January 11, Winter, year 20

It's hard to believe it's been a year already… Since they died, I mean. So much has happened too, since then. Sometimes it feels like I'm moving in a dream, and I'll turn around and see them right there, laughing at something Pocket does—she's been getting into my pots and pans lately—or with good advice when I burn another dish.

…though I am getting better at cooking.

Mostly, I think I miss the fact that they could always accept everything I did. Going to the city on false pretenses? Well, okay, they never found out they were false, but they let me go in whenever I wanted.

Mom always told me that no matter what I had to chase my dreams. But I guess I never really had any. I didn't know where I was going, what I wanted to do with my life… and now, I'm running the farm, and being good at it. Maybe the farm really was my dream.

Lauren says she wishes she could have met them, they sound wonderful. They were wonderful… shows how much I took them for granted, using their trust the way I did.

Mom…. Mom was always ready for a hug, always had a bright smile. Pony gets the purple eyes from Mom too… She could cook like no ones business and was always happiest in her kitchen. Heck, she could fix things in the kitchen better than Dad could!

Which was always amusing when the oven broke again. All she had to do was fiddle with it for an hour, and it would be fixed. The first and only time Dad tried it he spent the better part of three hours trying to find the problem.

After that he swore off trying to fix the kitchen… It was pretty hilarious.

Mom actually looked a bit like Flora, just with lighter hair and eyes. And straighter hair too, now that I think about it. It's where my hair got its boring straightness.

Speaking of, I might cut mine soon. It's getting pretty long… Lauren says it reaches almost to my behind, which just goes to prove that I never pay attention to anything about myself until it become irritating.

Oh yeah, Lauren's still here. Rock proposed to Lumina last night, so we're planning yet another wedding. Man, it's like the Goddess comes back and people are reminded of romance and weddings.

I blame Pony and Gray personally. (Not really.) Their wedding in November sorta spawned this, I bet. At least, it wouldn't surprise me. I have this niggling feeling that people are all going to start getting pregnant soon enough too! Eve is definitely first, she's already into her sixth month of pregnancy. I'm still not sure if her grandparents have forgive her just yet…

I did manage to dodge bridesmaid duty this time though! That went to Celia. Thank goodness, you know? I don't think I could take another winter-wedding where I had to do more than help with the dress. Lumina can afford one of Lauren's dresses at full price, and actually refused to pay anything less.

Something about the artist needing full compensation for all her hard work, I think.

So far, I think a couple of the sketches she's made, but the fur-trimmed one is elegant enough to suit Mina, as well as being sensible for this time of the year.

I do hope after this we get a small break though… The both of us are staying up pretty late sewing all this stuff, and I for one am tired of stabbing my fingers. This is more sewing than I've done in ages, and I'd forgotten the havoc it wreaks on the hands.

Lauren's laughing at me again… Bah, seamstresses. I should get a sewing machine soon though, if this keeps up. I can stick it in Jack's old room or something.

Oh, and Lumina swears up and down that we're going to the Mineral Town Church, so I guess I'm going to have to ask the Mineral Town Goddess for the usual blessing.

Ack! Pocket and Marmalade are getting into the sewing basket! Bad!