our christmas

I don't think I have ever been posting so little throughout a month as this December. It passed so fast, and we have been so busy and quite exhausted too. We did manage to make our Christmas as usual, and it turned out just as cosy, fine and warm as it should be. Frida Viola was excited all of the month, and Molly has taken in all the new great stuff with big enthusiasm. She has just the right age (she is 2 by the end of March), and she has been breaking my heart more than once with her cute, openminded and immediate way to experience and comment on everything.

1. Quilted angel vest my mom made to me when I was little. I remember how much I loved it.
2. Molly in a quiet moment.
3. Gingerbread Lucias for my girls.
4. New beautiful dress from Anïve for the minors.
5. Tivoli at night.
6. December 24.

*Merry Christmas to all of you*

Lucia Day

I can't believe another December week just passed. It seems as if there is some extra event on the schedule every day. Friday was Lucia Day and both girls participated in the procession in their kindergarten. It looks so very adorable, and each year I try to catch the moment with my camera but totally without success. So this year's photos are post-procession, depicting two very tired (and proud) lucia girls wearing my grandmom's old lace dresses.

*december*

it's snowing outside, A is out with some friend, the house is very quiet, the girls are lying close to eachother in my bed, and I am thinking of what to bake and do during december. The month has just started but it passes so fast, and we have so much we want to do. The christmas stockings are up, there's a little gift each morning. Last weekend Frida Viola and I baked some gingerbread from my mom's old recipe, and today we opened the boxes with christmas ornaments.

What are you baking in december?

Hanna Konola's joulukalenteri

Hanna Konola's Christmas calendar - a pleasure in December as always.

lavu & hay

time flies away at the moment. Molly just spent another week with illness but this weekend she was up and well again, and yesterday we all went to Aarstiderne's Christmas market. It was a clear, cold and beautiful day and we had a good time climbing in the straw bales and warming us with hot drinks in the big lavu tent.
I love days like this - we were all tired when we went home, but at the same time a full day outside with as much light as possible generates some good energy in these dark times.

the harvest market - not so many months ago when it was still warm and late summer.

my home today

1. old enamel plates from the flea market in Lisbon
2. folklore dress from my childhood - maybe it will fit Molly for this Christmas...?
3. bedroom corner
4. baking
5. Frida Viola's Christmas trees from last weekend

most cosy day of the year

With my mom and my sister's family we have a pre-christmas tradition. Each year in late November we meet from one day to another and all we do is cutting, gluing, painting, talking and eating A's freshly baked waffles. I love this weekend - and so do the kids. This year I was impressed on how focused they were. We sat around that same table for hours and they were all engaged and happy with it.

1. waffles are good
2. my sister with her blonde girls
3. old & young - my mom's patience with the kids is admirable
4. paper ice crystals

birthday painting

A while ago Frida Viola made a huge painting for my mom's birthday. It depicts my mom with Frida Viola and Molly in my mom's garden. A favourite place of the girls. She made it all by her self and was very concentrated about the project but when she had to finish the blue of the sky she ran out of energy. I like it this way with the brown paper as background.

Lisbon #4

There are so many beautiful old shops, pâtisseries and facades in Lisbon. Just look at photo 4 & 5 where we had coffee and cake. Photo 7 is the reflections of the morning sun at the facade across the street from our balcony. And photo 8 was a treasure trove.

Happy weekend to all of you.

Lisbon #3

1. decorated kindergarten window
2. graphic azulejos
3. so many beautiful bookshops all over Lisbon - such a shame I don't read Portugese
4. more azulejos
5. tiny library! couldn't love this library pavilion in Jardim da Estrela more!
6.+7. we stayed in a beautiful old apartment - this is the staircase

Lisbon #2

1. tiny pink decoration
2. from a beautiful monastery garden
3. azulejos facade
4. from Castelo de São Jorge
5. towels from another decade
6. resting in a park
7. irresistible packaging from Claus Porto