Corinth Hometown Christmas

Thanks to the Village of Corinth and local merchants we enjoyed a festive Hometown Christmas Celebration. Children laughing and racing for holiday treats, was the site to be seen as the parade pranced down main street. Fire truck sirens, horse drawn carriages and Mr. and Mrs. Claus greeted each child with wonder for the holiday season. With Christmas carols ringing in the crisp winter air and fireworks lighting up the skies, it was sure to many that the Christmas season has begun. A parade, fireworks, and tasting from Corinth Wine and Liquor were a few of the many events of the day. Below are a few of the sites we saw. 

 Corinth's very own Ledge Rock Hill Winery wines with owner Gary Akrop. 

My absolute favorite is the Cabernet Sauvignon.

A quiet end to the evening by our Christmas tree with a bottle of Cabernet and 

Cabin Fever Maple Whiskey. 

Red and White and Sparkles All Over!

I have been so excited to decorate for the new Christmas season. My inspiration this year came from a set of gorgeous red birds and silver reindeer I bought last Christmas season. Anything I have found that sparkles or is red and white, continues to build upon the few surfaces my little 3 year old son can't reach!

Paper and Crystal garland I made to hang in the kitchen and living room.

Spring!

When you live in the Adirondacks, there is never a guarantee that your Easter will be warm and sunny. When Easter falls in March, you are almost certainly going to have your egg hunts in the snow. When it falls in April however, you hold your breath and hope for a warm and sunny celebration. This year, it seems the weather is unaware of the impending April holiday. The wind is cold, and there is still snow on the ground in our yard. Nevertheless, there are signs of spring and life all around. And so we take heart. Though the weather may be slow to respond, we still hold on to the new growth and feeble sunshine, being warmed by the knowledge that although snow flurries may still be falling, the winter is over - the spring has come.

Signs of life

Snow Crocuses

Forced blooms to hurry in Spring

Spring blooms in a bouquet

Blooms and Snow

Snow Day Traditions

I slept with my laptop on the floor beside my bed.  When the alarm sounded, I lazily opened the screen and pressed refresh.  It showed the local news website with the school closings listed.  I scanned for my children's school.  I found it.  School was closed.  Aaaahhhh.  The sweet freedom of an unhurried morning.  No scrambled searches for the missing gym sneaker.  No hurried preparation of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  No last minute homework checking.  No shouting up the stairs to stop fighting and finish brushing your teeth!!!!

Instead, a snow day morning means lazily sleeping in.  Waking up to special pancakes.  Snowmen and snow forts.  Hot tea with sugar cubes to revive the soul and warm the fingers.  At our house, snow days mean family days.  Such is the luxury of a teacher father.  At Abby's house, on the first snow day of the year, they make homemade funnel cakes.  So my question is this:  what are the snow day traditions at your house?  If you have any, please share them with us.  I would love to add another piece of family wonder to my favorite days of the year.  If you don't have any, what would you like them to be?

A Tale of Two Thanksgivings

A beautiful table with neatly pressed, white linens.  Cream colored dishes and candlelight.  Cranberries floating in crystal vases.  Delicate decanters of ginger syrup.  Conversations and laughter, flickering jewelry and smiles.

Two oddly shaped tables shoved together.  Stained tablecloths and mismatched plates.  Bowls of creamed vegetables, spilling over.  Lasagna as a side dish kept in the kitchen.  Loud laughter and chaotic conversations.

These are the two Thanksgivings of Sharpe Designs.  Abby and her family celebrated with style and class.  As for me and mine?  Well, we celebrated with volume and vigor.  And despite the massive differences between our two days, the similarities were all that mattered.  Lots of love, fantastic friendships, incredible enjoyment, delicious food, and overwhelming thanks.

(Send us photos of your thanksgivings or a description of how your day was different than ours and we may post it.)

Celebrations as an Essential Part of Life

As I sit at my desk I can hear the squeals of delight from the other side of the office door.  Just outside this tranquil room the many preparations for a child's birthday party are being made.  Balloons are blown up, streamers hung, cakes frosted, and on occasion, an over-excited child is being calmed and cuddled.  Today is Abby's daughter's birthday, and princess pink decorations have invaded every possible space.

Easily, the greatest moment of my day was witnessing the look on the birthday girl's face as she busted through the door after school into the transformed house.  She was clearly overwhelmed and her cheeks flushed bright red.  I was reminded, in that tiny moment, that these celebrations are an essential part of life.

There are seasons when it seems we do not have much to celebrate.  But there are other seasons, thankfully, that bring us a reprieve and give us cause to kick up our heels, throw back our heads and laugh our fullest laughs.  Today we celebrate the birth of a beautiful girl.  But we also celebrate the promise and possibilities that her life holds.  We celebrate the miracle of becoming a family and all that family means.  We rejoice that pink frosted cupcakes can bring such joy.  We rejoice simply because there is joy to be found.  Today we celebrate the necessity of celebrations.  We lift off the pressures of life and work, and we smile.