Patchwork

Can anybody relate to Christmas yet? Neighbors have put up bright lights and decorated their trees, stores are crazy, on-line shopping messages are falling all over each other to give me the deal of a lifetime, and I'm just sitting here wondering what it's all about. It doesn't help that it's beautiful sunny weather, kids in shirtsleeves, surfers crowding the brilliant ocean--I'm a New England girl always hoping for a white Christmas.