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Wild weather
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” ~Benjamin Franklin If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, this is your year. By now you’ve heard about the “monster storm” that’s slamming parts of the country (including our Midwest) and putting the skids on holiday travel. In metro Detroit, we’re not exactly sure how many inches of snow to expect, but we’ve been told to prepare for high winds and possible power outages. Most of us have made a few trips to the grocery to stock up. But seriously, Ben Franklin, what else can we do to prepare for dangerous weather? Whether we’re bracing for hurricanes in the south or…
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Pebbles and mistakes
“My life is full of mistakes. They’re like pebbles that make a good road.” ~Beatrice Wood, ceramic artist With the year rolling to a close, I’ve been thinking about everything I’d change, repair, or handle differently if I had a few “do over” opportunities. As usual, I see things more clearly in retrospect. Artists know that mistakes and missteps can serve as material for a work of art. And if you look at your own life as a work of art, you’ll see that a few of the things that seemed wrong or looked broken at the time eventually helped shape who you are. Maybe your mistakes taught you a…
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Winter Solstice
“This is the solstice, the still point of the sun, its cusp and midnight, the year’s threshold and unlocking, where the past lets go of and becomes the future; the place of caught breath.” ~Margaret Atwood Today, December 21st, is the Winter Solstice. The Farmer’s Almanac describes it as “the astronomical moment when the sun reaches the Tropic of Capricorn, and we have our shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.” No matter where you live, the solstice marks the official start of winter. While it seems counterintuitive, the longest night of the year also holds a glimmer of hope: Each day afterward will be…
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Christmas cards
“There’s nothing nicer than unexpected appreciation. If you’re grateful, get a pen.” ~Helen Ellis Some people tell me they don’t bother writing or mailing Christmas cards anymore. Social media is an easier way to send greetings without paper, ink, or postage. (I’ll admit there were years when I got lazy and mailed cards only to those who sent one to me.) The pandemic totally changed my mind. After months of isolation, I enjoyed reaching out to others through the mail — one of the few tangible ways I could. During lockdown, I also had extra time to make Christmas cards using my own photos, which I thoroughly enjoyed. More than…
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Getting cozy
“It was so wonderful to be there, safe at home, sheltered from the winds and the cold. Laura thought that this must be a little like heaven, where the weary are at rest.” ~Laura Ingalls Wilder The Scandinavian concept of “hygge” suggests a sense of comfort and contentment. The word possibly stems from a Danish word meaning “to give courage, comfort, joy.” Another theory suggests that hygge was derived from the Old Norse word “hugr” — which is the origin of the word “hug.” Hygge has become a popular marketing term in Scandinavia in recent years — and we’ve embraced it here in the northern United States, especially in the cold winter months.…
