Winter Update

I'm writing this from my room across the street from Sarphati Park in Amsterdam. My daughter and I have been visiting family in Germany and are taking a few days for ourselves before visiting some Dutch relatives.

Today we spent a few hours in the Rijksmuseum. There are many amazing things in there, even one's without the Rembrandt signature. Then we walked around town for a couple of hours and had some lunch. Italian. It was hot, saucy and cheesy. The perfect thing for the frosty weather.

I love this city. It's the first time I've been able to share it with my daughter. She goes back and forth between liking it and being bored, but she is 10, that's the way she is with most things these days.

I've brought tons of yarn on the trip and have at least one project going at all times. I finished 2 things on the plane; armwarmers and a scarflett. I've been working on a pair of fingerless gloves with mitten flaps for my daughter. Both are almost at the point of getting the mitts. Hopefully, I'll finish them before we are back to warmer weather. I'm also working on a scarf for myself, which I need desperately. My chin gets SO cold.

We came across a button store yesterday, but it wasn't open. Our mission tomorrow is to find it again and have it be open. A whole store of buttons, imagine the possibilities. We'll also go ice skating, buy some tulip bulbs for a friend and possibly take a canal cruise. The next day it's back to family.

We went to the Weinachtsmarkt 4 or 5 times in Hamburg. It's fantastic. The smells, sounds, and colors to look at. When I get home, I'll post some photos. Until then, have a fantastic new year.

time marches on...

October 22, 2008, originally uploaded by jennifer noland.

Life has speeded up, like it always seems to do at the end of the year. I find myself longing to stop and notice the little things. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened much the past few weeks. I'm in the mad rush to get gifts made, pack for our holiday and get ready for my daughter's birthday.

I'm posting this photo in the hope that it will bring some rain. i think we've had 3 days of rain this fall. Everything is dry and the lakes and reservoirs are low. Another wake up call to look at our actions and how they affect everything. Which ties in to the feelings of reflection that come over me this time of year.