The Shiny Season

We’ve been caught up in the enchantments of the season and also the microbes. Has there been a holiday season in recent memory when someone hasn’t been red with fever, green with sickness? No. But things are looking up thanks to the power of time, immune systems, antibiotics, essential oils, and prayer. It was especially difficult dealing with sick kiddos when our water heater decided 14 years was a good life span. It shuffled off all it’s coils and left our basement wet and our water cold, cold, cold.

MERRY CHRISTMAS. Give your water heaters a big hug and smooch, perhaps a pat on the pipes. Don’t take hot water for granted. For a few days, all dishes were cleaned with water boiled in the electric kettle mixed with cold. Someone said, “Just like Little House on the Prairie!” and I thought about Ma standing at her sink listening to the hum of the Melitta Express kettle as it warmed water to help wash the stand mixer bowl. I tightened my bun.

Now, we are back in business with hot water for the dish and clothes washing machines. Most importantly, it is much nicer cleaning oneself and one’s little people with hot showers and warm baths. It was annoying to have such an important household feature die right before Christmas because new water heaters aren’t sold at the dollar store. But, it helped having lovely distractions and beautiful moments to remind us there are greater gifts right under our noses.

Here are a few photos of December, so far. It’s been lovely, emotional, stressful, peaceful. It’s been everything.

Ryley and I chose this year’s tree

December’s full moon rise

Beatrix at a Christmas tea we had with friends

on the mantel

Magic Bars! A childhood favorite my mom made every year. I had to make some, too.

The Matterhorn or a mound of whipped cream on a mug of hot cocoa?

Bowl o’ ornaments

Mocha spice fudge

Aidan and Beatrix had holiday concerts on the same night.

Aidan, singing at her last high school holiday concert. The tradition is for seniors to enter the auditorium holding candles. It was very emotional because I remember that concert when she was a freshman, watching the seniors, thinking her moment was far off. Nope. 😥

Tommy turned 13 on December 16th! He is a great kid and we are so proud of him.