Ha! Excellent job, Steve. Way to keep it real.

I've spent this winter digging into the sort of world-fear that arises when such violence shows its face, and your earlier words (in a post about your injury) have been vital to me: the multitude of everyday angels, stitching the world back up, every moment. Thank you.

They're called bolga baskets, or African market baskets, and there are a ton of places to buy them online if you do a Google search. Here's one. They are the best baskets. I feel like I can't have enough of them. And the little mini ones are brilliant for kids :)

Where did you find that print from Extra Yarn? I'd love one but all I can find are prints from his other books, which aren't nearly as dear to my heart.

I always called my babies my little peachy-pink things, too

Ha! John Denver :) Although Bob Denver and the Muppets may have had a certain value of its own.

Snow here in Olympia, too, and it stuck. White roofs everywhere. My girls and I are listening to Bob Denver and the Muppets Christmas, making apple bread and the 7 year-old is writing a Christmas song. Love indeed.

We do lots of things every year: see the Nutcracker ballet, go to an English-style "panto" (there may be one in Portland, they are so. fun.), take a walk in the woods and leave seed for the birds on Solstice, see Zoo Lights, get a picture with Santa (I keep these in a special photo book and *adore* them), attend the municipal parade and tree lighting, open a Christmas book early, get a new ornament for each child. We have so many traditions! You will have so much fun building your own. Enjoy :)

I had my own baby, our third and last, on October 6th. Our home is not as peaceful as yours looks, but rather chaotic and full of the negative emotions of family transition, but it's still an impossibly sweet time. I wanted to thank you for your generosity as a writer. It's been a true joy to "know" you all (and like so many others I have absolutely shed tears for you, both happy and sad). I wish every, every good thing to you and your beautiful family.