“December is a time to reflect on the blessings of the past year and to embrace the opportunities of the coming one.” — Oprah Winfrey
READING:
The Night Before Christmas in Paris by Betty Lou Phillips and Roblyn Herndon — “A haute stocking stuffer for Paris lovers. Haute couture and Paris sights capture Mrs. Claus’s imagination―as they would any woman’s! This charming story finds Mrs. Claus fabulously ensconced in Paris, having enjoyed fashion week and been lured for several months’ stay by all the sights, scents, and couture of Paris. In the end, Santa takes a quick tour of the City of Light himself―the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysées, the Louvre, Tuileries Gardens, Notre Dame, Montmartre and more―to find the satiated Mrs. Claus and whisk her back home just in time to help the elves with the last-minute packing of toys for children all over the world” (Goodreads).
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin — “A gorgeous and inspiring work of art on creation, creativity, the work of the artist. It will gladden the hearts of writers and artists everywhere, and get them working again with a new sense of meaning and direction" (Goodreads)
I Feel Bad About My Neck, And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron — “Utterly courageous, wickedly funny, and unexpectedly moving in its truth telling, I Feel Bad About My Neck is a book of wisdom, advice, and laugh-out-loud moments, a scrumptious, irresistible treat” (Goodreads).
Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner — “Current day, Oxford, England. Young American scholar Kendra Van Zant, eager to pursue her vision of a perfect life, interviews Isabel McFarland just when the elderly woman is ready to give up secrets about the war that she has kept for decades...beginning with who she really is. What Kendra receives from Isabel is both a gift and a burden—one that will test her convictions and her heart. 1940s, England. Even as fifteen-year-old Emmy Downtree and her much younger sister Julia find refuge in a charming Cotswold cottage, Emmy’s burning ambition to return to the city and apprentice with a fashion designer pits her against Julia’s profound need for her sister’s presence. Acting at cross purposes just as the Luftwaffe rains down its terrible destruction, the sisters are cruelly separated, and their lives are transformed...” (Goodreads)
WATCHING:
The reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral — Stunning!
Christmas movies and specials: White Christmas, Love Actually, The Holiday, The Family Stone, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown — Vince Guaraldi’s soundtrack always makes me smile while Linus’ recitation of the gospel of St. Luke always brings me to tears.
A Man on the Inside (Netflix) — “Charles, a retired man, gets a new lease on life when he answers an ad from a private investigator and becomes a mole in a secret investigation in a nursing home” (IMDb). This series is smart, funny, and touching.
Marquette basketball and Packers football — Winter is the best season for sports.
LISTENING TO:
My Christmas Playlist — Everything from Band Aid to Bing. Occasionally, I add something new from time to time, but this list has been my classic go-to for decades.
Smooth Jazz Christmas station on Pandora — I can never get enough of Vince Guaraldi and George Winston, especially at Christmastime.
December Mini-Playlist:
Joy (George Winston)
Let it Snow (Dean Martin)
C’est si bon (Emilie-Claire Barlow)
Linus and Lucy (Vince Guiraldi Trio)
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Andy Williams)
The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (The Nutcracker)
The Magic of Winter (Roberto Whistle)
O Tannenbaum (The Vince Guiraldi Trio)
When My Heart Finds Christmas (Harry Connick, Jr.)
ENJOYING:
Almost two weeks off — We don’t have any special plans for the holidays, but I am so fortunate to have a break.
Decorating our home with lots of greenery and candles, little white houses, and six Christmas trees: Our beautiful silver, white, and glass tree in the living room; a smaller tree in our dining room with vintage glass ornaments, Ittala baubles, and glass icicles; a nautical tree with ornaments from our childhood in “the boys’ room”; a snow-themed mini tree in the loft; a woodland/Scandi tree with wood ornaments on the deck; and another Scandi-inspired tree with white bisque ornaments (and three mini-Snoopy ornaments for Piper) in our bedroom.
Shopping for gifts, sending Christmas cards to friends and family, and lovingly wrapping packages just like Mom and Grandma Dodo.
Hosting friends and family: Nan and Mark came in early December to shop and dine. Uncle King and the Larsons celebrated an early Christmas with us on December 21st with lots of lovely appetizer and Champagne, two sleepy teenagers, and 3 adorable beagles.
Snuggling by the fire with Piper.
PLANNING:
My 2025 photos challenge, blog posts, and Instapuzzle — This an excellent creative learning experience for me and a labor of love.
Paris in the Springtime — I am so eager to stay in “our” lovely Clairette apartment, take long walks, see Notre Dame restored, revisit some favorite places, take lots of photos…
