[sweet little sis cooking up something tasty...]

Merry Christmas, people! I am having an amazing day. It’s Christmas Day and we’re all home, we’re all happy, I’m drinking hot chocolate, and everyone is gathered around working on projects. Papa is reading an interesting book and I am eager to hear his thoughts on it. Mums is also reading something interesting, and I am wondering if she might take me out for coffee soon, so that we can discuss said interesting subject… :)

Curtis is at the kitchen table, finishing up a leather project. I am completely astounded at what he can create with only a few tools. At least he is working with high quality leather – he befriended a local Italian  who imports designer quality leather from Italy, and this guy gives Curtis all sorts of leather in exchange for handmade products such as wooden signs, furniture, and occasionally hot peppers. It’s a win-win situation for both of them!

Augs is also working with leather. He’s currently making a carrying bag for ski goggles, and it looks incredible already.

Ike is labeling a last-minute Christmas present.

Ibs just finished making the hot chocolate I mentioned earlier, and is now upstairs working on a very secret Christmas project…. It’s making me SO curious!!

I am enjoying every minute of this day. I have “Every day feels like summer with you” going in my head, there is a pleasant roasting smell coming from the oven, I am warm and comfortable, and I am wearing one of my favorite scarves. Actually it’s Ibby’s scarf. Ahem. :)

Merry Christmas!!!

 

Pepper-Man & a late Vermont Fall

 

I think it is still summer in Vermont. These pictures were taken a couple of months ago, but it still looks pretty similar outside right now - except for the plants, and the leaves, and the green, and the sunshine, and Pepper-Man out there gardening. Despite the brown-ness of stick season, the temps remind me of June, and the lonely skis waiting for snow remind me that it is not June!

I like the name Pepper-Man. It was coined by a cute dark-eyed little girl at a small Vermont farmer’s market, from whom Curtis bought a lot of little pepper plants.

 

It has just begun to snow outside, and I am barely restraining myself from doing a wild whooping dance in the kitchen. I also feel like dancing because for the first time in six long days, I am feeling better! This last week has been a bit of a trial, as it always is when you’re knocked flat by a malevolent bug, but I am emerging a new person, and SO grateful for health. I am also incredibly grateful for an awesome family who takes great care of me when I’m sick!

While I’m still sort of on the subject of summer, peppers, and gardening, here is Bro #3 with a plateful of peppers that he and Bro #2 were getting ready to stuff. 

 

  

Here are said peppers, stuffed and oozing with cheesy perfection. These are AMAZING!! I think I could live on stuffed peppers. You could, too, if you’d try these… sure to win your heart, your stomach, and your wallet because they’re home-grown.

All this, and more, if you come for a visit!

 

Happy December!!

[putting up Christmas lights]

Welcome to the last month of 2015... a good time for eating tasty holiday food, looking at one's list of goals for the year (and hopefully feeling encouraged by the looking), decorating the house with lots and lots of Christmas lights, breathing deeply of the piney smell of the tree, and...ordering Christmas presents!!

Not everyone gives Christmas presents, but in the Adams household, it's a grand tradition. Which means that around now, there is a flurry of activity behind closed doors, many whispered consultations, late-night order-placing, and mysterious little brown packages arriving.

Decision-making is made somewhat more complicated by two things: the kids' ultra-petite budgets, and the fact that we live in a place where there are many cute stores around - not just the expensive small boutiques, but mom and pop stores with very, very nice gift ideas. So it's not all just Amazon these days...

For example, just a few miles up the road from us there is a scrumptious chocolate & gift shop - Lake Champlain Chocolates, as well as a little place called the Stowe Street Emporium, which is an extremely dangerous store. One step inside and you want everything. Everything, folks. These people are onto something, and it might just be that my Christmas bank account disappears there. At least the rest of the family will be happy, and the store people will be happy, and I will be happy. :)

I love this season...