reader traditions

All of this talk of Christmas traditions has gotten me thinking of Christmas when I was a little girl.  My mom is one of 6 kids, all of whom celebrate Christmas in Kansas City each year.  This made for lots of people, presents and an all around happy and festive feeling every year.

My sister, Molly,  and I were the oldest of all of our group of 17 cousins and every year Molly would write a Christmas play.  The first year started out small, just a few Christmas songs and poems that we'd perform for the "grown ups" when they were done with dinner.  But over the years it really took off.

My grandpa built a stage in their basement and we thought we'd hit the big time.  Roles were assigned months in advance, scripts were written and copied on my dad's copier at work, then promptly sent out for the cousins to start practicing their lines.  We planned our costumes and thought about how we'd decorate the stage.  Occasionally we were even allowed to call our cousins long distance for few strategic planning meetings, usually involving who would bring what props.

On Christmas Day the real work began, as the show was always that night after dinner.  When all the cousins got to my grandparents we'd spend the entire day decorating and practicing for our big show.  This created traditions in and of itself...each year the inevitable fight broke out that threatened to jeopardize the entire play, but that just added to the funny drama of the day and the show always went on and was given a standing ovation by our parents.

A lot has changed since then as we've all grown up and my sweet sister has passed away.  But whenever I think about "the magic of Christmas" my mind takes me back to my grandparents basement and being with all of the cousins we were so excited to see year after year practicing our annual pageant.

Katie

{photo by lars 1021}

reader traditions

Emily, I hope I'm not too late to submit my family's Christmas traditions. Growing up my family had traditions upon traditions.

Our Christmas traditions start with the tree cutting. My parents, sister and I would tramp through a tree farm for hours looking for the perfect tree. Usually this process would take so long that we would start fighting and settle for the next tree we saw. In later years this tradition was amended so that each of us got our own year to choose which tree to cut, this cut our tree finding trips on an average of 2 hours.  We would decorate our tree while listening to Peter, Paul and Mary's Christmas cd and eating pizza. My little sister still insists that I always had to move all of the ornaments at least once.

Christmas Eve was spent at my grandparents house where we had a traditional Swedish Smorgasboard. Following Smorgasboard we'd head home, where we were allowed to open one present.  Our present on Christmas Eve was always the same, a new pair of pajamas to fall asleep in, a tradition passed down on both my parents sides. We'd change into our pajamas and get ready to hang our stockings.  I think the tradition of hanging our stockings from youngest to oldest began with my dad's family, as he had three siblings, and whenever we would be with his family on Christmas Eve it was quite a chore lining up all of the cousins and aunts and uncles in appropriate age order. Once the stockings were hung we'd gather around my mom to hear "The Night Before Christmas." We'd promptly be rushed to bed where we were told that we had to stay in bed until sunrise.  The next morning we would once again line up from youngest to oldest to go downstairs and see if Santa had come.

I had never really thought about my family's traditions until the first year my boyfriend and I were dating, he had never hung a stocking and I had to ask my family if it was ok if he joined us that year. After a lengthy discussion it was decided that he would be allowed to hang a stocking at my parent's house.

I love that I grew up with so many traditions and know that when it comes time to celebrate Christmas with my future children I will enjoy creating new and continuing old traditions.

Cole Boyd

{images: rockgirl2670, alcott1}

advent

I just read this advent definition on Wikipedia and wanted to share it.

"Advent (from the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming") is a season of the Western Christian churches, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus; in other words, the period immediately before Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, called Levavi. 

The progression of the season may be marked with an Advent calendar, a practice introduced by German Lutherans. At least in the Roman Catholic and Lutheran calendars, Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25, the Sunday between November 27 and December 3 inclusive.

Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming. Christians believe that the season of Advent serves a dual reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting that Christians today endure for the second coming of Christ."

I love to head into this season with the true purpose firmly in heart and mind.

One of my families favorite traditions is our advent calendar.  I typically put candy behind some doors and little holiday themed events behind others.  I think of as many holiday "experiences" as I can come up with and write them on a little piece of paper.  The kids take turns opening a door each day and as excited as they are to discover a couple of pieces of candy waiting, they get even more excited about whatever that evenings plans may hold.  They anticipate it all day long. 

