cold snap

we're having the first cold snap of the season here on the east coast. in a matter of days, people put away their lightweight fleece, broke out the umbrellas, and now don their heavy down jackets when they head outside. this is great news for those of us in the business of outfitting the masses in said winter jackets. and it just adds something crisp to the mix as we head into the holidays.

if you've hung out here long enough, you know i am a sucker for the lights and music. i love giving gifts. i love finishing each day with some quiet moments gazing at the tree. i love decking the dog out with hated reindeer antlers. it is no different this year; the short days give such good reason to head inside where it is warm to spend time doing some nesting, some baking, and some gift wrapping.

more than anything, i look forward to the peace that comes with it all. the wind has a howl that is unique to this time of year. the pine trees are the only ones left to tell the story. the sun almost never makes it high in the sky, giving a sideways look to the entire day. songbirds come looking for seeds in the feeders. occasional snowflakes flutter from the sky.

keep it quiet and small, or big and loud, if that's your thing. soak it up and enjoy it, no need to delay. winter is long and we're just getting started.