hump day nuggets: bits of the season in photos and words

I’m currently listening to my new favorite spotify station: Folksy Christmas. Andy does not enjoy the holiday tunes so when he is at work and I am at home, I don my plaid twirly skirt and toss tinsel while shaking martinis and rocking my hips to Dolly Parton’s We Three Kings. At least that’s what I’m doing in my brain. In my actuality: I sit next to Ruby’s masking tape craft explosion and a basket of laundry, wearing this morning’s need-to-be-washed exercise clothes.

In the days since the election, I’ve been trying to find my footing. There is a lot of information to take in and I’m regularly skeptical and disheartened when I dig into what’s happening out there. It’s a good thing to be skeptical of the droves of articles marching across my feeds but sometimes I feel like I’ve pulled back too much. There is a lot I’m sad about in the world. And there is a lot to celebrate. Am I being the change I want to see or am I turning my back on bigger things I could do? Maybe a little of both. Sometimes self-preservation holds hands with activism and it looks like stillness, observing and participating in the day-to-day at an elevated level of compassion, curiosity, appreciation and love.

nuggets.

:: Ruby turned seven! Seven years ago right at this minute, she was tethered to machines that kept her alive. Back then, I thought that this day was the worst day but it got so much worse – to the point I really believed she’d die and I started to let go of her. But then she lived and now she is seven.

Year three of the Alice Cake.

:: Thanksgiving also happened at our home the next day. It was sweet and small. My favorite table touch was the girls’ place cards.

:: Andy and I have had Sam for 17 years. Our old buddy has been keeping us up at night quite a bit but recently discovered is he sleeps in the nest between Andy’s ankles, all is well. My Bubbas.

:: We are the most prepared we’ve ever been for the holiday rush in shop sales (www.digandco.com) and I’m still stunned by our lack of scurry in the studio. Which is mostly because of the dig team that pours their hearts into craft and keep all the things together. Thank you thank you for supporting our small business, our family and the families of my coworkers! We love making things for you and yours. We will be at the Missoula MADE Fair this Sunday, December 11 (with 189 other makers!). And, our Big Love Hoodie fundraiser continues through December 20. We’ve raised over $500 so far. ♥

:: Margot: Mama, what do you want for Christmas?
Me: Anything from your heart. You know what I like. What do I like?
Margot: Me. Things I make. And Pearl Jam.

:: Lots of french braid practicing around here these days.

:: Ruby: Dad, how many artists are there in the world? Ask Siri.
Andy: She doesn’t know.
Ruby: What do you estimate?
Andy: 100 million
Me: Wait, isn’t everyone an artist?
Ruby: No I mean people like DAD.

(insert picture of Andy with one of his three recent paintings (that are for sale!) that will be on display at the Turman Larison Gallery December 9-26 in Helena, MT)

:: Our new holiday book this year is Christmas in Noisy Village.

:: Ruby just wants to play in the snow all day so much so that she wants to keep her gear on so as to not “waste any time getting out the door to that snow!” A few nights ago, she was feeling hot (shocking, yes) so she chose to eat dinner next to us on the (cool) floor with the vacuum.

:: I love walks with my kin. There’s lots to love. I’ll be back here in a few days with a cookie recipe I’m excited to share. Who doesn’t love cookies? xoxo