Just back from Tennessee, where I got to hang with Nancy and Jesse, Irene, Cayuse and Gracie for a few days. Lovely. Blake's family is what you would expect-- incredibly kind, easy to get along with, interested in interesting things (music, being outside, living a good life). Nancy and I played music, talked, got massages (sigh), walked the dogs in beautiful sunshine weather. We also did a little bit of knitting, and I am excited to learn more about felting! I want to make felted flowers for hats and lapels... Will report back with progress and pictures. Here's an amazing blog I found that I think will be a source of inspiration (when I'm not bothering Nancy and my Grandmom for tips!).

p.s. Here's Cindy Lou, in her current favorite hangout... And a minute ago I found her hiding out in a not-so-large poinsetta plant!! Crazy cat :).

jamming with Frank, Bridgett, Betty and Carmel

Nathan plays bass

Aniceto beating Nat at chess...

... and Nat beating Aniceto at speed

sweet Kentucky sky

Merry merry happy happy.

Hope yours is yummy, love- and peace-filled.

Part 4: A Hettinger Family Christmas
(or, "A Little Elvis Never Hurt Anybody")

Every Tuesday night in Shepherdsville, you can go to the Mexican restaurant to eat and hear Elvis and friends. Fun, fun :o).

Part 3: A Hettinger Family Christmas
(or, "A Little Mall Line Dancing Never Hurt Anybody")

Natalie, Laura, Christina and I went to the E-town mall a few days ago, and it was SO very typically Kentucky. There were people in jeans and tennis shoes, women with tons of make-up and fake nails, and, yes, grown adults line dancing to country music! When Laura took this video, there were about 10 other people with their phone cameras out. I don't think they were filming for the same anthropological reasons... (p.s. This is not a full picture of KY rural life. We also have Wendell Berry, gorgeous knobs and incredible springs and falls. But those just aren't as silly as what you see in the mall!)

Part 2: A Hettinger Family Christmas
(or, "A Little Sugar Never Hurt Anybody")

I had the nicest day, yesterday! First I got to hang out with my Godmama and cousins, and we made some pretty amazing gingerbread constructions-- Josef made a castle, replete with magical creatures (mer-bears, gargoyles, a dragon made out of 6-year-old starburst pieces...). Erin made a stable with an incredible 3D roof, and Patrick made his first-ever gingerbread house. Mine's below-- note the landscaping, with flower pots!

Finished the day by hanging out with two of my favorite girls, Beth and Gita, and their cutie little girls, Maura and Abby. Lovely :o).

Part 1 of "A Hettinger Family Christmas"
(or, "A Little Chaos Never Hurt Anybody")

Just got confirmation that I'll be playing at the 2009 Anchorage Folk Festival. Will be on at 8:45pm, for a 15-minute set, January 15th at the Wendy Williamson Theater (UAA). The entire night is free, and when I went 2 years ago it was a great evening. Hope you can make it!

Going shopping with Laura... in short sleeves!

On the way to Kentucky, flying over the Yukon.
Wow.

The other day I was talking with lovely Saro-girl about how important it is to have colorful accessories this time of year; we wear the same scarves and hats and gloves every day, and if they're pretty, it makes a big difference. And look what just arrived in the mail! It's a beautiful and vibrant, generous swath of hand-made warmth. Truly perfect. Thank you, Nancy! I'm going to wear it for ice skating tonight :o).

Having Happy Friends Can Make You Happy
New findings from Harvard. So interesting! Here's a quote: "...the researchers found that when an individual becomes happy, a friend living within a mile experiences a 25 percent increased chance of becoming happy. A co-resident spouse experiences an 8 percent increased chance, siblings living within one mile have a 14 percent increased chance, and for next-door neighbors, 34 percent." I love the bit about happy neighbors :).

Also, here are some pics from this week.

Here's our tree, mid-decorating, and smelling like Christmas.

Yesterday was breathtakingly beautiful.

And here's Sky Gathering, with the very first $ we've earned!
(Some kids bought a recording of our fun gig on Thursday.)

What sustains me: Time outside. Singing with Elise. Creating. Making and appreciating beautiful spaces. Sleep. Conversations with good friends. Music jam nights. Hanging out with kids and other honest, unabashedly loving and enthusiastic people. Discipline. The people who are dependably present and kind. Sunshine. Water. Wind. The mountains. Being still. Prayer. Flowers. Cooking and eating with loved ones. Clear-thinking. Being grateful. Getting sweaty. Good work. Standing up straight.

What sustains you?

in thanks of...

* a fun trip to Bishop's Attic (thrift store!) with Camper and Elise
* learning how to make halibut chowder
* Kentucky in one week
* growing things
* my beautiful cousins
* west and east coast friends (and those in the middle)
* good books
* candy from St. Nick
* making music with people I love
* learning new songs from Saro
* that crazy wind storm
* the LETTGO license plate
* my new snow skirt :o)

Love, love, love in the
mail, mail, mail!

I drooled over this book at a sustainability conference at MIT last spring, but had forgotten about it. Such a treat to find it in the mailbox on this blustery*, cold afternoon! Perfect. I'm going to make some tea, light some candles and settle in for the evening. Thank you, sweet Clare!


(*So blustery that on my run, earlier,
I was blown across the icy trail at one point!
Seriously. Amazing.)

Sun out the window, low in the south.
Gotta catch it when you can!

The International Gallery of Contemporary Art, in downtown Anchorage, AK, is hosting a fun exhibit called "ART BOX/ED." Two months ago, the gallery gave away over a hundred wooden boxes to members and to the general public, with an invitation to somehow embellish them. Natalie and I both got one, and this weekend they'll be exhibited and auctioned off. Here they are: Natalie's is the amazing Japanese-inspired waves box, and mine is the Red one. I love it when art is accessible like this!

Snow out the window, and my lunch date.