Hey, mates. Right here we’re, the ultimate Sunday of the yr, closing the tabs on a wild journey of a yr that was filled with peaks-and-valley plot traces.

This yr, I purchased the Bakehouse Texas—a dream so large it felt just like the clouds opened only for me. After which… I moved in – cue the soundtrack of each horror film as I spotted the scope of the repairs ready for me. Excessive highs. Low lows. To be truthfully, I spent the primary few months pondering that I’d made the largest mistake of my life in shopping for this home. However right here we’re, months later, and I’ve settled into the chaos of a 100-year-old home. Form of? Each time I flip the nook dwelling and see it nonetheless standing I depend that as a win.  And filling my home with household, and meals, and a marriage on the porch – all of it works to unwind the worry.

I’ve received large hopes for 2025. Dare I say it seems like yr rolling off the tongue.  I actually like what Amy quoted about hope final week.  About how hope has “dust on her face and blood on her knuckles”.  That’s me.  I’m certain that’s you, too.  Preventing with it and combating for it.

I wish to thank Abby, Amy, and Toby for his or her considerate phrases on the location and within the journal this yr—and also you, pricey reader, for welcoming them with the identical heat you deliver right here each Sunday. You’re the explanation I sit up for this ritual week after week, and it really means the world.

So let’s shut this yr with hyperlinks price bookmarking and a pot of Black Eyed Peas and Cornbread Dumplings effervescent on the range. Right here’s to Light January and a contemporary new yr forward.

•  You cried by Beyoncé’s Christmas day live performance too, proper? There isn’t a higher manufacturing than a Beyoncé live performance.  They are saying nothing is ideal however that was literal perfection. (Youtube)

•  If the daybreak of the brand new yr has you fascinated by how you can finest construction of your days, right here’s  24 Hours of Extremely Subjective Knowledge. As an individual that also operates on baker’s hours, I agree with about 20% of this.  The place do you stand? (Slate)

•  I liked this little glimpse at us:  How Gmail Turned Our Diary (NY Magazine)

•  If the query is “however do these mayo biscuits style like mayo?”  The reply is, you’re welcome sure! (Instagram)

•  The Mother Calendar is each illuminating and excruciating.  (Romper)

•  Now looks as if time to deliver some summer season flavors into our weekday menus with this Ceviche-Type Passionfruit (or may we make it Pineapple?) Shrimp.  Sufficient vacation meals, proper? I feel this shrimp dish could be very nice over heat buttered rice, although, most issues are good over heat buttered rice. (Prevention)

•  The reply to every little thing is darkish leafy greens.  7 Easy Methods To Truly scale back Irritation Within the Physique (Self)

•  Are you dodging this yr’s chilly and flu, too?  Whereas we’re nicely we have to make a batch of Hearth Cider, fast fast.  (The Kitchn)

•  It’s only a matter of time earlier than I splurge and purchase this very cute costume from Reformation. (The Reformation)

•  Fingers down the perfect buy I made this yr had been these Land’s Finish hand towels.  I believed I used to be effective with the mismatch of Goal hand towels however I used to be unsuitable – these towels are thick, tremendous mushy, and don’t shed. These are the one towels I wish to personal now so I’m splurging and shopping for just a few tub towels since they’re on sale.  Can’t suggest sufficient. (Land’s Finish)

•  As I sit right here in my lounge I simply heard the large Christmas tree I’ve adorned on my porch fall over.  Not nice.  I’ll take this as my signal to dismantle the tree, drag it as much as the attic, and begin adorning for Mardi Gras.  Bellville isn’t prepared. (The Atlantic)

•  It’s time for our annual pot of Black Eyed Peas and Cornbread Dumplings.  Not non-obligatory.  (Pleasure the Baker)

•  Allow us to not neglect that we’re simply days away from Light January and I feel we must always all take it very significantly this yr. And lastly, thanks for such type feedback on The Story of Us.  It blows my thoughts that so lots of you could have been spherical this little nook of the web for over a decade! Hear… I feel we have a love story, too. (Pleasure the Baker)

Mmmkay – It’s time to shut all out tabs and begin contemporary with a brand new yr.

My like to you and Comfortable New Yr!

xo Pleasure