Epiphany , January 5th, 2026. 415 words

It is Epiphany or the twelve night after Christmas. The creche scene is the first to be wrapped and packed for another year. The figures are six inches in height and hand painted by Aunt Joy for our first Christmas together. Given as a wedding gift from Aunt Joy and Uncle Bob. The small bandContinue reading “Epiphany , January 5th, 2026. 415 words”

Finishing Odds and Ends, December 22, 2025. 709 words

As I put the last tags on gifts, I remember back to the excitement and mystery of this time of the year. As a youngster, my brothers and I served at midnight Mass as choir members or alter servers. The novelty of staying up well past midnight, walking through the quiet, calm of evening andContinue reading “Finishing Odds and Ends, December 22, 2025. 709 words”

A Different Christmas, December 15, 2025. 628 Words

Not all Christmases are joyous. In my life I had a sad holiday become a joy.In November of 1990, I opened my front door to be given divorce papers served by a stranger. I closed the door and walked down the hall to knock on the spare room used as a shared office.“Mick, what isContinue reading “A Different Christmas, December 15, 2025. 628 Words”

The Lost Art of Letter Writing, December 8th, 2025. 505 words

Growing up the first week of December was devoted to helping my Mom write notes and preparing for Christmas Cards. After dinner dishes were washed and put away, Mom would open a box of Christmas cards, laying out pens, blank sheets of stationary, stamps and return address labels to work on cards. My job wasContinue reading “The Lost Art of Letter Writing, December 8th, 2025. 505 words”

Ready for Christmas, December 1, 2025. 711 words

After a festive Thanksgiving with brother Craig and his wife Karen, we are ready for the preparation activities for Christmas. On Friday, instead of shopping at the Black Friday sales, we ate some of the leftovers ,froze the rest and worked on the Christmas tree and the Manger scene. John hung the small multicolored lightsContinue reading “Ready for Christmas, December 1, 2025. 711 words”

Grateful for Thanksgiving Memories November 25, 2025 570 words

This year, our Thanksgiving table will be short of people, but full of memories.My first memory of a gathering was at my Mother’s family.With four sisters and two brothers, it was quite a gathering. It usually occurred on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. My family gathered at my Mother’s parents along with aunts, uncles and manyContinue reading “Grateful for Thanksgiving Memories November 25, 2025 570 words”

Prep for the Holidays, November 17 2025 235 words

This week, while many are preparing for a large Thanksgiving gathering, John and I are climbing into the crawl space to pull out the Christmas decorations. We will inspect items for broken dolls, burnt out colored lights and age wear and tear on the artificial trees.My next task is to think of a theme forContinue reading “Prep for the Holidays, November 17 2025 235 words”

Fifty Year Mystery, The Sinking of the Edmond Fitzgerald , November 10, 2025 471 words

The Great Lakes in general and Lake superior specifically, has spawned many mysteries and intrigue. The anniversary of the sinking of the largest iron ore freighter to work the Great Lakes shipping routes. It started it’s career on June 8th 1958 with many of the original crew on board at it’s demise in 1975.The causeContinue reading “Fifty Year Mystery, The Sinking of the Edmond Fitzgerald , November 10, 2025 471 words”

Falling Leaves November 3th, 2025 98 Words

This is a list poem from the Carousel poetry group. It is an abecedarian poem. I started each line with a capital letter but no ending punctuation. Happy Fall.Carol Falling Leavesby Carol FarnsworthAspen quake.Birch blendingCypress canopy,Dangling dogwood.Elderberries eaten.Feverfew frondsGilded gourdsHemlock rosy tipsMulti colored kaleYellow linden foliageMaple orange leavesNesting yellow nettlesBronze oaksQuaking lemon poplarsRosie SumacSmokey tamarackuveriaContinue reading “Falling Leaves November 3th, 2025 98 Words”