Three On Thursday

December 31, 2020 By Carole

Here it is, friends, the last day of 2020. And while I know nothing magical happens at midnight to guarantee that 2021 will be better, I’m still not sad to say goodbye to this year. Today, in the interest of embracing good things for 2021, I am sharing 3 things I think you should consider doing as we usher in January.

Sign up for Yoga with Adriene’s 30 day yoga journey; the theme this year is Breathe. I signed up last year when Juliann blogged about it and I’m so glad I did. I finished the whole month and it started me on a yoga journey for the year that was on then off and then on again in a big way. Adriene is wonderful. She’s kind and welcoming and really sort of adorable. And this program is free. It might just change your life if you give it a chance.
Choose a word for the year. And sign up to take Ali Edward’s One Little Word class. I’ll be announcing my word tomorrow and I think it’s pretty perfect for how I want to approach 2021. I had a big time with Open last year but I’m ready for a different exploration of myself this year and I think you’ll see my word reflect that. If you haven’t made this decision yet it’s not too late and I highly encourage you to give this a go. It’s always fascinating to see where my words take me and I predict you will feel the same if you try this. Also, Carolyn of Your One Word will be hosting our monthly reflections this year and I’m excited to see where we all go with her!
Create a 21 in 2021 list. This is something that Gretchen and Elizabeth of the Happier Podcast have done for the last few years. I actually started a list last year and never finished it as I just never felt the push to get it done. A premonition of what was to come in 2020? Perhaps. This year, though, I’m planning a list and I think it will work perfectly not only with my OLW but as a reminder to focus on the things that really matter and the goals I really want to accomplish.

So, three ideas to start 2021 off right. Who is with me?

If you wrote a post for today be sure and include your link below. See ya later, 2020.

One Little Word: December 2020 Update

December 29, 2020 By Carole

I’m joining with Honoré today to share a new monthly update on my One Little Word, Open.

Yes, I’m on a blog vacation this week but I couldn’t let the last update for OLW 2020 slip by without a proper post. I believe I need to honor my word and wrap things up. Honestly, though, even as I wrote that sentence I laughed at myself. Let’s face it, there’s no closure (see what I did there?!) for me when it comes to the word Open.

Living with this word, contemplating this word, studying this word, has been incredible. My emotions and feelings about Open have been so varied. I have cried about it, struggled with it, pushed back on it, and denied it. On the flip side, I have embraced it and welcomed it and considered so many different approaches to problems and situations because of it.

There are words I have chosen that have been okay. Grace and Shine come to mind. And then there are words I have chosen that have changed my life. My first word, Joy!, did that. I also had a wonderful experience with Peace. Nothing prior prepared me for Open, though. Even as I move on and choose a new word for 2021 (announcement on January 1, as usual) I know that Open isn’t done with me.

And, surprisingly enough, I’m glad about it. How’s that for growth?

Random Wednesday

December 23, 2020 By Carole

Loving: Our Christmas bedroom. This is year 2 with the gray walls and I adore how that neutral background allows for all kinds of Christmas decor.

Reading: The Boy in the Field by Margot Livesey. It’s very good and I’m just about done, thank goodness, since it will be swept away from my kindle by Ms. Libby any day now.

Knitting: Dissent Cowl by Carissa Browning. I’m a little late to the party on this one, I think. I’m using Rowan Felted Tweed in Bilberry for the dark and Clay for the light. It’s great knitting for TV watching. I have a few hand knits that I haven’t been able to show you yet but Christmas is just about here so you can expect them over the next few weeks.

Baking: Swedish rye bread and cardamom braid. Because Christmas.

Watching: cheesy Hallmark movies and kids Christmas specials like Rudolph and Year Without a Santa Claus.

Considering: Dropping Project 365 from my daily routine. I’ve taken a photo a day, every day, since 2009! I originally started it to learn to use my new camera and improve my photography skills. Now, all these years later, it feels forced. I’m still committed to taking photos of things that inspire me, moments I want to capture, memories I want to keep, but I think I’m ready to let go of the task of taking a photo and just let myself be inspired by it instead.

