The baking commences.

And you know what that means--the grading has ceased! Last night at about 10:15 p.m., I finished my reading, for better or for worse, of the revisions (or "revisions," in the case of more of my students than I would have liked) and portfolios and final projects and exams. C'est fini, and I feel, frankly, okay about it all. The reckoning was prolonged but it was just.

Therefore and thus, as we speak there is babka a-rising (pictures to come). And the people, there is butter in my refrigerator and it shall not be spared! In fact, more butter than I presently have is called for, and thus there will be store runs for butter and other sundries. Powdered sugar. Maybe some more sprinkles. Cream? Because there will be cookies galore, and more caramels, this time not slightly overcooked, and Christmas breads of various kinds.

One of the three out-of-town children has come home to roost. She is waiting for me to watch another episode of Glee with her. Two more come home tonight. The tree is fresh and it smells good. There are poinsettias. The goose is getting fat, the people. FAT.