Oh Happy Day has a great list of holiday related ideas.

We have a cute store bought advent calendar, but the homemade ones just add a whole other level of wonderfulness.  Just this morning I came across this one and man, did it leave me inspired.  I particularly love the windows that depict the nativity.  I am no sewer but I can even imagine affixing little dollhouse type miniatures to windows that convey the same idea. 

 

{all images from Suzi's Stitches}

reader traditions

Mrs. Meyers arrived at my house today and she smelled fabulous.  I got home from the hospital and there was a package at my door (nothing major just a kidney stone but HELLO-bad timing).  What a great Thanksgiving treat - thank you like a hundred times.  It arrived at just the perfect time.  We (mostly my husband because of the whole kidney stone) are doing some freshening up around the house before the company comes tomorrow and this Basil scent rocks!

You couldn't have been more right, it nudges my old favorite Geranium into second place.  My husband likes it too, said it's no contest.

I love your blog - just love it.  Here is a little tradition from my family to you.  My daughter (now 23) has never really liked candy or sweets (don't know how we're related) so I always struggled with her Advent Calendar little gifts.  Finally, when I thought about who she is and what she loved I had it.....the girl loves words.  She has been an avid reader since she could hold a book and writes quotes and things she hears in notebooks.  Now, each year I search out obscure quotes I think she might not have read and would enjoy.  I type them up and print them in all different fonts and colors, then roll them up into little scrolls and tie them with string.  Every day she opens one of the doors and reads the quote then she puts them in a jar where she saves them.  She said she loves them and now that she is living in another state (going to law school), I'm happy knowing she's still going to get a little message from me every day.

Well, this was a long thank you but THANK YOU and Happy Happy Holidays.

{image by cozymemories}

reader traditions

I don't have many long running family traditions, but my husband and I have fell into a few on our own. Our first Christmas together we couldn't get enough of our Christmas tree and just wanted to bask in its glow. So we moved the mattress into the living room and set up camp! It was such a cozy way to talk the night away and 5 years on we still move the bed into the living room. It is just so lovely to be saturated with the smell and the lights and all the sparkles of Christmas!!

Another tradition which must be one of the top three for anybody is baking Christmas cookies. This was always my grandmothers niche but when my grandfather died, Christmas just wasn't Christmas for her anymore. I love baking and didn't want my grandma's secrets to be lost so a few years ago I asked for the recipes and ever since, I am addicted to Christmas baking! Not only am I carrying on my grandmas tradition but its nice to have that special connection with her when I have to call and ask for advice-which I still do every year!

Merry Christmas!!!

Megan Davies

{Images:gotbob , SweetSugarBelle}

reader traditions

Your recent post got me to remembering all of the things I love best and look forward to most about the holidays.  I agree that all of those things are based on long standing traditions.

As a child, I remember one of my male relatives, usually my Uncle Charles, would read The Christmas Story from the Bible with all of us kids gathered on the floor around his feet.  That was following by the singing of all of the favorite Christmas songs, always starting with Silent Night, Holy Night.

As young marrieds, my husband and I convinced our kids that Santa preferred cookies and sparkling wine to the usual milk.  That was our little reward to ourselves after hours of wrapping presents and putting together those impossible to put together toys.  We would drink the wine together while my husband wrote the kids a letter from "Santa" thanking them for being such good people and to remind them of the true meaning of Christmas.  My daughter and son in law now have my husband write our grandchildren a "Santa " letter every year.  She saves them packed away with the Christmas decorations and we reread  them while we sip our wine and wait for the kids to fall asleep so Santa can come.

There are many, many more things we do every season that are such traditions that they are automatic, habits, really.  We just wouldn't do it any other way.

Happy Holidays to you and your family,
Jean

{images: moxiee, double cappaccino}

reader traditions

This is going to be a very strange year for me because for the first time neither my husband nor I will be with our families on Christmas.  We live in Colorado and due to work schedules we can't be there on Christmas, and knowing that has made me think of all the traditions that we usually share.  Growing up my parents, sisters, and my mom's mom always spent Christmas Eve together.  We would dress up, go to mass (we were in the choir until we went to college), make and eat a fancy dinner, the sisters would exchange gifts, our dad would read Polar Express, and we would go to bed (I would always sleep in my little sister's room because my room was the guest room so my grandma would spend the night in there).  I always thought that we were so special to get grandma on Christmas Eve because my mom has 14 other siblings, but grandma ALWAYS stayed with us. 

