The Cottage on the Hill

Hubby bought me a DVD collection of Cary Grant films for Christmas.  The best part was the set contained one of my favorites, The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer , and it had other Cary Grant movies I've never seen.  One of them was Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House . I was busy attempting post-Christmas clean up around the house when hubby popped the movie in after a long morning of snow removal.  He started laughing soon after the movie started and asked me to come in and watch it with him.  Soon enough I was laughing right along with him. "Honey, it's like watching us," I exclaimed! The beginning of the movie shows Mr. and Mrs. Blandings in their cramped NYC apartment and how they go about their morning routine from sharing oddly organized drawer and closet space to a complete lack of privacy in the bathroom to shimmying around people and furniture just trying to move about.  We recognized the same thing with us and our little cottage and laughed rig...

In anticipation of the Christmas Haul that the kiddos are going to receive, I've started organizing early.  I purchased a bunch of plastic totes and labeled them to store the toys  I know they are going to get.  Hubby and I went easy this year and didn't get them very many gifts, but who knows what they may receive from relatives.  Last year, we could barely fit their haul from the inlaws in the back of hubby's truck! Thankfully, I unloaded a LOT of stuff this past year.

With the usual theme of the season coupled with the horrible tragedy in Newton, CT, I can't help but think about a haven of peace being so desperately needed for people.  The famous song, "Let There Be Peace on Earth, and Let it Begin with Me" by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson runs through my head.  Let it begin with me. Let it begin in the home. I am brain storming how I can make my home a haven the best I can.  What ways can I create a peaceful environment, a safe environment?  How can I give my children freedom from unneeded stress and fears? How have you created a haven for your family in your home?

For weeks I was planning to do a big ol' birthday celebration for myself.  The day came and I changed my mind.  Into my yoga pants I went after a long soak in the tub.  I then took advantage of a napping baby to tackle my basement.  Happily I went throwing away years of accumulated junk, reorganizing and sweeping.  It actually felt good to haul so much out of there! In the middle of my basement project, a friend and her sons stopped by to sing me "Happy Birthday" and present me with a gift.  What a blessed treat!  My oldest presented me with a lovely homemade necklace that I've been proudly wearing all day.  The baby loves it, too.  Something to play with while breast feeding! After a popcorn, fruit, cheese, and trail mix luncheon while watching "Beauty and the Beast," my toddler and baby went down for their naps and I returned to my basement clean out.  Did I mention how good it feels to get rid of so much accumulated junk!? Toni...

Christmas is in full swing at Taigh Beag.  The children indulge in those old holiday tv specials nearly daily.  Rudolph and The Heat Miser and Frosty tickle their fancy.  It is a nice diversion from many weeks of strange illnesses and mysteries. It started with my daughter having digestive upsets and quitting using the potty.  She is now on a strict dairy-free diet until just after Christmas to see if she improves.  If she does not improve, she may be tested for Celiac since it runs in the family.  I am so proud of her.  She's only had two small meltdowns about not being able to have dairy.  Otherwise, she takes the initiative to ask if it contains dairy and readily accepts the dietary changes. Then, the baby developed croup and pneumonia at the same time!  He remained happy-go-lucky, sleeping well, eating well, never a fever.  He had a little cold with a chesty cough, but nothing alarming at all.  I've been through colds with...