The BG Beat: Winter

I’m going nostalgic this year with my Mom’s custardy hot chocolate with huge marshmallows melting into the below while navigating the family CD player with A Very Special Christmas CD set with Keith Haring album art and holiday classics sung by DMB and Eric Clapton. I’ve updated my cup with half cashew milk and date syrup, yet still pillowing marshmallows. My mom says all the decadence when your hart desires. And she is not wrong.

Quiet Indulgences

Many tapered candles lit at sunset until they burn out and caramel apples (classic Granny Smith, no toppings, cold) reign at home now. A surprise joy has been gingerbread housing with the kids. Process art is real and important, just as art for art is, but I hadn’t grasped the nearly spiritual part of building a house with your child. It moved me to queue up To Build a Home by the Cinematic Orchestra on repeat.

Giftsgalore

Born in December 2020, the first year our team couldn’t gather for a holiday party, giftsgalore became a way to be together apart and ensure our entire team had time to celebrate as a group. It’s secret Santa by another name with all the cheer and a little game of “guess who” as gifts are unwrapped.

From Your Lips

“I ordered a honeycomb blind for the large window in the laundry room/mud room I was renovating. When it arrived, it was too large for the window. I realized that I had measured the window and placed the order before I had put up the new trim that went around the opening. Duh. So, the problem was my own fault. However, Blinds Galore remade the blind for me, free of cost. I was blown away by their customer service and the blind looks lovely in the new space.”
Anna from Massachusetts

Solstice Cometh

I had a woodland creature dream last night and now I can’t un-picture wolves, bears and foxes emerging from camouflaging rock formations. The thickened fur and respite of winter must be acknowledged, they intonated. The least sun hours in a day means time to burrow amidst dramatic and late sunrises, praising the shallow high noon light after which you can feel the earth pull fast and away in a near blink. Solstice means standing still for the rebirth of the sun as we welcome back warmth and life. So, let’s pause for the dark, shall we?