And we are off...

Matt and I are off to Mexico with our dear friends, Lance and Sasha in less than forty-eight hours. I have bittersweet feelings about going -- do not want to leave my little Lucia, but know that I will have a good time with my husband. And again it hits me, I do not want to leave my little Lucia! She is staying with Matt's parents and will be a-okay and in wonderful hands, I know; however, I am already homesick for her!!! Oh, motherhood.

I have enjoyed the last couple of days gallivanting around with her -- she is such a doll. When she gets tired of being anywhere she says, "mom, can we please go home now?" Today she told me that I was her best friend. So cute.

xoxo

Merry Christmas, World beyond our home

Santa has been to our home this evening;

he left a stocking full of goodies for dear-little-Lucia,

along with a jeep, a tunnel, blocks, dress up clothes, a doctor's kit and a stroller!

Our little Chee must have been a good girl this year!!

Matt and I are having wine and cuddling on the couch watching Midnight in Paris,

while bunny sleeps snugly in her bed and Scarlett is nestled at Matt's feet (because he will not let her on the couch!)

Perfection.

Love and peace.

The Holidays and thoughts of Loved Ones

When I was young I spent many Christmas Eve nights with my grandparents.

This morning when I woke, I thought  of Jack sitting with his glasses low on his nose, eyes staring downward at the neatly folded newspaper on his lap, satisfyingly open to his beloved crossword puzzle.

The radio would be muffled next to him; the FOX channel on at a low roar until a story caught his attention.

Wish I could sit by him or ask him to perk me some coffee.

Beautiful little bit via Free People Blog

Via Building 25 - Free People Blog

My FAVORITE POEM. EVER.

Emily Dickinson (1830–86).  Complete Poems.  1924.

THIS is my letter to the world,
That never wrote to me,—
The simple news that Nature told,
With tender majesty.
Her message is committed	5
To hands I cannot see;
For love of her, sweet countrymen,
Judge tenderly of me!

The Bell Jar

Image via Dear Hancock: 

"The drawing of the black shoes above are titled  The Bell Jar 

perhaps referring to the shoes that the protagonist in the book The Bell Jar fixates on at the end of the story."

Oh, Sylvia Plath, how I would have loved to see what else you would have done. 

 (...I think this pen and ink drawing 

would make for an awesome tattoo!)

a few of my favorite things

the smell of old books.

addressing and mailing christmas cards.

coffee in the morning - one cup too many, no less.

rekindling old friendships gone dry.

being with friends.

vinyl.

my husband.

my daughter.

christmas lights.

nativity scenes.

picking out my outfits every morning.

scarves.

walking into a clean kitchen.

chocolate pie.