New Business

My husband and I have often talked about a way to sell the many things that I knit and crochet. Up until now they have for the most part been gifts for friends and donated to various causes. One morning while reading the paper together, we read and article about an online forum designed to sell hand made goods. We checked it out and found that if you want it someone makes one that is way cooler than anything you can pick up at Walmart. So with digital camera in hand we spent this afternoon opening a shop on Etsy. I have uploaded a few of the pieces that I have made and will see what becomes of that.
Now I have to figure out what I want my online shop to look like and to say about me and the things I make. This is the first time that I have made things for any other reason than to give gifts to those I know. I am nervous that they won't sell, and am just as nervous that they will. I imagine this is the same feeling that anyone who is putting a part of themselves out into the public feels. It is possible that the only people that look at my site are friends and family. Maybe that is all I need. What I do know is that I took a big step into an unknown to start 2009. Now I am sure this is going to be a great year.

Finding old friends

Finding a social networking site and setting it up has been a great joy for my husband and me. I feel like a little kid now when I open my computer and see messages from friends that I had lost touch with or who were on the Christmas Card list. Life seemed to happen so fast and before I knew it we had lost touch. Now I can once again let them know what is happening in our life and hear how their lives are going. My resolution this year was to stay in touch with family and friends better. So far only 3 days into the new year, I have found a fun and simple way in which to do this. Once writing letters to friends was an art form and receiving them a great joy. I would like to get back to that and if doing that electronically helps make it happen then I am all for it. You will still find hand written cards and notes from me in your mail box, but now you can get daily updates of the hectic crazy thing that we call family life.

Home made Christmas Finally

Christmas has always been a fabulous family event in our home. This year the snow changed that. We were unable to get together around Christmas because of the weather. Finally today the weather, although wet and rainy cooperated. We drove up to my brother's house, he still has almost a foot of snow on the ground and we did need to stick the SUV into 4 wheel drive to get turned around in the drive way, but we made it. We had a quiet day together just talking, and catching up with everyone. Many of the gifts this year were homemade, they gave the celebration a close feeling. I believe that this is what is meant by losing the meaning of Christmas. We no longer give things that we ourselves have worked over. We give things that the stores have put on the front page of a glossy flier. Not that I don't think that a purchased gift can be personal and special but I think it is time that more weight be given to what went in to the gift rather than what the price tag said. My children now have beautiful hand made wooden art boxes. No price tag can explain what went in to the creation of these boxes and no tag can explain the excitement these boxes filled with colored paper has brought to them. Now they are not only art boxes but desks in pretend school, counters in the store, and much more. The next time you hear yourself saying " I have no idea what to get whoever" ask yourself instead what do I have, or make that I could share with that person. It can be as simple as a copy of your favorite book or something you like to cook. In the same way when you are given a handmade gift. Look closely so you can see the love and spirit that went into the gift. These things are harder to read than a price tag but worth much more when you take the time to read them.

Gifts

Everyone wants to know, "What did you get for Christmas?". I have not only an answer but a story. My husband and I decided that we would do Christmas shopping for each other together this year. Then we could be sure we each got what we really wanted. Our plan had been to take some time right before Christmas to do this. Mother Nature apparently didn't get the memo on our plans because she sent us a horrible ice storm, followed by more snow than the Seattle area has seen at this time of year since the 1950's. Needless to say there were no wrapped gifts for us under the tree. My husband still gave me a wonderful gift. He sat with me and helped me set up a Plaxo page and a blog so that I could more easily stay in touch with family and friends. He was patient as I asked endless questions on how to do this, and what was the proper way to do that, on and on. He didn't mind stopping each time I asked him to take a look at what I had done. So this year when I am asked what did you get for Christmas, I tell them my husband gave me a way to talk to the world.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

I grew up in the Northwest and remember spending many Christmas holidays wishing for snow. Now here I am a resident of Seattle and my childhood wish for a white Christmas and snow has come true and my only thought is "Are We Done Yet?" My children now are the ones who enjoy the wet snow, snowmen, sliding or rolling down hills, snow angels and much more. As an adult I now think about things like how are we going to get milk, or gas, or what do I feed my children if the power goes out. I have taken time to enjoy the snow. Enjoy it simply by watching my children play. I no longer wish to make snow angels but I wish to watch my children make them. My husband and I laugh as for the first time in our lives we get to slide our car like a stunt driver as we try to get out of the driveway. Maybe we just need to redefine what joy at snow means. It has given me time to play many games with my children and have quiet hours with my husband. I think maybe I will start wishing for snow so I can sit by the fire with my family and enjoy them.

Christmas Traditions

As the clock ticks down to Christmas day, I am reflecting on traditions of the past that I have kept and new traditions that I am starting with my children. When I was a child my mother would read us the story "Santa Mouse Where are You", then on Christmas morning we would get up and search the Christmas tree for a small package tied with yellow ribbon. I still do this for my daughters, but we now also ask "Santa Where are you?" and spend time the day before Christmas tracking the progress of Santa on the NORAD website They push back bedtime until they have seen that Santa has successfully made it to the United States and is on his way to their house. Both girls are sure that Santa may not be real but they love the fun of the traditions and so we put out snacks for Santa and Santa Mouse hang our stockings and wait each Christmas eve for morning to come. My favorite tradition is the one that made my parents smile the most, waiting in my bed in the morning and listening as my children "QUIETLY" sneak out to see if Santa made it through the snow of Seattle this year ( usually not a problem). Each of these small traditions bring the memory of my parents back to me and fill me with the joy of a child on Christmas morning all over again.