Nearing Solstice

Ice Queen Magic Spell Earrings with Fabricated Fallen Oak Leaf, Moonstone Tear and Copper Branch

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Solstice draws near...

 I am growing still as the days are shorter.

I am working with all my might

and loving my daily time with Orion.

We've had this weird respite from the more challenging toddler moments...this calm sweetness has descended upon his most squinty devil-in-the-eye moment and I am so happy to watch him think through things.

The efforts of my hands have never felt more special to me than they are now,

more like they've been placed divinely in my head

and crafted with grace.

This is the first year I've embraced winter in earnest,

both in work and in day-to-day choices:

tea

snuggles in blankets reading book after book to my son

whose favorite word is 'again!' once 'the end' has been declared.

My parents came this last week and it was really special to have them here

during a time of so much wonder and some serious heartache:

nothing soothes your soul like a Mommy.

Schmilly and I went to his holiday Christmas party at a fantastic restaurant in San Francisco

and I was struck again and again by how wonderful he is

and touched to hear his coworkers tell me how proud he is of me,

how much he loves Orion.

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Simple Bare Branch Sculptural Copper Earrings with Sterling Ear Wires

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I have a few lovely things for the Metal Shop

that I will be tending to later tonight,

tucking them in to see where they'll fly

and friends, I am SO utterly pleased to tell you I am mere days away from finishing this mushroom clutch...I feel like I've been painting and tooling it for months

and it's everything I hoped.

How are your holidays preparations going?

Long over?

Just beginning?

We're going to have the quietest little Christmas this year and celebrate after the fact

with Oma and Opa.

Squeeze yourself for me, won't you?

xoxoxox,

A