Winter Solstice

8:22:23

In our little corner of the world, that is how many daylight hours (& minutes & seconds), we enjoyed yesterday. It's exciting to realize that the days start getting longer from here on out.

During our day of wintry solstice celebrating, I:

• Basked in the glorious sunshine streaming in through dirty windows. Yep, sun... in December... in Seattle! And yep, I discovered another chore to add to my to-do list!
• Sauteed random, sometimes unrecognizable, chicken parts with whole onions, carrots, celery and loads of hauntingly delicious-smelling herbs (dissecting a chicken was a new feat for me). End result - deep golden chicken broth straight from heaven... my neighbors could even smell it.
• Threw chicken, rice, lentils and alphabet pasta (cause it's so darn cute) into a big stock pot for a lovely meal I've dubbed Winter Solstice Soup
• Started whipping up whole-wheat rolls
• Worked and worked and worked (working from home isn't bad, as long as you nail yourself to your chair)
• Did a little dance that 1) I get to work from home and 2) I actually did my work from home
• Stopped dancing and did laundry, washed dishes, and ran around like a human vacuum, cleaning up after Mr. B
• Baked 3 batches of cookies (Mint M&M chocolate-y goodness)
• Sat down with The Men to a warm meal of W.S.S. & hot-from-the-oven rolls, with homemade blackberry jam (thank you kindly, Andrea!)
• Went visiting teaching to Bretta, with whom it's always delightfully fun to chat
• Bathed in the warm glow of the white Christmas lights decking our halls... and wondered why we don't just keep this lovely tradition all year long.
• Drifted off to dreamland, but not before whispering a prayer filled with gratitude for family, a warm home, good friends, a full belly, cozy blankets and this beautiful season.

All in all, a good day, despite the shortness of it!