Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Last night’s sunset. After two days of heavy, heavy rain, we woke up on Christmas morning to green grass and no snow. The rain drove the snow away. I called it a “Reverse White Christmas” on Instagram. The temperature reached the high 50s on both Christmas Eve and Christmas day, but then, as winds came in yesterday afternoon, it plummeted. It’s now in the 20s.

I’m fine with it.

Christmas was lovely, quiet and joyous, just the way we wanted it. Other than spending some time at Rick and Doug’s for the past few years, our Christmases are usually just the two of us – our families are far flung – so it wasn’t really different than the usual. I made french toast in the morning since we are no longer having our usual coffee cake – it has way too much sugar. Then we opened presents. We had opted for a modest Christmas – only three presents each and nothing big. (We have yet to see two of our packages that are mysteriously missing.) I got something for the dollhouse and a book. Don got the new Paul McCartney album on vinyl and a planner. Since we had sent each other links for exactly what we wanted, nothing was a surprise. Surprises are harder the older you get, right? We don’t need all that much and we certainly don’t need something we’ll not use. I was pretty clear about my birthday presents as well, though Don did surprise me with that work table!

Don made an apple pie in the afternoon. Dinner (both of us were involved – yes, I cooked a lot yesterday!) was the best ever. We eat a Holiday Roast by Gardein and, frankly, it’s better than any turkey I ever ate in my non-vegetarian days. Along with that, Don roasted some vegetables, I made cloud biscuits, and finally – finally! – I made mashed potatoes that were exactly how I wanted them!  They came out exactly right. Huzzah!

We danced. We sang. We laughed a lot. A perfect Christmas. Mere sent a couple of packages for us – one from her and one from Little Z. We had a lovely FaceTime call with them later in the day.

Couldn’t have asked for anything more.

Today is sunny and very, very cold.

We’re going to lay low today, though I just sent Don to the post office to get some stamps. Don is going to work on some music and I suspect I’ll work on the English dollhouse and read.

I hope you had a lovely day yesterday, filled with peace and love. We’re heading to the end of the year, a year I will gladly kick to the curb, though I always qualify that by saying there has been much that is good in this year, as well.

Happy Saturday.

Stay safe.