Winter Obsessions

Most of my December was spent making our first west coast Christmas perfect. I sent out close to a 100 holiday cards with cheery notes which I wrote while listening to nothing but Christmas music. Santa’s were on display all over our new home, lights were strung and lit. We fully engaged ourselves in all the festivities, shopping and cooking and baking, while wearing silly hats. As you might have guessed from this idyllic opening the holiday could not live up to my hype. But it did not stop my push to make our New Year’s eve filled with all the garnishes I could throw at it. Yes, lesson not learned. Thankfully sense and sensibility did surface, eventually, to the realization that we were indeed somewhere new, and quite possibly, I could slow down, take a breath and notice all the possibilities in this here.

cactus in bloom

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A Retrospective

In a heartbeat 2024 will come to a full stop and we’ll run straight into 2025 but before that weighty ball drops I’d like to reflect on the last very full 12 months. Towards that end, I selected 4 standouts posts of the 50 I wrote, each a fan favorite, highlighting some significance of my year. How about it, want to journey back with me? Oh, lets!

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Light Up the Dark

Is there anything more wonderful than our collective efforts to deck the halls with shimmering lights during the shortest days of the year? Come December, artificial brightness runs along eaves and doorways, up and around trees, and in between every dark corner of our neighborhoods with gusto. To our delight our new SoCal town has brought the Simply Sensational along every street. What better reminder that darkness holds little sway with even a speck of illumination? These days, with the billionaire bros recent acquisition of our presidency, I’ll gladly accept an extra dose of cheer when it comes my way. After all, “In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself.”– Albus Dumbledore (J.K. Rowling), “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.” Hope, even in the form of white lights is most welcome, everywhere. Apparently, I am not alone in my appreciation and gratitude for the nature of radiance among the shadows.

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