december first.

the snowfall has quieted, and the flakes have nestled into each other creating a still blanket on the once green grass. the first snow of the season. the snow that everyone ahhhs and gasps about. seen as less of an annoyance and instead, a gracious complement, welcoming in the new holiday season. and to think, all of this happened on the first day of december.

so, i here i sit with my favorite cup filled with hot chocolate (sans marshmallows) listening to bing crosby and willingly welcoming what i've strove so long to put off: christmas movies, christmas music, snow, mittens, boots, and ice-scrapers. yes, folks. ice-scraper.

my ice-scraper and i had a reunion (a difficult one, mind you) this morning. stepping outside with 15 minutes to get to work, i see my car covered in a layer of snow...and ice. i open my driver-door (only to have snow fall in my car and on my sear), sigh one of those why-is-this-happening-already sighs, and start the defroster. tip-toe to the truck of my car and see it. my trusty, red ice-scraper. he's high-tech with his sturdy bristles and metal extension handle. and although i grudgingly said "hello" to him, we're now on even terms. i'm happy to have him; and he's happy to be out of hibernation...and to currently live on the passenger side floor.

however, the icy roads and i have yet to speak to each other again. he wasn't very friendly with his refusing to be plowed and salted. and he kept making me slip all the way to work. i forgot how rough he could be; i need to get used to it again!

and i say "hello" to another season, i wave "goodbye" to the other. november was good to me. real good to me. not only was it my birthday (22, holla!), but i got engaged, booked a wedding to photograph in may (!!), found a job for the season, and spent a beautiful day with my family this past thursday. turkey and gravy leftovers left me satisfied until saturday...when i realized i'd have to take a trip home to get more. i knew i should've taken more!

i have been blessed this past season...immensely. both with the big things mentioned above and all the small things in between: putting up the christmas tree with my love, spending a lazy night on the couch with a full pizza and the cat, going out to eat with my fiancé and talking about all things old. and now, after a day of work, i will sit back and enjoy it. because it can only be the first of december one day a year.