In the deep freeze

Oh, my.  It is SO cold.  Right now, at 3:20 pm,  it is 0ºF. and the Weather Channel tells me it feels like -19º.  I have no trouble believing that!

This morning at 8:30, these were the facts:

And this wind chill warning is in effect until 7 tomorrow morning.

The photo at the top of the post shows an upstairs dormer window with icicles.   The snow that you see at the bottom of the window is what's built up on the porch roof. 

This is from a living room window.  That mound of snow in the foreground is covering up a stone wall.

Another from the living room.  Took this one to show the icicles.

Also from the living room.  Took this one this morning with my tablet as I loved the Christmas tree lights reflected in the outdoor trees.

I have much more that I could blog about, I'm sure.  Still lots to share from our December.  Sadly, all I can think about is how very cold I am!  Time to either cook something warm, or do some strenuous housecleaning!  (Or curl up with a cup of tea and a blanket...)

Merry Christmas!

To all of my blog readers and friends, a very Merry Christmas from our home to yours!  May we all take some time today to focus on the true reason for this glorious season.  Joy to the world!  The Lord is come!

December 20 Hodgepodge

Can you believe it?  It's Wednesday again,  time for the Hodgepodge with Joyce and friends at From This Side of the Pond.  Head on over to get the questions.  Then answer them on your own blog and go back over to Joyce's to link up!   Here are this week's questions:

1. Where have you found unexpected magic or delight this holiday season?

In things that I've been finding as I clean out my childhood home.  Whether it's photos I didn't know existed, letters I could pass on to bless other family members, or gorgeous vintage Christmas cards and trims, there has been much delight in this journey along with the drudgery and some frustration.

2. What's your favorite type of holiday gathering? Will you/have you gathered in your favorite way this month?

I like low-key, very simple holiday gatherings. Things like Christmas Eve supper and gifts with my granddaughters,  sharing a Christmas Day meal and gifts with my local daughter and her family, having a few friends in for cookies and eggnog, or impromptu cups of tea at a kitchen table.  Obviously, the first two haven't happened yet this month, but they will.  The last two have happened and were a relaxing way to enjoy the season together.  Last evening a friend and I hosted a simple cookie swap here at my house.  Good food and fellowship and cookies to take home.

A few of the cookies

3. Time has named 'The Silence Breakers' (women who came forward with stories of harassment)  'person of the year' for 2017. Would you agree? If not, who do you think deserves the title?

Oh, I just don't know how to answer this.  I do admire them for their courage, obviously.  I don't know that I would name them "Person of the Year", but then I seldom agree with Time's choices.  I have no real idea who I would say deserves the title, but I liked Joyce's idea of naming our nation's firefighters person of the year.  While we were out in Nevada, we saw a number of signs expressing appreciation to the firefighters for battling the wildfires in that part of the state.  And one night, out for pizza, we saw a number of firefighters getting their supper.  These are incredibly courageous folks that leave their homes for weeks on end (or more) and go to the aid of others in distant states.

4. How did you spend your time this year? Are you happy about that? Elaborate.

I have spent a good deal of time since my dad passed away working on responsibilities having to do with his estate.  Just how busy I've been was brought home to me this morning.  I ordinarily change out the paper treasures under the glass-topped desk in our bedroom seasonally, sometimes even monthly.  I cleared off the desk to pay the oil and electric bills for his house, and noticed what I had not paid attention to before: the cards under the glass had to do with springtime and Mother's Day!  My dad passed away the end of May.

As to being happy about it -- well, I am happy to do this task as a way of honoring my dad, but it has been and continues to be quite a task.  Let's say I'll be happy when this task is more complete than it is now. 

Glass desktop in a previous year

5. Bid farewell to 2017 in ten words or less. 

By God's grace I navigated it wisely and with joy.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Today has been a "desk day" in more ways than one; paying bills, writing a few cards, working on blog posts, planning menus and making a grocery list.  I definitely need more days like this.

And this ends this week's Hodgepodge.  Logically enough, there will be no Hodgepodge next week so we can all celebrate Christmas with our families and friends.  Merry Christmas!

