Gingerbread houses

Just a short post to say that I finally did it: I made my first solo gingerbread houses.

I've helped make them before, while studying under my gingerbread sensei Amy. When I got married she gave me her recipe, pattern and instructions. Every Advent for seven Advents I've looked at the recipe and thought "Now is not the time." This year, it was time.

This is the one I decorated.

I haven't gotten around to adding "snow" yet.

The kids helped with this one.

Advent update

Sorry for the dead air there on this blog: my posts are most often inspired by pictures I've taken, and for whatever reason I took almost no pictures of note over the past month. I anticipate taking quite a few pictures as Advent wears on and Christmastime loometh, so hopefully my next post will be along fairly soon. In the meantime, here's proof of life:

Our Advent wreath. New this year: a seasonally appropriate tablecloth.

Baklava! I've wanted to make this for 15 years but never got around to it until now. I'd say it was worth the wait, but what I really mean is, why didn't I make this sooner?? Drool.

Last year our front birch was quite drab. It's making up for lost time.

I'm so glad to be living in a place that gets frost in December!

Below is an impromptu photo shoot with St. Nicholas at our church. This is perfectly typical of each of the kids' photographic styles. Eve: hamming it up and trying to direct everyone else. Isaiah: trying to be simultaneously solemn and goofy. Samuel: slightly apprehensive and wondering what's going on.

St. Nick Wants You!