Holiday Chalet

The smell of cinnamon and warm apple cider wafts throughout this merry home, greeting all visitors with a cheerful welcome. In the family room, a wide metal grate embossed with gold decorates the familial hearth. The cozy fire lets out a gentle hum, and its warmth casts a dancing light around the room. It's the perfect backdrop for our annual holiday dinner, and we're so excited to share this special night with you. While the host gets ready in the kitchen, enjoy the many personal touches meant to make any guest feel at home. There is a wide selection of coffee table books to read and snug chairs to curl up in. Flickering candles carry the scent of cranberries, and old records play lazily in the background. In the window, snow swirls in beautiful circles. A dog appears in the doorway and nestles up on the warm carpet, his chest rising and falling as he snores. There is no better night to relax amongst friends and loved ones. But before we immerse ourselves fully, let's pause for a short wind down exercise. Tonight's exercise is a really simple breathing exercise. So when you're ready, let's begin. So first, get yourself comfortable. Now just bringing the attention to the breath, just noticing where you feel it. In the nose, the throat, the chest, the diaphragm. You're nice and relaxed. We're going to be taking a deep breath in for four, holding it for four, and then breathing out for six. So are you ready? Let's begin. In for four. Two, three, four. Hold it for four. Two, three, four. Now breathing out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. In for four. Two, three, four. Holding for four. Two, three, four. Out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. In for four. Two, three, four. Holding for four. Two, three, four. Out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. In for four. Two, three, four. Holding for four. Two, three, four. Out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. Great. Now returning the breath to normal. Snow piles up outside the kitchen window. On the stove, cider bubbles in a big pot. A wooden spoon sits up in a ladle next to the stove. Warm sweeps of steam from the cider fill the room with a delicious holiday smell. The dog wanders in sniffing happily, looking for a treat. Instead, under the kitchen table, he finds a stuffed toy and nudges head delicately with his nose. Picking it up, he carries it to his fluffy bed in the corner of the kitchen. A dinner guest take several mugs from the cupboard and pours cider into each, then places them on a red tray. Candlelight casts delicate shadows over the cinnamon and sugar sprinkled all over the counter, a perfectly sweet mess. In the kitchen, candles twinkle on the square countertop. Light flickers dreamily over homemade pies laid out to cool. The dinner host, Una, wears a sweater and jeans, her hair...