December was a step into Dostoevsky's words, "the soul is healed by being with children." It was the time of basking in Elizabeth's greatest fairytale, a true-ish story called "Green Dolphin Street". I spent the first half of the month staying with a friend, waiting with her for her first child to come. She and I processed a small deer, and then when the little one was born, I tried to help by cooking and cleaning. I tended to spend much of my spare time sewing on her treadle machine. I kept busy, but never too busy to not be able to take breaks for holding baby. There's been so much contentment. I didn't want to leave. But time inures us ever onward. I went to visit an old friend who is going through a divorce. It was sad to be there. She and I worked on projects together, I filled the house with piano music, and I cu...