recent observations, week 14.

wall-to-wall-carpet cousins.

Perfectly pink snow-flushed cheeks.

Grandpa on the Flexible Flyer.

Giddy breathlessness; after-dark snowball fights.

Eight cousins, eight hats, scarves, and sixteen sodden socks.

Baby grins from across the room.

Quiet noses lost in new books.

Aunties and Uncles peering into a passed-around box of chocolates.

Scorched backs in front of the fireplace screen.

Twisted and tweaked Slinky tears.

Medium-pile static electricity.

Last night’s grains of rice crackling through a vacuum hose.

Pajamas past noon.

Repeat the sounding joy.