of Christmas last year and a few side notes.

*

simple montage of Christmas images 

from our home in the woods on a less than snowy

day but filled with love and longing. 

hoping .. praying

your day included

unexpected moments

of joy.

of peace.

of quiet.
with enough frivolity
to giggle even just a bit.
or more.

hoping that if it was a day just the

two of you or one of you

or a few of you

or

even a houseful,

that you made it extra special.

just because.

*

a table set for 2 this year.

little gem lettuces with paper thin radish slices

and green goddess dressing

grilled rib eyes

with a saute of mushrooms,

onion, bacon on top..

and garlic mashed potatoes

gingerbread trifle

for Christmas 2020 we've decided to have more humans

than two around our table. we missed it. and while this

year a table for two was our reality, next year .. more.

New Year's Eve included a chili cookoff at church..

there are some mighty fine chili chefs in these parts!

we brought chili and cornbread and honey butter.

it was yUm. everyone's chili was yUm.

tUms were consumed on the way home.

..yummy tUm tUm..

.wink.

and now we're back to day to day living

with a long list of projects still to do,

time for rest, treatment for my back issue,

and now the hubs shoulder issue ..

gettin' old ain't for sissies lemmetellya.

and there are walks to be had, letters to write,

a vintage trailer restoration to complete!!!

due to bone chilling temps, we'll be setting up

a bit of a shop here in the house. it'll be better

that way - so paint, and glaze, and stain

can properly adhere and dry before installation.

we are looking SO forward to hitting the road

some time in 2020. crossing my fingers

and projects off the to-do-list!

tomorrow we make the monthly trek

to the "big city" for "big box" items

along with some "small box" items

at specialty grocers and such.

we bring ice chests (multiple) and plenty of bags

with which to stock up.

it's an all day event,

then once home comes lugging

everything inside to portion, wrap, freeze,

organize etc. you get the idea?

thinking the day will end in early to bed.

I've discovered socks.

and I wear them.

every day.

and night.

this is a revelation to those

who truly know me - and know

that there were plenty of times even

in winter where we used to live

i'd be wearing sandals nearly 4 seasons.

not always - but plenty.

but now my toes are little poppycicles

and require sockies

so those thingies I wear.

willingly!

*

(1)

"tell the negative committee that meets

in your head to sit down and shut up."

.. Kathy Kendall ..

(2)

"someday God will wipe away your tears.

the hands that stretched the heavens will touch your 

cheeks. the hands that curled in agony as the

Roman spike cut through will someday cup your face

and brush away your tears. forever."

.. Max Lucado ..

somebody reading today needs to read those

quotes. again and again. i'm included.

with love,

sherry

p.s.

the dear deer say hello.