It feels good to stop by in the kitchen, particularly as I don't have to cook right now... We've had a busy holiday season; I did my family's annual Chanukah gathering at our house this year; blintzes, smoked salmon and latkes for twenty, and enough Chanukah gelt (chocolate foil-wrapped coins) for all the kids to play dreidel and stuff themselves with candy! The next weekend I did Christmas dinner for the other side of the family, serving, by request, ham, candied sweet potatoes, cheese grits casserole, garlic green beans,stollen and Christmas cookies. Between getting (and keeping!) the house in order, cooking vast quanities of everything, and visiting with family and friends, by New Year's Eve Dean and I were happy to drop Sam off at a slumber partly ( where very little slumbering took place!) and return home to bring the New Year in quietly and gratefully.

Jerry, your pastor's comments about blessing our enemies is very much like the Jewish New Year traditions. During the High Holy Days, the time from Rosh Hashanah to, ten days later, Yom Kippor, people should pay their debts, settle their quarrels, and make amends if they have harmed anyone over the year. Only after one has addressed these issues here on earth, is it possible to turn full attention to the Lord on Yom Kippor, the day of Atonement.

A happy and healthy New Year to all of you around the table; may you and yours have a year of love, laughter and music ( not to mention plenty of hugs and lots of chocolate!)

Speaking of which, is there any hot chocolate around....?

Carly