December 13 Hodgepodge

This is a hodgepodge of vintage items I turned into a shadow box

It's Wednesday again,  time for the Hodgepodge with Joyce and friends at From This Side of the Pond.  Head on over to get the questions.  Then answer them on your own blog and go back over to Joyce's to link up!   Here are this week's questions:

1. 'Hurry less, worry less'...what's your strategy for making that happen this holiday season? How's it going so far?

I don't know if I really have a strategy, but I do find that I am hurrying less and worrying less ... and getting more done along the way.  I think that God is giving me great wisdom in managing my time and helping me not to stress about what isn't getting done.  I was able to order most Christmas gifts online between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and as a result was able to wrap and ship them to Nevada in a much more timely way than usual.  (My local gifts aren't yet wrapped, but I have nearly all of them.) It really helped, too, to face facts early on and recognize that there would be little to no time for making handcrafted gifts.  That prevented a lot of frustration.

2. Do you have a list of to-dos that need accomplishing in order to prepare your home and/or property for the winter season? What are some of the jobs on your list? Are you a do-it-yourselfer or do you hire someone to accomplish these tasks?

Just a mental list and one that is mostly in my husband's head, not mine.  One major job always on his list is getting wood in the cellar for the winter.  We have a wood furnace (forced hot air) which is our primary heat source and he likes to have enough wood in the cellar to last throughout the winter so that he doesn't have to add wood to the cellar during the winter.  Of course, it depends on how cold the particular winter is.  There have been times when he has transported wood on a plastic sled from the woodpile, across the snowy yard to the cellar window.

Other jobs include straightening things out in the garage (where he has likely used the space to work on other projects), hanging up things like bicycles and kayaks, and generally making space for the vehicles to fit in the garage for the winter.  He accomplishes all of these tasks himself without any help from me, although at times I will help to get the wood into the cellar.

3. According to dietitians surveyed, the most popular health foods for 2018 will be -turmeric, sprouted foods (bean sprouts, breads with sprouted grains, etc), veggies in place of grains, dairy free milk, and pulses (lentils, chickpeas, etc).  What's the first thought that ran through your head when you read this list? Of the foods listed which one might you add to your regular diet? Also, can milk really be dairy free? Is it still milk?

First thought that ran through my head:  I'm really impressed with the health benefits of turmeric, especially its ability to reduce inflammation in the body.   I have recently added it to my diet (my hubby has been taking it for awhile now). 

We eat a lot of legumes already and often do substitute veggies for grains (as in spaghetti squash instead of pasta or "cauliflower rice" instead of rice.  I don't drink milk, and my husband uses both fat-free milk and almond milk. 

I think that "dairy free milk", as used to refer to almond milk, soy milk, cashew milk, etc.  is not really a misnomer, for I believe the liquid resulting from any ground nut would be referred to as milk.

4. The Pantone Color of the Year for 2018 is Ultra Violet. According to the Pantone site 'Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking pointing us to the future.' What say you? Do you like the color purple? Did you see the movie or read the book-ha!?  Is purple a color you wear often? Describe for us one purple item in your home without using the word purple.  If you were in charge of such things what color would you select for 2018?

 I have no idea if I agree with the things that Ultra Violet might communicate as a color. I think it's not a favorite color of many adults and that people who tend to wear a lot of purple might possibly be original, creative types.

I do like the color purple but I have not seen the movie or read the book.  Purple is not a color I wear often, but I do have some purple items of clothing -- a  purple turtleneck and a long-sleeve t-shirt.  Oh, and a fleece top which someone passed on to me.  And a pair of purple jeans which I paid $3 for and which I wear mostly around the house.  I did have a gorgeous chenille sweater in purple, but it wore completely out.

I'm not sure that I have a purple item in my home other than the aforementioned articles of clothing.  I have no idea what color I would select for 2018.  I can't imagine being in charge of the Color of the Year or why anyone would even think a color of the year necessary.  But I do find it interesting.

