Month: December 2025
The 2025 Reading Challenge
I have completed my 2025 Reading Challenge through Goodreads today – 2 days before the end of this year. I read 175 books and so, I took a look at some of the statistics on Goodreads about my reading challenge. I read 4 of the top 12 books read this year: The Housemaid, The Wedding
Chestnuts roasting or simmering?
This Christmas season, we celebrated with our family and returned to many of our favourite foods and snacks. Charles saw an interesting recipe for chestnuts on a video on his phone. They weren’t roasted on an open fire, so it was going to be possible to make it in our kitchen. The chestnuts recipe is
The Christmas Cookie Tray
Every year, you see advertisements for the “Christmas Cookie Tray” on social media. You can order them, pick them up and share them. I choose to make them myself – I always make a lot and they always seem to slowly disappear. Containers sent to neighbours, dessert over the Holidays, a few with your morning
Happy Christmas Eve!
Christmas Eve is a reflective celebration with quiet, candles, lights, evening strolls, prayer, carols, gathering together and anticipation. Today, in our house, some are still working, some are reading, breathing, studying the presents under the tree. The final trip to the grocery store is complete – the “roast beast” for tomorrow’s dinner (and Boxing Day)
Blessings on Winter Solstice
May the longest nightand the shortest daybring rest to your mindand soul, I pray.May you find guidanceand may you find peaceas the circle of lightwill slowly increase.Embrace the magicthat the darkness bearsbreath deep in the chilland shift in the air.May you always be blessedwith the light from withinand may well-being be yoursas a new cycle
Almond Crescent Cookies
Do you need to whip together a quick batch of cookies for a Christmas party? These are fast and easy and delicious…and easily gluten free (or not). Whip together 1 cup of butter and 2/3 cup of sugar and 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract. Whisk together 1 – 1/2 cups of almond flour and 1
Gingerbread Cake
Anyone who knows me, know how much I love to bake, especially at Christmas. I jumped in and bought a new baking pan (not that I needed one). It was adorable and I plan to use it a few times this season. I started by finding a Gingerbread Cake recipe and baked some little gingerbread
A Simple Journal Cover
After purchasing a journal for a friend for Christmas, I decided to create a cover for it. I used to pieces of fabric (measured 10 inches longer than the length of the book and 8 inches wider than the full width of the book). In order to measure the width of the book, just wrap
The Best Gluten Free Shortbread
I have been attempting to make gluten free shortbread for a few years. For some reason, gluten free makes shortbread very difficult – it often looses its shape and you are often adding extra flour or cornstarch. The flavour is ok, but not the buttery, amazing consistency of regular shortbread. This year, I tried whipped
The Christmas Village
I have a Christmas Village. I have collected the pieces over the years and have a very eclectic looks to my village. It was fun to look up and read the history of the Christmas Village. I have a perfect spot on a beautiful bookcase in my den to display my village. I often look
Christmas is About Deep Kindness
What is your definition of kindness? How does your definition of kindness shape the way you interact with the world? Christmas is an amazing time of year to practice sprinkling kindness everywhere AND to dig in and find ways to practice the kindness that goes deeper and expects nothing in return. We need to throw
100 years ago, the Voth family arrived in Canada
As communism gained ground in Russia, and civil war was disrupting the region where the Voths farmed the land in Neu Samara (modern day Orenburg), and Mennonites there were eventually displaced, my (Charles’) grandfather, grandmother and their first 3 children fled their homeland to migrate to Canada. After days and weeks of travel through Germany
November 2025 Book List
15 books left until 2026! My goal for 2025 is 175 books and I am getting so close. FictionPanic Room by Robert Goddard What is in the panic room? Who is in danger? Who can stop it? Only The Beautiful by Susan MeissnerTwo women – two tragic stories – a devastating war and a fight
Beautiful Socks, Amazing Hobby…
I love my “sock making” hobby! I am never without something to keep my hands busy and it also acts as a form of meditation. I have knit so many socks that I only need to briefly check the pattern (usually for the heel) and so, it is all about relaxing your shoulders, finding a