The First Day of the Year

 We spent the first day of the new year in the woods with about 300 people.  We were celebrating the Winter Solstice at Somme Woods on Northbrook, Illinois.

 Everyone meets each year, (this year was delayed by frigid weather) on the shortest day of the year.

 So many people gathered because of the warmer temps and clear skies, making it a much more comfortable and enjoyable celebration.

 A falconer was there with his beautiful one year old hawk.

 This year the parade through the woods was lead by the wonderful bagpipe player Marty, (you may remember the story about Marty playing just for me and my sweetheart alone in the woods our very first Solstice celebration.  It was magical and one of my all time most favorites moments.) young and old carrying these beautiful banners with drawings of woodland creatures.

 They were amazing, drawn just on corrugated cardboard.

 So much fun!

 There is also a drummer.  It is the coolest thing to walk into the forest behind all this.

 There's the moon, really these were works of art. No they did not burn them, thank goodness!

 The fire is made with invasive trees cut down by volunteers.  They were stacked about 15 feet high.
From the time they start the fire to the time it goes up in flames is minutes.

 I was hiding behind my hubby.  The heat is so hot that you start close
 to the fire and then have to back away.

A tremendous way to start off the new year.  Marty walked out of the woods, just as we were leaving.  He started to play, so we walked behind him enjoying the parade back to our car.

Life starts again with the beginning of the year.  The days grow longer and the light returns.

We really do live our life through the seasons, and this is the first of many traditions we hold dear.

Happy New Year, Peace on Earth.

Enjoy this beautiful day.

Love, Penny

Holiday Wrapup

 A beautiful Christmas, with all of my family, extended family and friends.  We had a house full for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

 Son Jonathan did a wonderful job on the bread.  Makes me so happy to see that wedding ring on his finger.

 All my children, my grand daughter, nieces and nephews, brothers and my SILs, cousins and friends filled the house and ate all the food I prepared and grazed on  the cookies.  We played our silly lottery game, hugged everyone at least twice, held our new baby niece and had a great time.

 My favorite tradition is the lumenarias we place along the walk and front of our home to welcome everyone. One candle was still burning 24 hours later!

 I always take a moment to go outside and look inside.  Always grateful for my family and for my hard working hubby that makes it all possible each and every holiday.

 We had some time late on Christmas Eve to celebrate with all our kids.  We were just missing Amanda this year, as she spent Christmas in the UP with her family. Have I mentioned how wonderful it is to have them all close by.  What a blessing to have loved ones who want to be together at the holidays.  Something I will always be grateful for.

My hubby had the entire week off between Christmas and New Years.

 We've wanted to visit the Chicago History Museum again for a very long time.  When I was a teen, our choir sang at the then Chicago Historical Society each year at Christmas.  Also when I was a child we would visit with school.  My favorite things are fused marbles from the great Chicago Fire and the bed that Abraham Lincoln died on.  Both are still there and I always cry at seeing the bed.

 Chicago is such a beautiful city.

 Inspiring...

 Here inside, a mobile of street signs.

 Here is the bed.  I also cried at Lincoln's Tomb, Lincoln's home and recreated town of New Salem when in Springfield, Illinois.as a youngster and a teen.  I am moved by history,   You should see me in Washington D.C., I cried buckets.

 Standing before this famous Norman Rockwell, I wondered who the model was in this painting.  Rockwell used friends and regular people from his town in his work. This is the famous clock at Marshall Fields a Chicago landmark.

 Here are the marbles.  This really made an impression on me all those years ago, imagining the fire that swept through and destroyed most of Chicago in 1871.

 I am the Queen of Milwaukee Ave.!  Self proclaimed, of course.  I can get anywhere by way of Milwaukee Ave.

We also had a great day with our girl visiting the Chicago Botanic Gardens's 

Wonderland Express.

 A amazing train set up combining plants and flowers and Chicao landmarks.  It even snowed inside!

 Wrigley Field and the Championship trophy.

 One of my all time favorite spots, the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette.

 It was so beautifully done...I was caught up in the magic as was Penny and Grandpa.  We had the happiest time.

 If you've ever been to my home, you'll know why I love this vignette so.

So that brings us to New Year's Eve.  I have one question, WHERE IS MY FLYING CAR?  It's a few hours before 2017, and no flying car!  Oh well.

Wishing you peace and good health. friends and family to love and comfort you, and Love...more Love than you've ever dreamed of.  That's my wish for you.  Happy New Year my friends.

Enjoy this beautiful day!

Love, Penny

Taking the Leisurely Path to Christmas

 I'm not sure how it started, but I am taking a leisurely path to Christmas this year.
Enjoying every moment, even the snow shoveling and death grip trips to pick up pizza, or other things around town in the snow and ice.

 Anyway, a Christmas just doesn't seem right without some snow and cold temps.

