Song Dedication For My Love

I love you, Greg.

Yule Log

Merry Christmas!

This morning when Greg and I were about to open our gifts, I turned the TV onto the channel that has the video of a yule log burning. It was kinda funny.

But I got to thinking later....what the heck is a yule log? Greg didn't know so I did what anyone would do - Googled it!

This is what I found out.

The custom of burning the yule log goes back to medieval times and was originally a Nordic tradition. Yule is the name of the old Winter Solstice festivals.

Originally, the yule log was an entire tree that was specially chosen. The largest end of the tree/log was placed into the hearth while the rest of the tree stuck out into the room. Can you imagine this!? I guess back then they had stone floors and didn't need to worry about the wall to wall carpeting catching fire like we do today. The tree/log would be lit from the remains of the previous year's log, which had been carefully stored the whole year long. It was slowly fed into the fire through the Twelve Days of Christmas. Interesting!

The yule log custom is spread all over Europe and different kids of wood are used in different countries. In England Oak is traditional. In Scotland it's Birch. In France it's Cherry. Also, in France, the log is sprinkled with wine before it is burnt so that it smells good. Probably also acted a bit like lighter fluid? Just a guess.

I was thinking that if someone wanted to bring back the yule log tradition, they could save the trunk of their Christmas tree and chop it into logs - assuming they have a real tree. Then, the following Christmas, they could use it in the traditional yule log fashion. When you think about it, a real Christmas tree is specially chosen just like the yule tree/log is chosen.

One thing about the yule log ashes tho, if you were to throw the ashes out on Christmas Day, it was supposed to be very unlucky! So don't do that! :)

22 Years

That sounds like a long time.....22 years.

Greg and I were married on October 19th 1991.

When I think about that, it does not seem like 22 years. It really just feels like maybe 10 years. Then I think about all the things we've done and seen over the years and I can see the 22 years. I'm sooooo thankful our paths crossed and we ended up together. He means more to me than anything else and I love him....still. I love him more actually. I hope we're together another 22+ years. It would be my ultimate wish. Forget money and "stuff". Because as long as I'm with him I am rich with love....and he's all the things I need.

I love you, Greg. Happy 22nd Anniversary.

P ~ Pink

Q ~ Quinoa Bites

These look and smell delish! The house smelled soooo good while they were cooking....I just knew they were going to taste good! I was wrong. They were not good at all. I think it was the quinoa because I had quinoa muffins once and they were also kinda....ick. Not bad for a photo, but for eating....do not recommend. If you need a bag of quinoa, I have a nearly full bag up for grabs :)

R ~ Ray

Steve, my brother, passed away 1 year ago today. It seems like it was just a few months ago.

I remember the day clearly. I talked to Steve that morning about how he was feeling and what they thought was wrong with him. The call about about 10 minutes. He had to go because they were about to run a test on him. He told me to call him back when I got home and we could talk longer. We ended the call with "ok, talk to you later". About 45 minutes later he passed away. Sudden and unexpected.

When the nurse called me, she was vague...but not. You know when people are trying to tell you something without actually telling you? That's what she was doing. I think he'd passed away already when she called and she just didn't want to give me that news prior to being at the hospital. Since she hadn't actually said he had passed, there was this ounce of hope in me that he'd be ok when we got there. I saw my sister in the lobby and she already knew he was gone and told me. So painful.

When we left we went to get his car from the parking lot. Holding his keys was sad. Arriving at his house, his doggy had not seen him in a few days and the sound of his car pulling up made him think my brother was home. But then we walked in....not Steve. Can you imagine that poor dog wondering and continually waiting for Steve to come home? Heartbreaking.

I think about Steve every day. You just never know when will be the last time you talk to someone. I can't wait for September to be over.

S ~ Spent

T ~ Tape

This is Japanese masking tape called washi tape. I have a small collection :)

U ~ Untied

Happy Friday the 13th!

V ~ Volkswagen

Months ago I had seen an old rusted out Volkswagen bus parked in my neighborhood. I remember thinking that the VW hood ornament was pretty cool looking due to all the rust (had to see it to understand). When I started this project I knew I'd go back to where I saw it and take a picture. To my disappointment, it was gone. Probably in VW heaven. On the way home I saw a VW bug and it was the complete opposite of the bus. It's been completely restored and looks spectacular. The paint has to be fresh...soo shiney! The interior is spotless and it's white! Whoever did the restore on it did a great job. Since I didn't get my rusty shot, I went for a beauty shot!