Comfort and Joy

 

 

Last month, like clockwork, Pantone released its choice for Color of the Year to represent, lend focus, and inspire us as we move through 2021 ... and as surely as night turns into day, I hate it.  

12th Night

20 + C + M + B + 21 

"Bless this house, and all who inhabit it.  Fill us with the light of Christ, that our concern for others may reflect your love."

Float On

 

Word of the year: Ukiyo

"The floating world"
Living in the moment, detached from the bothers of life.

Not Taking Any Chances

"Those who want to come may come, those who want to leave may leave, without harm to myself and my people."

I always end up reading about other cultures' traditions and folklore around this time of year; usually for the Northern Hemisphere, and usually because I think other countries handle Winter months better than Americans do.  A lot of us, at least in my experience, seem to be offended, if not downright indignant over the days deigning to get dark earlier, and the weather turning cold, while folks in other places around the world just seem to roll with it, and dare I say, even enjoy it?  So I was reading along, and found a passage where 19th century Author, Jón Árnason describes Icelandic women, whom after tidying their homes for the Christmas holiday and leaving food out for elves, or Huldufólk (Hidden People) who allegedly partake in raucous dark-season parties, would then make their homes immaculate for the incoming new year, and move about the space reciting the above quote whilst lighting candles for every corner of their homes so any entities besides the family who'd taken up residence in the home could find their way out.

I don't know about you, but I dig this idea.  The alternative, of course, is to build a bonfire in my front yard, and I don't think I can get my landlord on board with that one, but I can definitely throw a log in the fireplace, light a few candles, and give the joint a good scrubbin'.  I won't be putting a candle in every corner of my house, thanks to my early 80s Sting-induced childhood nightmares, but I can provide enough light to help any lost entities scram.  I'm not interested in starting 2021 with anyone or anything in my life that's not meant to be here, not to mention (heaven forbid), anything possibly trapped in the dark recesses of my home ... So if you're coming along, let's go!  And if you're not, let go, but either way I hope we're all going to be a bunch of cool little Fonzies.

xoxo

May Your Days Be Merry and Bright

Wherever you are, and how ever you're spending the day, it is my Christmas wish that every person experiences at least one moment that causes you to pause, and truly savour it.  

Be well.

Maybe Yule Surprise Yourself

 

“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” - Albert Camus

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Today is the final day of the Worldbuilders 2020 fundraising event, meaning it is your last day for your donations to enter you into the prize lottery (every $10 gets you 1 entry), your last day to bid on auctions, your last day to pitch in to Oot's Cow Jar where if we hit $20k in donations every person who donated will have access (until March 2021) to a private KKC themed Minecraft server where you can play with Pat, and the little Rothfi, and it's also the last day to catch Pat streaming on a regular schedule (1-4 pm CST).  Will his deca-shot, fancy coffee order cause him a cardiac event in real-time on your screen?  We don't know!  Tune in to find out!  I hope to see you there... 

xoxo

Roast Duck

I don't know if it's just the holidays, or Covid itself that has got people acting out lately, but frankly, while I think we could all do with a little less grilling, roasting, and searing right now, there are always going to be people who like to watch, if not the entire world, at least the Christmas Dinner burn.  Let this be your friendly reminder that you don't owe your time, energy, or unpaid emotional labor to anyone devoted to wreaking holly-jolly-havoc this year.  So, with that in mind, if someone's riding your beak, here are a few highlights from my own Christmases past to let you know you're not alone!