A quiet Christmas day

That's the impromptu "Christmas card" that I threw up on Instagram this morning, to go along with our low-key celebration this year.

Just one more ornament joined the bulldog on our little borrowed tree, but she's pretty spectacular. A blogpal who has been missing in action sent me a "Maine Mermaid:"

Today was occupied by preparing, serving, and cleaning up after our Christmas dinner, interspersed with communicating with family and friends and plying. (I made homemade butterhorn rolls, green & white lasagne, roasted Brussels sprouts, a Waldrof-inspired salad, and chocolate-coated cranberries, served with apple-grape Martinelli's and all well received.)

Had to have some sort of fiber-play going on after finishing the hat (which got blocked and delivered to a friend yesterday).

This evening, after a gray day, the setting sun softly stroked some clouds in the east.

I took a picture, then headed out to ride Lance down the lane and back in quiet Christmas twilight.

But there was a undercurrent of excitement throughout our quiet day. Thanks to my mom (and her German father and Swedish mother),  Christmas Eve is CHRISTMAS to me, when holiday lights and candles and firelight are at their beautiful best and all the tasks of the day are done. For most of our married life we have celebrated in the manner of my in-laws, but a few times over the years, like last night, Rick has been willing to humor me on Christmas Eve. So we read some inspiring stories about what this season is really about, ate supper, and opened our gifts.

Having Jackson with us for one last Christmas is also a gift.

When there wasn't anything from Rick, I wondered. Something had been said about leaving something at the office....

Then Rick asked, "So when are we going to do this pre-purchase?"

There may have been squealing – and tears. I shot off a text to the breeder, and we settled on Friday morning for the pre-purchase exam. I'm trying not to sail over the moon until 'Stella' gets the veterinarian's stamp of approval, but I really don't anticipate any problems. This filly has gotten to grow up in a big pasture with a herd of her kind, an ideal 'childhood' for developing a sound mind and body – a body that I think (and hope) is still growing.

Yeah, I'm excited; it looks like I will be buying myself a 'pony' for Christmas. 😍 Stay tuned!

And to all a good night, from . . .