Well! I had every intention of coming by here yesterday to say hello, to share some of our New Year's Eve party preparations, and to wish you all well. But all the ice and snow around here meant a bit of power trouble, followed by an internet outage, then frozen pipes, and by the time that was all restored I was deep in the throes of worrying that there wouldn't be enough food, and therefore making just one more dish to serve. I always worry that there won't be enough food at my parties. (And it's always laughable when it's over.) I do like getting ready for a party - tidying, fussing, baking and making. I think I had intended to say something about that yesterday to you.
But now here we are on the other side of that, with both feet firmly planted in this day, this new year. We have late sleepers in the house this morning - midnight celebrators that my kids were. I'm just back in from milking Peach with Steve. The steam coming off that bucket of milk is such a beautiful thing, the sight of it feels like a reward for getting out there and breathing in that fresh, crisp, cold, cold air. The sun is shining brightly, after-party cleanup has begun, and it feels fittingly like a new day, a a new year.
Somewhere in between the preparation and the cleanup - though I have no photographic evidence of it (I never do!) - was a party. A house full of some of our very favorite people - their kids, their wonderful music, their good food and their bright spirits. I can tell you that this Winter Punch is delightful, and this Galette was a hit. And yes, I am laughing as I knew I would, at all the food that appeared and all that remains, despite the fact that I'm certain all we did was eat, eat, eat. Oh...and laugh and visit and make merry, sharing the stories of our lives and our days. I thought of you too - and this space - with so much gratitude. For your presence here and the way that we all share our lives and our days together in the ways we do. I am humbled, honored and eager to keep doing that as another year rolls around. It's going to be a good one, this year. I hope and believe that for us all.
Cheers!