I cleaned up the guest room in our basement, replaced the light bulbs, and got some new bedding at Bed Bath & Beyond. It’s a pretty cute little space now. And it feels so good to be able to offer a cosy warm bed and privacy.

In the last week or so, we’ve had 3 couchsurfers: Meegan, the sweet Idahoan master-builder of a fabulous chicken mole enchilada casserole. Rich/Ovid the quirky mythological consultant and soapmaker, and his big puppy Joey. And Lenine, the bright warm Aussie who charmed my mother as we made Christmas cookies together.