Merry Christmas to all, or if you prefer: Happy Hanukkah, Festive Kawnzaa, Joyous Festivus, or Bah Humbug! Take your pick.
!. The first thing that is making me happy this week is Christmas. While it is a different experience than when I was a kid, I was so glad today to be able to get together with family and talk and eat and have a good time. It wasn't perfect, but it was really, truly good. And after some years with some health issues, I was glad that everyone is doing better, getting more mobile, and able to join in to the merriment today. I am sorry to have to report that my boyfriend had a near-debilitating migraine, but he pulled himself together for the celebration, and I am so grateful that he did that. I will also be happy when this headache has passed for him, along with all the nasty side effects from the meds he had to take for it. I wish him a less painful year next year! Big hug, my love!
2. The second things making me happy this year is that there is less drama in my life. I don't know if it's the wisdom that comes with age or my having made better choices (or my making better choices because of the wisdom that comes with age), but there is just a lot less chaos in my life these days. That made it possible for me to have some baking fun, and I spent two days baking more cookies than one family should consume along with two different kids of rolls. All were successful, which doesn't always happen with new recipes The cookie recipes were especially successful, mostly thankful for Dorie Greenspan and her new cookbook, Dorie's Cookies. I will definitely be doing more experimenting with that book. Also, always a big hit were the snickerdoodles, recipe courtesy of Joanne Chang and her Flour cookbook. There are so many special things about her cookbooks, especially Flour and Flour, too/ I don't think we've had a bad recipe from those yet, or even one that we are only half-heartedly. She is the real deal.
3. The third thing making me happy this week is the fact that this year is almost over. With Carrie Fisher still in the hospital recovering from a heart attack and the news just an hour or so ago that George Michael has passed away, 2016 has not been an easy year. We have lost what feels like an inordinate number of artists. I hope things calm themselves in 2017. We could use a break.
Most likely, that's my last post for this year. I look forward to 2017 and hope to give you more content on this side of the site, even if the only ones reading are my boyfriend and my mother. See you, 2016. I can't wait to see what 2017 brings!