all on a winter's day...

Yesterday was a picture perfect day here in the valley.

I wish I could have been outside...

but had to be content with the view from my office window for the most part.

I had a friend call...

just wondering if we might possibly sneak in a game of tennis before the day was over.

It was a good idea...

but my 'to do list' was too long!

 

In the afternoon...

I took a drive out in the countryside to deliver necessary paperwork to our accountant.

 

While most accountants have an office in the city...

ours has an office on his farm.

 

I always enjoy the drive back to the neighbourhood where we once lived!

And while I waited on a passing train...

I played with the camera.

It was hard to take a bad shot yesterday!

It may be known as the shortest and darkest day of the year...

but December 21st  was bright and beautiful in my corner of the world in 2011!

I picked up the mail on the way home...

and was delighted to find a parcel.

The name on the return address was unfamiliar to me...

but I opened the package and read the note.

And I smiled!

It was from someone who grew up nearby...

and even babysat my children on occasion.

She made beautiful music...

and always had a smile on her face.

She married and moved away many years ago...

and took on a new name that I never recognized.

She had read the post about halvah  on 'My Front Porch' last year....

...and when she saw a small brick of the Christmas confection in a store recently... 

she decided to gift me with it.

How sweet is that?

And here's the thing.

As we drove home from the Christmas concert the previous evening...

we talked of her and wondered how she was doing.

We haven't seen her in years!

The next day...

the package arrived in the mailbox.

How can that be?

Thank-you, Janice...

for the halvah!

I sampled it for 'night lunch'.

It was good...

a taste of Christmas past!