53: Old Regular

They're widening Tylersville Road. I can't tell if this church will survive the construction, so I captured this sign because it was literally the first thing I remember about living in West Chester. When I drove by it, I thought, "Toto, we're not in California any more."

Just what strain of Protestant Scriptural interpretation led to these words: "Old" (as opposed to the "Young Regular Baptists"), "Regular" (as opposed to the "Poor Attendance Baptists"), "of Jesus Christ" ('cause he went there)? And it's just hard to picture semitic Jewish Jesus being an "old regular Baptist..."

Classic church sign in this previously farming community, now taken over by white upper middle class P&G employees. I do love it.

52: Desperate

to finish the Arrow in time for the New Year. Notice that my Facebook is open while I work. Perhaps that is the problem, eh?

51: The two shall become one

My fiftieth Christmas and my second Solstice. I never knew I'd be able to say that this was the best holiday of my life, to date. Exceeded my expectations and fulfilled a deep place in me. Thankful that new beginnings are possible and that both old and new holidays can provide the right mix of sentiment and imagination. Candles are out, but the memories linger.

50: The best night of the year: Solstice!

We celebrated Solstice on the 26th in order to make sure all the kids could participate. The young woman next to Jacob is his best friend, Jano. We exchanged handmade gifts, decorated cupcakes, made candles and tossed regrets and wishes into a fire. The most meaningful event of our year, we all agreed.

49: A Quiet Christmas

Spent part of my first "Christmas sans kids" with this sweet man.

48: Anticipation

My favorite wrapping paper and snowflake ribbon.

47: How my family spends time together

Even Caitrin has her netbook open. They're all playing snakes while watching The Daily Show. Nice having the college kids home.

46: A Trio of Musketeers

Though I am the only Xavier Muskie, we are (according to Joules) her musketeers. Best Christmas Lunch Ever at Trio's.

45: Holiday shopping does that to you

44: Color burst

Feeling under the weather today, so I'm hijacking this photo for my "photo-of-the-day" because I can. It makes me happy.

43: Sweet deal

First cookie exchange with new friends, sharing my Grandmother Eva's Butter Horns. Yummy.

42: Focus

Grading by the light of the Christmas tree... when finished, I can finally give in to the season. 

Note the bokeh! So proud.

41: Huzzah!

Fun dinner meeting Johannah's new guy. He brought me sunflowers!

40: Safe inside

It's a delicious experience to wake to a snow storm and know I have no plans to go out the entire day.

39: Angel I heard on high

Joyous holiday concert. Caitrin's in the second row from the bottom, fourth in from the left (the brunette bangs). 

38: Home for the holidays

Red (hair) and green (tree). So Christmasy! Tree decorating included Johannah, home from OSU, and Noah and Amanda, up from Clifton.

37: Ski Season Begins!

Snow day for school, ski day for us! Perfect North: temps in the teens.

36: The Mad Potter

Did me a world of good to paint holiday ceramics with my divorced friends. A chance to feel normal, which is important once in awhile.

Note: Nancy's fabulous Hello Kitty on her pencil jar. She's talented!

35: Come to the light

The rug on which Caitrin rests her cheek is destined to be in my future. Heavenly illumination confirms that aspiration.

34: O Tannenbaum

Caitrin and I did it all by ourselves. Go girls! We supported the local economy by not going to Home Depot. We went to "Gear's Nursery" in West Chester.

33: Vision

Blue skies, favorite corner traffic light, wintery tree, weather-beaten road, sunglasses shading my view. What I see, every day.

32: Frosticle Lashicles

Running in 10 degrees makes me look like a character out of "Where the Wild Things Are" or alternatively, ready to go clubbing with my fake eyelashes!

(Guest Photo Credits: Pam Flere—Thanks Pam!)

31: A creek runs through it

and I run by it. The Miami Erie Canal Path off of Symmes. Gorgeous 4.8 run-camera-shoot yesterday. Temps: 27 degrees.

I like the way the earth looks like a brownie with powdered sugar.

30: A pick up

My guy, after chess team. Love that kid.

29: Rocky

A role model for taking the perfect nap.

28: Blooming snowflakes

Our first snow. Like lace along the edges of our Christmas-colored rose buds.

27: Footing

After seven days of not running, I dragged myself to the bike trail to slow-jog with my partners-in-distance. Having a hard time this week getting my feet under me. Patrice, Pam and Amy help.

26: Poetic therapy

I didn't know that when Leslie (below), Julie and I embarked on writing our books together we'd also expose and heal psychic wounds. First meeting: Freewriting from a line of poetry. I love the strength of women in words.

25: Where it all gets done

My Pottery Barn desk gets no use. The Crate and Barrel kitchen table is the executive suite of my life! Here I am, checking the calendar for my early breakfast with Margaret, Debbie and Julie. We met at First Watch in Rookwood to get ready for our surfing safari in November 2011! (And rats, I forgot to get a photo of them!)

