[Dinner the other night, December 2007.] This year I tried very hard not to subscribe to the “one for you, two for me” philosophy that has sometimes plagued my holiday shopping. Three seasons ago in particular there was some retail therapy which resulted in lots of beautiful presents for my loved ones, but also a [...]

{Lemons in the backyard, December 2007.] It’s been chilly here the last few days; winter seeps in the doors and the cats are reluctant to go outside. My brother left for the East Coast yesterday morning, and I saw the sun make its way up the horizon as his old truck rumbled off up the [...]

[My holiday cards this year, December 2007.] We’re off to the beach to soak in some of this beautiful, sunny, clear (and cold) day — after breakfast, that is. The past few days have been a whirlwind of eating some really good meals, visiting friends and eating cookies (and pumpkin pie with piles of whipped [...]

‘I have everything to make me glad I am alive. I am filled with dreams and mysteries. I am all sun and air and sparkle. I am vitalized, organic.’-Jack London This photo of the waves at Ocean Beach this fall makes me think of my favorite quote by Jack London — he of the stories [...]

It’s almost time — I’m nearing the home stretch, and I’m ready. Just two more days of work (and hard work it is, darn it!) until the weekend, and then the holiday, and a few precious days off. I can hardly wait. There is still baking to be done, of course — a tin of [...]