Welcome 2009

Well it's been almost a month since my last post. Here's a brief run-down of what's happened in the past month:

We've added a new member to our dog family. Emmylou is, of course, a darling little dog. She's sweet and lovable but she comes with a few rough edges that we have slowly been smoothing out. But she seems to be slowly coming out of her shell; every once in a while she'll even venture a little playing time with the rest of the dogs.

We spent Christmas right here in our own home. We opened presents in the morning after an indulgent breakfast and got ready to relax the rest of the day. The tree was decorated, house was lit and the halls were decked. Christmas music played our on stereo and a 12-pound turkey roasted in the oven. A friend, her little boy and (during dessert) a neighbour came over to spend Christmas day with us.

I was just somewhat hectic getting a homemade Christmas dinner ready that I didn't do as much relaxing as I thought I would. But when dinner was on the table, and friends were around us I realized how much I love doing all of that. How much I love preparing food, getting the house ready and laying out snacks all to make guests and friends feel as comfortable and welcome as possible. I love having people over, sharing our home with them, feeding them, laughing, talking and hanging out.

So even though we would have loved to have spent Christmas with our families there was something wonderful and warm about waking up in our own house, staying in pajamas as long as possible, cooking in our own kitchen, welcome friends at our own door that made the holiday perfect.

New Year's Eve was spent with some out of town guests from Ohio. We went to the Loveless Cafe for brunch and drove through some of the most beautiful parts of town.

Typically, every year (if we're not out of town) Gordon and I will stay home, make some supper and watch something drop onto a neon sign somewhere in a big city on TV. But because we had out-of-town guests who wanted to spend New Year's Even downtown at the honky tonks we, of course, obliged.

Two friends of ours refer to going downtown on such a busy holiday as "Rookies' Night Out." Leaving out the ugly details, all I can say is never again. Never again do I want to fight the crowd and the drunks downtown only to be squished into a room to see a band that I would probably enjoy more if I could sit down.

* * *

And now 2009 is officially upon and I look forward to what will hopefully be a great year. I wish for Gordon and I nothing but happiness, love and (yes) a little bit security. To you all I wish all of the same. I hope our home continues to be a warm and loving place, filled with dogs (and 1 cat), good food and great friends.

And Gordon, no matter what may or may not happen this new year, I hope that we still have as much fun together as we always do, that we'll still love to laugh together, drive around together, be lazy together, go exploring together and never tire of each other's company.