Our story tonight is called Mudlarking on the River, Part 1, and it’s a story about a sunny morning in early spring that inspires a walk along sandy banks. It’s also about ordering your usual at the bakery counter, Canada geese and garden gloves, being gentle with yourself, and hidden treasure waiting to be unearthed.

Our story tonight is called People Watching and the Coffee Shop, and it’s a story about the view from a table in the back corner; it’s also about found family, a neatly shoveled sidewalk, and simple ways to feel connected.

A story about a break in the cold weather and the boost that comes from warm sunlight on your face. It’s also about woodpeckers and spring melt flowing fast, the wonders of libraries, and the kindness of people who you might never meet but have cleared a path for you.

Our story tonight is called Mixtape, and it’s a story about a box of memories tangled up with songs. It’s also about the messages we send with the tracks we pick out, new batteries in an old Walkman, and finding the music that helps you find yourself.

Our story tonight is called Muddy Paws, and it’s a story about a walk outside with Village pups Crumb and Birdie and the inevitable aftermath. It’s also about a rubber ducky, a field full of good spots to stop and sniff, a bed laid out in the sunshine, and the feeling of being safe and content at home with family.

Our story tonight is called Quiet Celebration, and it’s a story about softly stepping into the next year of your life. It’s also about a good dream that lingers after waking, a glass raised with best wishes and a cake decorated with orange slices and rosettes.

Our story tonight is called The Greenhouse, and it’s a story about flowers and vases and the deep green scent of plants in a warm space in the winter. It’s also about a silver wine bucket, music playing while you work, pine needles and mint, and the small and big ways of building the life you want.

Our story tonight is called A Little Romance, and it’s a story about the beginnings of Spring in the city. It’s also about fond memories of young love, a picture tucked into the back of a wallet, and the sweet realization that someone somewhere is thinking of you.

Our story tonight is called Museum Trip, and it’s a story about a school bus pulling into the lot at a grand old house where local history is preserved. It’s also about welcoming rooms to explore, fires to warm yourself at, apples and popcorn, and finding yourself on the map.

Our story tonight is called Fog and Light, and it’s a story about a day of simple pleasures meant to clear out the winter blues. It’s also about a little girl in a red hat, the Latin names for rare flowers, and good advice from an old friend.

Our story tonight is called Sycamore Settles In, and it’s a story about the newest resident at the Inn on the Lake. It’s also about a sunny winter day, and neighbors spotted from the window, roses and cat nip, toy mice and freshly pressed curtains, and a growing bond between two friends getting each other through the winter.

Our story tonight is called Clean Slate, and it’s a story about a room of one’s own. It’s also about a jade plant on a window sill, a bit of still useful old technology, and figuring out what’s worth keeping and what’s not.

Our story tonight is called Pass it Along, and it’s a story about a good deed passed from one person to another in the Village on Nothing Much. It’s also about a cardinal on a branch, a cup of tea served up by a friend, and sharing the feeling that there are others out there eager to help.

Our story tonight is called A New Leaf, and it’s a story about starting off the new year with a fresh book to write your plans in. It’s also about a memory of something magical, a cup of coffee on a cold day, and the pleasure of a freshly sharpened pencil.

Our story tonight is called The Winter Quilt, and it’s a story about a lovingly made piece of art that warms a heart and a bed. It’s also about snowflakes lit up in the headlights of a car, sparrows and bicycles and the artifacts that we hold to tell us stories from the past.

Our story tonight is called The Innkeeper’s Blanket, and it’s a story about a favorite hobby rediscovered in the quiet of winter. It’s also about a simmering pot in the kitchen, geese gathering before they fly, and making something by hand that is perfectly imperfect.

Our story tonight is called Lemongrass and Ginger, and it’s a story about fresh flavors and aromas enjoyed in a cozy kitchen. It’s also about a cache of cookbooks discovered in the basement, the winter sun warming your face, a softer way to look at mistakes when you make them, and a quiet, clean house on a snowy day.

Our story tonight is called Winter Walk, and it’s a story about stepping through crisp layers of deep snow on a sunny, cold day. It’s also about a well-made bed, a sleeping kitty, and the welcome way that nature can take your breath away. 

Our story tonight is called The Sleeper Car, and it’s a story about a trip where the mode of travel is more important than the destination. It’s also about crisp ironed linens, a little notebook that fits perfectly into your pocket, the mystery of strangers across the dining car, and waking up to a snowy sunrise. 

A story about revisiting a yearly tradition. It’s also about a thermos of coffee waiting to warm you up, thick socks, and the kind of friends who, even after a while apart, can pick right back up where they left off.