Trying: a gravity blanket. I fall asleep just fine but wake in the night and have trying getting back to sleep. I know it’s related to hormones (thanks menopause) but add in some other stresses and pandemic anxiety and . . . it’s annoying. I’ve read that a gravity blanket can help and I’ve had one for 2 nights now. I will say I’m less restless, probably because turning over in bed now feels like strength training! Seriously, Dale came in the other night and said, how’s the new blanket? And I said, more weight.

Taking: vacation, not just from work but from blogging, too. I love having the week after Christmas off. It’s a great time to read and knit, play games, and do some things around the house. I’ll be popping in at some point, and I’ll definitely be blogging on Thursday the 31st but otherwise you won’t see me here much.

Wishing: you all a happy holiday season! It may look and feel different this year but I’m hoping you’ll find joy.

December Weekending

December 22, 2020 By Carole

Even with COVID, we are making merry over here. This past weekend we . . .

Made cookies and candy. Spritz, pictured here, but also ginger cookies and lemon crinkles, peanut butter balls and toffee. Usually I’d be doing this with Doreen but we decided that wasn’t a good idea so I made cookies on my own. Funny thing, it went faster . . . but it wasn’t nearly as fun.

On Saturday night we watched A Christmas Carol, the version with George C. Scott. It’s our favorite and we always save it to watch right before Christmas. This year we got sushi and I dubbed the evening Sushi & Scrooge. I hope this is a tradition that will stick.

And on Sunday we made krumkake, a new tradition for us. I invested in a krumkake iron a couple of weeks ago, thinking it would be a good way to spend some pandemic time together. I was right! While it took longer than I anticipated, Dale stood at the stove with that krumkake iron until all those cookies were done. They are light and crispy and pretty tasty!

It feels good to do some of these traditional things, even as we’re missing looking forward to our annual Christmas Eve Open House. In the interest of full disclosure, I will say I’m not missing (at all) the thought of making 8 lbs of Swedish meatballs . . . or any of the other food, really . . . but I am missing the thought of the people we love most gathered in our home to celebrate, singing and laughing, eating, and drinking, exchanging gifts and hugs, and just being together.

Some day that will happen again but in the meantime I am embracing this season of quiet and peace and reflection.

Monday On My Mind

December 21, 2020 By Carole

Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, and that’s very much on my mind. In pagan times, my Scandinavian ancestors, along with many cultures around the world, would celebrate this day, this return of the light, by decking their homes with greens and herbs, and keeping fires burning all night long. It was the symbolic death and rebirth of the sun, a time to feast before the long, cold winter to come.

For many years Dale and I have celebrated the solstice quietly and privately, just the two of us. We write our regrets on slips of paper, share them with each other, and then ignite them in the wood stove. We burn candles and toast to the return of the light with homemade glögg as we share our hopes and wishes for the year to come. This ritual feels particularly important in 2020, as we are more than ready for a fresh start, eager to release our own personal trauma as well as the trauma that has been engulfing our whole world.

A dear friend and mentor of mine, Heather Wood, recently shared how she celebrates Yul and I think her wisdom is something you all might find beneficial. These are her words, and I have her permission to share them.

Carry: what do I want to carry in to next year? What felt good? When I felt the most present and happy, what was I doing? Who was I with? Where was I? I’m going to carry those things in to next year.
Shift: what feels like it needs to evolve or change as it comes with me in to the next year? What’s not quite in alignment? What interactions or situations didn’t feel great? How can I shift those things to feel better next year?
Cut: what needs to be cut from my life? What felt toxic, brought me down, disrupted happy states? How do I cut it out of my life in a way that feels right?

In addition to our other rituals, I will spend some time today thinking about what I want to carry, shift, and cut on this solstice. I encourage you to do the same as you celebrate the return of the light. And don’t forget to go outside and look for the Christmas star just after sunset tonight; Jupiter and Saturn haven’t passed this close to each other in the night sky in nearly 800 years.

God Jul, my friends. God Jul.