Christmas two-thousand eleven

Fog.

Tradition.

Peaceful.

Owl City.

Cookie.

Bracelet. My friend made this for me.

Picture. From my sister.

Necklace. My friend made this!

Flower. My friend crocheted this for me to wear in my hair :)

Garlic. For the mashed potatoes.

Necklace. My sister made this for me. Isn't it beautiful?

Gift.

Earrings. Given to me by my sister's sister-in-law, Keiki (Psst! She has a Facebook page where you can buy other treasures like this!)

Festive.

Necklace. We did a White Elephant gift exchange with my sister and her husband's family, and I got this necklace which is also from SO Keiki Jewelry.

Book. My sister gave to me.

Doughnut cutter. My sister gave to me.

That pretty much sums up my Christmas. I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas!

~  <3 ichelle

Flood of memories...

I am missing the place where I'm from more than usual today. I miss the beaches the most, I think. I miss the people I know. I miss the vineyards and the rolling hills. I miss the fog that creeps in in the evening. I miss the smell of that fog. The smell of apple orchards. The smell of creeks. The familiar sidewalks. Wearing flip flops during the winter. Black and white cows. I miss oak trees. Grocery store workers who I know, only because I went to those stores so often...Redwood trees...Side roads I know so well, I can travel them in my head. Eucalyptus trees. I miss sunny, warm December days. I miss childhood memories that I can't go back to. Story-time in the playhouse. Star gazing in our back yard. Making forts and having sleepovers with my sisters. Re-enacting movies with Laura in our backyard. I miss memories...

I'm sure you could make a list as long, or maybe even longer, of things that make the place where you grew up special. Someday, if I ever move away from the
place I'm living now, I know I will say I miss it, and maybe I will make a list of all those things that made it special too. Sometimes I get more "home" sick than usual, and I have all these memories in my head that need to go somewhere. So, there they are.