The Random Bits and Pieces

As I'm looking over my photos, many of those that are catching my eye are not the elaborate planned activities, but rather the in-between things--for example, the way the chicks' table has looked ever since I moved it to a new spot to make space for the Christmas tree. The new location has inspired almost non-stop self-motivated projects: Ninna pouring clove oil into a mug of baking soda to make a Christmas-y carpet freshener:
Our advent calendar. Last year I bought a set of 24 blank white boxes on clearance from Michael's (they're Martha Stewart wedding favor boxes) and, using glitter glue, labeled each with a number. I only intended to use them for one year because I was going to sew a big fancy one this year...which didn't happen. I saved them just in case I might need them. Good call, me. I only wish they didn't look like I wrote the numbers with my eyes closed:Earlier this year, I found a vintage Christmas papercraft/card book at the thrift store. The biggest project was this mobile. After Ninna painstakingly glue-sticked every square millimeter of the pieces, I hung them with thread. Now I'm inspired to make more mobiles: There's a new way to pass the time around here--laying under the tree. Bonus points if you can hit an ornament with your foot: Painted glass ornaments drying upside down (to allow excess paint to drip out)


I really do love this time of year.