Happy Holidays!

Gang, one of the best things about being back in Chicago is being back near family for the holidays. A short commuter rail ride out for a couple of my favorite days of the year - that's awful swell. We were lucky to have a white Christmas, and for the whole fam (including my sister's thoroughly excellent partner) to make it in for a little bit. It's been yammery and joyful, and I'm reminded how lucky I am to be a part of a family that talks, that loves well, and eats well.



I'm jotting this out during a post-nap, the-house-is-asleep window before we all get back to whatever's on deck, and wanted to wish all y'all still reading this just the merriest Christmas, and/or whatever holidays you hold dear this time o' year. It's a daggum neat thing to create light and warmth on the darkest days of the year, and I hope that whatever place life finds you in these days that you've got some cozy joy nibblin' around the edges.

The early stages of the tree, whose bounty grew as siblings arrived!

Mom's pretty great at making these little decorative elements.

A professorial bear addressing a convention of bears.

TRUMAN STILL BELIEVES IN CHRISTMAS

Piano corner, with the book of Christmas piano duets that I grew up playing with my mom and dad.

GOTS TO HAVE TWO TREES. More festive cozy corners!

The Christmas book nook, home to a whole additional pile of Christmas memories from childhood.

Mom was doing farmhouse way before you even KNEW it was a style, jack.

Ain't no place that isn't better with twinkle lights and a li'l splash of color amidst the wood.

Creche and tree!

For whatever reason, this screen door in the corner of the dining room always makes me think of home. I mean, I am home, but it feels particularly like home. It's Christmas Eve, I'm not required to be articulate.

TRUMAN IS VERY STOIC IN THE FACE OF THE FRESH FALLEN SNOW