Yes, yes, the hair is mostly grey now. People congratulate me on having a “good” color of grey. But what if it weren’t “good”? What if I had a weird, ashy, muddy color? Would I be forced to keep coloring it in order to look “good”? There is often some level of discomfort when I get into these conversations, because inevitably people (read: women) start to question their own commitment to artificial color. I do not judge. I religiously colored my hair for 15 years and, if the inconvenience of spending precious city time in the salon chair were not a factor, I might still be doing it. But the move upstate and all it has engendered do seem to have connected me to a more authentic expression of myself I find gratifying. That said, this post is about a different sort of grey altogether. Read on to find out more, and to check out my latest list of inspiring links.

grizzled comeback

I refer, of course, to The Grey, the new flick from Liam Neeson, the acclaimed actor who has been reincarnated as a fierce yet vulnerable action star. (If you haven’t seen Seraphim Falls, Taken or Unknown, you’ve missed out on this new persona.) Essentially an outlandish chase, The Grey, directed by Joe Carnahan (Smokin’ Aces, Narc) is the story of a motley crew of plane-crash survivors endeavoring to elude the pack of ravenous wolves stalking them through a frigid Arctic landscape.

huffing and puffing

The film works as a blunt and brutal thriller, but when it strays into more existential territory I thought it got a touch heavy-handed. This doesn’t mean I can resist Mr. Neeson’s wounded blue eyes and fierce leadership. I would follow him into the belly of the beast.

Heading in a different direction? Here are a few distractions for the weekend…

This fascinating TED talk about our relationship to technology

Some more ideas about how to ditch the city for good

A new magablog (did I just write that?) from the natural foodists (and that?) at Pressed Juice

Something excellent for your favorite kitchen compulsive (and the site has tons of other fun stuff)

A compelling reason to get to Philly early in the morning (notice who makes the spices)

Another fun alternative to the deli cup

My favorite things to sleep/lounge/loll about in

A bottomless pit of inspired imagery

A fabulous new oxymoron: locally-made copper

Another reason to dream of spring

The long-awaited answer to What on earth do I do with this?

The perfect Valentine’s Day gift for yourself

Have a beautiful weekend! xo

You may remember the Dreaded Bathroom Renovation that commenced around this time last year. You know, the one that was supposed to take a week and took many, many more? So many in fact that I came dangerously close to the edge and even broke out in shingles on my neck. In the end, it all turned out fine and we remain quite pleased with our new loo. And G finally brought home the right lens to shoot the tiny, narrow space in which we conduct all our ablutions, so I can share the outcome of all that suffering with you. Normally, you would show the before pictures as well, but I am just too ashamed to do that. Suffice it to say that I turned to G one day and said This looks like a poor person’s bathroom. That may seem like a terribly elitist statement, but I think it begins to give you the right visual. It was so bad that you would think only a total lack of funds could be keeping the owner from fixing the situation. It was rotten through and through. Cracked and loose tiles meant years of seepage and leaks, and there was a permanent air of mildew. Our towels stank just a day or so after washing. Oh, the horror. And now? Something worthy of showing you. (Though please bear in mind that the lighting does not do it justice.)

sink or swim

Because it’s such a tiny space, I was going for something very functional with plenty of storage. But I also wanted a look that straddled the line between rustic and sophisticated, as I think the rest of our home does. I resist going too country or “grandma,” and I do like ethnic touches—artifacts from our travels, mostly. (The shower curtain is made from a vintage Indonesian batik.) There’s not a great deal of color in the house, but what there is tends to dovetail with the natural tones surrounding us: dark green, greys, browns, and the occasional flash of orange.

into the glass darkly

Even though the space is very limited (not-big-enough-for-a-decent-tub small), I wanted rich color and texture and not just the typically stark white bathroom. We found these gorgeous striated glass tiles in varying tones of grey and green, and used them on one wall only. They are dark but dramatic, and the brushed steel mirrored cabinets break up the wall. It would be wrong for me not to tell you that these cabinets, ordered from Restoration Hardware, took NINE MONTHS to be delivered. And they are so poorly made that they were a bear to install. But in the end, they do look good.

shower the people with love

The large shower is now a joy to be in. The bronze hardware here and at the sink is from Jado. (I was unpleasantly surprised at how costly nice hardware can be.) I love the light-greenish-grey subway tiles, which are a close match to the paint color in the rest of the bathroom.

quite a hoot

The shower floor is squares of bluestone, a variation on the larger bluestone tiles that cover the rest of the floor. Bluestone is available at local quarries up here and is what we used for the bathroom counter and on our kitchen floor as well. The ceramic owl is 1950s Mexican pottery collected by my parents.

leather bar

There are a few nice touches that give the bathroom some character. I found these excellent bronze-and-leather drawer pulls on One King’s Lane, a great resource for discounted things for the home.

branch out

These fun towel hooks, also made from bronze, are from this fantastic store in Bangkok. I have been waiting for the right place to use them since I bought them on a trip to Thailand in 2005.

double hook

These woven wire hooks are made in India, and I got them many years ago at Anthropologie. They have served various purposes in different homes of mine. They work well for bathrobes.

