It’s pouring outside. But snug in our house, we are coming to the tail end of our wonderful, epic 2007 Christmas. We’ve travelled from coast to coast and back again, dodging ice and snow and airport snarls all the way, spent time with friends and family, opened presents, made and eaten Christmas dinners, and now, gradually, we’re getting back to work. I love this week between Christmas and New Year’s. It’s like that hour of daylight saving time that you get back when you go back to standard time. An unaccounted for extra bit of time, off the books, to catch your breath before the New Year begins.

Above are the monkey socks that I started on the plane flying out to Boston. They are my first lace knitting project, and I think they are actually my first sock-yarn socks. I’ve been knitting socks that are often mistaken for bits of sweaters; nice, big chunky socks that stand up on their own. These are being knit with the yarn from Indigo Moon that I picked up on Salt Spring Island last summer. I’m pretty excited about how they’re coming out.

Our trip to Boston was great, once I got over a headache and a bad case of crabbiness. We stayed with my mom, and had lots of chances to see my siblings and their families. Oh, the cuteness! The kids are great. I have six nieces and three nephews, and four of the little girls stayed at the house as well. We also met Annie, the corgi puppy that joined my sister’s family this year. She was hilarious running through the snow like a jackrabbit, with us diving after her leash. What is it with that crazy running dogs like to do? Pure joy.

So the trip was great, and though I was sad to say goodbye to everyone again, I am quite excited because while we were out there, my mom booked a ticket to see us in March, for a whole week. Its so good to have things to look forward to. That’s only two and a half months away, and it makes me feel like the winter will just fly by. I already feel like the early spring flowers are getting ready to send up their shoots. Its funny coming back to the wet coast from the snowy east. Spring seems so near here. Though, as I mentioned — its pouring.

Back at home, Christmas was lovely and peaceful. Gary and Sam and I spent the whole day together and didn’t turn on our computers all day. We sat and read our new cookbooks and thought about all the good food we’re going to make next year, and the people we’ll have to have over so they can help us eat it. I got the Rebar cookbook, which I’ve heard a lot of good things about and can’t wait to make everything from. Its rare that I see a cookbook that has so many things I want to make, and also offers so many new techniques and ingredients and recipes. I’m going to try to make something new from it every week. Is that a good enough New Year’s resolution? I think so.