Hi folks.
I am sitting in my living room writing to you: the windows are decorated with spray-on snow, homemade snowflakes hang on the curtains, and our christmas tree, also adorned with very charming clothespin angels and popsicle stick reindeer.
The whole city of Bath looks like a bit of a fairy tale: the streets are lit with Christmas. And one particular place looks like Christmas all year round: Hansel and Gretel's Coffee House. Located near the Royal Crescent (the most beautiful old high society apartments shaped in a crescent, as the title might suggest). You step in the door, and, suddenly, you are in Saint Nick's toy store. Tiny handmade wooden animals, warm woolen booties, lovely smelling candles, rich (and expensive) wool blankets, old-fashioned puzzels, and, I've never seen so many beautiful ornaments in all my life - crammed into such a tiny little shop. Then, downstairs, you sit in one of the three cozy little nooks, and order one of their seven hot chocolates or hot ciders and streudels. Did I mention they have a constant video playing of the snowy Swiss Alps?
I can't believe I leave here forever - no, indefinitely, on Sunday. I am so excited to see everyone and be in Ohio and then home in California, cuddling with my dearest friends and family, and I am even excited to be in Boston again, but I think I will leave a part of me here. I love this house, Bath, I love walking into town and waving to the guy who sells The Big Issue on the bridge, I love the town troubadour: an endearing man in a jester-like hat who insists every moment should be set to a Bob Marley song. I love coming home from class, finding everyone in the kitchen making dinner. It is going to be so strange to suddenly stop being with these seven people I have spent every day with these last four months (the picture above is in Ireland, though we are missing Christine and Annie, and Laura makes an appearance - an honorary member of Prior Park). Oh, and I am going to miss hearing the dinner bell...(yes, we have a dinner bell...).
Yesterday we had our Christmas morning. I made cinnamon rolls, Kathleen made pancakes (chocolate chip, cinnamon, and blueberry), Annie made eggs. Baron made us a traditional (and delicious) Christmas Eve dinner the night before. I forgot to mention we also had a Thanksgiving: we even (very) successfully managed a turkey. And we opened presents together and watched a Christmas movie...the yule log even made an appearance via Lizzy's computer screen.
I'm sorry I have been inconsistent about writing....Maddie is quite upset :) Sorry, sisher. Okay, I love you all very much, and I'll write at least one more time before I leave.
your hannah
