It's Not Really Winter

We are up at the cottage, enjoying the mid-20's temperature and clear sky.  December is really my favorite month in Northern Taiwan.  It's generally dry and the temperature is suitable for wearing pretty much anything you like.  I really wish I could bottle up the atmosphere of the cottage today.  I could save it up and use it when we are stuck in the city.

A few days ago, I took Hannah out to the fabric market, and we picked up a box full of wooden beads, some string, and some felt.  The kids have spent the past day making artistic paper clips and bracelets, and sorting the beads according to shape and color.  I really should do more of this kind of craft with the children.  We did also make up the edible playdough Kyle was given as a gift of thanks at the Hyatt's Christmas event.  That was a bit of  a disaster, with the kitchen being temporarily covered in colored dough.  The craft was much more successful.

Richard is down in the basement, finishing off the drawers and boxes for our kitchen unit.  It's really amazing to see how he works, as there are no plans, just ideas in his head, and then suddenly we have fantastic cupboards designed to fit everything almost perfectly.

As for me, I tried my hand at filo pastry at lunch.  I made chicken and filo pastry, with cottage cheese and other bits and pieces as a sauce.  Despite making up double the needed lot of garlic butter, and putting holes in several sheets of filo, I actually managed to make something quite tasty.

Despite the lack of general care, our lemon trees are still alive.  The basil and mint is still surviving, too.  I am still trying to work out exactly what is going to grow in our garden.  Sage and oregano both died.  I think it was just too wet and then too hot during the middle of the day.  It's really hard to stay motivated when so many things have wilted, and when there is a deck chair and full fridge to tempt me!

Yesterday, we put the Christmas tree up.  Hannah woke me up at 6am, announcing sadly, "Santa didn't come!"  I tried to explain the concept of Christmas Day but I don't think she really understands the idea of waiting.  We also went online and wrote letters to Santa.  Kyle is waiting for his reply email.  Maybe not quite the same as writing them on paper, but Hannah can almost type her own name now.