Boreal Witch

This year, we took the fake tree back to Goodwill and bought a real one. Since we were in the middle of moving and I was still teaching, I left Robinson and the boys in charge of finding a tree. They were more than a little excited to decorate and show off their results after I came home from work. Since we had a real tree, we were also able to cut a Yule log from the trunk.

We had already coordinated with Gloria to have a holiday party at the farm before she left to visit Brian and Byron in Chicago. We decided to take our Yule log with us so that we could celebrate properly, but not with a bonfire. The log would be burned in the wood fireplace in the kitchen, not in a bonfire outside. This would be the warmest Yule we've ever had. 

Like our previous Yules, we each picked something that we wanted to learn or do over the course of the next year. Even Gloria chose something: she planned to become more organized.

Instead of carving the log, I wrote everyone's wishes on the end and then Robinson threw it into the fire. 

"The log gets burned and the wishes go up to God...if you trust Him," Arthur said. It was humorous at the time and I like to think this was less of a tribute to God, but more of an honest skepticism. 

The boys made cookies and kept licking their fingers as they sprinkled the tops with little candies. Gloria laughed and joked about refusing the cookies because of all the fingerprints. 

Robinson made a fondue of emmental, Swiss, and fontina that night, dipping chunks of bread, broccoli, cauliflower, apples, and pears into it. The boys drank homemade sparkling juice - a mixture of canned grape juice and ginger ale, while the adults consumed plenty of Winking Owl and Brandy Old Fashions.

The next day we started a 1000 piece puzzle and opened presents. Gloria laughed at our annual family picture and was excited to try her new spices when they arrived in January. 

Blessed Yule, everyone.