I realized that I hadn’t posted that I did manage to find yarn while in New Zealand. It was actually a lot easier to find than I originally thought. In fact, it was everywhere. Duh. They make it there so it is easy to get. Basically when a store has a little craft section with a small selection of yarn, the type of place that will only have acrylic yarn here, it is New Zealand wool yarn. Of course it is. Why didn’t I think of that sooner! I was looking for a fancy yarn shop meanwhile it was right under my nose the whole time. I think I showed a lot of restraint under the circumstances, although M probably thinks differently. I got a few skeins of natural wool in creams and browns (you know, sheep colored) and a few balls of green. Now I have to decided on a project I think will be worthy of this lovely imported yarn. Now I am back on my craft diet!

December is a favorite month of mine for a few reasons. There are pretty twinkly lights everywhere, the smell of pine from Christmas trees and eggnog. I am definitely a fan of eggnog. It is just one of those things that signals for me the holiday season is upon us. It just doesn’t get much better than being curled up on the couch, in front of your Christmas wreath lit up, a yule log on the TV, Nat King Cole signing The Christmas Song in the background sipping a cuppa eggnog. That is what I thought until I found out that Lactaid makes eggnog! Yeah! Now I can enjoy my favorite Christmas time treat without the repercussions of lactose intolerance. OK, if I had a fireplace it might be a little better.

When I was young we didn’t have a ton of money. Some years less than others. This caused us to have some really creative Christmas decorations. I still have a dove that my mother made out of a styrofoam meat tray and a felt bell that she helped me sew and stuff. Who knows, maybe my love for crafting and felt can be traced back to that bell! I also have a homemade santa that goes under the tree every year. One year way back when, I decided that with my limited funds I wasn’t going to be able to get gifts for everyone on my list. Instead I made ornaments. The first year of ornaments were just plain balls that I got at a dollar store and painted with acrylic paints. I have kept up this tradition of making an ornament every year. I have made all different types, trying to make sure each year is different from the last. Fimo one year, felt another, getting into more complicated wire wrapped pieces that M&I did together. Last year I used Christmas cards I received the previous year to make ball ornaments. I always feel so sad throwing these cards away and this seemed like a nice way to give them new life. I have a new plan for my old cards this year but I like for the ornaments to be a surprise so you will have to wait until after the 25th to find out what they are. Over the years the younger children in my family have followed my lead and started making gifts of their own. In addition to homemade ornaments I get cookies, picture frames, cards, napkin rings, all made with love. Thanks Mom for giving me the idea to start such a nice tradition and thank you to those who are keeping that tradition alive.

I have been on a tea kick lately for some reason. I am trying not to buy coffee in the morning to save money as well as avoid disposing of a paper cup and my office has the worst coffee on the planet. I have tried bringing coffee from home, but with my purse and my lunch and whatever else I have to cart around that day, I quickly run out of hands to hold on to the subway. So tea seems like a nice compromise. I have a little pot so that I can brew a little over a cup of tea and I can give myself little servings so it stays warm. All tea is not created equal is what I am finding. I am not a fan of earl gray apparently, I tend to like green tea especially the jasmine variety. I like all of my tea with a little milk (skim is just fine for tea drinking) and if it isn’t iced I want it to be hot! There is nothing more disappointing than drinking warm tea.

This year, I decided that we didn’t have room for a tree. I have been a little stressed about the whole Chirstmas season so clearing a space didn’t seem like an option. Instead of having nothing we got a huge wreath, a small wreath and some garland. The huge wreath is really big. I swear it is about five feet around. It is already making the house smell as nice as any tree would, which is what I would have missed most. Who knows, maybe this will be our tradition from now on. Now we have to put on the lights and ornaments to make it complete.

I am not generally a Starbucks coffee drinker. I don’t have anything against them, although the Starbucks in the Forbidden City was a bit distressing, they are just not the first place I tend to turn for my cuppa joe. I do however love their peppermint mocha. It as much as anything these days signals the start of the holiday season with its red festive cup and green festive cup holder. I know, I know, it goes against everything I stand for as far as trying to be more green. I can’t help myself. I also know that they are not a low fat treat. I tried one with skim milk the other day and it was terrible. So I guess I am just going to have to understand that this is a treat and I can’t do it everyday.

I love love love to travel. I love experiencing new things. I love to see new places. On this particular trip I loved seeing my mom and Bill so much since I don’t get to see them all that often. That said, I am glad to be home. I am glad to be able to get up in the morning and not talk to anyone until I get to work (I like to ease into my day, so sue me.) I am glad to not be living out of my suitcase. I am glad to be able to order a cup of coffee at breakfast and not have to elaborate. I am glad to be back to my perfectly cushy bed with just the right amount of covers and soft sheets. I am glad to be a local and not a tourist. As much as I love the new, I am again glad for the familiar. When I come back to NY after being away I love it again, even if I was pretty tired of it before I left. I want to experience my city the way I just experienced someone else’s. I will slip back into my daily routine of work, laundry, groceries before too long, but for now I am happy to be home.

We are back from the land down under. Yesterday was the longest day ever. Seriously. After spending the whole day of December 1st in Auckland having a lovely time we boarded our flight to LAX at 11:00pm, we got into LA at 2:00pm December 1st AND THEN got into JFK at 11:45pm on December 1st! I think that more than makes up for losing November 11th. If only the travel time was actually 45 minutes instead of 21 hours. So here we are coming from summer weather to snow. Yup, you read correctly, it is snowing in the Big Apple. I have to trade in my summer clothes for a sweater and coat and scarf and hat and gloves. Right now my body is trying to tell me it is the middle of the night despite the fact that it is 1:00 in the afternoon. I have a feeling it is going to take a while to get back on to Eastern Standard time. I am stuggling to stay awake so that I can sleep tonight, but man do I want to take a nap.

Christmas is in full swing in Australia and New Zealand. There is Christmas music, trees, wreaths, Santa is in the mall… the only thing is, for me, it didn’t feel like Christmas at all. I attribute that to the fact that it was about 80 degrees. It is hard for it to begin to look a lot like Christmas when you are wearing tank tops and flip flops. To me Christmas is chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Jack Frost nipping at your nose. In New Zealand the blossoms of the Pohutukaw blooms signal ’tis the season to be jolly.

Today Bill and I did the Sydney Bridge Climb. Mike and Mom decided that they might now be able to make it so they opted out. Whoo hoo! I know, I know, very touristy but still very cool. We decided on the twilight climb. It took about an hour to get ready. We put on special jump suits and rain pants and then hooked on a safety harness, headsets, a special jacket and fleece that folded into a pouch that stayed hooked on to your jacket, and a few other items that hooked on to the jumpsuit like a glasses strap and hat. Phew! It was a lot of stuff. The bridge has an amazing view of the opera house and it was lovely to see Sydney at night from on high. It honestly wasn’t scary. You are hooked in the whole way and for most of the climb you are on a wide section of the bridge. I would definitely recommend it.