Hello friends.

First things first.  I absolutely loved reading about your holiday traditions.  Many of them involved food and most of them involved family.  It made me realize that we need to start a food tradition here in the Dana Treat household, some kind of opening presents treat.  I’ll get back to you on that one.  I do want to thank you all for sharing with me.  One of the biggest reasons I like giving things away is that I get to ask questions like this one and learn more about the folks who read here.  The winner of the Harry and David gift box, randomly chosen #86, is Emily who describes her favorite holiday tradition this way, “My favorite holiday tradition is our annual Christmas Tree Hunt off Forest Service roads up near Crystal Mountain. There’s nothing better than playing in the snow, snow shoeing to cut down a tree and our chili lunch cookout. The trees aren’t as thick as a farmed noble, but every year we have one with character and the experience makes it worth it!”

So this.  I have come to the end of my Slice of Life posts.  I’m sure some photo worthy things will happen between now and December 31st but I can’t promise that I will have the time to sit and post about them.  (You can always follow me on Instagram, I am @danatreat.)  I am hoping to give you some food, some recipes between now and then, but I don’t want to promise things I can’t deliver.

I’m curious.  What next?  Did you like the Slice of Life posts?  Should I continue?  Should I do something more food related, some kind of round up each week?  Would you rather just have more recipes?  What do you want to see from me?  Your input is most welcome.  I appreciate each of you.

I am leaving you with this photo of my boys.  A typical “please, both of you smile and look at the camera” shots.  I love this shot.  It is posed but not.  They are doing what I am asking (smiling, looking at the camera) and also, not.  It shows their personality.  It also shows their eyes which, and I may be biased, are amazing.  I have brown eyes and Randy has blue eyes.  Graham has gray eyes (which you can really see in this photo) and Spencer has hazel eyes.  These boys – they fill me up so much.  With pride, love, thankfulness and also frustration, fear, and apprehension.  You get pregnant and you carry that baby and you have no idea who that person will be.  You know you will give birth to someone who will keep you up at night and will require a lot of diaper changes and feedings, but you don’t know who they will be at 8 and 5 5/6ths.  Right now I am fielding questions about Rudolph’s role in present delivery and how Santa visits people who don’t have trees and remembering their attempt to say the Hanukkah blessing along with me and feeling lucky, thankful, and blessed.

I am hopeful that I can deliver a post or two before the end of the year.  Please know that posting on a regular basis is at the top of my New Year’s Resolutions list.  I hope you all have a wonderful couple of weeks and the very happiest of holidays to you.