I’m not showing you a picture of the toilet, but it’s just plain white. Another smaller brushed steel cabinet hangs above it. I finally have enough room for all my lotions and potions, and G has an entire cabinet all to himself. Our towels (Riviera sheet towels in coal from Matteo) stay fresh and, as for the renovation, I’m going to wash that memory right out of my hair.

It’s pretty fascinating how the internet has opened up so many avenues of opportunity for art and commerce—sometimes separately, sometimes together. There are jillions of blogs and online stores and social networks of every stripe. And now, there is a fantastic source for affordably priced art from the roster of talented illustrators represented by my dear friend Stephanie Pesakoff. Stampa, which just launched last week (as per this mention in the Times), offers limited series of prints, with 4 artists at a time each selling their exclusive work for 4 weeks only. Once the edition is closed, Stampa will never offer the same art work again. A new series is added every week, so there’s always something to discover. (There are actually 5 artists available currently, but that will change to a permanent format of 4.)

drawn to illustrators

Stephanie founded Art Department’s Illustration Division 16 years ago, and has fostered many successful careers and high-profile collaborations since then. She has impeccable taste, as you will see not only by the art for sale but by her beautifully designed site (full disclosure: it was created by Studio Lin, who also did mine). With Stampa, she invites you to “curate your space.” (OK, I wrote that tagline for her new venture.)

coming to life

This week, the site launched the colorful work of Bella Foster, a Los Angeles-based artist whose interiors and still lifes have an air of Matisse about them. Be sure to check out the profiles for each artist, which include a questionnaire that’s a little window into their personal quirks and fetishes.

of thee i singh

Also up on the site at this moment are Sara Singh‘s gracefully precise watercolors and ink drawings. I especially covet these beetles, the hummingbirds and the flies.

canine unit

Alli Arnold‘s whimsical and wonderfully humorous critters and characters are full of joy. You may recognize her work from projects with Tiffany and Kate Spade.

poetry in motion

Sirichai‘s strikingly simple geometrics in bold color combinations are so compelling. There’s a voluptuous apple on an acid green background that is electrifying and the dancers, above, are amazingly kinetic.

on top of the world

Bo Lundberg‘s striking colors and original style—informed from his work as a graphic designer—are in much demand from both editorial and corporate clients.

The artists that Stephanie represents create imagery that is very diverse but consistently brilliant. At the most basic level it’s ideal for enlivening your home and office. But it’s also a great opportunity to start a collection of beautiful exclusive pieces. And it’s art: transporting, inspiring, uplifting.

Stampa’s prints are made digitally, using archival inks and substrates, and each is hand-embossed with the company’s gorgeous logo. The prints are available unframed or framed by expert framers in New York City using 100% archival materials. To join Stampa’s online community, you can register here. Go ahead, curate your space.

TO HELP STOP THE INTERNET CENSORSHIP BILLS, SOPA & PIPA, CONTACT CONGRESS NOW.

Martin Luther King, Jr. would have been 83 yesterday. Today is the day we honor him with a national holiday that, little by little, is actually being observed. Ronald Reagan signed it into law in 1983 and it was first observed in 1986. At first, some states resisted observing it by giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000. If you are off work today, or even if you are not, I hope you will take at least a few moments to consider and pay tribute to this great man, who helped change our country for the better. If you have never read his “I Have a Dream” speech, in which he called for racial equality and an end to discrimination, maybe you’ll take the time to do so now. (Or listen to him here.) It was delivered on August 28, 1963, to more than 200,000 civil rights supporters, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement.

Here is the speech in its entirety:

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.”

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we’ve come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.

We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

We cannot turn back.

There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: “For Whites Only.” We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until “justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest — quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of “interposition” and “nullification” — one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; “and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day — this will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim’s pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

What a week. I’m not one of those people who’s constantly posting on Facebook about how much they hate Monday or how excited they are that it’s Friday. I don’t live for the weekend. But I kind of want this Friday the 13th to be over so I can leave the week behind. Let’s just say the highlight was emphatically not spilling tea on my laptop and melting down into what can officially be called an adult tantrum. In the end, thanks to the quick thinking and soothing ministrations of my husband, it all turned out OK. What did I learn? That my laptop IS MY LIFE. (Also, not to have teetering cups of liquid near it…but I’ve “learned” that before.)

