*little white duck

Some close-ups of the little white duck I crocheted short before Christmas. The pattern is from a Japanese magazine/book that someone shared here ‣ {klick}

We are having beautiful frost on this last day of the year and there is snow in our neighbor village. We just returned from a refreshing walk. Have a smooth transition into the New Year!

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*winter in my body

Back to those misty day in the oak forest, where I sat down a moment to light a candle in one of my ceramic light birds.

These days are tuned into a different pace. Even though we are having the sunniest days recently, I feel the heaviness of winter in my body. I'm observing this one fluffy rabbit through my work room window, that is jumping happily up and down the field behind our house, again and again. What a joyful thing to see! Once again I'm on a personal path of letting go. Of things, of past happenings, of beliefs how something should or should not be. Those last days of the year always seem perfect for contemplating and re-aranching things and thoughts.

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*tree in the mist

A throwback to the darkest days of the year.

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*A Christmas full of light

{Music: Changing Winds – Alexandra Stréliski + Eyes Closed and Taveling – Peter Broderick}

May your Christmas days be filled with light and rest!

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*LazyLines_SlowTimes

Dec 1 – Train

Dec 7 – Fonts

Dec 13 – Bookshop

Dec 18 – Compass

Dec 25 – Riddle

The #LazyLines_SlowTimes drawing challenge is officially ending tomorrow, but I use the free moment to post all my paintings here today already! I hope you like my interpretations of the prompts!

Yesterday I finally decorated the Christmas tree and today in the morning I made two more sorts of cookies, because everything I baked before Christmas was gone already. We made a little trip to the wood quarter, because we heard they had snow today, but unfortunately it was already melted when we arrived. But on our walk we found a beautiful wood glade with a little frozen lake that we have not seen before and were able to breathe a lot of fresh forest air! I'm off again, but wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

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*winter solstice

Happy winter solstice! 

Yesterday in the late evening my sisters baby boy was born! He is so beautiful and sweet and we are all so happy and grateful that all went well! Here is the last picture I made of her when she still had her baby belly and was standing under a pink November sky with a shiny half moon.

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*Crochet bear

Some close-ups from my latest finished crochet project. The pattern is from @mauvepony, you can find it here ‣ {klick}. I decided to let him naked instead of giving him the pullover from the original pattern. I used yarn with 30% alpaca and 70% merino content and even though it is a bit tricky to work with it, because it doesn't unravel well when making mistakes, I love the softness and how natural it feels. I'm really happy how this bear turned out and now it's time to wrap him for being able to give him away at Christmas. :)

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*Advent diary & finishing my crochet bear

{Music: Singur – Oskar Schuster + As Ballad – Lambert}

Enjoying Advent time with walks in the frost, making sketches, baking cookies, making place for my crafted paper star & finally finishing my crochet bear.

Macadamia nut chocolate chips cookies recipe

(from Tina Sosna)

• 320 g flour (I used spelt flour)

• 200g butter

• 140 g sugar (I used half amount, because I don't like it so sweet)

• 2 eggs

• 100 g salty macadamia nuts

• 200 g dark chocolate

• Soda (Natron)

• Baking powder

Roast the flour in the oven for about 10–15 minutes at 180 degrees, depending on how dark you like it (I roasted mine in the pan on the oven, which also worked well). Add 2 g soda (natron), 3 g baking powder. Mix it with soft butter, sugar and eggs. Cut the macadamia nuts and dark chocolate in pieces and add it to the dough. Form balls and place them on baking sheet prepared with baking paper and bake for about 15 minutes at 180 degrees.

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*holding the light in the darker times

I'm back with some of my recent watercolor paintings.

It's the third Advent weekend already and I'm preparing some Christmas letters that I want to send out today. Further I'm painting on my last prompt for the #LazyLines_SlowTimes drawing challenge. Yesterday in the evening I sorted my watercolor paints. Sorting things always calms my mind. Sometimes I just empty one of my cupboards and slowly fill it again in a neat way and I feel better.

I'm off again, but I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

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*A light in the oak forest & Advent preparations

{Music: An amalgation waltz 1839 – Joep Beving + We Contain Multitudes + Ólafur Arnalds + For Steven – Joep Beving}

Having a calm moment in the oak forest, making the Advent wreath and baking "Powidl-Datschgerl".

The recipe I have from one of my best friends mum. She used to make them when we were children and I loved them! I remember how I would have liked to eat them all, but would not dare to take another one until my friend also did. Have a wonderful second Advent!

Powidl-Datschgerl recipe

• 350 g flour (I used spelt flour)

• 60 g sugar (originally it is a lot more sugar, but I find the plum jam filling sweet enough)

• 15 g yeast

• ⅛ l milk

• 60 g butter

• plum jam (Powidl)

• 1 egg yolk (safe the egg white for the finish)

• 1 lemon

• a pinch of salt

Warm up the milk and mix all the ingredients with the zest of a quarter of a untreated lemon in a bowl with a wooden spoon to form a smooth dough. Put the dough on a board and knead it with your hands to form a silky dough. Leave to rest for half an hour. Then roll it out, cut it into rounds, fill it with 1-2 teaspoons of plum jam (Powidl) depending on the size, press it together firmly and leave it to rise for 20 minutes. Brush with egg white and bake at 170 degrees for approx. 15–25 minutes.

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*everything is connected with silver threads

Not long after writing yesterday's blog entry, the ice rain changed into snow and and lied down like a coat of powdered sugar on the bland landscape. It was a short delight, but instantly brought a this certain winter calmness into our four walls.

Like always I'm a bit behind with my analogue pictures here, but this is still how it looks most of the days here.

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*birds, ice rain & peaceful candle light moments

The luckiest film photography moments for me are for sure when I manage to press the shutter when a flock of birds appears on the sky.

We still had no proper snowfall, but we are having ice rain right now. It's a pleasant sound when the frozen drops are bursting on the roof and house walls. A bit like standing under a winter tree whose frozen branches are touching each other when moving in the wind.

I have been turning our bedroom on it's head, I needed some change and made place for our future Christmas tree. I'm also still painting for "LazyLines" and sometimes I film a little. The waxing moon looks beautiful these days, a sharp shiny sickle on the clear evening sky. Time seems always flying extra fast before Christmas. I try to light a candle every now and then and hold still to counteract the rush of time. What gives you the most peace right now?

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*Quiet nature & needlework moments in November

{Music: Morning brings peace of mind (Bernt Jansch cover) – Christ Brain + Wish – Christ Brain}

Simply some peaceful moments throughout November.

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