Christmas morning always began with my sisters and I trying to shine flashlights into each other's windows or tapping out morse code messages (that we didn't understand) on our walkie-talkies.  Then we would pounce on my parents to wake them up.  My mom would sit with us at the top of the stairs while my dad would go downstairs to "check" to see if Santa had come and gone yet.  And then we would pour down the stairs and look at the presents for a while.  We always went straight for the stockings because we were allowed to open those while grandma got up and joined us and my parents started breakfast.  Then we all opened presents and my mom's sister and her family (who lived five houses down from us) would come to our house or we would go to theirs and everybody would share more presents.  Then we would eat - and I have to say that all those adults were AMAZING cooks.  There would always be strata, white hot chocolate, cinnamon buns, and sausage.

I'm not sure what we'll do this year without any family, but I'm checking back often to see if there's any traditions that my husband and I can start together. 

Also, it's not a Christmas tradition, but when we were little, my mom used to have tea for my sisters and I on Friday after school.  We all had our own china cups that we got to pick out, and we used silver spoons, and it was very fun and girly, and there was always a delicious dessert.  This was pretty much what happened every Friday during middle school and part-way through high school until things got too busy. 

I can't wait to see more traditions, I love knowing the traditions that people hold sacred.

{images: Juan Silva, {JO}, xkembri}

reader traditions

"Oh Emily, your post has had me pondering traditions all day. I wish my family had more traditions, but I think personalities have gotten in the way of that. A few stick around and I hope that as my husband move forward and one day are able to have kids, we'll be able to have our own meaning-filled traditions. I think a lot of handmade goodies will be a part of those new traditions. My favorite holiday tradition from childhood that I still honor is to go look at Christmas lights. I live near Dallas and Highland Park has always been the traditional place to go and ooh and ahh. My husband and I like to rate them and talk all about them like it's a sporting event, and we listen to Christmas music as we drive around. When we were kids the main traditions involved food. My Dad's side always celebrated on Christmas Eve with a traditional Finnish meal that always included lutefisk, which has to be one of the most vile foods ever served in the history of mankind (it's cod that's been soaked in lye until it's become like jelly), and rutabagas served boiled and plain. My mom raised to always eat pretty much anything set in front of us and there was no getting around having to eat our obligatory spoonful of lutefisk every Christmas Eve. It doesn't matter how much cream sauce you drown it in, lutefisk tastes terrible!!  To sweeten the deal, Christmas Day became a day free of any food restrictions. We were allowed to eat whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted. And my mom always made sure the stockings were stuffed with plenty of candy to help us out.  We loved it and looked forward to it all year. It took several years to realize why it was that we never felt very good by evening on Christmas Day. Nobody should feel bad about us having to eat such a terrible Christmas Eve meal because it was our same Finnish grandma that would then shower us with literally dozens of amazing Christmas presents she'd spent the entire year hoarding for us, always including some new collection for our American Girl (mine was Samantha). I hope to have a little girl so getting something for her American Girl doll will be part of her Christmas tradition as well. Thanks for asking about traditions. It was fun to dwell on them today."

Anna Hithersay

{images: Highland park red tree - errantellipses, Lutefisk gnome - ~Darin~}

gag gifts, homemade gifts, etc.

One of my family's longest running traditions is the gift exchange.  Typically at Thanksgiving we draw names to see who we will be giving gifts to that Christmas.  For years, not only did we give a store bought gift but we also gave a gag gift as well.  Year after year the gag gifts became more and more elaborate.  Props, skits, and extensive directions accompanied many of these gifts.  There were often silly, sometimes disgusting, and finally humiliating.  Thus, the end of the gag gift tradition.  After several subsequent years of only store bought gifts, my family has found a new way to get rid of some of that excess creative energy.  As a mentioned in a previous post, for the second year in a row we are now giving homemade gifts along with our store bought. 

Because we alternate years of spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family and my husbands family, Sean and I typically only take part in the gift exchange every other year.  This year we drew names earlier and are exchanging gifts the day after Thanksgiving.  Hence why I was stressing so much about getting my gift completed. 