What, then, was the week’s highlight? I’d have to say it was another great day in the city. Truly, New York City at its best. I’ve been finding it rather energizing these days. From Howard, above, who sells his collection of foraged driftwood from a tarp near Union Square; to the lovely people at Marni in SoHo, who helped me find the perfect shearling jacket on sale; to the über-talented Lior Lev Sercarz, mixing up radical spice blends in his gallery/atelier on the West Side, the whole place seems to be pulsing with good creative energy.

howard’s finds from along the hudson

i bought the piece in the foreground ($15)

Of course I’m crazy for buying wood in the city when I live in a forest, but I like to support street artists.

mad spice-entist

I have mentioned La Boîte before, Lior Lev Sercarz’ spice business—and I want to devote an entire post just to him—but here is a profile to check out now if you’re interested. I bought four of his spice blends (even though I covet dozens and dozens more) and a box of his biscuits that I will save for a very special occasion.

part of the fatty chain

The day concluded with a couple of Aperol Spritzes at the bar at Otto, followed by a delicious dinner at Zac Pelaccio’s latest Fatty ‘Cue in the West Village.

standout dishes included this fried pork belly with green sauce

and this pretzel bread with ham and fermented-shrimp-dusted butter

As I look back over the week, I realize I came across so many inspiring things, in two and three dimensions. Here are a bunch more for you to peruse when you get a moment this weekend.

I want to use this on everything from toast to roast chicken to sesame noodles.

I must try absolutely everything from here, starting with the Amère Nouvelle.

This is the perfect companion to my favorite Zen koan: There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.

I love these tips for creating order, something which cannot be recommended enough.

And who wouldn’t want to get organized with these? And these?

If you can’t get to Dickson’s for jerky, I though these looked like a good option.

If, as I am, you are still befuddled by apps, you may find this helpful; and possibly this.

Ready for a little wanderlust? Peruse this list and you’ll soon be reaching for your passport.

Watch this to understand why I’m dreaming of a Nordic vacation.

If you love Downton Abbey, this will undoubtedly capture your fancy as well. (Damien Lewis and Gina McKee, both giving genius performances, make for the most insanely dysfunctional couple ever!)

If you’ve heard about these new curated retail sites but haven’t known which one to try, this is the one I recommend.

Ever obsessed with tea, I think some of these are in order; and also this.

And I pretty much lost my mind dreaming up possibilities for these.

At some point, you’ll want to stop daydreaming and head out into the world, and if you’re in New York, the Manhattan Users Guide comes in very handy. It features interesting activities like these wonderful classes from my friend, the amazingly talented artist Anne Watkins.

Have a lovely weekend! Make the most of every moment…

On New Year’s Eve, just before midnight, we went for a much-needed hike along a country road, four of us and a white dog that showed up like a ghostly spectre against the pitch-black night. We huffed and puffed in the bracing air, our stomachs heavy with brisket, risotto and many flavors of Jeni’s ice cream, straight from the source and drizzled with various homemade sauces (salty caramel, bittersweet chocolate, raspberry). It was actually the second hike of the day for G and me. That afternoon, we’d walked deep into the woods as we had our annual chat, reflecting back on the year gone by and discussing our hopes for one ahead. 2011 got a mixed review, mostly due to a certain broken leg that took the better part of 8 months (and counting) to fully heal. We are both committed to getting into fighting shape this winter and planning some physically challenging trips in the coming years, possibly including climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. But in general we want to simply continue on our paths, doing more of what we love and getting better at it.

Here are a few highlights from the year, as I shared it with you in this space we inhabit together. The first is the multi-tasking goddess, above, a new icon for my blog commissioned from illustrator extraordinaire Liselotte Watkins.

a meating of minds

The amazing Mrs. Wheelbarrow initiated the madness that is Charcutepalooza, and I participated for a few months (until I had to fly off to Indonesia). I learned to make my own pancetta and sausage!

nice to sea you

There was fun in the sun in Todos Santos, Mexico, and Antigua.

a warm welcome to indonesia

I flew to the rescue of my injured husband, and wound up having a blast in the markets of Yogyakarta.

the sights and tastes were endlessly exotic

the culture there is ancient and rich

back home, we managed to get the garden going

and even hosted our annual july 4th bbq (my hero!)

i spent lots of time in the woods

and they yielded an incredible bounty of mushrooms

beyond my wildest dreams (oh, and my grey hair grew in)

there were fruity cocktails

and preserving galore

fun road trips

and countless outings in the city

the glory of eating only from local farms

and many treats from my own kitchen

there were shared bonfires

quiet evenings at home

and others out in the world

in all things, i was aided and abetted by the divine titi

and my own true love (making a rare appearance)

Remember, it’s about wanting what you have, not having what you want.

