The snow began last night around 8:30 and tapered off around 11 tonight, giving us 19.75 inches outside the Burrow.

I have admired the snow, walked (mostly successfully) in the snow, frolicked in the snow, and shoveled the snow. I’m exhausted.

Photos tomorrow.

has begun.

Details to come as they are interesting.

(Woo hoo!)

Between the late night news and this morning’s broadcast, the possible snow totals have increased to 8-12 inches or more.

Snow ball fight on the Mall, anyone?

Three beautiful things from the past week:

1. We watched the first two episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer this week. Our friends always told us we’d enjoy the show — and they were right.

2. A felted wool beret is perfect for tucking wet hair into when running late for work on a chilly morning.

3. The D.C. Council passed the marriage equality law on Tuesday 11-2. Mayor Fenty will sign the bill tomorrow. Challenges have already begun, both in the courts and in Congress, but this was a HUGE step forward. I admit to being surprised by tears of joy after the vote.

PLUS

4. This weekend’s forecast suggests the mid-Atlantic is going to get significant snowfall. D.C. is currently in the swath gearing up for 6-12 inches. I see hours of cookie baking and cd making (and picture taking) in my near future.

What’s been beautiful in your world recently?

Apologies to anyone who turned up here looking for a real post, a book review, or pictures. I’ve got none of that today. Instead, I’ve got bullets:

• Last week, our handyman fixed our toilet, which broke during our holiday party.
• This week, he put in a new garbage disposal.
• Later this week or early next week, he’ll be back to fix a cracked pipe under the kitchen sink.
• I’d think he was just hankering after a Christmas tip, but we were the ones to call the landlord to ask if Mario could stop by.
• There’s also something wrong with the building’s hot water heater that causes it to make loud screechy noises every five minutes or so.
• The noise is very disconcerting when you’re trying to do other things.
• Mario has ordered a part, but isn’t sure it’ll arrive before the weekend.
• I think the third time is the charm when it comes to yarn selection on my latest knitting project.
• Unfortunately, I didn’t guess correctly at the sizing on the latest attempt, so I will be ripping out again…
• I really like epistolary novels.
• Reading books you really enjoy gets in the way of other important things, like sleeping.
• I have a hard time writing Christmas cards and doing other things at the same time.
• If your last name starts with an “a” or “b” and you’re on my Christmas card list, you’ll be fine.
• If your last name starts with some other letter, how do you feel about Martin Luther King Day cards?
• I’m feeling tired.
• It’s nearly 2 a.m.
• It’s time for bed.
• Good night!

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Karen and I met up and spent an afternoon exploring the center of Putnam, Connecticut. It being the Christmas season, we were on our best behavior.

Lucky thing. Because who do you think we ran into?

Yup, Santa himself, taking several of his reindeer out for a warm-up ride over the Quinebaug River dam.

This is probably why his nice and naughty lists are so accurate — random spot checks.