Season’s greetings from our farm to yours, Tara! What a great community this is to be a part of, thank you for all you share with us.
Your Christmas plans sound wonderful - delicious delights, Ave Maria with your Mila, and wood-fired hot tubs with loved ones. Magic! We hope to have a similar wood-fired hot tub by next year. We think it will be pretty special - especially if the elk herd continue to use our farm as their overnight home as they have the last couple of weeks. It’s been magnificent listening to the mews and bugles of 200-300 elk out our back door in the still and blackness of the night. Despite damaging areas of our fence, we’re embracing the experience and feel lucky they’ve chosen to spend time with us on our little farm. What majestic creatures.
Happy Christmas, everyone! I hope everyone’s hearts and bellies get filled to the brim.
Oh my word, Deanna, that just gives me shivers. Can you imagine being out in a hot tub with the stars all above you and the elk breathing and resting and creating starlight elk silhouettes all around you? What magic indeed! I shared the beaver video. When you see that, you must return that with the elk video of. your own.
Rare bird you are and I treasure you and your open heart! Our family is indebted to yours for the way you courageously demonstrate what steadfast and touchstone really mean. You and your family help us grow and be present, the greatest present we will likely ever recieve. BONEY M...now I know we have some similar fibers in our make up, that one makes me joyous in all sorts of ways! Thank you for all these recipes and memories to explore. Sending our love along the ocean currents until they meet the st. Lawrence and flow to you all. Merry Christmas Tara and family! Prayers for Mila and those left behind said at our table by candlelight. Hugs ♥️
Thank you for such generously kind and sweet words, Tawny. We're thinking of you and your beautiful son and grandpa along with your burgeoning crew of critters. Have a beautiful Christmas.
Merry Christmas Tara! Proud to be part of your tribe. Brett and Heather would be our “dinner guests” many lonely evenings in the past few years! May your Christmas be peaceful and full of contentment.
Merry Christmas, Connie! They really were a stream of sanity for us, too. Courage like that with the humility to pivot and say "I was wrong" is more of what we need in this world.
Many thanks for all the gifts you send our way. I look forward to studying the artworks, links with recipes and music. I have already watched the precious little beaver and the best is at the end with the dragging of the long thin branch into the water!
Thank you for this amazing Substack group to be with.
Wishing you and your family a lovely season. Hearing of your traditions make me smile and tear up. Sending Prayers to Mila and all of our loved ones that walk with us on the spirit plane.
Thank you, Rebecca. And Merry Christmas to you and your beloveds. I like that part with the beaver the best, too, although I must admit I wanted to follow him into that water and keep watching. :)
I cannot even read the other comments (yet) because I am crying while writing this. I just finished enjoying the gifts you included (on top of the gift you are yourself, and what you share on a regular basis). Words cannot express how much it affects me, all of it. The finale of watching the beaver sent me over the edge as my full heart spilled over. I hope this doesn't sound weird, but I could feel myself standing there, watching the beaver, taking the video, as if it were me, my heart so full of love for her being, for the gift of being able to watch her work.
Thank you for sharing your being, your heart, knowledge, and the parts of your family you can. Your Mila continues to be an unexpected beacon of light somehow; I also have no words for that either. Thinking of you all, and thank you for the additional gifts this year.
Oh, thank you, Nina. That you for letting in what I share. It's such an honour to me. The deepest and most authentic of honours. It touches me so deeply that you say that Mila somehow continues to be an unexpected beacon of light. That's what she was in life. That a stranger can feel that in her death, means more than I can say. Troy read your comment and got misty, too. See how this all goes around and around, each of us honestly sharing our experiences and the love just swirls around and around, being amplified and shooting off into corners and places we can't even see. My oh my, this world is luscious. Merry Christmas, Nina.
I just had to add emphasis to "how this all goes around." The beauty and energy of that is IT. Everyone one of your readers, the entire planet, just mind blowing. Love all ALL.
Thank you Tara so much for the gifts you give to us all year long through your writings, wisdom, and passion for real authentic life, and thank you for these special gifts today too. I absolutely love that beaver video. Beavers have always been incredible to me, the best souvenir from my grandparents house I ever brought home when I was younger was a big chunk of birch chewed by beavers! My parents wouldn’t let me bring it to my room so I had to keep it outside in my fort, I’m wondering now where it’s laying today wishing I still had it.
Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family! I pray your Christmas is filled with love, joy, comfort, and blessed memories of your sweet Mila.
We could start a beaver fan club! I love them, just love them. I don't think there's a book on beavers I haven't read. I think they're my spirit animal 😉 Merry Christmas to you and your family. I hope you have a beautiful celebration. ❤️
Merry Christmas!!!! I was so happy for you when I heard Heather’s recommendation. I often share pieces of your work and think so many should read! The strength you have and the reverence for life and death regularly awes me! I am an emotional coward compared to the fortitude you routinely display. Thank you for sharing and showing how we can cultivate this, however meekly we may succeed.
Thank you so much, Jenelle. And thank you for sharing some of the stuff I write. I follow along flawed and rough, too. I just have some illuminated leaders and teachers is all. I hope you have a beautiful Christmas ❤️
Like you, we will be celebrating on our own this year due to various reasons...
