LONG SHADOWS

2014 casts long shadows. The Dog and TWT visit Ocean Shores. Photo taken on Sunday 29 December 2014.

BUBBLES

Where the sea meets shore bubbles are birthed. The Dog loves to chase the bubbles as the waves deposit them upon the sand. There is much barking. Monday 30 December 2014. Ocean Shores.

THE SEA

The sea is relatively quiet. Waves but very little wind. No clouds in the sky. Chilly temperatures in the mid-30s. Sunday 29 December 2014. Ocean Shores.

SALT AND SPICES

Beneath the thermometer is a salt crust. Beneath the salt crust is a prime rib. Awaiting to accompany the prime rib is a bottle of Anchor Brewing Company's 2013 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Ale.

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (Our Special Ale), a Winter Ale by Anchor Brewing Company.

12 ounce taster bottle served in a shaker glass.

5.5% alcohol by volume.

The pour is an intensely deep ruby red with a half-finger of tan head.

The nose is primarily spices: cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon.

The tongue is scrumptious wood bark, lightly roasted malts, and light spices. Dark fruits undergird the forward flavors.

The finish is woodsy and then lingering spices. The latter increase for some time.

As it warms, light chocolate and cocoa notes sneak into the background.

This is an excellent winter ale.

THE SEA

The sun makes its presence known, even approaching sunset, even amongst the brooding clouds. Saturday 28 December 2014. Ocean Shores.

FOLLOW THE STAR

On the third day of Christmas. Follow the star. Ocean Shores.

ZOOLIGHTS OCTOPUS

Giant Pacific Octopus in Christmas Lights. Friday 26 December 2014. Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Tacoma.

FREESTYLE CHRISTMAS COOKIE

Freestyle Christmas cookie by The Child. "Santa with his sleigh and bag of toys."

Created with cut cookies joined together—two candy canes, two ornaments, and one Santa hat

LONGEST NIGHT REPRISE

I'm up because it's the longest night. It happens this way each year. I'm sure that it is mostly self-fulfilling prophecy, but "it is what it is."

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So I read.

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Online poems by local poets (Tacoma, Olympia) and those farther afield (Pittsburgh, Tallahassee) because the internet does not distinguish the distances.

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The songs of Hannah (1 Samuel 2) and Mary (Luke 1). Similar songs of the Lord lifting up the lowly and poor, while sending the wealthy away from the table.

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The final book in The Southern Reach trilogy, Acceptance, by Jeff VanderMeer. I'm drawing out this latter reading because I don't want the story to end.

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I hope that sleep will soon arrive. I hope that I will not dream.

JULE BRØD

TWT enjoys some Jule brød on this longest night.