Thankful

Dear friend,

Just sittin' here, lookin' outside, like she does all day while I sit at my desk and paint. Lina is our little dreamer. I think she's collecting material for her dreams, the ones where she runs in her sleep, chasing the squirrels and robins into the tippity-tops of the crepe myrtles. Bless her precious little heart.

Today I'm trying to tie up all the little loose ends I should before we leave for the Thanksgiving holiday. We're going up to North Carolina this year to spend time with my Dad's family...something we barely ever get to do, and we're all staying together in a cabin on Lake Junaluska. I'm so looking forward to spending time with them, sleeping in, and reading books in bed all morning long.

And now, the cakes:

It seemed like the general consensus on these was options #3 and #4, which is funny because I was leaning towards #1 and #2. You changed my mind! I'm so glad you changed my mind. The Guinness cake is all finished, and the pumpkin cake is in the fridge right now with a crumb coat, waiting for two more layers (extra tall!) and a final blanket of caramel cream cheese swirls. It's been so so long since I made frosting like this, where you cook the caramel on the stovetop with a vanilla bean before whipping and beating in cream cheese. I was totally gobsmacked when I tasted it....vanilla-flecked burnt sugar perfection.

My heart is full of so many things this year: hope and sorrow and joy and uncertainty and thankfulness.

I am extra thankful for this space and for you.

Love,