HOLIDAY PEACE

The holidays are always a whirlwind of activity. Which just confirms my belief in slowing it all down and celebrating not for one day but for the entire season.

In that spirit, I'm taking advantage of these quiet days of post-Christmas calm to finish up some holiday baking, play with some new toys, and wind down 2013. Here are a few of the fun ways I'm spending this peaceful week.

• Playing with new toys... perfecting my pour-over technique with some new coffee equipment and some lovely, locally roasted beans from Rising Star Coffee.
• Taking a few long walks (yesterday in the rain, today in the snow).
• Cultivating some wild yeast and admiring the bread porn in Tartine Book No. 3. 
• Finishing up year-end paperwork and doing some winter decorating that didn't get done before the big day. 
• Adding to my collection of beloved holiday tunes with this odd, dreamy and beautiful holiday album by The Polyphonic Spree. 
• Sending off a few New Year's greeting cards to friends and family in faraway places.
• Planning to bake another batch of this awesome Stollen. Actually I'm using this recipe as well as some tips from David Lebovitz (particularly with regard to the final steps involving bathing the loaves in butter and allowing them a two-day rest in powdered sugar).
• Reviewing the past twelve months, counting my many blessings, and feeling very thankful.

Here's to the holiday season!