Post Christmas

For some reason, don't know why, I've been unable to access blogger. When it opened today I was truly surprised and not really prepared to blog. I just tried "blogspot" to see what would happen and was surprised. But, I have words.

It was a wonderful Christmas and it sped by entirely too quickly. Christmas Eve I got off work, delivered some gifts, and loaded up the truck with food and gifts to go to Steph's house. I didn't think that everything would fit in the cab, but of course most of it did. Gift bags squish. I left a few things at home for Sarah and Winnie to pick up on their way through. They got to Steph's about an hour after me. It was wonderful to have Aunt Tina join us.

There was lovely food, good wine, and presents. At one point, Aaron built a fort of presents and was very reluctant to give any up and lose his fort.

Back again for Christmas morning and the Santa unveiling. Nora had asked for a pillow pet, and pillow pets for her and Aaron were in a huge gift bag. She opened her presents and quietly told her mom, "I think Santa forgot my pillow pet." And there it was. In the bag. It was the top-of-the-list Santa gift.

Steph and Mike and family left for Greenville, and Sarah, Winnie, and I went to the movies. Sarah and I have made this a Christmas tradition for at least five years now. We saw True Grit, a good choice, and came home and ate the lasagna which had been baking while we were gone.

The day after Christmas, we met family friends at Krohn Conservatory and Rookwood Restaurant, which are about a mile apart. Great food once again, and the conservatory is always a treat. That night, Steph, Nora, and Aaron came for a sleepover (Nora's hopeful request) and Bridget came over in the evening.

And the next morning, it was already time for Sarah and Winnie to head back to North Carolina. So sad, too quiet after everyone left. It was an eleven-hour trip to get back to Asheville (normally 6 1/2) and I was relieved to get the phone call that the trip was over. Lots of snow in western Carolina and I-40 east was one-lane only through part of the gorge.

I truly love the holidays. I love the preparation and the company and the food and the shopping. I'm never quite prepared for how quickly it goes by and the silence afterwards.

My house is looking amazingly picked up, and I've started on the studio, a little at a time. Putting away something here and there, remembering what I made with it. Getting ready to organize the art supplies. Next year there will be more art, but more about that later.

And later, some pictures. I'm not really sure where my camera is right now.