As the 2017 calendars are put into use and the feeling of “new” permeates…a few moments to look ahead and welcome in the month (and the year) and all that it holds…a chance to say HELLO January… 

…HELLO to a new year filled with new potential…watching the amaryllis bulb & paper white bulb evolve this month is a fitting reminder of starting anew…

…HELLO to a return to meal planning…life is much better when I take a few moments each week to plan out the menus and shop appropriately…

…HELLO to a new slate of vacation days and making fun vacation plans…a March trip south on the horizon will warm the cold days of this month…other trip possibilities are ruminating…

…HELLO to a new reading goal for the year…and “under the tree” reads to be devoured…this is the sort of weather that makes me want to read all the time…

…HELLO to fostering hygge during these winter months…embracing the opportunity to stay cozy in the house when winter weather says it is better to be inside – a fireplace, reading, knitting, cooking – my home is filled with many things to fill the cold times with warmth…

…HELLO to more Kon Mari and continuing to cull through unjoyful and unnecessary stuff in the house…a first Green Drop pickup is already on the calendar…

…HELLO to new opportunities at work…the chance to stretch and grow while tackling something new…

…HELLO to the 12^th year of hanging my shingle out at this blog…hello to establishing more rhythm to posting out here, even if nobody is reading…

…HELLO to a new “one word” for the year and determining how to live that…hello, FOCUS…

What are you saying HELLO to during this January?

Linking up with Carole and Kat for Think, Write, Thursday.

Hello, December! As the calendars flip to the last page in 2016 and the holiday season is in full swing…

…HELLO to the return of my evening advent routine: a mug of Candy Cane Tea whilst reading from my favorite Advent anthology…

…HELLO to the UPS app keeping track of the many deliveries winging their way to my front door as I complete my Christmas shopping…

…HELLO to the glow of Christmas lights and the nativity on my mantel…

…HELLO to a fresh greens wreath on the front door…

…HELLO to endless pots of favorite Christmas flavored coffees…

…HELLO to Christmas cards ordered…and to Christmas greetings filling the mailbox…

…HELLO to my Christmas blouse & Grandma’s Christmas Tree brooch for the office holiday party…

…HELLO to Christmas tunes & movies…

…HELLO to the anticipation of dear ones opening gifts that were picked especially for them…

…HELLO to rereading One Word and looking ahead to what my word will be for 2017…

…HELLO to a couple of weeks of work & then a couple of weeks of much needed R&R as I burn the vacation days…

…HELLO to lots of reading time and a family of bookworms content to all be reading while scattered across the living room furniture..

…HELLO to the hustle & bustle giving way to calm as the calendar flips to the 25th and we pause to say…

…HELLO to the nativity and to the promise held in that simple manger birth!

Linking up for Think, Write, Thursday hosted by Carole & Kat. 

For today, a writing prompt: Talk about your favorite breakfast.

When this prompt arrived in my inbox, I immediately started thinking of all the possible options to write about: vacation breakfasts, Chicago brunch memories, sunrise coffee & Egg McMuffin along the bay in Marinetts, a consulting job interview over cinnamon rolls at Ann Sathers on a Saturday morning, watching Transformers and eating oatmeal at Grandma’s on Saturday morning, Christmas Eve ebilskivers, and so many more…

Instead, recollections of a favorite Artisan Family tradition: Christmas morning breakfast.

Christmas coffee in a new mug from our excellent family camp adventure

After the stockings, we gather around the table for a simple (and quick) breakfast of scrambled eggs and Mom’s amazing orange rolls. And of course, more coffee. When done, we quickly clear the table and refill our coffee mugs before heading back to to the living room.

Then, we open presents. Instead of a free for all, we have always passed out presents and taken turns opening gifts. At some point, we pause again for more coffee. In recent years, the role of “hand out gifts” has moved from Dad to me. There are normally stacks of books under the tree for us – we have learned that we put them at the very bottom of the gift pile so they are opened last – otherwise, we would be lost to books before the gifts are all unwrapped.

Time passes quickly & slowly on Christmas morning – before we know it, it is late morning – the reusable fabric gift bags are folded in a stack to be used again next year; there is maybe one small bag of gift wrap trash; new clothes are tried on; new books are cracked open – Christmas day continues.

What is the best breakfast that you ever had? What made it the best? 

Joining Carole and Kat in the newly launched Think, Write, Thursday prompt.