happy new year.

we'll be ringing in the new year with a sweet winter garland because decorations are not just for christmas only.

also:
a concert for peace.
fireworks.
bread baking.
letter writing.

happiest new year to each of you.
thanks for spending another year with me in this space.

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bits and baubles.

christmas at my parents' house.

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egg nog.

i know. for some people there's nothing less appetizing. but for me, egg nog is pure delight. it's memories of childhood christmases in a frosty glass. yes. woolly tights, velvety dresses, scratchy headbands, and egg nog mustaches on four little girls. that was christmas eve at my house.

this version is easy and rewarding to make at home. just be sure to use fresh eggs from a nearby farm. if you're feeling fresh, add a splash or two of bourbon (we like this one). grate fresh nutmeg atop and enjoy.

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holidays by post.

because you can't always be near to everyone you love.

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wintergreen.

1. fallen black birch branches.

2. a jar.

3. boiling water.

4. honey.

5. wintergreen in a cup. good for what ails you and tasty, too.

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box elder.

lately, i've been pining after cozy things around here. little somethings to snuggle up with. this box elder sweater from kinship press looks just right. to be paired with oversized socks and a mug of hot chocolate.

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jasmine blossom tea.

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scrappy.

left-over boxwood branches tucked between lavender and driftwood: makings for a wee wintry garland.

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boxwood and cedar.

trips to my parents' house almost always mean foraging.

i take walks to the beach to collect sea shells, tuck a pair of scissors into my pocket to gather cedar clippings, and yank down bittersweet brambles from neighbors' yards.

its the thing i miss most about small town living. something tells me my neighbors here wouldn't appreciate the occasional neighborly pruning of their boxwood shrubs. at home, there's so much green around i'm pretty certain no one really notices.

i brought a bag full of cedar and boxwood back to brooklyn after thanksgiving and this morning, with the window flung open, fashioned our tiny abode a fittingly tiny wreath. fa la la.

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mulling spices.

a tiny holiday gift that packs an impressive punch. plop a bag of mulling spices into a burbling pot of cider or wine and set the tone for an entire evening of cozy merriment. simple instructions, below, with plenty of room for creative additions and omissions.

happy thanksgiving, friends.

1. gather the spices.
{equal parts cinnamon, allspice berries, cloves, cardamon, and orange peel}.

2. crush the cinnamon.

{a folded bit of waxed paper and a cast iron pan does the trick}.

3. prepare the muslin sachets.

{available at most grocery stores. cheese cloth tied with cooking twine works, too}.

4. fill the bags.

{two tablespoons or so of the combined spices will do}.

5. tie up the bags.

{make sure they're tied nice and tight}.

6. add some simple instructions.

{apple cider is delightful, but a good vin chaud never hurt anyone}.

7. bestow tiny bags of holiday cheer to friends, family and neighbors, alike.

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milk chocolate.

here's a confession. i like my chocolate the way i like my coffee: milky. in fact, the creamier it is, the better i like it.

this tea-infused milk chocolate from the tea room fits the bill. its subtle flavors come out if you let the chocolate sit on your tongue--savoring each bite for just a moment longer than you normally might. and beyond the taste, the chocolate comes in a pretty sweet little package, don't you think?

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sage.

it's the perfect time of year for sage.

sage in soups. sage in stuffing. sage in corn bread.

i'm craving this soup. and a veggie-only version of this pot pie. 

you?

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the north fork.

james and i have a thing for islands. we met on one, so we chalk it up to that.

for james's 30th birthday on tuesday, i took him on a much-needed getaway to the north fork of long island. we stayed at the lovely north fork table and inn where we enjoyed a delightful dinner and a superior breakfast as well as a delicious night's sleep in a room where we didn't hit our heads upon getting out of bed in the morning {read more about our tiny abode here}. 

we hiked along dunes, cuddled with horses, sipped local wines, hitched rides on ferries, and took countless walks down long docks. and yes, we survived to tell the tale. 

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