas celebration is still ahead, but our newborn has been a special illustration of the birth we are celebrating this season.



What wonder that the Creator of everything was willing to become a helpless baby, clinging to the fingers of a man and woman whom He had created!



...All to save His rebellious creatures from our own sins. 

All because of His perfect love!



"He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall:
With the poor, and mean, and lowly
Lived on earth, our Savior holy."

• Cecil F. Alexander, 1848



[Nativity ornament made by Dad of the telephone wire which was his livelihood]