midwinter

We're in the thick of it, the midwinter celebrations: the making, the baking, the welcoming of winter - and the late nights of stitching and the last-minute present-making and the over-doing and not-enoughing that I haven't managed to keep out of our lives this year.  But there were the gems, like the spontaneous walk to the garden, and the baking of a million cookies with our good friend Savannah, and the snow that greeted us on Solstice, and the making and giving of sweet little friends (made using a pattern by Gingermelon, and seen here).  Sitting on the couch and reading to two girls who can read by themselves but still choose to be read to if it means cuddling together over a story.  Feasting and laughing and dancing with friends even though presents aren't wrapped and the house has yet to clean itself for our incoming houseguests...Sneaking in a few hours to talk with a friend while working on yet another secret solstice gift - those gift-making sessions that feel like a double gift, to yourself during the making and to your someone who receives it...Those are the sweet spots of joy in the busy flow of this season for me.