Happy Christmas Season

Here is a photograph I took just a few weeks ago at the beginning of December, not very far from my front door.  It was one of those rare beautiful winter days when the leaves had finally been rinsed from the trees by the wind.

Perhaps this picture says more than any words I write can say.  We have had a Christmas that was quiet but happy.  Nothing alarming took place, our modest plans were not thrown into confusion, storm clouds did not mass on the horizon.  We woke up each morning to find Julie sunny and even-tempered and we reached the end of every day with Julie safely asleep in her own bed.  Joe and I could venture a small drink to celebrate the season.  There is talk of a trip to London later in the week.  Each and every day that passes like this is worth a king's ransom.