Hello December

 

I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.
We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,
I heard a bird sing 
In the heart of December.

Oliver Herford

We're entering the Big Dark. The winter solstice happens on Tuesday December 21, then we start the long crawl back to more daylight. 

This time feels even darker than usual, with so much uncertainty and unsettling news. But after two long pandemic years, our family and close friends are all well and safe. We are blessed. 

Washington set new rainfall records in November, pretty impressive for the wettest month of the year. Today and tomorrow finally look dry, so we'll buy a tree, haul the holiday dishes up from the basement and the decorations down from the attic. 

We haven't made any firm Christmas plans yet, but it's comforting to keep the holiday rituals and traditions going. John says that means cookies. Lots of different cookies.