I'm excited to post about our homemade gifts next Monday to give you lots of good ideas in time for your gift giving. 

I love this tradition for so many reasons.  First, I love that we can go all out and get really into the gift that we are giving to our person because we aren't feeling drained of time, money or energy trying to purchase gifts for tons of people.  Off of that point, financially it is really a blessing.

It is also one of the most fun times for our family all year.  We get really cozy with hot drinks and really make an event of it.  It often takes a looong time, and we love that.  It is also so much fun to see everyone's creativity and hard work. 

Both last year and this year Sean and I shared a similar dialogue as we were working on our gifts.  We  noted how much we enjoyed learning these new skills and how we know we would never have done it otherwise.  There is something deeply satisfying about making something that you could have just as soon purchased.  And something ridiculously satisfying when you like what you made more than that something you could have bought. 

I am loving this new tradition.

{images clockwise: Marion, musicpb, kylanicole, rikrak creations}

traditions

I love traditions more than just about anything.  Really.  (See?)  You could tell me about nearly any tradition your family might have and I am bound to love it, unless maybe it's a mean or gross tradition.  But those should have their own separate term anyway.  Not to go all psycho-babble on you but I think traditions are an integral part of a child's root system.  It offers identity and history and being part of something beyond themselves.  And they're fun. 

One of my favorite things about tradition is that you don't need to be particularly creative or have a lot of money.  Traditions can be ridiculously simple and totally free.  Drinking root beer every Thursday after school with your mom has the same benefits and serves the same internal purposes as an annual blowout shopping spree in NYC.  In hindsight the pleasure is more about the anticipation and re-enactment of the tradition than the specifics of that tradition.

I'm going to be sharing a few of our holiday traditions and I would love, LOVE to hear yours.  If you are interested in sharing a family tradition of yours, please send me an e-mail telling me all about it.  (My e-mail link is in the righthand sidebar.)  It can brief or long, you can include photos, whatever you like -

Can't wait to hear...

{image by Idle Type}

letterboxing

I first heard about letterboxing a couple of years back and have been patiently waiting for my kids to be old enough to give it a try. I'm not sure if 3 and 4 years of age is old enough but I think my patience has run dry. We're going for it.

If you haven't heard of letterboxing before - it may be worth a look. Here's what I have gleaned so far without having actual partaking of an outing yet. Letterboxing is a combination of navigating and rubber stamp artistry brought together through a sort of treasure-hunt style adventure. The quests vary in difficulty to suit a wide array of ages & ability.

Here's the description from letterboxing.org:

"Letterboxing is an intriguing mix of treasure hunting, art, navigation, and exploring interesting, scenic, and sometimes remote places. It takes the ancient custom of placing a rock on a cairn upon reaching the summit of a mountain to an artform. It started when a gentleman simply left his calling card in a bottle by a remote pool on the moors of Dartmoor, in England.

Here's the basic idea: Someone hides a waterproof box somewhere (in a beautiful, interesting, or remote location) containing at least a logbook and a carved rubber stamp, and perhaps other goodies. The hider then usually writes directions to the box (called "clues" or "the map"), which can be straightforward, cryptic, or any degree in between. Often the clues involve map coordinates or compass bearings from landmarks, but they don't have to. Selecting a location and writing the clues is one aspect of the art.

Once the clues are written, hunters in possession of the clues attempt to find the box. In addition to the clue and any maps or tools needed to solve it, the hunter should carry at least a pencil, his personal rubber stamp, an inkpad, and his personal logbook. When the hunter successfully deciphers the clue and finds the box, he stamps the logbook in the box with his personal stamp, and stamps his personal logbook with the box's stamp. The box's logbook keeps a record of all its visitors, and the hunters keep a record of all the boxes they have found, in their personal logbooks."

I love the idea of doing this throughout the years with our children.  It seems like such a great excursion to break up the monotony of road-trips or even to further explore our own hometown.  You can look for letterboxes in your area here and here along with information on how to carve a stamp or anything else you might need to begin.

