have a holly jolly christmas

all kinds of goofy celebratory festivities are going on round here....

solstice night i baked. the perfect long-winter's-night cozy activity. 

it rapidly became clear what my favorite baking ingredients are...

butter, coconut, chocolate, nuts, more butter....

it is widely known that i love aprons, so naturally i have a collection of vintage or homemade christmas aprons. they remind me of being a little kid and helping my mom bake plates of goodies for our neighbors. in fact, i use her old one all the time and it makes me feel just like mrs claus! for baking night i pulled out my Holly Hobbie christmas apron, sorry i didn't get a good picture.

while i baked away, darin made a fire and stayed busy doing this:

next day we finished up our christmas shopping on main street. i decided (following a similar holiday dressing rule as sasha) to throw on everything green in honor of winter and the evergreen.

clashing shades welcome!

i just got this wonderfully festive patchwork vest in a surprise package from brigit!

just in time, and soooo cute, thanks b!

the wrist warmers were an early christmas gift from my mom and i love them.

although it was sixty degrees out...i just like to pretend its wintry here...

down on main street, some high school kids were playing music.

the shops were jam packed. there was nowhere to park.

and the merchants were smiling.

i love holidays in a small town.

we visited zack at his shop, which is doing quite nicely through the holidays.

i think artwork is the perfect gift if you know someone's tastes.

for example, wouldn't a Zelda lover go nuts for this giant map printout from the original nintendo version? 

rebecca and sylvan were also getting decked out for some holiday shopping.

we met my dad for lunch at Old Towne Grill, home of the famous Earthburger, mmmmmm.

darin left us and my dad and i finished out the afternoon shopping. i am helping him discover the joys of shopping local :) 

success.....it's a hit! he found everything he needed, santa filled all his lists, and the elves are now busy wrapping up packages.

hope you all are having a marvelous countdown to the big day.

i am wishing you the merriest, most joyous, peaceful and magical holiday ever!