it's a new year

Oh, my. Here it is, a new year, and it's remained Thanksgiving on my blog for weeks and weeks. Every once in a while over the past month, I've checked my own blog thinking maybe a new entry might have magically appeared. But, no.

And then the thought of creating a new entry from scratch just made me tired. What will all the presents to buy! And the tree to decorate! And family to host!

But here we are, re-entering a post-Christmas world. A little foggy. A lot foggy. And with much to recount to anyone still checking our blog. Or haven't you given up already?

Let's go all the way back through this holiday blitz, shall we? Here's the holiday rundown.

Thanksgiving for 16 turned into Thanksgiving for 20. We concocted a major spread and deemed it a success. In spite of the fact that my father crammed all the leftovers together and sent us home with a tupperware shaped block of turkeymashedpotatoesbrusselssproutsbutternutsquash. Ben is still sad about the state of the leftovers. He believes they are the best part of Thanksgiving and should be treated with great care. He is, in fact, still talking about this travesty as of just the other day.

After many many days of shopping and wrapping and cooking and remembering daily someone we forgot to purchase a present for...we made it to Christmas Day. Barely. Just. (Sigh of relief!) Ben's parents flew in from South Africa to spend the holidays with us, hopeful for snow. Snow didn't come, but we had a Merry Christmas anyway. They are heading back home tomorrow. And we will miss them. Especially because they have taken Daisy the Dog for walks in the morning while we curl up under the covers for yet another lie-in.

No, really. They have been lovely house guests, and it's been a great treat to introduce them to the little house, Daisy the Dog, our Christmas traditions still in the making and our life here, stateside.

We spent several days at the beach post-Christmas to recover. We lucked out with a string of sunny days warm enough for shorts. Ben purchased a single kayak so he can be Alone at Sea, and braved the December Atlantic in his little boat for a romp with dolphins swimming close to shore. And then, to cap it all of, we had a perfectly rainy day during which I was completely justified in my decision to lie in bed all day and watch a Project Runway marathon on Bravo. While eating sea salt caramels left over from my stocking. Oh God, do I love that show! I was so gorged out on television by the end of the day, I could barely form complete sentences. But so worth it.

And then, to close out the year, we had a fondue party at Carlye and Steve's with just a few friends. Carlye forced Ben to play games. And I think he actually enjoyed it. We had a little champagne toast at midnight and sat down to a final course of chocolate fondue to celebrate a new year. Perfect.

And, so, here we are now. Ben is doing yard work while Daisy lolls around in the sunshine. We're contemplating a hike before it gets dark. And I'm planning a lemon roast chicken for our last supper before Gerry and Gill leave tomorrow.

So, until next time (which won't be so very far away, I promise)...Happy New Year!