We want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

It was such a nice day today and we enjoyed seeing the sun, at least for a while, in moderate temperatures reaching 29 degrees F. I ran to town to mail out seed packets and do a little last minute Christmas food shopping. Our family will be getting together on Saturday to allow folks to celebrate Christmas at home, with family. On the way down the driveway, I saw a beautiful Great Gray Owl, sitting in a tree. We are so blessed to live where we do.

While I was gone, Will again hit the wood cutting, on the trailer load he brought home from the Wolf Pasture, of dry, smaller wood that doesn’t need splitting. (I make him carry his cell phone as when he’s cutting this small wood, on the trailer, he doesn’t put on his hard hat nor chaps.) That’s just in case something goes haywire. He does have steel toed boots, ear and eye protection though. Remember, although this isn’t considered “safe,” he’s been a professional logger for decades and can write his name with a chainsaw.

Since I’ve been back, I’ve been decorating the cut-out Christmas cookies. They’re not as fancy as I’d like, but I’m running out of time. (Who cares if Santa’s eyes are crooked?) I was going to pipe decorative lines and different colors, but that didn’t happen. I’m still not done. Oh well, they’ll eat just as well. Tomorrow, on Christmas, Will and I will take a quiet day together. Yes, he’ll probably still cut some wood (in Northern Minnesota, you cut or split wood on every nice day you can, regardless of how much is in the woodshed!). I plan on baking some German Stollen, a sweet bread with candied fruit peels in it and some squash for pies on Friday. Yes, we’ll sure be eating some for supper. Hopi Pale Grey, for sure!

In this time of uncertainty and divisiveness, I want to remind everyone to appreciate what you have. Yes, there will probably be gifts, large or small, homemade or designer brands, but it’s about love for each other and our many blessings. We, the homesteading family, look forward to spring, gardens, and working about our homesteads on jobs that are never done. Merry Christmas to each and every one of you! May your holiday be bright and filled with love. — Jackie