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We got home from our holiday road trip last night—and the number on the trip odometer feels like an accomplishment.
What was waiting for me, however—
—feels a bit like a Sisyphean task.
The Tailor and I are off on a winter road trip to spend the holidays with family and friends. I chose this picture out of pure wishful thinking, in hopes that the mountains in our path will be bare of snow…
…though I have a feeling they’re going to look a lot more like this.
Wherever you’re spending your holidays this year, may the short days be filled with bright winter sunshine—
—and may the nights glow with warm, festive light.
Happy holidays!
I’m packaging up a huge stack of prints and cards today—tomorrow is the holiday shipping deadline, so get your orders in quick! The shop closes tomorrow, December 17 at 4 pm PST.
I walked around the block to visit my friend Laurie today (and to bask in the glow of The Most Beautiful Christmas Tree on Earth)…
…and look who I found on the tree! It’s Victoria Anne McGillicuddy from our letterpress ornament set!
Well, I don’t know about you, but I’ve got everything I need here.
My next-door neighbor’s artichokes just can’t help but be gorgeous—in every season of the year. With no effort, nature can make a filigree that I could never hope to match in a million years.
I love the hush that takes over the house, after the turkey goes in the oven and the table is set (and the sketches sketched!), but before the guests start arriving. It’s that little breath of time that reminds me to pause and remember that every raised glass, every hug, every laugh around the table makes the world just a tiny bit better. I’m thankful for that today—and for you, for joining me here as you do.
Whether today finds you snowbound or sweltering, at work or at home—happy Thanksgiving.
Every year for Thanksgiving, I like to whip up place cards for our guests. Often this happens about 5 minutes before they show up at our door… or sometimes after, while I hide away in a back room and the Tailor distracts entertains them.
But let the record show that I’m early this year! For the first time ever, the place cards are done and dusted before the turkey has even finished thawing.
Victory? I think so.
Every so often the Tailor and I rack up a list of errands to run down in Portland. So we pick a Saturday and hit the road early. But before we tackle our list of stops to make, we always start our visit with a quiet cuppa somewhere. Since Portland is chock-a-block with fantastic bakeries and coffee shops, we try to hit a different place every time. This weekend it was the French bakery, St. Jack—and some quality time with the ol’ sketchbook.
I woke up this morning to a pile of all my favorite things—the best birthday haul any artist could ask for. Today is still a studio day, but those tickets say I’ll be having a grand time at the Pantages tonight!