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Lucia Morning by Carl Larsson

Monday, to Mon  General in a minute...
but first, the weekend.

My weekend alone, and our women's tea.

Saturday was one more sunny and wonderful day.
I was so afraid we wouldn't have any wonderful sunny autumn days back in October when it was soooo cold and rainy there for sooo long.
Now I wonder when these glorious days sunny, warm days will come to an end...
I did all the recycling, moved all the kids books from the garage back into the house.
They aren't being enjoyed or used out there!
Maybe Caroline and Elizabeth will enjoy their big cousins old books!?

But the whole reason I was in the garage...was because I was looking for my Carl Larson book...I looked all week around the house, attic, basement, then the final 'garage'...then the bookstores...I never did find my copy or any of his books in stock?!?

My reflection at the tea was on the feast day celebrations during Advent: St. Nicholas and St. Lucia.
I shared my fascination with a book of illustrations that I had as a young child. A book that touched me in a very profound way, but that until the preparation for this weekend I didn't even realize!
I loved to pour over each and everyone of his detailed, beautiful drawings of home, family and life in Sweden...I longed to live in his beautiful world...
His world instilled in me the desire to create beauty in the world around me...it was a wonderfully romantic, yet true portrayal of an ideal home.
And it probably inspired me to be the artist I long to be...

I remembered that in those drawings I loved as a child my introduction to St. Lucia.
Many years later...married and having my own children...I remember my daughter's discovery of the American Girl dolls, she wanted Kirsten...I think it is in book three that Kirsten shares her family tradition of St. Lucia's day...

That spirit awoke in me again!
Here was this wonderful opportunity to recreate that whole beautiful tradition in our own family!
And we have...

I ate my lunch,  in the sun...on the front porch!

Leftover Chinese from the night before... tebs and I ordered in during the football game,

for a late dinner the first night frank was gone

It might have been the last porch sit...

ahhhh

I also designed the invitation for Tessa's baby shower...

Someone sweet is about to bless our lives...

She's a pastry chef...

With little cupcakes!

I love them, I think she will too.

Then Sunday was a whirlwind of activity.
But it was a beautiful, reflective, restful event.
Something to hold onto as we enter this inner time of Advent...this outer rush to Christmas...
My daughter and her Aunt and three little cousins made the drive down to be part of our tea.
How wonderful to have them, to see them, to share it with them...

By the time I got home after clean-up and move out....
That was the amazing part about the whole tea...the packing and moving.
Bringing in all our pots and cups and saucers from home was as if we were moving!

But when I got home my poor hubby had made his own welcome home meal and was eating by himself...
oh well
It's home!
I sat with him as he finished up...too tired and too full of cookies and finger sandwiches to eat...

Then we went back to church and met with the high schoolers......

the weekend
and now the week
to Mon...