Merry Making & Mirth

Merry Making & Mirth Christmas

Ordinary Time has arrived, which I’m sure many of you know is not on my list of favorite seasons or celebrations. Monday...
01/08/2026

Ordinary Time has arrived, which I’m sure many of you know is not on my list of favorite seasons or celebrations. Monday was the 12th Day of Christmas. Tuesday was the Feast of Epiphany. Thus, last night was the first night that my outside Christmas lights were switched off and my regular lights turned back on. This is also my first week back to work after enjoying a 16-day Holiday. Needless to say, it’s been a rough one 😂😭. I pray this has been a gentle January for you and yours. It’s the best way to begin a new year if you can get it — calm and gentle.

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There is something so calming about Grandma Moses paintings. While the world is in constant noise and chaos, Grandma rem...
12/30/2025

There is something so calming about Grandma Moses paintings. While the world is in constant noise and chaos, Grandma reminds us of what’s really most important: the space directly around us. In this New Year’s Eve Eve, as we make resolutions for 2026, we should remind ourselves that our biggest impact is on what’s directly around us — our home, our neighbors, our church, our community. If we make a positive difference on those places, our own lives are positively impacted. Instead of focusing our resolutions on ourselves, point them outwards. In 12 months you will see how much you can do to make life a little better for those around you, which is good medicine for your own heart.

Artwork by Grandma Moses

When I worked for Disney — in retail and then at the Disneyland Resort in California — I worked through holidays and fou...
12/28/2025

When I worked for Disney — in retail and then at the Disneyland Resort in California — I worked through holidays and found very little time to rest and relax. Thankfully, those days are far behind me and most holidays, especially Christmas, look and feel just like this illustration (without the snow). There’s time to rest and take walks and remove oneself from the noise and chaos of the world. For those of you who must needs leave your home or hollow to work, I pray you find peace in the little spaces in between. For me, that meant driving home from a long day in complete silence — no music and no radio — just some much needed peace during these very special days.

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From the last light of the day to the first light of the morning, the owls take their places on the branches of the tree...
12/27/2025

From the last light of the day to the first light of the morning, the owls take their places on the branches of the trees on the hill behind my house. The Great Horned owls claim their space with a hoo-h'HOO-hoo-hoo while they speak to me that the long dark has come or that the sun will soon rise. They’re probably also singing Christmas carols and giving thanks for the extra night hours where they can keep watch and spend the extra moonlight hunting for food. There are blessings in these long, cold, dark nights of winter. The owls know this and I give thanks for them every night I hear their call.

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On this second day of Christmas, I always find rest and calm that I need so much. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are so...
12/26/2025

On this second day of Christmas, I always find rest and calm that I need so much. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are so packed — at one point with Midnight Mass in the middle, by the time I find my bed, I’ve usually been awake for 22+ hours. That’s ok. I’ve always found it hard to sleep on Christmas Eve. But today there is rest so I’m doing all of my favorite things: making coffee, reading, listening to Christmas carols, sitting by the fire, and catching up on Christmas music. What’s your favorite thing to do on the second day of Christmas?

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All creatures, great and small, celebrate this time of year. I’ve always believed this just as I’ve always believed that...
12/23/2025

All creatures, great and small, celebrate this time of year. I’ve always believed this just as I’ve always believed that their holes and hollows are decked out in a festive array of colorful garlands strewn with flowers and pines and leaves and nuts — all their favorite things. It’s the most wonderful time of year for all.

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I’ve made five loaves of sourdough sandwich bread the last two days. One of them will turn into French Toast Casserole f...
12/23/2025

I’ve made five loaves of sourdough sandwich bread the last two days. One of them will turn into French Toast Casserole for Christmas Eve breakfast and one of them has already been consumed 😬. After Christmas I’ll probably make some gingerbread to enjoy through New Years. What are your favorite December treats?

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My goal starting tomorrow night is to make this the mood until Christmas (and through New Years). Finish up the to-do li...
12/21/2025

My goal starting tomorrow night is to make this the mood until Christmas (and through New Years). Finish up the to-do lists, finalize all the plans, and settle in for the wonderful days ahead. I have books to read and movies to watch and music to enjoy and cookies to eat and traditions to tradition and days off all the way into the New Year. ​​​​​​​​
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The hollow is finally quiet as the toddlers and baby squirrel doze peacefully dreaming of a white Christmas. Momma takes...
12/19/2025

The hollow is finally quiet as the toddlers and baby squirrel doze peacefully dreaming of a white Christmas. Momma takes a minute to herself as minutes are hard to come by these days when you try to take one for yourself. As it's Advent she reads from her favorite devotional — the lesson today is about the difference between giving a squirrel a nut and teaching a squirrel how to forage. The fire crackles and as the heat from the flames warms the mantle, the smell of fresh pine fills the home. Poppa, coincidentally is out foraging for nuts, just like his dad taught him. In the morning, the hollow will come alive with giggles, and chatter, and activity and chestnuts roasting will fill noses and then tummies — with maybe just a little bit of syrup — a reminder of the sweetness of this season. But right now, momma takes a minute and every once in a while forgets to breathe when the baby squirms and finally snuggles back in to dreamy rest. Momma needs just a minute more. Tomorrow is going to be busy. This season is always so busy.

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Friends gather after a night of snow for tea and stories. It's tradition in these days leading up to December 25 as the ...
12/18/2025

Friends gather after a night of snow for tea and stories. It's tradition in these days leading up to December 25 as the weather turns, the days get shorter, and the nights colder. These gatherings warm spirits and hearts and remind each of them how grateful they are for the gift of good friends and cozy spaces.

Artwork by .kamilla

"'There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say, returned the nep...
12/17/2025

"'There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say, returned the nephew. 'Christmas among the rest... And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!'''

Writing by Charles Dickens
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I leant upon a coppice gate​​​​​​​​When Frost was spectre-gray, And Winter's dregs made desolate​​​​​​​​The weakening ey...
12/16/2025

I leant upon a coppice gate​​​​​​​​
When Frost was spectre-gray, And Winter's dregs made desolate​​​​​​​​
The weakening eye of day.​​​​​​​​
The tangled bine-stems scored the sky​​​​​​​​
Like strings of broken lyres, And all mankind that haunted nigh Had sought their household fires.​​​​​​​​
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Poem by Thomas Hardy​​​​​​​​
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