 We had our girl over for a Saturday of snow fun.  We threw her into snow drifts, she helped shovel the driveway.  She followed tracks in the snow and was an all around joy to have around.

  Later the family joined us to celebrate our daughter Kristen's birthday.  Seems like yesterday I was holding her tiny self in my arms.  I was a mother for the first time, nine days before Christmas. That was xx years ago now...  Now she's a great Mom and a talented, kind and funny woman I so admire and love very much. Time flies...

With all our kids nearby, my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude and love for each of them.

Mike and Amanda are settling into life in Chicagoland.  Both happy in their work and happy to be close.  Jon spent the day with me last week to learn the art of bread baking, my Mom's braided bread that everyone loves.  He and Charlotte left with my Kitchen Aid mixer and a large Pyrex bowl.  He is taking over the bread making for Christmas Eve and I couldn't be happier to pass the torch to the next generation.

I had two happy visitors yesterday.  My nieces came for a long overdue visit.  We had a tea party of sorts, made forts, colored and they watched movies and danced.  A pleasure to have some time with them.  My brother Greg (their Grandpa) is in the hospital.  Greg is doing well and will be home for this birthday this week. So glad that everything went well.  My niece Emma, now a beautiful grown up 16, lost her dear Oma this week. Oma was a lovely, graceful lady, someone I always looked forward to talking with.  She will be missed by us all.

Thinking of all those who will have someone missing this Christmas.  Wishing them peace.

Last night we enjoyed a concert, George Winston.  It was very cold outside, but warm and relaxing inside.  The music was beautiful, so many familiar melodies.  Such talent and quiet appreciation, letting the piano sound the last tones, which is a beautiful thing to hear. After the concert the quick walk in the frigid temps, the slow warmth filling the car as we headed home.  Hungry, we decided a slice of fruitcake filled the bill and we were in bed and cozy by the time the 10:00 news was over.

This week may will get crazy, as it always does, but I hope you take some time to savor each and every moment.  Sending warm wishes for a very Merry Christmas to you my friends, and a happy, healthy and prosperous new year, from everyone here At Home in English Valley.

Enjoy this beautiful day!

Love, Penny

Hearts of Gold

 On Friday our Guild was honored at a luncheon for our support of a  local mental health center.
It was held at a beautiful ballroom, decorated for Christmas.

Our Guild is small, about 20 members and fourteen were able to attend.

 We have the best ladies, and they all share a common goal of doing good through out the community

We were warmly welcomed and treated to a delicious lunch.

 So many wonderful women, some new to our Guild, others founding members.

This is the amazing Jean, accepting the plaque from our friend at the Center, Maxine,

 commending us for our work and support.

We were given a standing ovation.  

It was a moment that I will long remember.  Our work continues in the new year, with projects and an ongoing commitment to help where ever we can.

Thank you for visiting.

Enjoy this beautiful day.

Love, Penny

December Snow

I rarely use red at Christmas, but this year that pop of color called to me.
You'll see it outside and in my kitchen this year.

 Oh how I wait for snow each year, for the cold crisp air, the magical flakes to appear.  On Sunday, that's just what happened.  The flakes came down and continued all afternoon.

My spruce tops in an old tool carrier.

 We are so fortunate to live just across the road from beautiful forest preserve.  It is where the Canada geese hang out.  We were alone and slowly drove through, admiring the beauty of nature.

 It looked like a winter dream.

 In the summer cars go in and out all day and through the evening.  Time for these natural spaces to get a winter's rest.

 All the paths were empty...

except for the geese.

 There is  no place like home, and as much as I love to be outside during the snow, inside is pretty cozy.

 I set the table using stuff from around the house.  After looking at the photo, everything except the silverware and dinner plates are thrifted.  (The dinner plates, with a hobnail trim are Pottery Barn look a likes from the dollar store)  My dearest fell asleep and when he woke up there were more decorations up and more lights hung. .

That's a storybook view out of our living room windows.  

With less than 20 days till Christmas, I have work to do.  Sitting quietly at home for the snowy afternoon was just what we needed.  Now to start a busy week.

On Friday, our Guild is being honored with a luncheon by the mental health center

 that we help support.

Together, the women of Guild One work throughout the year on many service projects, but being recognized in this manner is very humbling.  We just had our own Christmas party that included a small auction.  All the money we raise goes back into the community.  It is because of our own Service Project Coordinator Jean, that we are able to help so many.  Jean's work behind the scenes, along with her husband Tom,  make it possible for us to do so many good things throughout the community. Jean is my dear friend and is an example of kindness personified.  Thank you Jean and Tom for all you do.  I am so proud to be part of this wonderful group of women,

 and to share this honor with my sisters.  

Unlike our party, when I didn't take a photo, I will be sure to have a story with photos next week of our fancy luncheon.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and for your friendship.

Enjoy this beautiful day.

Love, Penny