for last year's words belong to last year's language....

Saying goodbye to not just a year, but an entire decade. 

2009-2019 took me to fourteen addresses in three states, about that many jobs, and umpteen dates.

Am hoping that this decade brings more stability and much more prosperity.

The fairies and "next year's words await another voice." 

Thoughts courtesy of T.S. Eliot

Happy 2020.

5th gear

One of the joys of working the day after Christmas is being able to drive quickly to work. Also grateful that I'm not working retail this season.

Our director got very creative about the background~this was the last day of my ESL class and we were standing in front of our corporate building, I swear.

Alba & Maria.

so this is Christmas

We finally decided that Christmas Dinner ought to be simply lefse. And maybe a few pickles; the rest is pretty much superfluous. 

The generations in lefse production. Delish.

#given

A gorgeous sunset on Christmas Eve.

A truly accurate photo.

May your stocking be full and may you find some delicious nibbles as you wait for Santa.

#joy

Not only was the mechanic early this morning, my car breezed through the emissions test (that they failed to do two weeks ago), traffic was light, and my colleauge gifted me with this decandence. I look forward to sprinkling/away over the winter.

#light

There's a ton of new construction around me, which means that there are some new sidewalks along roads that aren't being used. It's nice to have a quiet place to walk again, even if it is just a short loop. I love the frothy row of these grasses in the late afternoon light.

A couple of hours of quiet chat with a local writer friend while we watched hordes attemping to ice skate.

#until

Sunrise as I drove to work; I love winter skies.

Until I lit this candle, I did not know that dandelion and arugula would be scents that I would love in my home. My ESL tutee runs her own business. We are currently rewriting her website. From how exquisite her own home is, I welcome any gift from her.

Until I stuff others's stockings, all the teeny gifts are stashed in my Joy stocking.

Until the construction is finished, someone decorated a tree on the architect's modular.

Until the ice thaws, the ducks/geese have fled to Florida.

the VW/Audi corp tree

Happy Solstice & an offical welcome to Winter.

#save

Beauty & bubbles of laughter have saved my sanity this week. 

#name

Attended my niece's Christmas program this morning and found my December totem in this child. We're here, we're dressed somewhat festively, we're among you~but we'd far rather be home in our jammies.

This pencil also had my name on it at our staff gift exchange~it's going on my dating profile.

A gift from a student~thinking that it's going to be transformed from an old-lady brooch to some kind of twinkly hair ornament.

#spirit

#dream

Today's post is brought to you by the hashtag~dream.

Today's dreams are simple~to not be smacked by a driver with road rage.

To have one hour at work that isn't fraught with cray-cray.

And the final dream of today is for a solid night's slumber so I may tackle the actual dreams I want.

TIL (today, I learned)

While hanging out with the nieces, I learned that you can take 20 minutes to place a barrette in the right spot in the hairs.  I also learned that specific pieces of pineapple contain 'strings', and therefore are inedible. The land of a 4 yo is a wonderous and funny space.

#greater

Someone sent me an Advent calendar challenge for social media.

I'm not quite sure how this festive tire tree fits into today's hashtag, but I will say that I am grateful that another car repair is done and it was enough to get my new tags. 

in which our heroine makes pita

for the first time. Hot bread on a cold winter's night is always a good idea. The dough didn't respond well to the cold air~even though I proofed it in the oven with the light on. I'll try again on the next snow day.

Slathered with olive oil and some of the za'aatar mixture from former students~yum.

dabbles in the kitchen

How have I never heard of garlic confit? Made it yesterday afternoon and am looking forward to using it this week.

Inspired by a niece's school project of making fresh butter, I decided to try it myself. After wayyyyyy too long in shaking a jar of salted cream, I am grateful that I don't have to churn my own butter

A student just returned from her first trip to London and brought me some nice little tea bags.

tis the season of something

When your festive cookie cutters are giving you the side eye with a baleful 'tude and you're too tired to be bothered with cookies? Cute eggs for breakfast is the answer!

A student returned from a visit home to Mexico and brought us all little bottle of quince magic. With the day it was at work, be amazed that it's still sealed. Reading some poetry tonight with dinner and found one of my seasonal favs:

A little girl is singing for the faithful to come ye
Joyful and triumphant, a song she loves,
And also the partridge in a pear tree
And the golden rings and the turtle doves.
In the dark streets, red lights and green and blue
Where the faithful live, some joyful, some troubled,
Enduring the cold and also the flu,
Taking the garbage out and keeping the sidewalk shoveled.
Not much triumph going on here—and yet
There is much we do not understand.
And my hopes and fears are met
In this small singer holding onto my hand.
           Onward we go, faithfully, into the dark
           And are there angels hovering overhead? Hark.


"December" by Gary Johnson. Used with permission of the poet.

pithy

My favorite little peanut reindeer (circa mid-80s) is now hanging on my little tree.

Dazzling.

As I was perusing the pages of the Sunday paper, there was some ad with the tag line: "We're not here for good enough." That thought is lolling about in my head as I figure out what 2020 could bring.

so, this is Christmas

Still enjoying the vestiges of this plague, so I thought I'd get out my tree over the weekend for some cheer. When I plugged it in, only the bottom strand of lights was working.  I went to the one market that I can walk to and they had no lights. On Sunday, since I had to fill my car's tank with petrol, I forced myself into a Target.

In the cavernerous store, there was ONE box of white lights left. They were fancy twinkling ones (which I generaly hate), but it was that, or violet ones. (which, yes, would be pretty but all my ornaments are red/gold).

Brought them home, draped them around the tree and plugged everything in.

And now BOTH sets of lights are working, so I have a yellow/non-LCD and the new ones.

Maybe tonight I'll be inspired enough to put some ornaments on there as well.

le mystere

Thanks to the mystery person who sent this gorgeous silk scarf to me today. A stylish way to say good-bye to November.

feasted

A proud Trader's turkey watched our luncheon yesterday.

A festive little fellow by my plate.

Honestly don't know why we bother with any other foods, when all we truly want is hot lefse.

The design created by my 'phew.

liminality

Since I sound like Death's Assistant, our boss treated us to lunch today and sent us all home at noon.

Blissed out by being home, in my jammies, and slicing/dicing things for tomorrow's (and days after) feasting.

Yesterday, I meant to blog about the kindness of strangers, but came home rather cranky after the day. So, here's the goodness that did occur from an email that I sent:

Dropped my car off this morning. As I sound like Death's Admin, the guy handed me some Cold-Ez lozenges. Then, he worked out some discounts ($15 off for my bday). He also told me there's a Goodyear credit card for sitch like this. WHY has no one ever told me about this before????? You have six months with no interest. There's a 7 day waiting period, but it might kick in for the next round of repairs.

And then? Even though there is a bus stop directly outside the shop and it's a gorgeous crisp day, they insisted on driving me to the Metro. Then, my Metro card was out, but on the train side of the gates, it's cash only to refill (which is the stupidest method ever, because what travelers carry cash?) and the clerk opened a side gate so I could use the real machines to refill my card.

May your potatoes be fluffy, your pies be flaky-crusted, and your heart calm with gratitude.

Oh. And may your pants be stretchy!