Have any of you ever done this? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

{images: parenting activity plus, Julie's Journal}

hope chest

 

I've never actually known anyone that kept a hope chest, that I can remember, so I'm unsure where or why the desire began.  I do have a deep love for traditions embedded with meaning and purpose (and a deep disdain for traditions lacking in those.)  Perhaps that is why the now nearly extinct tradition of preparing a  hope chest for one's daughter appeals to me so. I have been trying to research the topic some and there is surprisingly little out there.  Here's what I know.  A trunk of some sort is set aside for one's daughter as a place to store up mementos, heirlooms and practical tools for the time when the daughter is off to care for a home & family of her own.  Just typing that line sets my mind going with all the little lovelies I could fill a trunk (or truck) with for Eva.  And then once she is engaged (should she choose to marry) I could set to work on her trousseau (another dying tradition) to add it.  Of course I'll have to throw in a Le Creuet French Oven & skillet...

The fun part is that over the years, Eva can help me choose and prepare items for her hope chest.  It something fun for us to work on together.  We will also surprise her with new additions on her birthday or at Christmas.  And one day, when it's time for her to leave home for good - she'll take with her a chest filled with memories, treasures, love & hope.  Can you tell that I love this tradition? 

And can you guess what Eva is getting for her fifth birthday? 

Yep, me too.

If you are interested in preparing one of your own, this book is perhaps the best resource out there.

{images: illustration - mjkersen, chest - Lane Furniture, dishes- Royal Copenhagen, button jar - the fish knits, linens - Georgie Sharp, knitting basket - Martha Stewart, family Bible - Tad2106, Le Creuset - Dyxie, wedding dress - wiseacre, sewing kit - overmilkwood, wine glasses - Arte Italica, baby booties - woolybaby, cookbook - Kate*, apron - Tanya Whelan, bathroom items - Arte Italica}

Sabbath Soup

Sabbath Soup          

{We adapt the heart vegetable soup recipe from Cooks Illustrated.  We also throw in whatever other vegetables we have on hand... leeks, celery, zuchinni, etc.}

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

3 large carrots, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch pieces

2 large parsnips, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2 small onions peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

6 cloves garlic, minced

8 cups vegetable broth & a couple heaping teaspoons of vegetable base

2 medium russet potatoes , peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces

2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves 

1 sprig fresh rosemary

1 bay leaf

2 slices hearty white sandwich bread, lightly toasted

2 cups  spinach, stemmed and chopped

(14.5-ounce) can cannellini beans , drained and rinsed

(10-ounce) package frozen baby lima beans or frozen peas

1. Heat oil in large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add carrots, parsnips, and onions and cook until lightly browned and softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add broth, potatoes, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until vegetables are soft, about 15 minutes.

2. Remove and discard rosemary and bay leaf. Transfer 3 cups solids, 1 cup broth, and bread to blender and puree until smooth. Stir puree back into pot, add spinach, cannellini beans, and lima beans and cook over medium heat until spinach is tender and beans are heated through, about 8 minutes.

Serve with crusty bread.  

On a related note, I really want these pomegranate Shabbat candles. 

Sabbath

Our family has slowly but surely been starting to take a Sabbath day.  So far we have failed in this endeavor as often as succeeded.  But at long last, we are at least now on the journey.  We are attempting to unplug from the world for 24 hours each week.  No phones or computer.  No work.  Just time & conversation and a few small family rituals.  One of which is our newfound Sabbath supper.  This typically takes place on Saturday night.  Not much separates it from a typical evening meal except intentionality, two candles and spoken blessings.  Here's how it's been going down.  

The kids get all excited .  They are at an age when they think this is cool & special and not weird or annoying. I'd like to think it will stay this way.  Eva likes to be in charge of turning off the lights.  I then say a prayer while lighting the candles.  We then attempt to have a solely pleasant meal: enjoyable conversations only and sometimes perhaps a word game.  

At some point during the meal Sean goes around the table and affirms something in each one of us.   Maybe something we did or said during the week that he was especially proud of or a positive trait he wants to call out in us.  And that's it.  Oh, and usually we have dessert.  A rarity at our house.  I try to make the meal simple & planned in advance so there is no stress & little actual work. Sean came up with a Sabbath soup that we have made several times now.  Everyone likes it (with copious amounts of crusty bread & soft butter) and it's easy to make in advance.  

