This is such a beautiful time of the year, with so much change and love, and cold and warmth. I always look forward to the giddy feeling, but the month of December repeatedly passes me by. So, I'm making a conscious effort this year to take it slowwwly, really cherish, and participate in projects and activities that I find meaningful.

I put together this Advent calendar after work today for my friend Ashlee who's in Louisville, KY, pushing through another term of grad school—she probably needs more of reminder to slow down than I do. But, after being excited by reading it through I decided I'll also be participating, and you're invited too. (I'll warn you that bits might be a little cheesy, but so are a lot of things we create for the people we love.) Don't go further than the specified day! (You cheaters.) And, feel free to customize by changing location, gender, etc.

Happy December. Cherish it, yea? (If you're having trouble viewing the embedded preview, go here to see it directly. It may take a while to load.)

I'm continuing to teach myself to knit. Molly gave me this book for Christmas last year, which I've found very helpful.

Knit.
Purl.
Knit.
Purl.
Repeat.
Listen to this song.

We made buckwheat crêpes this morning. Well, I put everything together and Sam was in charge of spreading them to the perfect thickness and flipping them in the skillet.

FILLING #1
first three ingredients sauteed together
•  •  •
mushrooms
asparagus
onions
gruyère

FILLING #2
•  •  •
bananas
this chocolate-hazelnut spread
whipped cream (whipping cream + powdered sugar, beaten until stiff peaks form)

Around here today:

(1) Lula Magazine and Brian Ferry's Quality of Life
(2) it's such a gorgeous little book
(3) newly-framed artwork: Edgar Allen Poe drawing by my friend Caroline and horse print by Paul Ferney
(4) vintage Persian rug from the flea market last weekend—it's worn, and torn, and perfect
(5) hers and his
(6) windows open all day
(7) I swear I made it this morning

The weather was a perfect 60-degrees and the birds sounded so glad. I listened, and made curry, and now there's pumpkin bread in the oven. Ohp! Now there's pumpkin bread outta the oven.

We found a secret path last Sunday, where I met geese with hair like George Washington. Today we're up early and renting a car for 24 hours.

Here's to some adventure! xx

It was Halloween yesterday. Molly and Eitan went as each other; Andy was a vampire (with his Harry Potter cape from when we were eighteen); and, Sam was a "kid brother" even though he was Ernest Hemingway on Saturday night. Oh, me? Werewolf. Every year.

I made:
Baguette + Pumpkin Butter
Apples + Caramel Sauce
Minestrone and Parmesan Biscuit Potpie
Bourbon Butterscotch Pudding with Homemade Whipped Cream

We listened to silly Halloween tunes and then made our way into the living room for a War on Drugs album and a little bourbon.