Plaid on plaid
Lila drawing my face and my forehead scar, perfectly
Making letter collages for a few kiddos in my life, new and old. I love the process of selecting tiny scraps and making something out of what would otherwise be forgotten / recycled / swept up and thrown out with the trash. These read like little gems scattered across a page.
Continued our Christmas Eve tradition of going to the James River to hike. This year it was warm enough for shorts. We went to Janet’s for a coffee and a pastry before. They gave us an extra ice coffee that they poured by accident. We didn’t realize this was a tradition for us until I sat down to write this and thought, we did this last year didn’t we? The best part of this hike was Lila finding multiple sticks to be her “walking stick” and “fishing stick” and looking at the eddies up close standing on rocks out in the water. I love living by this river. It’s been a big part of us this year.
I guess I now collect (and use) vintage table cloths. I want to cover a chair with them I love them so.
The end of this year feels different than last. I need to explore a bit more about why, I think. I feel very hopeful. Not because the world is giving out signs of hope. I feel hopeful deep down. It’s a gut feeling and I am going to trust it.
I want to attempt to feel the freedom I feel dressing my children when I dress myself. I am so unserious when I get clothes for them - I like to pick patterns that could be worn over and over and over and pair them with other patterns. I always opt for the fun, comfortable, thrifted piece that balances good quality with being inexpensive. I am going to try a goal of only buying thrifted clothes for myself for 2026. I did that a few years back and think that’s a goal for me that I would absolutely enjoy (and I am halfway there already so bonus).
Lila is starting to draw things she sees. She’s been drawing me and her a lot lately. My favorite drawing recently is a portrait she did of me where she drew my tiny, small, (I think) hidden scar that lives in the center on my forehead (from a baseball bat accident when I was ten - 30 stitches, three layers deep, but that has now healed nicely) boldly in thick marker, in the center of my forehead. Overall the drawing is really very good.
Theo and I were out in the studio for a bit this weekend. I was working on collages and painted ornaments. He was making a snowman puppet out of a paper bag and hole punch papers and ribbon and glue and painter tape.
Driving home from dinner and stopping by friends’ houses to drop off our Christmas cards. Gingerbread at The Jefferson, pink trees at the Quirk, lights walk in the Museum District. Starting new traditions.
I am watching Theo and Wallace play soccer in the alley. Then I see another boy come out from the playground and start playing with them. Before long all three are sitting in a goal giggling and kicking balls together. They didn’t even exchange names yet and they don’t need to. They are playing together because why wouldn’t they? Why wouldn’t we get along first. Why wouldn’t that be the default?
It means SO MUCH to me when you choose a paid subscription. Thank you, thank you, thank you to you all who gifted paid subscriptions for friends (or yourself!) this season.
Your message of hope really resonates. I am hopeful for 2026 also!