A Fresh Year, New Chances, New Choices...

Yes, we're posting another welcome to the new year!

Why?  Because the last few days runneth over with an abundance of joys, some minute, some majestic, and all magnificent:   a chilly but serene walk around the lake as the sun slipped into a gold horizon; new-found old friends; an authentic Ethiopian jebena for making spicy, molten coffee; a brother-in-law who will soon leave the hospital to greet a new year with his wife and children; the generous neighbours who haven't yet taken down their Christmas lights; the jingling harnesses of the coach-&-horses as holiday-makers make one more chance to revel; the friend who invited me to share her Christmas celebrations.  Life is good.

However you welcome your new year -- sleeping through the toll of midnight, dancing in the streets, toasting champagne, or in quiet candlelight -- here is our New Year's toast to java-pals & Twitterverse compadres.  May yours be a safe & glittering 2014!

See you on the patio in 2014! ;-)

Joy to the World!

Photo & design by Gitanajava Productions LLC, ©2014

To all our family, friends, and colleagues,

We wish you a joyous 2014!

At first glance, "Joy to the World" may seem futile when even the high holidays aren't exempt from grim and dreary headlines.  But joy is not jolliness, or happiness -- it is not a glib and ephemeral emotion.  It is not dependent on circumstances being perfect or on your life being well-ordered and secure.

Joy is deep, unreasonable stuff.  It is illogical.  Joy is born from an iron-willed determination.

Like the fountain in the photo above, we pray your 2014 will overflow with blessings, benedictions, serenity in the midst of chaos, and the moxie to choose joy.

This past year has been, hmmm...interesting.  You've heard the saying, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans"?  We lived it, learned it (again!), and hit plenty of speed bumps along the way.  Our deepest thanks, regards, love, and respect for all of you, our cherished friends and colleagues, who kept the faith with us through the ups/downs, highs and lows.  Amigas y amigos, you rock! :-*