Gregorian Chants and Other Dark Tales of Christmas Gift Giving
The snow is floating so slowly from the sky that there must be male snowflakes driving who refused to stop and ask for directions, who keep telling their anxious wives that they know exactly where they are going and they … Read More
Butter and Rest: the One Without a Recipe
(The following is a talk I gave at a Ladies’ Christmas Tea this morning.) Truthfully, when Anne asked if I would write a little something for a ladies’ tea, I thought she was just expressing her quirky sense of humor, … Read More
Ode to a Boy Quail
The drive to the hospital 11 years ago, December 15th, 2011, was not the first. You had me convinced several times that you were ready for your birthday; the second to last visit to Labor and Delivery, the nurse felt … Read More
My Kingdom for a Set of Kankles
We all have tasty little holiday pitfalls we fall into, ditches of fudge and spritz cookies, festivity that lingers with us for months, if you know what I mean. It is one of the delights of the season, quite frankly … Read More
St. Lucia Day, Saffron Buns and Why Remembering is Worth It
I am seized with a complicated series of identity crises this time of year. Actually, I suppose they show up at various times and seasons — how could I both own and use a Fry Daddy with no shame and … Read More
A Theology of Ugly Sweaters
“Home Alone” was definitely one of the iconic holiday movies from my generation, although it wasn’t really a major thing in my house growing up. Funny what you watch as a kid that establishes itself as entirely normal in your … Read More
Butter and Rest: Babka Edition
Sometimes I think I miss out a bit by not being Jewish. Don’t get me wrong — grafted in, one of Abraham’s seed through Christ — absolutely not downplaying the amazing gift of being a Gentile Christian. I just think … Read More
Reputation: It’s Not Just a Taylor Swift Song
(Isn’t that album so sad and depressing? She used to be a lot more fun to listen to.) I think I have mentioned it here before, but I absolutely hate crying. And I know, because I have been told multiple … Read More
So God Made a Marme
December 8th of every year during my childhood out on the orchard, my Grandpa D. would light up a star way up on a pole to commemorate my mom’s birth. It was only fitting. And since she has been shining … Read More
How Powdered Sugar Bakes, and Why Tomorrow is OK
Things I have learned this week: Ear infections can cause horrific, wracking coughs that make it sound like lungs, spleens and kidneys are being hacked up. Homeopathic remedies actually work sometimes, and can be made into funny little sugar water … Read More