A Bit of Hawthorne 

This last week has been primarily about rest as the retail marathon really takes it out of us. Being at Hawthorne during this time is a new tradition for us, one we are embracing and quite liking. The snow and cold our favorite this time of year, and Santa did not disappoint in the least. It snowed again yesterday and tonight it is supposed to get down to -7 degrees.

Part of being a shopkeeper is your energy for the season is given to the shops and our awesome customers. By the end of the long day it leaves very little time/energy for one’s own celebrating of the season. This is by no means a complaint, just our reality, and I relish giving all my energy at the time to others. So the idea of us celebrating The Twelve Days of Christmas started really resonating with us a few years back. 

As I mentioned the other day, traditions are meant to become one’s own. We are not going by any guide book when it comes to this new tradition of celebrating, but rather being open to being fluid to how we embrace it. Time spent with family, friends, cooking, napping, reading, reflecting and giving thanks have all become part of the mix.

As is lighting tons of candles each evening. The green glassybaby working swell in the front sunporch windows. We had sent Bill 4 packs of small green lights to put on the tree but with the snow and Christmas, the postal service was delayed and they did not make it in time so he was resourceful and found 3 sets for the tree. 

The parcel we sent finally arrived and I added those too, so our sweet little tree has 700 green bulbs shining as a sort of Hawthorne beacon of light. We will start a fire on the back porch early today to get the room nice and toasty so we can be back there ringing in the New Year. I hope you are celebrating it this eve in whatever simple or grand fashion you like best. I want to thank you so much for following along and wish for all of you only good things in the upcoming year. Much, much love from the Hudson Valley, T2+B