hi. just to prove that i'm not always so grumpy, i thought i'd come back here with a few nice things lately::

. although i'm ready for a clean slate in my house, i'm bowing to protests and keeping the tree up a little longer.

. i may never take down the twinkly lights. that's a fact.

.i just made a starter for bread. we should have fresh loaves by tomorrow afternoon.

.and i'm also making, for the first time, a loaf of beer bread.

.little miss a. and i had lunch out today at our favorite place. it's been a long time. she rose to the occasion just beautifully.

.we grown-ups in the neighborhood are having our new years eve party sans kids this year. which means the kids are having a new years eve party across the street, at our house, sans grown-ups. i'm not sure which i'm more excited about. i've got nachos and little hot dogs and caramel corn and homemade chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches in mind for them. i even bought some ("clean") soda, and sparkling cider for midnight.
i may end up staying at the kids party(cue loud protesting).

.i bought a bonafide party dress. i really don't know what got into me, but i can not wait to put it on and watch the magic happen. um, that is what party dresses do, right? it seems to work for anna, and she knows from party dresses.

.every time i hear the opening words of weary memory, i feel like running to wherever tim is and kissing him: found your mittens behind a box of pictures; you would wear them before i brewed the tea.

.if i could just request one more gift from santa, it would definitely be a pair of these to wear as house slippers. lucky for me, i have a birthday in january.

.we are having one of the best months ever, in terms of people buying art from the gallery. it's like the art gods looked down on us, saw us feeling slightly discouraged, and said "keep at it. people are out there who like what you are doing." thanks for the chin up, art gods. i think we are coming into a new year of good things downtown.

well! i surprised myself, here. i could keep going, but i've got kids to hug. thanks for reading.
tt