R.A.D. Stainforth's lovely Christmassy reading... There's a place for us, an oasis between fruitcake and watering the...

Parade , 1955, Hoboken, New Jersey by Robert Frank Have a safe and happy Fourth of July, dear friends. 

Merry Christmas from Willow Manor and Best Wishes  for a Happy and Healthy 2012

Holly and ivy bundles of mistletoe pine boughs and poinsettias all the flora of the season swallows me in a jung...

This year I'm replacing the fancy holiday gift wrap with newsprint.  A few weeks ago, I found a whole bolt of 1/4 inch black elastic ...

I don't like my things to be perfect;  I prefer them to be mellow and a little bit worn. This happens to be true with gifts...

Auntie Dee and Snowball circa 1949 Burlington, Indiana I'm not sure what the theme of my homily today ought to be.  Do I want to ...

Warm and woolly holiday wishes from Willow Manor!  I want to thank you, dear friends, for being the best readership in the whole blogospher...

After the rodeo of flour and gift wrap settles to a powder of glitter-dust, there is a lull, a lus...

She dares me not to play follow-the-leader. Why eat a cold buffet with proper credentials, but no champagne? I scrape the pl...

Shortbread has always been a holiday tradition here at the manor. Maybe it's because both WT and I descend from the Scottish Lowlands, t...

Gratitude  unlocks the fullness of life.   It turns what we have into enough,  and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to orde...

Since we've been discussing all things auspicious this week, one particular person I know loves to save a wishbone every time he carves...

Watermelon juice turns toes blood red, black seeds spit like June bugs, dead. Chicken legs, wax paper covered deviled eggs on back porch new...

The light of the Christmas star to you The warmth of home and hearth to you The cheer and good will of friends to you The hope of a childlik...

I have a major woolly crush on Monty Woolley. The holidays just wouldn't be the same without him at the manor. He happens to be in two o...

Hey, The Poetry Bus is back for a Christmas special! Actually, it's [ Santa's Poetry Go-Kart ]. So, if you'd like to hop aboard,...

Christmas just wouldn't be he same without listening to that smooth, smokey voice of Nat King Cole. That opening line "chestnuts ro...

The Christmas tree is officially up at the manor. I spent most of Sunday afternoon fluffing and tweaking. No pressies are wrapped yet, thoug...

I've been making rather merry. My week was full of festivities with the kids home. At the top of the list was the traditional Scott'...