Catch-Up

I’ve been gone so long from blogging. I have that feeling that you get when you’ve not seen or talked to a friend in a really extended amount of time. And there’s a hesitation about reaching out. But then I think about my really good friends . . . they’re the ones I can reconnect with, we pick up instantly where we left off, and there’s no guilt, shame or blame. And so, with that as my guide, here I am. I may have lost some of you, tired of coming back and seeing over and over again the December 21 post. But for those of you who haven’t given up and are happy to reconnect, here’s to you, really good friend.

Here are some straggling images from the Christmas break. (Most, if not all of these, were originally posted to Instagram.)

Over the holiday break, I catalogued my collection of decorating books.

Sometimes when I'm at a bookstore or the library, I forget what I have.

So images like these on my phone (and this isn't even all

my decorating book!) serve as a great point of reference.

I wish I'd been more creative this year for Christmas gifts for the neighbors.

But my good-ol'-standby poppy seed cake is just so doggone easy and super good. 

One of those cakes you can eat  for dessert AND breakfast.

Harleigh graduated magna cum laude from Georgia Southern University on December 12.

So proud of her!

(It looks like I cut out an image of just her head and put it on another picture of just a body.

What what???)

Ever since we've lived in our humble little Chateau Gahan (since 1999), 

I've dreamed of putting up Christmas lights, especially icicle lights. 

But without a man around the house, the effort

has always seemed too daunting.

Well, 2014 was the year of the lights.

I drove home from work one evening, and this greeted me.

I came to a halt in the driveway, literally gasped out loud, 

and took it all in, with tears streaming down my face. 

A gift from my dear daughter, no doubt.

She had gone to Ace Hardware with measurements in hand, 

and turned to the red vests to help her figure

out how many strings to get, how to hang them from the gutters,

and how to handle hooking them up to an electricity source.

She got up on a ladder and got them all strung.

She then had the idea to hang lights along the top of the 4 windows you see above the roof level.

She got on the roof (if she weren't 22, I'd have spanked her hearing this!), 

got scared, and luckily had her phone on her, so she called Mr. Clif next door and he came over 

and helped her down. Then he loaned a better electrical cord and a timer!

THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT EVER.

Most nights when I was home, I'd stand at the open front door and wait for 6:00 to hit

so that I could see them light up. It never got old.

While down in Statesboro for graduation, we ate at a Cracker Barrel.

All their Christmas stuff was on sale. 

I scored this light-up plastic, life-size baby deer.

And this large ceramic tree with lights.

Money well spent.

Our boy.

Christmas morning at Chateau Gahan.

It really wasn't cold enough to warrant a fire, but

for pete's sake, it's Christmas!

This was our second year in a row getting matching pajamas.

Harleigh told me last year that she always thought that was a cute tradition,

and she'd wish we'd done it when she was a little girl.

It's never too late to start traditions.

(And one more nod to a parent's "wish I would have's.")

This year Harleigh wanted scottie dogs.

The search proved successful at Kohl's.

For gift wrapping, I usually use a variety of papers, ribbons and baubles.

But this year I found this beautiful kraft paper with pine cones and greenery, and I 

decided to dress all my gifts alike.

I ripped red and white seersucker for ribbon, and used vintage

postcards for the gift tags.

I'm in the process of redoing all six Sunday School classrooms at church.

Over the holiday break, I managed to complete one.

They're all underwater/ocean themes.

This one is a "find the hidden" object picture.

Since it didn't take up the entire wall, I painted the empty sides a glossy deep blue,

and then added little water bubbles.

One down, five to go!

Chateau Gahan at Christmas

The advent calendar on our fridge. I open up a door each morning while drinking my coffee.

This year's calendar has glitter on it. 

I just may keep it and pack it away to look at next year. Much too pretty to throw away.

Christmas books collected since Harleigh was little (and a box of vintage Christmas cards).

On the coffee table to enjoy.

With a tree in the living room, and one in the ken,

I alternate my breakfast each morning between the two room.

The old pail is a $1 garage sale find.

Stuffed with greens and fake candy canes.

(Gideon watches from the window.)

Thanks to Pinterest, we've all tied a tree to the top of a toy car.

This car, in Harleigh's bathroom (and, off-season, atop a pile of clean washcloths)

usually has a surfboard on the roof.

I have a church, a sweet shop and a tavern that are all lit and have little 3-D scenes inside.

They grace my mantle.

This S.D. Kluger toy/decor plays the actual Fred Astaire version of

"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."

[NOTE: S.D. stands for Special Delivery.]

And our Santa from The Forum.

Is he not the best?

And on a side note, here is the kindergarten cabinet that I saved from the dumpster 

and is now for sale in my booth.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Stay tuned for more pix to come of our holiday decor!

Christmas Wrap-Up

Harleigh and I agreed that this was one of the best visits home that's she's ever had. 

Don't know exactly why. 

We certainly grow closer each year.

We've had 21 years to get to know each other. 

With earned respect, a healthy dose of humor, 

and flexibility and patience in excess, 

our relationship feels comfortable. 

We're transparent to a fault, 

each of us unafraid to expose our vulnerable underbelly and sometimes-ugly insides. 

This time home, there was a good flow to the dynamic of two women living under one roof. 

We spent time together just the two of us, time with family,

time apart (she with her friends and I with mine), 

and savored that safe and warm feeling of being at home together, 

she in one room and I in another, 

Christmas music on, 

good smells wafting from the kitchen, 

the tree and candles lit,

 Gideon asleep on the sofa . . . 

I smiled to myself a lot this holiday, a content girl, indeed.

The New Year came upon us quietly. 

Harleigh had to be back at school on New Year's Day to work, 

and decided to go to a friend's NYE party at Lake Sinclair. 

She left at around 5:00, 

the car packed to the gills with Christmas gifts and loads of freshly washed clothes. 

The two of us cried like fools, hugging to not let go, 

and when she drove away, my heart broke a bit. 

I was in bed by 11:00 (barely waking at midnight to the orchestra of fireworks in the neighborhood), and spent the next day putting all the Christmas decorations away

and cooking like a mad woman.

2013 was a pivotal year for the two of us girls.

I was never more grateful for Harleigh. So proud of all that she's become.

I've tapped into a creative side of myself that makes me happier than I've ever been.

There have been tough decisions made this year, and sadnesses and struggles that 

have crippled our family, but not defeated us.

I can't say that I have 2014 mapped out, with goals etched in stone

(and believe me, the blog world — bless its heart, and at no fault of its own — 

both inspires my dreams and 

belabors me with regret for all that I've not done and what I've fallen short of).

But I do know that faith and trust guide my every day.

It's a little thing.

And for that, I am thankful.

Christmas morning. Not sure if she's loving on the Justin Bieber wrapping paper

or the Vans inside (that she picked out online and I wouldn't let her open until Christmas morning).

And she's wearing her Northface down vest, an early Christmas present.

Giddy sits like a good boy waiting for his giant Christmas rawhide.

For the first year ever, Harleigh and I got matching pajamas.

It's something she wanted, and so we took an afternoon to make an Old Navy

run and pick up cheap bottoms and tops.

I wore mine sans down vest.

I adore the top of this boy's head.

I made a few of my matchboxes, coupled with a candle, for Christmas gifts.

Chateau Gahan now has a Keurig!!! Which means I had to make something to hold the pods.

I wrapped a large pickle jar in flocked paper, painted the lid, 

and attached a vintage ceramic kitty in a cup.

Harleigh just shook her head.