We decided to celebrate the best we are able; making small treat filled tins for our neighbors; playing Christmas music so the house feels less empty; making loads of our Jake's favorite foods for the big meal; and Mr. Dave and I will play many rousing hands of Gin!!
We've decided that despite the deepest ache in our hearts, like you- we will do our best to find joy in the moments and I am grateful for this.
Merriest Christmas Tara...
I know Mila will hear the Ave Maria and be singing right along with you. 💛
Jeanie, you and Jake and Mr. Dave will remain in our hearts this Christmas. I'm glad you have rituals and the love you do with your man. I know how much that means. And I know Jake will know of the food you so lovingly share with him. You remain such a good mama to your boy. ❤️
Blessings to you and your family this year Tara. May you find comfort in God and may the day bring peace and happiness to you and your family.
I also have to say that the song with Sarah McLachlan is one of my absolute favs!!! It is on my playlist every year!!! I have listened to her since high school. But yes, when her voice enters it is so lovely. ❤️❤️
Always good to share a good song with a good human. I like imagining someone else in their home getting a little shiver when that beautiful voice breaks in. All of us strung together in so many ways. Merry Christmas, Katharine.
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones, Tara! I hope the magic of this season finds you in sweet celebration of all of life's gifts- especially Mila. All of you are certainly gifts that I have been lucky enough to discover. I will be cherishing this season with my newborn son (and my three olders sons), a treasure in this blip of time. I love the way you said eat food worthy of our short time- an allowance, in invitation, to seek nourishment- love in the form of food- dont sell yourself short. Something I pay special attention to during these times of gathering is sharing a beautiful meal made out of and with massive amounts of love. Cheers!
May I recommend listening to A Child's Christmas in Wales read by Dylan Thomas himself. Listening to this is one of my favorite Christmas rituals https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv4-sgFw3Go
Season’s greetings from our farm to yours, Tara! What a great community this is to be a part of, thank you for all you share with us.
Your Christmas plans sound wonderful - delicious delights, Ave Maria with your Mila, and wood-fired hot tubs with loved ones. Magic! We hope to have a similar wood-fired hot tub by next year. We think it will be pretty special - especially if the elk herd continue to use our farm as their overnight home as they have the last couple of weeks. It’s been magnificent listening to the mews and bugles of 200-300 elk out our back door in the still and blackness of the night. Despite damaging areas of our fence, we’re embracing the experience and feel lucky they’ve chosen to spend time with us on our little farm. What majestic creatures.
Happy Christmas, everyone! I hope everyone’s hearts and bellies get filled to the brim.
Oh my word, Deanna, that just gives me shivers. Can you imagine being out in a hot tub with the stars all above you and the elk breathing and resting and creating starlight elk silhouettes all around you? What magic indeed! I shared the beaver video. When you see that, you must return that with the elk video of. your own.
Merry Christmas to you and your beloveds.
Rare bird you are and I treasure you and your open heart! Our family is indebted to yours for the way you courageously demonstrate what steadfast and touchstone really mean. You and your family help us grow and be present, the greatest present we will likely ever recieve. BONEY M...now I know we have some similar fibers in our make up, that one makes me joyous in all sorts of ways! Thank you for all these recipes and memories to explore. Sending our love along the ocean currents until they meet the st. Lawrence and flow to you all. Merry Christmas Tara and family! Prayers for Mila and those left behind said at our table by candlelight. Hugs ♥️
Thank you for such generously kind and sweet words, Tawny. We're thinking of you and your beautiful son and grandpa along with your burgeoning crew of critters. Have a beautiful Christmas.
Hallelujah, the Christ is born!
Nana Moskouri at Christmas!
What beautiful memories!
Thank you Tara for sharing what it’s like for you and yours.
I will have a special thought for Mila, and a prayer for all of you she left behind.
By the way, I am absolutely convinced that God has ears!
He’s proven it many times:)
God bless you and yours on this wonderful day!
Okay! I will go with God having ears! He certainly listens somehow. :)
Merry Christmas, Claude. May you and your beloveds share some beautiful time together with plenty of good food and new memories. ❤️
Amen, Claude!
Merry Christmas Tara! Proud to be part of your tribe. Brett and Heather would be our “dinner guests” many lonely evenings in the past few years! May your Christmas be peaceful and full of contentment.
Merry Christmas, Connie! They really were a stream of sanity for us, too. Courage like that with the humility to pivot and say "I was wrong" is more of what we need in this world.
Many thanks for all the gifts you send our way. I look forward to studying the artworks, links with recipes and music. I have already watched the precious little beaver and the best is at the end with the dragging of the long thin branch into the water!
Thank you for this amazing Substack group to be with.
Wishing you and your family a lovely season. Hearing of your traditions make me smile and tear up. Sending Prayers to Mila and all of our loved ones that walk with us on the spirit plane.
Thank you, Rebecca. And Merry Christmas to you and your beloveds. I like that part with the beaver the best, too, although I must admit I wanted to follow him into that water and keep watching. :)
Thank you, Tara. I actually was surprised you didn't follow him into the water! Such an industrious fellow with his slow methodical maneuvers!
