Originally Posted on 20 December 2010 by Raven

For me, Yule begins on December 13th (Santa Lucia’s Day) and runs through the end of the year. We do not decorate until the 13th and then we leave the decorations up until 12th night. The night before Solstice, we each get a new pair of pajamas to open and wear for the night.

As I sit here in my new Yule jammies, I would like to take this time to look back on all that has happened over the past 12 months.

• The Spawnlette, our first grand baby.
• The Middle Spawn and Sgt. moving a couple of times, from Ephrata to Arizona then to the Tri-cities. (together and separately)
• A return trip to New Orleans with the Sylum Crew! Whoo hoo 5 years!
• A return to school for me.

Things haven’t been all cake and bubbly; cars have needed repairs as has the house, but all in all it’s been a good year for all us here at the Homestead.

This year brought new challenges to us and to others in our circle; no jobs and declining UI has made the decision to go back to school a tough one for me, but one that I am sticking with. Hopefully next year I’ll be eligible for grants rather than loans which would be wonderful.

Friends and family are all in relative good health, and my Grandmother hit 101 years old this year. With genes like this I have a wonderful future to look towards.

So sit back, have a glass of egg nog and curl up with us as we watch our favorite holiday films; “National Lampoons Christmas Vacation” and “Scrooged”. We may even tempt fate and toss on “White Christmas”

Merry Solstice, Gud Yule, Happy Hannukah, Merry Christmas…whatever you celebrate let it bring you happiness and joy.