5. Favorite book read this year?

Probably Come Rain or Come Shine, by Jan Karon.  I read it twice.  (And that reminds me, it's time to get out Shepherds Abiding.)  There were also a number of homekeeping books I've read and enjoyed this year.  One of my favorites was Love the Home You Have by Melissa Michaels.  I'm currently reading her Make Room for What You Love, and enjoying that even more.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

So thankful to finally have finished this December sampler.  I completed the stitching a year or two ago (I can't even remember!) and it has taken me this long to figure out how to finish it off.  It's long and skinny and would require custom framing, something I refuse to pay for.  (Regular readers will have perceived that I am not a perfectionist.)  I found a lot of inspiration from my friends Arlene at Nanaland and Sandy at
I Majored in Home Economics, both prolific stitchers who tend to finish projects quite ingeniously.  After seeing a project that Arlene had finished using a clipboard, I made the fortuitous discovery of a legal-size clipboard which worked perfectly for my finish.  I'm pleased with it. 

And so ends another Hodgepodge.  Happy Wednesday!

Sweet vintage card

Readers of my Christmas blog know that I love Christmas card scenes depicting mailboxes.  I've said many times that the reason I love these scenes so much may just be that they picture a more innocent, trusting time.  One could leave packages in and around the mailbox and they would be perfectly safe. 

Whatever the reason, I appreciate these simple country scenes so much.  And as I've been sorting through reams of old paper, I've found so many lovely cards, and probably a half-dozen depict mailbox scenes that are new to me.  This particular card is a tiny size, probably 3 by 5 inches, and I like the more muted colors.  The chickadee and bunny add a sweet touch.  Adding sentimental value to this card is the fact that it was sent by my favorite great-aunt, Bessie. 

If you love vintage, and I know many of you do, I'm sure this card will be of as much interest to you as it is to me!

December 8

Photo from Taste of Home

Well, a few Christmasy things have gotten done since my last progress post.  On Tuesday, I baked some Eggnog Log Cookies -- one of our favorite Christmas cookies.  They are one of the most time-consuming, so I made a double batch and sternly advised my husband not to eat too many of them. 

Wednesday I didn't manage to do a lot toward Christmas .. had a dental procedure late morning.  I did, however, bring my own CD (I listen to music during procedures involving the dentist's drill) and so John McDermott's soothing tenor kept me relaxed as I listened to The Holly and the Ivy.   (The Piano Guys would not have been as relaxing, but they sure would have drowned out the sound of the drill!)

Thursday I bought loads of ingredients for kitchen gifts as I did my regular grocery shopping.  I will definitely be making a couple of batches of chocolate-dipped orange slices, so got 4 bags of the candy and a large bag of dark chocolate chips.  Those who are interested may find that recipe here.  It's a real favorite!

Then Thursday afternoon I baked a batch of Secret Spice Cookies, dipping the tops in red or green sugar as I usually do with this type of cookie at Christmas.  They turned out really well and I wished I had made a double batch.  My hubby couldn't determine what the secret spice was, but he thought the cookies tasted great!

And then I tackled making a batch of Kitty’s Christmas Jam.  I had found the recipe last year and really wanted to try making some, but ran out of time.  I was fairly determined to make some jam this year and am glad that I made the effort.

The jam came out very well.  Now to decorate the jars for gift-giving, which should be lots of fun.

Today I've done very little toward Christmas preparations, other than to make a list for our little annual Christmas shopping excursion with three of our grandkids, planned for tomorrow.  Right now, though, I hope to wrap a few gifts.

My simple Christmas curtains

A few days ago I mentioned my dining room curtains and a simple change I made for Christmas, and Vee asked to see my Christmas curtains.

As I mentioned in that post, years ago I made some curtains to cover the bottom half of the dining room windows that look onto the porch.  The view is not all that pretty , and these simple curtains from vintage fabric

worked very well to camouflage it and still let light in.  Later on, I made some fall curtains with fabric I had on hand. 

For years, I've been wanting to make curtains specifically for Christmas or winter.  I've seen some lovely ideas, but there just hasn't been time to make the curtains.   So I usually just use the geranium curtains shown at top.   They are green and red, after all.

But this year I tried something different.  I used wooden clothespins to clip red-and-white checked dishtowels to the tension rods.  

 The photo above shows both windows.  Since the dishtowels are not wide enough to cover the entire window, I opted to keep them to one side of each window.

This is a better photo as far as showing the color of the walls and so on.  The hooked rug picture, if anyone was wondering, was made by my great-aunt Marjorie with the traditional hand hooking method.

These "curtains" would look nicer if I had enough dishtowels to use two per window, but I only have enough for one each so am going with that for now.  It has occurred to me that I could probably find some Christmas dishtowels, maybe even in the dollar store,  to serve the same purpose, so I may eventually do that.  And I'd still love to make some Christmas curtains, one of these years.  For now, though, my simple and cost-free solution is working fine.

December 6 Hodgepodge

 I'd say the general store above was filled with a hodgepodge of Christmasy things, wouldn't you agree?  This is a scan of a Christmas card our family sent one year when I was growing up.  I know, because the card was signed by me with the names of my parents and siblings.  My mother often had me sign and address the Christmas cards to help out, and that was a chore I enjoyed taking on.  This one, along with several others, apparently did not get sent.  My guess as to why?  I'm supposing that my perfectionist mother didn't think the cards I'd chosen were right for those particular recipients and re-did them, tucking the unsent ones away so I wouldn't know.  No matter -- I'm happy this card with its fun scene was there for me to find, as I'd forgotten all about it!

I'm not sure how this happened so fast, but it's Wednesday again -- not to mention that it's also December!   So it's time for the Hodgepodge with Joyce and friends at From This Side of the Pond.  Head on over to get the questions.  Then answer them on your own blog and go back over to Joyce's to link up!   Here are the [very challenging] questions for this week:

1. What title would you give this current chapter of your life?

What an interesting question!  Let's see.  Maybe "a tale of two houses" for I am spending time at two.  Maybe "never enough time."  Maybe "the endless season" as it seems I am never going to be finished with this task.

2. December 6 is National Microwave Oven Day. Who knew? Besides popcorn and coffee reheats, what's the most common thing you microwave? Could you get along without a microwave?

I microwave leftovers quite frequently.  I also use the microwave to soften butter or margarine for baking cookies, to heat a mug of water for tea, to melt chocolate or butter for various recipes, to make oatmeal, to cook frozen vegetables.  If I am making a baked potato just for myself, I'll bake it in the microwave.  Some types of candy, such as almond brittle or peanut brittle, are easily made in a microwave.  Although there was that one time ... when making almond brittle, a kitchen disaster did occur.

Could I get along without a microwave?  Absolutely, but it really does simplify my time in the kitchen and saves a lot of dishes.

3. If you could insert yourself into any Christmas carol and experience the lyrics in real life, which Christmas carol lyric would you choose and why?

Another fascinating question that really makes one stop and think.  Of course any of the biblical ones like "Joy to the World" or "O Little Town of Bethlehem" or "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks" would be neat to be part of, but you know, I really am happy to be living in modern times.  "Silver Bells" has always been one of my favorites.  How about this one: "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"?  I would like to take a look at the five and ten, glistening once again, and the tree in the Grand Hotel, and one in the park as well.  I suppose that is not strictly a Christmas carol, but it sure is a Christmas song.

4. Describe the most beautiful drive you've ever taken.

 Oh, that would really be difficult.  I would say almost any drive on Prince Edward Island.  Potato fields -- gorgeous green plants against red earth -- and fields of lupines, sloping down to the sea.  I have taken other scenic drives, up mountains and so on, but those invariably involve hairpin turns and switchbacks.  If I am truly to enjoy the scenery, it's better that the drive be straightforward and uncomplicated.

Partway up Wheeler Peak in Great Basin National Park

5. What's something on your Christmas list this year? (an actual list or figuratively speaking, either one)
 
On my actual list: Several winter getaways with my husband.
On my figurative list: The finished task of a cleaned-out house.  Also a new pastor for our church. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

 I seem to be enjoying Christmas music more than ever this year.  It's making a great backdrop for cleaning, baking cookies, whatever I'm doing.  My sorting and clearing out at my dad's home is being made much more enjoyable by having Christmas music playing while I'm working.  I just purchased John McDermott's The Holly and the Ivy and am loving it.

Music filled the house when my girls were home from college on Christmas break, back in the day

And so ends another Hodgepodge!  Happy Wednesday, everyone!  And Happy December, too.

A pretty outdoor decorating idea

Last year I spied this beautiful idea for outdoor decorations at the nursing home where my dad was living.

 They had one of these arrangements on either side of the pillars at the front entrance.

 I took the photos with my Kindle and they aren't all that great.  But you get the idea.  The elements to the arrangements are mostly natural.   Large bunches of fresh evergreen branches were placed in sap buckets.  So appropriate to New Hampshire!  Pine cones and winterberries were tucked in among the greenery.  I'm not sure what the silvery dried materials are.  Dusty miller perhaps?  Possibly even goldenrod.  I can't remember for sure but I think there may have been some white twigs in the arrangement.  Then a red bow was added and each bucket was placed atop a chunk of birch with the pretty birch bark still intact. 

Hope this lovely idea is an inspiration to someone!  I would love to make one of these to display outside at our own home.

December 4

 Just a little update on Christmasy preparations ... today I finally got the Christmas card banners in place over the dining room windows.  But there's more!

Years ago I made some curtains to cover the bottom half of the dining room windows that look onto the porch.  The view is not all that pretty and these simple curtains

worked very well to camouflage it and still let light in.  Later on, I made some fall curtains with fabric I had on hand.  For years, I've been wanting to make curtains specifically for Christmas or winter, but there just hasn't been time and I usually just use the geranium curtains above. 

But this year I tried something different.  I used wooden clothespins to clip red-and-white checked dishtowels to the tension rods.  It would look nicer if I had enough dishtowels to use two per window, but I only have enough for one each so am going with that for now.  It occurred to me that I could probably find some Christmas dishtowels, maybe even in the dollar store,  to serve the same purpose, so I may eventually do that.  For now, though, my simple and cost-free solution is working fine.  Maybe I can take a picture later, but not today.

Let's see -- last evening I wrapped about half of our gifts for the Nevada contingent and did the click and print at USPS.com, then scheduled a carrier pickup.  Light-years ahead of my usual speed in accomplishing this task. 

I hope to get the rest wrapped in the next few days and get them on their way as well.   While I'm at it, I'll also wrap the gifts I have for our local family members and stick them in large gift bags to await the Christmas tree.

There are just a few gifts left to purchase and even though I'm feeling very stretched in other ways, this part of my Christmas preparation seems in good order.

Between Saturday and today, I also prepared Christmas cards for a swap I'm taking part in and got those on their way.

Today I made some fudge and prepared care packages for a couple of college students to get them through the last days of the semester.  Just now did click and print and scheduled a carrier pickup for tomorrow.  I love being able to do this online ... it saves me so much time and trouble!

I'm also trying to take part in a Christmas photo challenge over at Instagram.  So far, so good!  I'm having fun with it.

That's all for now.  Hope everyone else is having a productive December!

A Christmas poem ~ "Christmas Splendor"

Some of my recent finds include vintage Ideals magazines in a smaller size for sending to friends.    Envelopes like the one shown above were included with these.  So pretty!  The envelopes are ever so faintly dusted with glitter, although you can't really tell by looking at this scan.

The poem I'm sharing came from the 1956 Ideals "Christmas Greetings".  It's by Lida Shivers Leech.

Christmas Splendor
Lida Shivers Leech

The dawn breaks o'er a beauteous scene,
Quiet, dazzling, and serene;
A wealth of diamonds in the snow
Set hill and vale aglow.

A panorama unsurpassed,
Traced by the Master-hand;
And etched in jewels crystal clear
By nature's magic wand.

A bright-eyed snowbird pecks around
For crumbs or berries red;
With cheery chirp he greets his mate
On icy branch o'erhead.

Christmas splendor-- a spotless robe
On roof, on shrub and tree;
We stand amazed and gaze in awe
On this, God's mystery.

This actually reminds me quite a bit of the type of poems my husband's dad would write.  It does set a beautiful scene.  God is indeed the Master Artist!

December 2

Oh, don't you love the vintage card above?  It's one that I found in my cleaning and sorting spree.  I love how it gives a window into a Christmas kitchen!

I really have no idea at all if I'll be able to post here daily, but I will give it a try.  Today I'll just share what I did yesterday for Christmas preparations:

* Began a December Scripture-writing plan
* Took down all the fall items in the dining room
* Took the fall trims off the grapevine wreath on the front door
* Replaced them with winterberries, at least for now
* Replaced "Autumn Blessings" with "December blessings" on the chalkboard
* Redid the table with a more Christmasy look
* Redid the hutch with a more Christmasy look
(Both of these are likely to change as Christmas gets closer.   Both are pretty simple right now.  The table just has a pretty Christmas dish towel (from my friend Arlene's Cracker Barrel giveaway) for a runner, with a Christmasy bowl of cookie cutters atop it.    The hutch will definitely be changed as more of my Christmas things are brought down from the attic.)

The boxes containing Christmas gifts are starting to arrive quickly now, so I will need to get busy wrapping and I do still have a few last gifts to attend to. 

One important thing I've done toward my Christmas cookie baking is to order a new hand mixer from a Black Friday sale at Kohl's.  My hand mixer barely works.  It doesn't owe me anything, as I have worked it nearly to death.  The new one should arrive any day and I am anxious to try it out!

December goals

How on earth did it get to be December?  The year has simply flown by, the time seeming to pass much more quickly than usual.  Be that as it may, the calendar tells me December is a reality.  So, time to set some goals!

Here are my goals for December:
* Work on Colossians Bible study in my quiet time †
* Memorize at least 4 Bible verses and review some older ones.
* Add 4 pages to my "What Do I Know About My God?" Scripture notebook
* Continue new study for Sunday School -- A Woman Who Reflects the Heart of Jesus
* Exercise or walk at least 20 times.
* Get to bed by 9:30 pm each night. 
* Limit sugar and red meat.
* Drink enough water each day.
* Drink kombucha each day.
* Keep up with cleaning and decluttering missions in homemaking zones of the week.
* Post in this blog every day in December if possible
* Post daily in my Christmas blog through December
* Continue working on several UFO craft projects
* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and work on crafting any handmade ones
* Declutter filing cabinets and bookshelves
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family
* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able
* Clean church and set up for potluck meal
* Sort out and declutter my dad's house; work on estate
* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating
* Decorate for Christmas
* Finish purchasing Christmas gifts; wrap; mail distant ones
* Take three of our local grandchildren for our traditional Christmas outing
* Send out cards for a Christmas card swap I'm participating in
* Make and carry out plans for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
* Focus on Advent each day this month
* Continue upholding my husband as he continues on with our church's pastoral search

 † I'll resume my informal study of Come Before Winter, by Charles Swindoll, sometime in the new year, depending on how my study of Colossians goes.

DECEMBER'S HEALTHY HABITS:  Drink enough water/exercise/eat healthfully/drink kombucha

WORD for 2017: Stewardship

And here's how November went:
* Work on Colossians Bible study in my quiet time † -- Not done.  I ended up participating in the Gratitude Challenge from Revive our Hearts, and after just a few days I knew I would have to set Colossians aside.
* Memorize at least 4 Bible verses and review some older ones -- done!
* Add 4 pages to my "What Do I Know About My God?" Scripture notebook -- not done.  The
Gratitude Challenge kept me busy every day!
* Continue new study for Sunday School -- A Woman Who Reflects the Heart of Jesus-- done!
* Exercise or walk at least 20 times -- done!
* Get to bed by 9:30 pm each night -- not done consistently.
* Limit sugar and red meat -- did great with meat, not so much with sugar.
* Drink enough water each day -- not done.
* Drink kombucha each day -- not done
* Keep up with cleaning and decluttering missions in homemaking zones of the week -- not done, although I have tried.
* Post in this blog most weekdays if possible -- done!
* Post regularly in my Christmas blog -- not done
* Continue working on several UFO craft projects -- not done, though I've worked on them a bit
* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and work on crafting any handmade ones -- not done
* Declutter filing cabinets and bookshelves -- not done
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family -- done!
* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able -- done!
* Clean church and set up for potluck meal -- done!
* Sort out and declutter my dad's house; work on estate -- not finished, but I've worked on it nearly every day.
* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating -- done!
* Make and carry out plans for Thanksgiving -- done!
* Focus on gratitude each day this month -- done!
* Continue upholding my husband as he continues on with our church's pastoral search -- done!

 † I'll resume my informal study of Come Before Winter, by Charles Swindoll, probably in December or the new year, depending on how my study of Colossians goes.

NOVEMBER'S HEALTHY HABITS:  Drink enough water/exercise/eat healthfully/drink kombucha

WORD for 2017: Stewardship