Merry Yule & Happy New Year!

Bright blessings from La Maison des Grands Chats!

2011 brought us new adventures, new and returned friends, and even a few heartbreaks.

Anastasia surprised everyone with her costume design at Norwescon's masquerade this year, and took home two awards. She's already drawn up the design for next year, and hopes to start shopping for fabric in January (she also wants me to enter, and though I have a design in mind, I have a strong learning curve for dying the fabric). She also spent a whole week away from home, the longest she's ever been away from me, to attend Fish Camp at Songcroft. Although she had hoped to attend Farm Camp instead, it was cancelled, and Fish Camp was offered in its place. Though she didn't catch any fish, she learned a lot, had fun, and got to eat some fish hearts and eyes.

In July, after the Prime Number birthday party, jodawi took us to Forks, WA, where we stayed the weekend in a cabin, and explored the Hoh Rainforest, one of our state's greatest natural wonders. It was a peaceful trip filled with exploration and a feeling of becoming more grounded. Craig, Ana, and I went to Teatro Zinzanni for a brunch performance in celebration of their birthdays, and once again (yes, he had to do this before, he's just that awesome), Craig was pulled up onto stage, worshipped as the second coming, and asked to perform for title of head chef. In the fall, Craig returned to classes at the UW, while Ana and I took up gardening and farming. I'd spent several months reading about sustainable farming and food security practices, and after working on my health, finally felt able to venture out for up to an hour a day to work a small plot in the back yard.

I also implemented my plan for improving our living room. It now has two yellow walls, and one turquoise wall, a dragon installation in a frame I painted with gold, and the piano and furniture have been moved to create a creativity suite in one corner, and a focus on the hearth in another. New lightning has brightened up the winter thus far, as well. I have plans for improving other rooms in the coming year. Though it takes me much longer than able-bodied individuals, the small changes over time improve our home and the way we feel in it.

Sadly, we lost two of our family members this year: Taigil, my 11-month-old kitten, and brother to Charlotte, disappeared with an injured foot into a snowy night last January, and Charlotte's second companion, Cotton, disappeared on October 1st, just before his first birthday. We miss them a great deal, but are grateful to the Seattle Humane Society, who held a free adoption event across Halloween weekend, and now we have a witch's perfect cat, a cuddly black bundle named Ember, whose name matches his eyes.

Besides research, gardening, and redecorating our home, I've spent a lot of time working hard on my writing, and pushing myself to submit more often to more publications. I spent the first several months of the year earning extra cash as a freelance writer for sites like eHow and LiveStrong, and in these last few months, the first book in the series on which I'm collaborating is nearing the end of its final revision, almost ready to be scouted to an agent or publisher.

We're looking forward to 2012, and wish for each of you the warmth and love of the season to keep the chill from finding you this winter and the new year brings you great opportunity for joy.