Today is partly cloudy, but it is the partly sunny part which draws my attention, catches my eye. It is the first glimpse of the sun in a few days. It is cold still, only 32°, but there is no wind. The house is so quiet. None of us are stirring.

After Christmas our toys stayed under the tree for a few days. I remember playing games lit by tree lights. There was a bit of a red glow cross the board. Supper was casual, mostly leftovers. We ate desserts as we played. We had plenty of sugar cookies and spritz cookies. We ate our chocolate Santa’s. The head was the first to go. He was hollow.

I remember how empty around the tree looked after we put our gifts away. The tree would stay through Little Christmas. It was lit every night and was the centerpiece for the living room. Only one lamp, the one on the table by the window, was lit. The tree was bright enough. The whole house smelled of pine, especially the living room. I loved walking down the stairs in the morning and smelling the tree all around me. It is what I always miss most after the tree comes down.

This morning I dined on the decadent. I had my usual coffee and toast, but on the toast I spread black mission fig jam, delightful fig jam, a gift from a friend. I wasn’t eating toast from the paper towel on the table. I was eating figs, pure fruit with a touch of sugar, orange purée and lemon juice. My breakfast had been elevated. In my mind’s eye, I’m wearing white gloves, a small tiara, a dress of muted Christmas colors and holding a delicate butter knife for spreading the jam on my toast. I am using a tea cup and saucer for my coffee. They actually match. I am staying in again, being lazy and cozy. I have enough animal for today, but I have to go out dog food tomorrow. I also need bread and maybe a dessert.

During vacation week, the weather determined what we did. If there was snow, we’d go sledding on our street, a long hill. When we were older, we used the toboggan on the golf course where the hills came quickly and the toboggan zoomed. We held on for dear life. My friend Jimmy was on the end and nearly fell off a few times. We held his legs. Sometimes we ice skated. We would stay close and skate at the swamp until the boys came in the late afternoon to play hockey. Other times we went to Recreation Park to the town’s rink put up every winter. The shack had benches and a wood burning stove. Pairs of shoes were all over the floor of the shack and under the benches. The rink was circular and made of white painted wood. It was about 4 blocks from my house. I remember how my feet tingled in my shoes on the way home. I remember how tired I was. I remember a cup of hot chocolate at the end of a day of skating.

Late yesterday afternoon it started to snow, nothing startling. It snowed on and off during the night, and the ground is covered, two or maybe three inches covered. This morning the dogs plowed through the yard. Nala zoomed while Henry took his time. I am enjoying my morning coffee after a late start to my day.

It is downright cold at 28°. The high will be 30°. Snow flurries are predicted. They were around earlier but not since this morning. I keep checking.

I was seldom, maybe even never, disappointed with Christmas. When I was a kid, Santa had my list, amended several times, and my most wanted gift, my number one on the list, usually ended up under the tree. When I was older, I once in a while wanted something specific and told my mother but mostly I had no list. My mother was the best shopper. She bought stuff I didn’t know I wanted until I got it. She went through antique shops. She loved church fairs. She loved finding unusual gifts. We all do. She passed that along. I have fun shopping for gifts.

I always started my new book on Christmas night. When I was little, my mother chose the books. I usually got two. Classics were what I read. You know Heidi, Treasure island, Little Women and so many more. I would find a comfy corner, grab a few cookies and settle in with my book. When I was older, I gave my mother a list of books I wanted. I remember the year of Alive. I immediately started reading and didn’t leave my corner of the room. My mother suggested I stop reading so the book would last longer. She missed the point of the corner and the speed so I gave her a bit of a condescending smile and kept reading.

My sister gives me a new book every year. This year it is Robin Cook. Last night I started reading. The house was quiet. The dogs were asleep and both were dreaming. Their legs moved and they barked without opening their mouths. I watched them settle. I got comfortable and read a long time. I know! I know, slow down.

Last night I had Christmas dinner leftovers, skirt steak, carrots, sweet potatoes and butternut squash. It was a grand meal. It was worthy of Christmas.