24: SNOW!

They seem mildly excited about it.

23: The Evans Cocktail

For my birthday, Julie Evans gave me a bottle of cabernet called "The Three Doves." I cracked it open and it is the best tasting cab I've ever had. Good timing. I needed to taste "good" in the middle of a "not good" week.

22: Hello pillow

Never have I been happier to fall into bed after a weekend than Sunday night.

21: Float

It's a ritual with us: gaze on Kentucky from the Ohio side with out-of-town guests. Saturday, Stefano, Liam, Caitrin and I watched the slow-moving, heavily loaded barge move up the river. It's tempting to make this into a metaphor for my life right now.

20: Day after pie

Best breakfast.

19: A (mostly) Vegan Thanksgiving

Thankful for all the ways we have received the love of family and friends this year. Thank you.

Left to right: Noah (23), Jacob (nearly 19), Stefano (cousin, 21), Johannah (21), Caitrin (14), Amanda (Noah's gf, 22), Liam (16)

18: Stefano

My Italian cousin is here! He's 21, studying in GA as a rotary student. While he spends Thanksgiving with us in Cincinnati, my 30 year old cousin is in Italy at his house (from California) to spend Thanksgiving with Stefano's sister and parents. My aunt and uncle (the parents of the 30 year old, who live in southern CA) are in Santa Cruz with my mom, her husband and my sister's family. My dad and his wife and all her family are celebrating in Catalina, and my brother and his wife flew to Hawaii for the holiday and a hula competition! Got that? ;-)

The great Thanksgiving family scramble!

17: The last best day of fall in the 70's

I was so excited to capture this photo before the clouds covered the house in shadow, I fled my car... and forgot to close the door! I like to get one shot of my home in each season. Interestingly, the very next day has been glum, gray and rainy. Caught the clarity of fall light in the nick of time!

Forecast for Thanksgiving over-night: snow!

16: Turn up the heat

Single parenting is hard enough. Single house-maintaining is even harder—for me anyway.

Yesterday, I raked five bags of leaves (that's after we have already done nearly 30 to date) and mowed the whole front and side yards. Caitrin finished mowing the back yard. I had the bathroom tile caulked and cleansed of mold by our handyman, and the Recker and Boerger guy came to drill, wire and install a new (ouch—expensive) green AC/Heating unit. I've got a new-to-us refurbished vacuum ready for today's tasks after the old one conked out last week. Company comes tomorrow!

It's a lot to manage alone, this house, all of its maintenance needs. But I'm doing it. I'm paying for it. I'm making a home. It felt good to end the day and know that all is as it should be... today.

15: Tis the season...

to be shopping, tra lalala laaa la la la Joe's. 

The baguette bags look like wedding veils in the sunlight. Maybe that's because the store in Kenwood is next to David's Bridal.

14: Follow the yellow-curved line

This is my view, mile after mile. I like it.

Note: Legs are about all I see of on-coming runners too.

13: Watches over me

The moon rose last night, keeping a watchful eye, while the sunset flashed it's farewell in our back windows. This is my favorite view of my home—from behind: red brick chimney, split rail fence, tall fir towering over the corner, scattered leaves on the greenish grass, Rocky standing guard on the deck. I walked the perimeter of this yard when we moved in eleven years ago, pleading with God for permission to stay here as long as I needed. I've now lived in this one space longer than any place I've ever lived.

Permission granted.

12: Midnight Muggles

Epic.

11: Socialite Media Mavens

Business networking: where have you been all my life? Cell phone use during meetings encouraged, dressing up in clothes from Limited Express, free drinks, entrepreneurial girlfriends and twinkle lights!

Featured here at Ignite Cincinnati: Debba of Girlfriendology (blonde) and Michelle of C3: Creating Connections Consulting (manicure).

10: Checkmates

Multi-cultural chess team: Indian, Asian, White, Black, Redhead...

9: Heeling

There's very little new red heels can't cure.

8: Windows

One to my local world, one to distract me from it. 

(And rats—Footsies (my fantasy team) needed Eli and Hakim to run up the score... Giants lose to Cowboys in "turn around" game under Jason Garrett.)

7: Therapy

Tying the knot helps me untie the knot.

6: Just blue

The tears come through, I'm blue, just blue.

5: The Cone Off-Season

Even West Chester's icon, The Cone, changes. The addition of orange stripes to its white soft serve top is meant to attract more attention from local ardent ice cream fans. I like how the off-season enables the owner to re-invest his business with a little whimsy.

I'd love an off-season for life, where I'd be free to paint orange stripes on my rooftop just to entertain the neighbors. Why not?

4: Caitrin's sit-down comedy

Conan does Stand-Up. Caitrin does Sit-Down. Every day. After school. For an hour.

I get front row seats.