The rush of the holiday season is mostly past. With a 21-year-old still asleep upstairs at 11:00 in the morning, the mad dash downstairs on Christmas morning is a faint memory. These days, I enjoy the quiet. I have read the whole paper, baked a sausage and egg casserole that I prepared last night, and a cheesecake that will go to my parents’ in the evening is in the oven. Ryan and I may catch Sherlock Holmes this afternoon — if so, it will be the first time I have been to the movies since we got the big screen hi-def TV back in May (better picture, better sound, and a pause button — can’t beat it).

This was what I intended for Zoe when we went to the store to see Barry Claus last Saturday (and missed him). The antlers belonged to my grandpa (yes, I gave them to him), but usually on Christmas morning you’d just find him with the bows from all of the packages stuck to his head.

If you could use a story to warm your heart, may I suggest this one from this morning’s Dayton Daily News — http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/beloved-dog-helps-hiker-recover-aneurysm-stroke-464343.html It’s about Joanie Leach (we used to go to church together — she lives a couple of blocks down the street) and how her dog has helped her recover from an aneurysm and stroke that nearly killed her 2 1/2 years ago. If you love dogs, you’ll love her Emma.

Merry Christmas to you and yours. I hope you have (and have had) a joyous holiday season.