Leland and I opened our gifts today, as we’ll be leaving for Portland tomorrow and we’ll have enough to lug as it is. There were many fine gifts to be had from family and friends, but nothing could top this, Leland’s star on the top of the Yule tree:

(Though the recipe basket from my mother, complete with recipes hand-written by her and my sister came really close, don’t get me wrong.)

After much wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth, we finally got the last of my holiday gifts made and in the mail, as well. There was much knitting this year, probably more than in year’s past. It feels good to be done, like, wow-we-can-actually-enjoy-the-holidays-now kind of good.