The first half of December was cold. Bitterly cold. So cold that one morning my husband remarked that – 12 C (10 F) felt downright balmy.
Then one night I lay in bed listening to the wind that sounded like waves crashing on the beach. The Chinook had arrived — which means the temperature rose dramatically (though the wind still felt terribly cold). I took the kids to the park for the first time in weeks and managed to pace around for half an hour before hustling home again. I’m glad we got in several Christmas light critiquing walks in November because I certainly didn’t want to leave the house in December.
And now the temperature has dipped again and we had a nice, steady snowfall just in time for Christmas.
Moving on from the weather report, here are some favourites of December. I hope you’ll share your own in the comments.
Books
Press Here by Herve Tullet (My kids are obsessed with this interactive picture book.)
Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes by Shauna Niequist (I love the honesty of these essays — plus the two recipes I’ve tried so far turned out fantastic.)
I just finished my fifth Anne Tyler novel since August — where has she been all my life? I think I’ll order Breathing Lessons from the library next.
Food
Two of the best new recipes I tried this month came from Bread & Wine (see above), and they each had only four ingredients: bread (flour, yeast, salt, water) and toffee (sugar, butter, chocolate chips, sea salt). Both extremely addictive (for me, at least).
Activities
- Being part of the NaNo Blog and Social Media Hop organized by Raimey Gallant; a few hundred NaNoWriMo participants signed up to follow each other on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. I’m hoping this leads to a bigger audience for my blog and that I find the time to get to know other writers.
- Christmas shopping at Goodwill and Once Upon a Child (What can I say, I think used books and clothes make perfect gifts for my kids.)
- Playing cribbage after the kids have gone to bed (In case you missed it, I wrote my own post on the history of cribbage.)
- Shopping and playing at the Calgary Farmer’s Market
- Starting our baby on solid food; it’s fun to watch her gobble it up
- Finishing one of these 90-day exercise programs
- Making candy cane reindeer using pipe cleaners, googly eyes, and pompoms
- Getting parcels and letters in the mail (This will never get old.)
- Eating supper by candlelight
(On a negative note — just to reassure you that my life has its downs as well as ups — I put my watch through the washing machine and dryer this month; surprisingly it still works, but the leather strap is in a sad state. Also my skin is extremely dry.)
Presents
- A subscription to Writer’s Digest. I hesitated before asking for this because I don’t need it… but considering how much I love getting things in the mail and how I’m trying to spend less time online and how I appreciate motivation to keep writing, I’m glad I put this magazine on my little wish list and thankful that my husband ordered it for me.
- Bubble bath from Bath & Body Works. I’ve been using their “luxury bubble bath” for years and had just run out, so this was another lovely gift. (I don’t know if you can still get “Twilight Woods,” but if you see it give it a try; it’s one of the best things I’ve ever smelled.)
Podcasts
I’ve been listening to podcasts almost constantly this month. Here are my current favourites. (I’m always up for recommendations!)
Bible Verses
There are two passages from Isaiah that I’d like to share. The second one is long, but it’s a beautiful prophecy about Jesus. At this time of year when many people think of His birth, it’s good to reflect on why He came in the flesh and what He accomplished for His people.
“Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” Isaiah 8:12-13
“Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53
I love writer’s digest! I’m from the nano blog hop, as well. Great post 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
I should order more Anne Tyler! I should listen to more podcasts! I should read and cook from Bread & Wine! I should eat supper by candlelight!
The dryness is one of the worst parts of the cold winter in Calgary, in my humble opinion, based on my visits… I’m hoping it gets cold and snows in Virginia, soon.
I am definitely going to (someday) make steak au poivre with cognac pan sauce from Bread & Wine. *drool*