• First of all, bravo Alabama, especially voters of color, who turned out to vote in yesterday’s election! Roy Moore is abhorrent in every way and Doug Jones is an exemplary human being. You done good, Alabama.

• Though houseplants are supposed to be going dormant right now, there seems to be a lot happening here at the cottage.

The grocery-store-rescue maranta has a new leaf emerging.

The monstera deliciosa has a new leaf emerging, which makes me very happy as this plant was extremely rootbound when I rescued it from Terrain.

And new leaves are emerging on the Zz plant. Also seen: new leaves on the pothos that lives on top of the kitchen china cabinet and new leaves on the dieffenbachia.

Oh, it makes this plant mom happy!

• Stella got a little Christmas cheer yesterday:

I was wondering what Don would think, he of the “no plants or flowers on Stella’s shelf” brand of thinking. Much to my surprise, he loves it. Go figure.

• As I did with the tree in the living room, I used a tree skirt made of a piece of barkcloth for this little tree in the den. I’m a lover of barkcloth and I really like the quirkiness of using it instead of something more traditional.

• One of my favorite ornaments.

• It is really cold here today. It was windy all night long and it’s still windy now. The temperature ‘felt’ like 5° this morning when we got out of bed.

But it’s sunny.

• Do you remember Ashley and Pliers, the two horses that we used to visit on our trail walks? They were in extreme peril and the Catskill Animal Sanctuary rescued them last year, which prompted us to join that incredible organization. I just renewed our membership yesterday and came upon this update in the Fall newsletter, Sanctuary Scene:

You may know the story of ancient horse Ashley and her grown son, Pliers. They were neglected and rescued from being shot. Ashley was blind, and Pliers was her fierce protector, frantically circling her and threatening to kick anyone who came close. It was a dangerous situation.  But poor Ashley didn’t have much time left on this earth and was spending her remaining days terrified, walking in frantic circles, and repeatedly falling into holes. Their main source of food was hikers on a nearby trail who would take pity and feed them.

And here’s the miracle. A terrified and neurotic blind horse and her dangerously  unpredictable boy are happy, well-adjusted horses who now approach us, seeking affection. We groom them, we kiss them, they bury their heads into our chests. The extent of their recovery is an enormous and unexpected victory. A true testament to both the healing power of love and the miracles your generosity allows. All hearts yearn to sing: theirs are…for the first time ever.

As I read this to Don yesterday, tears welled up in our eyes. Such a miracle! It came about because a neighbor called the authorities and contacted the Sanctuary, because people cared about Ashley and Pliers and wanted them to be saved. I remember that we weren’t at all sure the Sanctuary would take them on, but they did. Bless them for the work they do, for the lives they save.

Happy Wednesday.