Following my new trend of updating my blog only on major holidays: the (post) Christmas post. This is our version of holly, west-coast style. This is Oregon Grape Holly, basking in the sun Christmas morning.

We really lucked out in so many ways this Christmas. The weather was gorgeous all weekend. We were also really lucky to avoid both the snowstorms and intensified security screenings during our trip to Massachusetts this month. We got back on the 21st. We had a great time visiting my family, but I always feel it is tempting fate to go at Christmas. We managed to get away with it again this year.

Here I am getting ready to open one of my presents. It’s from Sam, as you can tell by the wrapping job.

It was a lovely quiet Christmas at home. We ate our way through the day, including Gary’s french toast with homemade bread for lunch.

I plan to update this blog religiously next year. So — see you on Easter! But seriously folks, I’m giving some thought to what I want to do with this space for the next little while. I won’t be here too often, but I’ll keep posting occasionally, perhaps in a different format.

Meanwhile, my resolutions for next year are pretty retro, technologically speaking. Working in social media has me thinking far too much about technology and social networks. I have a real love/hate relationship with Facebook. On one hand, I love being able to find people I’ve lost track of, and get glimpses of their lives. On the other hand, I’m uncomfortable turning over such a big part of my life to a third party, for-profit business. Isn’t that a bit creepy? Or is it just me?

More than anything, it’s made me realize I haven’t been very good at keeping up with all those people myself. So, this year, I’m in the market for a new address book. A real, physical book. I will write down all the addresses, phone numbers, birthdays I’ve been writing on pieces of paper or keeping in emails that I can’t find when I need them. And if you get a call from me, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Happy 2010 everyone!

I stopped to walk in the church yard of the little village church for the first time today. If not on Halloween, then when? It wasn’t really too spooky, though, it’s just a pretty, peaceful place. In the spring it is covered in white fawn lilies. (Wait, didn’t my last post feature a cemetary? For someone who has only managed 3 posts in the last two months, I have somehow managed to develop a theme.)

Also seen today in Metchosin: cat’s eyes in the sky.

And the skeleton of a sunflower.

Finally, Sam making the acquaintance of the jack o’ lantern. Note pink tongue delicately extended.