I cannot even read the other comments (yet) because I am crying while writing this. I just finished enjoying the gifts you included (on top of the gift you are yourself, and what you share on a regular basis). Words cannot express how much it affects me, all of it. The finale of watching the beaver sent me over the edge as my full heart spilled over. I hope this doesn't sound weird, but I could feel myself standing there, watching the beaver, taking the video, as if it were me, my heart so full of love for her being, for the gift of being able to watch her work.
Thank you for sharing your being, your heart, knowledge, and the parts of your family you can. Your Mila continues to be an unexpected beacon of light somehow; I also have no words for that either. Thinking of you all, and thank you for the additional gifts this year.
Oh, thank you, Nina. That you for letting in what I share. It's such an honour to me. The deepest and most authentic of honours. It touches me so deeply that you say that Mila somehow continues to be an unexpected beacon of light. That's what she was in life. That a stranger can feel that in her death, means more than I can say. Troy read your comment and got misty, too. See how this all goes around and around, each of us honestly sharing our experiences and the love just swirls around and around, being amplified and shooting off into corners and places we can't even see. My oh my, this world is luscious. Merry Christmas, Nina.
I just had to add emphasis to "how this all goes around." The beauty and energy of that is IT. Everyone one of your readers, the entire planet, just mind blowing. Love all ALL.
Merry Christmas Tara, to you and your family! Thank you for your beautiful message, so authentic and true!
Thank you Tara so much for the gifts you give to us all year long through your writings, wisdom, and passion for real authentic life, and thank you for these special gifts today too. I absolutely love that beaver video. Beavers have always been incredible to me, the best souvenir from my grandparents house I ever brought home when I was younger was a big chunk of birch chewed by beavers! My parents wouldn’t let me bring it to my room so I had to keep it outside in my fort, I’m wondering now where it’s laying today wishing I still had it.
Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family! I pray your Christmas is filled with love, joy, comfort, and blessed memories of your sweet Mila.
God bless❤️
We could start a beaver fan club! I love them, just love them. I don't think there's a book on beavers I haven't read. I think they're my spirit animal 😉 Merry Christmas to you and your family. I hope you have a beautiful celebration. ❤️
Merry Christmas!!!! I was so happy for you when I heard Heather’s recommendation. I often share pieces of your work and think so many should read! The strength you have and the reverence for life and death regularly awes me! I am an emotional coward compared to the fortitude you routinely display. Thank you for sharing and showing how we can cultivate this, however meekly we may succeed.
Thank you so much, Jenelle. And thank you for sharing some of the stuff I write. I follow along flawed and rough, too. I just have some illuminated leaders and teachers is all. I hope you have a beautiful Christmas ❤️
Merriest Christmas...
Like you, we will be celebrating on our own this year due to various reasons...
We decided to celebrate the best we are able; making small treat filled tins for our neighbors; playing Christmas music so the house feels less empty; making loads of our Jake's favorite foods for the big meal; and Mr. Dave and I will play many rousing hands of Gin!!
We've decided that despite the deepest ache in our hearts, like you- we will do our best to find joy in the moments and I am grateful for this.
Merriest Christmas Tara...
I know Mila will hear the Ave Maria and be singing right along with you. 💛
Jeanie, you and Jake and Mr. Dave will remain in our hearts this Christmas. I'm glad you have rituals and the love you do with your man. I know how much that means. And I know Jake will know of the food you so lovingly share with him. You remain such a good mama to your boy. ❤️
Blessings to you and your family this year Tara. May you find comfort in God and may the day bring peace and happiness to you and your family.
I also have to say that the song with Sarah McLachlan is one of my absolute favs!!! It is on my playlist every year!!! I have listened to her since high school. But yes, when her voice enters it is so lovely. ❤️❤️
Always good to share a good song with a good human. I like imagining someone else in their home getting a little shiver when that beautiful voice breaks in. All of us strung together in so many ways. Merry Christmas, Katharine.
Everytime! ❤️ Merry Christmas to you and your family, Tara.
"A melancholy, open heart." Four words that beautifully describe the soul. So real. God bless and Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Teresa❤️
Merry Christmas, and thank you for all you do and share with the world! Sending you lots of love.
I love the art choices - the second to last is feeling pretty Orthodox ❤️ I love it! I’m also completely amazed at the beaver video!
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones, Tara! I hope the magic of this season finds you in sweet celebration of all of life's gifts- especially Mila. All of you are certainly gifts that I have been lucky enough to discover. I will be cherishing this season with my newborn son (and my three olders sons), a treasure in this blip of time. I love the way you said eat food worthy of our short time- an allowance, in invitation, to seek nourishment- love in the form of food- dont sell yourself short. Something I pay special attention to during these times of gathering is sharing a beautiful meal made out of and with massive amounts of love. Cheers!
Merry Christmas to you and yours, Tara. All good blessings upon you.
fabulous collection of music here! Thank you!
May I recommend listening to A Child's Christmas in Wales read by Dylan Thomas himself. Listening to this is one of my favorite Christmas rituals https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv4-sgFw3Go