technical difficulties...

Well harrumph...
I've been blogging from my phone for the last month, which has been great (I love it actually), but has presented a few problems—namely that the program seems to crash with some regularity.  Today I tried a new program and finally got a post published, but now the post that I wrote on the Dec. 28th seems to have gone AWOL.  It wasn't anything earth-shattering (if you've been here for a while you know that there is rarely anything of that ilk here), just me yammering on about my excitement at the arrival of snow and preparations for shipping my girl off to Mali, but it is gone nonetheless and Mousy Brown's sweet comment is now on today's post.  It has me wondering...where does it go?  Is it like smoke that just dissipates in the atmosphere?
Anyway, I will be continuing to experiment with this sort of posting (from my portable devices, I mean).  So please bear with me if there is any weirdness along the way.
~xox~
alison {a luddite for sure}

ps— Okay, as I finished typing this post, my crack computer team managed to recover said missing post.  The date is off but it is back in place and Mousy's comment is back in its spot.  I guess this would qualify as the kind of weirdness I was talking about : ) Thank you my patient friends~xox

Taking flight

Well she's off. My girl is on her way to study abroad in Africa. She's not there yet, of course. The travel time for this trip is an exhausting 30+ hours.  But she's on the final leg~and I know this because I have been obsessively checking her flight status~don't judge ;)

All of the hubbub of the holidays and the preparations for this trip have left me feeling simultaneously full and drained~ full of gratitude that I have such good things and wonderful people in my life, that I get to watch these amazing young people grow and challenge themselves and greet the world with open arms, and exhausted by the sheer busy-ness of these days and the flood of emotions that have accompanied them. I think some baking, knitting, and movie watch is the order of the day. 

And remarkably, as if right on cue...This just arrived on my doorstep all the way from Uruguay.

It's the last bit yarn that I've been waiting on for a project to be published this coming year. What perfect timing! 

The world is feeling rather small to me right now~ well small and huge, if that makes any sense. Have a great day in your corner of it.  From our cozy home to yours...

~xox~

alison

savoring and a little snow...

Snow. Finally.

This is what greeted us as we opened the front door this morning.

We woke to lovely big fat snow flakes this morning. And they're still falling fast. I couldn't be happier.

Love, love, love snow.

It is shaping up to be my favorite kind of day, perfect accomplishing all of the things on my to- do list.
My list is full to bursting today. My sweet girl leaves for a term abroad in Africa on Thursday (yes, this Thursday!!....breathe, breathe, breathe), and between now and the time of her departure I have just a few errands and lots of cozying to do. So things may quiet here for a bit. I don't have to tell you that, like the weather outside today, my emotions are all a flurry right about now.  So, so much to feel and me with no elegant or pithy way to put it into words.  Suffice it to say that I am focusing my full attention on preparations and savoring.  I'm just trying to stay in the moment and I'm enjoying all of my dear ones within an arm's reach—savoring and relishing actually.
Wherever today takes you I'm wishing you the loveliest of days, full of warmth, joy, peace and contentment.
~xox~
alison


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

He's here!...

Advent Day 24!...





Here he is just getting ready for take-off...





Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
~xox~
alison
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Joy riding...

Advent Day 23...almost in the Nick of time. Santa's sleigh...


Sorry for the tardiness of this post but the lad was out for most of the day and then we were all out with friends until almost midnight :0 So even though this was made in time and delivered before the day was done, I didn't get the post done till now ; (
But that didn't stop an inquisitive gnome from checking out the sleigh right away. Shhhh...don't tell Santa...


Happy Christmas Eve all! See you later today!...
~xox~
alison
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

And then they were three...

Advent Day 23! Another special request for today's post....which just goes to show, if you give a boy an Advent wolf he's going to want a mom and pup to go with it...








A very small pack!
More eensy weensy Advent knits tomorrow!...only two more days left~how can that be? Until then be well...
~xox~
alison
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wolfgang..

Advent Day 21! Wolfgang...





Sorry this post is a little later than usual today. It was a day full of shopping, holiday errands and fun.
Wolfgang is with us because of a special request from the lad. Aren't they cute together?


~xox~
alison
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Pals...

Advent Day 20!








Oh my dears, you have no idea the grumbling that a lonely gnome is capable of. All I've heard for the past couple of days is how everyone else has a friend at the party and how horribly unfair it is. And then it occurred to me that he's right. Cue operation Pal...


Gnomio is much happier now.
As you can see everyone is all smiles now!


Hoping today finds you surrounded by smiles : )
~xox~
alison
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A helping hoof...

Advent Day 19!...

Truth be told, I've been fretting about how Rudolph was going to manage pulling the sleigh all on his own when the big night rolls around.  So you can imagine my relief when Prancer decided to fly in this morning...

They've been conferring like this all morning.  Needless to say, I am feeling loads better.

Happy Monday friends!
~xox~
alison

ps—This little guy is right out of Anna's book, Teeny Tiny Mochimochi.  If you haven't checked it out, you should!  It's the best, and has been the inspiration for all of the little advent pals I've made so far.

Jack Frost...

Advent Day 18! Jack Frost brought us a little dusting of frost this morning...














Have a great day and stay warm!
~xox~
alison
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Otter•ish

Advent Day 17!  Just a quick little post on these otters buds today...

Sadly, they are looking a little blobby but they don't seem too bothered by it (except they are kind of making funny faces). Still, here they are swimming around, holding hands and being ottery. Having fun, being cuddly, and that joie de vivre~how I do love otters!
Must run for now. I'm off for a full day at the shop. I'm predicting a busy day of last minute gift-knit shoppers and high sales of chunky yarn. Should be festive and fun!
Happy Saturday to you!
~xox~
alison
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Cubbies...

Advent Day 16! Polar bear cubs are here!...

















Happy weekending!
~xox~
alison
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Candy cane...

Advent Day15 brought to you by Epic the narwhal...





This guy is dedicated to my middle man, a boy with a love for all things narwhalian. And why "Epic"?...Well aside from my boy's appreciation for epicness in all forms, I'm fairly certain that that horn/tusk thingy is made of the same stuff as candy canes...mmmm...totally epic...








Oh dear~I think our little puddle of ocean is looking rather crowded. I may have to do a bit more landscape knitting soon. For now though, it's back to Santa's workshop for me. Lots of making still to go ; )
Hope your Thursday is full of goodness!
Until tomorrow...
~xox~
alison
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wednesday wanderings...

Advent Day 14! Say hello to Magellan~a very sweet if somewhat directionally challenged penguin...














As you can see he is settling in quite well, and we're ever so glad that his poor navigational skills brought him to our little party. We're getting quite a group...


I wonder who tomorrow will bring. In the meantime, I hope you have a very happy today. See you soon!
~xox~
alison
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone