year end cheer

there were a couple batches of gingerbread, and some peppermint bark.  there was a caroling party at a friend's house.  sweet notes in the mail.  sweet surprise boxes in the mail filled with goodies.  there were bird treats made on the solstice and later in the evening, a candlelit dinner with the best of friends.  sparkly lights, felted gifts for special little people, a christmas morning tea party with a very special new tea set (also made a dutch baby pancake instead of our usual cinnamon rolls and it was a huge hit- we went on to make it again twice over the next three days).  there were gifts brought back from Italy (Mike spent a week in Italy in mid-December, and hid the goodies until Christmas morning) - wine, some honey candies, honey, a huge bag of olives, and parmesan cheese from Parma.... yum, yum.  I was gifted a great new pair of slippers.  we had a low key and sweet holiday, to be sure. visits with friends and family, lots of time spent in pajamas and near the fire, many books read and movies watched.  delicious soups with dumplings (and without) and hearty wintry meals.  I knit a pair of matching hats for me and my girl.  Claire has watched The Secret Garden at least three times since Christmas.  I keep hoping the temperature will drop a bit and some snow will come our way.....  hopefully soon.

and now tomorrow we get back into the swing of things.  back to work and back to school.  time to make some plans and set some things into motion.

happy new year~ cheers!