There are several “End of Year” items to post, so this time I’ve got a mixed bag:

December is a busy month. The first 24 days zoom past in a blurry holiday drive-by. Shopping. Wrapping. Mailing. Planning. Kvetching. Returning. More Shopping. Cooking. Baking.  All in the cold and the dark.  We all get caught up in it to various degrees. It's not December at it's best. Oh, Christmas morning is great, but the other 30 days?

My Favorite Day of December:

However one moment of joy that I look forward to has nothing to do with the holiday. It's actually more of a psychological moment of pleasure dealing with the transition out of the dark days and into a new beginning. Not the New Year, but the Winter solstice. I look forward to it each December.  Since the time-change around Halloween, we're all forced into an ever increasing inky existence.  But come December 22nd 2011, the worst is officially over and there’s a certain pleasure in knowing that the light begins to regain its fair share of the day.

I've mentioned this before, but one of the niceties of getting in an early morning hike is that come winter, you can catch the sunrise with out changing your morning schedule. I took this picture on the solstice morning (Dec 22nd 2011) at 6:30 AM. It was a very nice morning on the trail with Virginia before turning our day over to the office cubicle. Skies pure and clear. No wind. A crescent moon. The trail above town is quiet, except for the small birds that peep in the bushes. Not sure we could find a better way to start the day.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Our wedding anniversary is Dec 24th, Christmas Eve.  How to celebrate?  Chinese food with family:

Yeah, the expression on my face: “Did I really eat all the Orange Chicken?” We had a great dinner at Gourmet 88 in Burbank. And I actually did NOT eat all the orange chicken.

Our 2011 Christmas Card:

2012 is Nearly Here. ARE YOU READY??

Sure, why not.  We hope you have a great New Year. Lot’s of health and happiness.  We hope to catch up with you soon!

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A hefty storm blew in Saturday night and enjoyed listening to the rain while getting ready for bed.   On Sunday morning, we awoke to beautiful snowy mountains within view of our kitchen window.  Time to grab the cameras and head out for a brisk winter morning hike! Check out the slide show here:

Photo: Sunrise over Tujunga

When the winter mornings come,  I dread separating myself from my heavenly cup of hot french roast to take my morning bike (or hike) up to Mt. McGroarty that overlooks our valley.  Getting my butt out the door at 6:30AM is difficult at this time of year. At least it is at the beginning of the season.
 
Yet I receive a huge bonus that happens while Mother Earth is on her winter tilt.  Without changing my morning schedule, I'm privy to the days first rays over the horizon from the trail.  Witnessing and welcoming the suns first spill into the day has an intensity that is hard to put into words, but it's a moment that you begin to look forward to each morning.  The coffee becomes easier to set aside, the ritual of getting the bike shoes and helmet together is less of an annoyance. The sunrise beckons', and I will be there.  Suddenly winter mornings aren't so bad after all.  
 
As well, it's nice to reflect on that moment throughout the day - at the office or in traffic.
 
And so it's a little sad when Mother Earth starts to get ahead of you.  As the solstice continues it's migration to the next milestone (June 21st or there abouts - right?) the sunrise happens earlier - and slowly steals that moment that you've come to look forward to for these past months.   A sign of another year and another fling with the morning sun.  Goodbye Sunrise. I'll be seeing you next winter.