Paper Pie

Pretty Paper

My friend Kalli makes a sampler of rare and obscure seasonal tunes each year for all of her friends and loved ones. We put them on in the car when we are running here and there in preparation for all of the lovely days ahead. At some point this season, Rylie has become completely enamored with the song Pretty Paper as sung by Roy Orbison. She asks for it on demand and wants it repeated throughout the duration of our car ride. And I don't object because her other favorite, as she so affectionately calls: Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells! Jingle All The Way! tends to jangle my nerves a bit, especially when I am operating at a pace somewhere between breakneck and harried. With both sides of our family in different states, we have to get most of our gifts in the mail at least the week before Christmas each year. And each year I swear up and down that it will be different. But, really and truly, I am putting it down in typing that next year, oh yes, next year, I am going to make it a priority to have my packages mailed by December 1. Wouldn't that be dreamy? Everything becomes lighter once they are on their way.

I actually did get an early start this year, and the majority of the gifts we are giving are handmade (by me, or other artisans.) It's just the wrapping up, packing in and shipping off part that seems to be put aside until the very last second. I have grand ambitions of making the most beautiful packages imaginable and I get a little overwhelmed with all of the wonderful ideas out there on the internets - it tends to paralyze me a bit. I simplified things by making a few fabric gift bags. I would love to make a bunch of these in different sizes for all season gift giving. I also used the same basic method on all of the gifts that needed to be wrapped: dotty paper, speckled twine, and a handmade gift tag. And I even got Rylie in on the action by asking her to make the paper for her gifts.

As I dropped the last of my packages and cards at the crowded, slightly hostile PO last night, I couldn't help but dance a little step. I had to fight the urge to tell the nearest stranger standing in the 25 person line that I would not be returning to the PO this year. I had to exercise restraint to not exclaim with glee that I was done, that it was over, that my hands had been washed from boxes and tape, no more would I need to think about bubble wrap and postage. No more would I need to strap the toddler to my chest in her baby carrier because her stroller was piled high with parcels. No, I am done, done, done. Now it is time to get power knitting if I am to finish that dress . . . 

Connecting With Music

This is my favorite time of year without question. It is busy, yes. Hectic, for sure. But when I slow down long enough, I realize that the days are getting colder and darker, that even around here leaves change color and lilt to the ground, and soon all of our preparations will reap warm and joyous moments. Though, all of those things fill my heart right up and satisfy me to no end, I can't help but feel a little sad about the way that Christmas encroaches on Thanksgiving more and more each year. Stores close late on Thanksgiving day and open again in a few short hours for massive Holiday sales and deals. I think of those that are affected by the unusual work hours on this day meant to be spent with those nearest and most dear.

This week, in continuing the theme of Thanksgiving a bit longer, I would like to share the connections that we are so grateful for in our lives. I want to pause and reflect on how important this sense of community is for my family and what it means to us in the larger context our lives.

Perhaps, one of the greatest gifts that I have received in the past year is getting to know such an amazing group of mamas. We all live in the same area and know each other one way or another. We have a yoga instructor that leads us in a practice a few times a week in one mama's backyard. The little ones play amongst us and I've glimpsed Rylie doing a down dog more than once. I recently organized a music class that immediately follows up yoga on Friday mornings with a wonderful teacher, Sarah Peters. Her warmth is contagious and the kids flock to her. The class focuses on different music traditions from around the world and each week we explore drums, movement & rhythm. There is always a lullaby at the end to balance things out.


At the beginning of our session, Sarah gave each of us a CD and songbook. We play our CD around here a lot. Last week, we were in the back of the house away from the classical music that was playing on the stereo. The CD changed and the quiet beat of Sarah's drum was hardly noticeable. Rylie stopped what she was doing, cocked her ear in the direction of the drums and started dancing. Oh, the cuteness around here, I tell you.







It is amazing to watch the kids move through different moods during the class. They are always a bit shy to start. Sarah starts class with offering the djembe up to each toddler for a little axé. This gets the good vibes and smiles going. Some will tap it and some pass. Some will do everything to avoid eye contact with Sarah, or the drum, but by the end of class they are all fumbling over themselves to have a strum on her guitar.



Each class is a little different, but the songs stay the same so we all can sing along. During our class right before Halloween, there was lots of fun and spooky variation, including a dance party to Thriller. As a child of the 80s, I had Thriller on vinyl, and a Michael Jackson poster thumbtacked to my bedroom wall, so I was indeed thrilled. During our most recent class, Sarah played a berimbau.

We look forward to each week and feel very lucky to have found such a wonderful teacher. Apart from the hootenanny, for us, it is really about being together with friends and little ones and sharing lots of fun.

Last Night in Santa Monica

Occasionally on Tuesday nights we will head down to the California Heritage Museum on Main Street and get dinner at one of the many food trucks parked there. Last night was special because not only were the food trucks there, but TOMS launched a new line of sunglasses and threw a party to celebrate. When you buy a pair of sunglasses, TOMS will donate a pair of eyeglasses to people in need around the world. Our friend Benji's band, Lord Huron, played at the launch party.

They are amazingly amazing and we know someday we'll be able to say, "We knew Benji way back when..." Rylie loved it too!


On our way back to the car we stopped by the very inspiring Community Gardens and saw this:

A beautiful evening all the way around.

Round Stripes

I did this painting the other night while watching Brideshead Revisited. I like the optical illusion quality of it. I can't decipher if it is flat or cylindrical. The stripes elongate the whole piece but the small squares on the inside are making the shapes sort of round. That's a different color palette for me too and I find it quite agreeable. Brideshead was a bit of a yawner but I did enjoy the score. Kalli sent me a CD of piano music a few weeks back and some of the music from the movie was included. So it does have that going for it, which is nice.