Holidays
What Do We Love About the Irish?
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY! The day has arrived for dyeing beer and rivers green, singing Danny Boy and enjoying ice cold Guinness in a frosted glass–which is not how it’s served in Ireland, BTW. Like many of you, I have Irish DNA, at least one-quarter. My maternal grandfather was born in the U.S. to Irish…
Read MoreBooklover Carols: What Else Can I Do?
Happy holidays, whichever and however you celebrate. If you’ve been a faithful blog reader, you know that most years I favor (?) you with a Booklover’s Carol at Christmas. The carols are based on the more traditional variety, and I’ve had fun coming up with terrible renditions to delight or horrify you. Either reaction is…
Read MoreSaint Patrick’s Day Blessing
May the Irish hills caress you. May her lakes and rivers bless you. May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you. May there always be work for your hands to do. May your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine warm on…
Read MoreHappy Thanksgiving and Holiday Trivia To Ponder
Here’s a little holiday trivia to make tomorrow more fun. Did you know? Canned cranberry jelly is the least popular traditional Thanksgiving dish. Detractors say when it’s served right out of the can, it reminds them of dog food. Bow wow. Green bean casserole made with mushroom soup and canned onion rings is the second…
Read MoreWish Upon a Star for 2019
I’m at Disney World with my family celebrating our “big” wedding anniversary, as well as all the other end and beginning of the year holidays. Considering where I am, I’m allowed to be a little corny today. So for 2019, in the words of Jiminy Cricket: When you wish upon a star Makes no difference…
Read MoreThe Christmas Carol: Do We Believe in the Miracle of Transformation?
I love reading about the holiday rituals of my readers. If you follow my Facebook Page you’ve seen discussions about our different rituals there. If you’d like to share yours, please comment below so we can all enjoy them. One of my personal rituals developed on its own, the way the best ones often do.…
Read MoreLove at the Dollar General, A Thanksgiving wedding
While I travel this month I’ve selected some of my favorite past blogs to share with you. This one is from 2009 when our family celebrated a very special wedding at Thanksgiving time. I get weepy reading it. There’s an update at the end. They had been a couple for more than twenty years. Each…
Read MoreCelebrations: Does How You Celebrate Say Something About You?
For most of us holiday celebrations are over. Have you finally taken a deep breath and released it slowly? Not yet? It’s past time. Try this yoga breathing exercise popularized by Dr. Andrew Weil. Through your nose, breathe in to the count of four. Hold your breath and count to seven. Now breathe out slowly through…
Read MoreChristmas Gifts: The Christmas Wedding Quilt plus A Booklover’s Carol
T’is that time of year, time for my annual Booklover’s Carol. Some traditions are worth keeping. Think about that crumpled tin star that still goes at the top of your Christmas tree? The holiday recipe your mother always made oozing sugar, shortening and artificial flavors? Uncle Grover dressing up as Santa Claus in a moth…
Read MoreTwo Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen
Happy Thanksgiving! I’m taking a break from my mini-series on how I write a novel, to wish you a wonderful holiday–if you’re in the U.S.–and if you’re not, to wish you a wonderful autumn day filled with good food and good friends. I thought for fun I’d let O. Henry (William Sydney Porter) write my…
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