We spent a winter evening in a greenhouse last weekend for a lovely holiday bash, complete with live music.  The cold heightened the senses, the candles and Christmas lights dazzled the eyes, and the food and libations warmed the belly and soul.  You couldn’t ask for more.

December always seems to fly past me, leaving me a bit stunned when I wake up on New Year’s Day.  But this year is a bit different.  My family has decided to only give homemade/handmade gifts this year.  This is wonderful in many ways, but particularly because there is no pressure to rush around from store to store desperately trying to find a perfect gift under less than perfect circumstances.  The financial relief is nice too, but mostly it’s the lack of pressure.  I am planning my gifts and I still have things left to make and do, but they are things I can do in my own home, sitting by the fire, enjoying the glow of Christmas lights and music (or watching episodes of Battlestar Galactica…).  And that’s the best way to do it.

I was above the clouds for a couple hours this past weekend.  My view from Portland, Maine to NYC looked like this:

More to come soon…