I cannot believe that it’s already Friday. The week went fast as most holiday week’s do. We are in New York at my Dad’s. Christmas has come and gone and I cannot say that I was sorry to see it go. It’s the first year since becoming a parent 30 years ago, that I’ve ever…
Christmas
Poetry Friday: Your Favorite Poet is One You Return to Again and Again
Some years ago at this time of year, I posted a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and received some admonition about choosing it. Those criticisms were from people who misinterpreted the poem at face value and thought the poet was a racist. He was, in fact, an abolitionist who put his views into poetry. The…
Poetry Friday: Carols
I’ve long known what my name means. My given name, Carol, means joyous song. It is British in origin and the female version of Charles. I was named not for these reasons but because my mother had three close friends all named Carol – a popular name, apparently for a girl baby born in the…
Slice of Life: Etiquette
I’ve been trying to scale back my blogging to allow me time to write and accomplish some other goals. This is hard while still having a desire to keep my regular blog readers engaged in my posts. Therefore, some of my posts are becoming shorter. Some might consider this a very good thing! As the…
Foodie Monday: Grandma’s Cutout Cookies
We all romanticize some things about our childhood and for me, it is the memory of my Grandma’s cutout cookies at Christmas time. I remember the smell of her house when she was baking, sweet anise filled the air along with the smell of the soft sugary white cookie in the oven. Her dining room…
The Tradition of Sending Christmas Cards
I’ve spent considerable time this morning making our Christmas cards. I’m not physically making them but digitally constructing them on Shutterfly. No, this is not an advertisement for Shutterfly. I use their site because I am used to it. Each year, in March, I make family calendars through their software. And, I occasionally order a…
Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future
Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future. Can you tell I’m a fan of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol? I realized something this week and that is change can be good. A pandemic can even bring the change and it is still good. This year, we decided to celebrate the Christmas holiday at our cabin. It is…
Poetry Friday: Present in a Walk
Walking through the woods newly covered in a thick white blanket. Branches laden with layers not yet sewn Onto the forest floor. I feel cold air cut my face near my cheeks which seem permanently fixed with my smiling expression. Down a steep hill, we will have to later ascend, Out onto the lake bed…
Homemade Ornaments
Ever since my boys were young, I saved all their handmade ornaments from grade school. We have quite a box of them now. Eventually, they will become theirs for their own homes and Christmas trees. Among my favorites are the simple winter hats made with yarn and pieces of toilet paper tubes. I believe these…
Do It and Don’t Tell.
Yesterday, I heard a radio announcer tell about some famous person who left a 1,000 tip for a waitress at a restaurant where he had just eaten a meal. Wow! Great, right?! Yes and no. While it’s great that he completed this generous and seemingly random act, it should have stopped there. Instead, he took…