Post-Christmas and holidays, and things are settling down back into normal, or usual. But the memories are still fresh.

Last Christmas, I found a notebook that had one of those sequin covers where the sequins can be brushed one way or the other to create designs. The sequins were black in one direction and gold in the other, and Peter enjoyed creating ominous black clouds on the covers. I’ve seen more and more of those sorts of items in the ensuing months. I’ve thought they were intriguing, but I wasn’t interested in buying another sequined item until I was at the HEB last month. This large pillow seemed like another compelling item for family fun. Basically, brushed one way, there are green wedges and white wedges. Brushed the other way, there are red wedges and white wedges. Peter discovered that he could make a spiral. And, if you’re really careful and concentrating, you can have a green/red version. Rather mesmerizing.

It seems that my consistent struggle with chilly temps has been taken to heart by family members. I got a muff, hand made hand warmers, handwarmers, and, that black thing that looks like a computer mouse is an electronic, rechargeable handwarmer. Toasty days ahead for me!

And, I also got some books, to warm my soul.

I’ve talked before about Peter’s interest in The Great British Baking Show, which I watch when I’m walking on my treadmill. And he will encourage me to take a break from whatever I happen to be doing so I can have my walk. (And he can watch bakers.) His most recent idea is that we should have our own Great Baking Show, and has created an imaginary kitchen, stage, and bakers to be contestants on that program. “We’ll ask them to make a cake,” he suggested. “A two-layer cake. No!” he changed his mind. “We’ll ask them to bake just one layer, and then they’ll have to slice it in half. The bakers have a hard time slicing a layer in half,” he says, knowingly. He likes to make things challenging for our imaginary bakers. He wanted a brown sugar cake, which I had to go online to find a recipe for. And he wanted vanilla frosting in the center. I suggested a browned butter frosting, since it might look prettier with the brown sugar cake. Then, we made dark and white chocolate stars for the top. Just because.

I’ve recently read this biography of Fred Rogers. His growing-up years were interesting to learn about. His family was a wealthy one, and his parents quietly helped employees in their company who might have been struggling with overwhelming bills, and made sure that needs were met. They supported their son, and later a daughter, too, in their interests, and provided a strong spiritual foundation. Fred had imagined that he would grow up to be a Presbyterian minister. Thank goodness he went the early childhood route!

I really enjoyed the book, and recalled hearing Mr. Rogers’ songs played every weekday morning in our house when the boys were preschoolers. And I wondered if the library might have some Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood videos. Of course they did. I got one, planning to introduce Peter to the the charm and delight of Mister Rogers.

Peter stayed in Waco for several days after his parents went back to Fort Worth, and, that first morning, I explained about the program that his dad and Uncle Jeremy had watched. Peter was uninterested. “I don’t want to watch that,” he said. “We’re watching it,” I said. He whined. I reminded him that I am always doing the things that he asks me to do and, this time, it’s my turn. “We’re watching it,” I said.

Peter groaned and got up on the day bed and barricaded himself behind pillows. I started the video, and Fred Rogers came through his door, singing, “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor, would you be mine?”

“I wonder what he’s carrying?” I said. (It was a pasta maker. Mister Rogers always brings in something interesting.) By the time Mister Rogers had sat down and taken off his street shoes and put on his tennis shoes, Peter was sitting on the edge of the bed and smiling. We watched the whole episode, and, by time the second episode began, Peter was sitting in my lap. A Fred Rogers convert.

Meanwhile, I just put away the last of the Christmas boxes on Wednesday.