Well, here we have arrived at the last day of 2011 - this year seems to have slipped by very quickly. It has been a good year and I thank the Lord for his kindness, care and protection through another year. Truly his grace is endless, his love unending, and his power limitless.

I am not one that is good at making or keeping resolutions but as each new year begins there are always things I hope to achieve, lifestyle adaptations I hope to live up to. As 2011 ends and 2012 is within arms length, the words that swirl through my mind for 2012 are simpler life, and embracing the common life. I would like to slow down my pace of life a bit, become more organized so that the duties that I need to do throughout my week are done with more ease, less stress. Enjoy each day in its simplicity, enjoy where the Lord has placed me at this point in my life, the tasks he has given me to do. In the summertime I read a devotion that really tugged at my heart strings, author unknown, "we cannot depend upon great events, striking circumstances, exalted moments and great occasions to measure our zeal, courage, faith, and love. These are measured by the commonplace, workaday tasks, the homely hidden paths of a common life.

When the Lord brings something great or big into our life, an answer to prayer, something tangible we can lay hold of, how easy to know we are in the centre of His will, and we feel excitement, joy, peace, at knowing this. It is the everyday tasks, the everyday jobs that are monotonous where it is easy to lose sight that we are carrying out His will just as much as those who are heading off to the mission field or other zealous pursuits.

Here at the Hollow today we are busy getting ready for guests. There is washing to be done, groceries to be bought, food to be made and fluffing to be done!

Wishing you all a very blessed New Year's Eve and a very Happy New Year!

We woke up this morning to a blanket of snow covering everything. Nothing is prettier than freshly fallen snow and the silence it brings is like music in itself. We enjoyed a warm breakfast of oven baked bacon and gingerbread pancakes. These are lovely buttermilk pancakes with the addition of 1/4 cup molasses, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. We enjoy eating these during the holiday season.

We are still working at a slow pace here, savoring the last few days before routine and responsibilities once again beckon us. I have made sure though that I have done something useful each day, and so have set myself to organizing one thing a day. Tuesday it was cleaning out the desk drawers, Wednesday it was organizing our entertainment cabinet, Thursday it was cleaning out my writing drawer, which had become a catch all for all sorts of things. I also went through two containers of scrapbook paper and supplies and weeded out bits of paper and scraps not likely to be used. Why is it the thought of organization seems to tedious and yet when you get tucked into it, it takes surprisingly little time and the results of opening a tidy well organized desk drawer are so rewarding?

I have also taken advantage of these lovely "lazy" days and finished three blurb books from the years 2009 to 2011. This is something that I have been wanting to do for quite some time now, but haven't had the time to get it done. I am looking forward to them arriving in the post!

We have been enjoying a few relaxing days here at Chestnut Hollow. Those lovely quiet, special days after Christmas where everything has slowed down and feet can finally be "put up", and the minutes tick away in pleasantness. Have enjoyed lingering over coffee in the morning and enjoying eating treats had only at Christmas, such as fruity panettone, which I love toasted and spread with crab apple jelly (Greaves of course!). How decadent to be able to take one's time over breakfast - truly a treat in my books! I received a french coffee press for Christmas and am enjoying the beautiful flavor of coffee it produces. Outside the weather has turned quite cold with a dusting of snow during the night. It is nice to be snugged up inside with no place needed to go!

Here at Chestnut Hollow we have been enjoying a blessed December month. This is one of our favorite months here at the Hollow and we have been enjoying and savoring every moment. We have spent the month decorating and fluffing the house for Christmas, baking favorite Christmas cookies, shopping, and wrapping, and enjoying simple Christmas festivities. Our thoughts have also been on the Savior and his birth into this world in the form of a baby. How he took on human flesh and humbled Himself so that we could know forgiveness of sins and the peace that comes with eternal life. How wonderful our His names: Counsellor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father & Prince of Peace, to name a few.