What’s on your mind for 2012? I’d love to know what you’d like to discover this year, and where you’d like me to take you. Do tell…

Fast away the old year passes. The excitement with which we welcome the new is resoundingly optimistic. What is it about stepping into the future that fills us with such hope? Meanwhile, the older I get the quicker the time goes. It’s like it has a new momentum, a special determination to slip away from me. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream. I will not be daunted. I will grab each moment and ride it, bucking and swaying, into the golden sunset. I can scarcely believe that it’s been two years since I launched this blog, a true labor of love. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. As I humbly say, without you, I’m nothing. For 2012, I am resolving to remain curious. To keep learning and evolving. To welcome new people, places and things. To eat, drink and be merry. To stay fit. To cultivate strength, resilience and endurance. To cherish what I have. To be patient and kind (with myself and others). And, to echo one of Woody Guthrie’s 1942 resolutions, to “dream good.”

I hope this weekend brings you further opportunity to chill, space out, hang and unwind. Here are some links to help you while away a few idle hours. I wish you a celebratory New Year’s Eve and a very delicious 2012.

Why don’t you…

Make a refreshing, healthy snack.

this is my version of it

Assemble the perfect bar.

And, if you get too carried away with it on New Year’s Eve, consult these remedies.

Help your little ones re-engage with books.

Support a good cause.

Expand your horizons.

Learn to clarify stock.

Join me in thumbing through my new cookbooks, including this one, this one, this one, this one and this one.

Stock up on healthy ingredients.

Commit to a practice.

Laugh your ass off.

Much love,

Laura

‘Twas the night before Christmas and we were invited to spend it at Beaver Dam. You may remember it as the gorgeous house to which we fled last winter during the DBR (Dreaded Bathroom Renovation). Or perhaps you recall an impromptu potluck there about which I posted this fall. For Christmas Eve it had been splendidly decked out for the season, lit by candles and smelling of pine and woodsmoke from a blazing fire. Such hospitality! Dear friends, delicious food and wine, beautifully wrapped presents: it was an outpouring of love.

I awoke this morning to learn of a terrible tragedy that befell a family on Christmas morning, and I feel it is even more crucial to appreciate the good times we have together. This time of year is an especially good opportunity to express to your loved ones how much they mean to you. Don’t wait.

magic mushrooms

going stag

i hearth you

As you can see, there is no lack of drama in the decor at Beaver Dam. The owner is an antiques dealer and has an eye for the unusual (and the amusing). The “deer” head, above, is enormous, made of leather and mounted near the top of the 30-foot ceiling.

purely ornamental

love nest

Elements of nature are everywhere in the house, from the white pine Christmas tree cut down on the property to this wasps’ nest hanging from a light fixture.

seafood diet

The centerpiece of our grand feast was this gorgeous lobster paella, color-coordinated for the holiday, of course. It’s from a recipe by Spanish chef José Andrés, with wonderful layers of flavor from a spicy sofrito and rich, red-pepper infused stock.

let them eat cake

For dessert, there was pear upside-down cake with black walnut ice cream (recipes coming later this week).

shock and awe

It was a perfect evening for seven lucky friends, relaxed and indulgent. The only thing missing was the snow.

On Christmas morning, my true love gave to me: diamond earrings and a dehydrator. What did you get?

You’ve earned it. The right to put your feet up. To zone out. To nap. To sit in front of the fire reading that book that’s been tempting you for months. To try a new recipe, listen to music, have a long, meandering chat with a loved one. To trawl the interwebs for loot. To watch silly YouTube videos, favorite movies and fabulous TV shows. To stuff your face. To get drunk or high, or both. To go for a run, a ride, a hike. To pray, to celebrate, to review the past year and meditate on the future. To be grateful for what and whom you have. Remember, even though the kids are melting down and your mother-in-law is irritating and your sister is crying and your husband is gone: This is your time. Carve out some space for yourself and do exactly as you please.

Here are some links I’ve been compiling for you. May they bring you pleasure, inspiration, knowledge and fun, as you sip some delicious wine (or sparkling cider) and dream of what’s to come.

Enhance your kitchen with something from this list; or from here.

Make yourself a nice cup of tea, or play around with some of these recipes.

Dream about next year’s garden.

Sip something new; or this.

Try a new hairstyle.

Feel good (or better, anyway) about shopping for clothes.

Explore the possibilities of bitters; and salts.

Cook a big pot of this and make these.

Learn how to turn Facebook into something useful.

Fantasize about your own slice of paradise.

Treat yourself to a new mug.

Look at this.

Check out this blog; and this one; and this one; and this one; and this one.

I wish you the very merriest Christmas, peace on earth and more good will than words can say.