I love Sabbath now.  I like the chance to take stock of the past week and ready for the next.  A pause in our lives.  An intentional setting to speak out the things we often feel but rarely say.  And just plain old rest.  I didn't realize how much I needed it.  But God sure did. 

{image by Oh!Rachew!}

the best scone recipe

Afternoon tea is a bit of a tradition in our family and we love to have it at fancy hotels when we travel.  I've gotten the chance to "take tea" at some of the best spots in London, like the Ritz, Brown's & the Savoy.  And I say without hesitation that the scone recipe we used on Saturday far exceeds any scone I've had at a fine hotel. I was even missing an ingredient and they still turned out great!  

Afternoon Tea Scones  (I slightly modified the recipe that I found here.)

• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup of softened butter
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• you can add any scone topping you like.  I made plain ones this time.

1. In a small bowl, blend the sour cream and baking soda, and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet.
3. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt. 
4. Cream the sugar & butter.
5. Beat the egg with the vanilla.
6. Stir the sour cream mixture, egg mixture, & creamed butter into the flour mixture until just moistened. Mix in any topping.  Do not overmix!
7. make 12 or so dough balls. Put ball on baking sheet and push down to form flat-ish circles. 
8. Bake 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown on the bottom.
9. Serve warm.

tea party

Friday night Sean & I got to go out alone, so on Saturday we wanted to do something fun with the kids to celebrate Valentine's Day.  By Saturday afternoon we still had no ideas and now Sean's sister and a friend were going to be joining us.  In about an hour we were able to throw together a sweet little Valentine's tea with whatever we happened to have on hand.  We served "fancy grilled cheese" on crusty multigrain bread, open faced baby whole wheat bagels with chive cream cheese, tomatoes & sprouts, homemade scones (this great recipe to follow) with butter, jam & Nutella, cookies, champagne (for the adults) and of course, tea.  It ended up being a really fun night, with Oliver loving it more then anyone.  We are considering making it an annual Valentine's tradition.

John Boos- a modern take on our old tradition

If I were renovating my kitchen, this is totally the one I would go with.

Still John Boos, but I found it here.

the tale of a chopping block: a tragedy

Before I was born my parents purchased a John Boos chopping block. The kind with legs and casters.  I feel like I spend my childhood sitting on that chopping block.   At some point after college, my parents passed on some of their things to me as the downsized to a smaller home. Among the treasures was the butcher block.  I was thrilled and it was my favorite item in the lot.  When Sean & I (and baby Eva) moved to Morocco, many of the family treasures that weren't going with us were bequeathed to my brother, Jamie.  Now we are home.  

Jamie has a lovely home filled with lots of great finds, but it's that chopping block I'm always eyeing.  Though they have offered us everything back - I would never!  I don't want to be called naughty things. 

Then, last weekend, as we were meandering through a flea-market-type-thing by our home, I saw it.  The identical John Boos chopping block of childhood fame!  For $150.  You can't buy a John Boos cutting board for that little.  Sean's eyes met mine.  He knew exactly what I was thinking.  I knew exactly what he was thinking.  We have no money, and if we did, the last thing we need is a large chopping block.  We left chopping-block less.

I couldn't get it off my mind.  I mentioned it to my mom and she said "Go get it now.  I'll send you the money."  Even Sean was wavering.  I started stalking the seller.  Doing drive-bys of his little stall at the flea market, calling the number that was posted there.  Nothing.  Finally, yesterday I spotted the guy during my afternoon drive-by.  He was talking with a nice woman but I interrupted them.  

"Do you still have that chopping block?"

"Nope, gone."

Then the nice lady pipes up, "That's what I came for too."

It's a sad tale.  Still, I don't believe this is the end of the story.  

The spark has ignited, the search will go on. 

afternoon tea

I can't believe that I forgot to mention our most favorite tradition of all! Sean and I love to go have afternoon tea.  Whenever we are out of town, just the two of us, we try to make it happen. When we are in Chicago, we love to have afternoon tea at the Peninsula.   A huge selection of teas, little bites of wonderfulness, a quiet respite from the cold - we love it all. One day we hope to make going to "holiday tea" a tradition with our little ones (when they are not quite so little.)  For now, we'll enjoy this little tradition while it's still just the two of us.