It is here....

Holidays come , they come quickly.

The rush, the cold, the shiny sparkly things everywhere.

I know I must sound about 5, but I love this time of year.

Now don't get me wrong, Il love it because I do not shop.

I do not go to malls.

I do not go out amongst all the shopping insanity.

I do however make things.

Cozy up by the fire, furries and Daiv around and baskets of wool, sewing, baking...you name it.

We started this tradition about 12 years ago, and it never becomes old. We grew weary of the commercialism and hallmark holiday. We did not have much money....we needed to change things up.....

First year we made Xmas ornaments for everyone and for our tree. We couldn't possibly afford all the things needed to decorate a tree.....so we made them, and shared those things, twig stars, plaster of paris poured into star molds and gold leafed, wax eggs, dipped and rubbed to a sheen.

Our making things have started traditions amongst our family and friends. Christmas morning for many now starts with sour dough muffins and Daiv's famous cashew butter ( and if we don't make it, we hear about it..lol ).

Fresh ground cashew butter is made for all friends and relations, along with caramel corn, and ginger bread cookies.

I have a few friends now who I get together with to bake and share the work through December....it is twice the fun.

These are what the holidays have come to mean to me....time with friends creating, laughing, and working towards sharing with even more friends and family.

It is cosy and loving and full of the sights, smells and sounds of an old fashioned Christmas.

I always wanted to live in the movie " Meet Me in St. Louis" and now I look around and realize we have sort of done exactly that.

We have brought an old fashioned sensibility to the the modern day holiday.

I still speak the words " Merry Christmas" , regardless of the " PCness" of it.

For me it has nothing to do with religion. It has everything to do with the sense of nostalgia those words evoke and the warmth and simplicity of holidays of yore.

So try it..when the holidays get hectic and you get lost in the modern bells and whistles, slow down...take a moment over a hot cocoa and think about the time off we have to connect with those whom we love ( even the dysfunctional parts ), maybe bake them some cookies.

Gotta run, hot chocolate calls me by the fire.