Almost every year that I have been blogging, I’ve used this traditional prayer as a way to close the year. Blessings to all, and to all a good new year. This has been an odd year. I feel like I started out going in one direction. The middle of the year brought a strong stop…
Month: December 2018
Best of 2018
Here is a roundup of the various posts over 2018: statistics, counts, and a few other considerations. Which posts were most popular? Which are my favorites? And what movies should you consider watching over the Christmas holidays? Most Statistically Popular Posts of 2018 These posts got the most traffic, meaning, these are the posts that…
Books for Christmas 2018
Essentially, this is a round up of all of the books I’ve read this year in one place. Think of it as a yearly review and as a way to figure out what books to give for Christmas. For even more book ideas for Christmas, check out the roundup of all of the books from…
Reading Soothes My Soul (December 2018)
It amazes me to no end that 2018 is almost over, and that I’ve barely posted on this blog. My recipe blog is going great guns, but here – where I share spiritual insights and books and other intriguing stuff – nothing. Sigh. I’ll keep writing here, that’s for sure as spirituality and books and…
Hugh John Jickling & Margaret Sartwell
Hugh John Jickling is arguably the first Jickling in our family tree to come to the U.S. His father, William John Jickling (1829-1913) came with family from England to Ontario, and he eventually settled near Marlette, Sanilac, Michigan. The Sartwell family originated from New York state and came to Michigan shortly after the Civil War….
The Classy White Elephant Gift Exchange for Christmas
A couple of years ago my mom and nephew devised a clever version of a holiday gift exchange. The two collaborated on a fun and classy twist to an old game that has become a Christmas Eve tradition. The game is also known as a White Elephant exchange or (much to my mom’s chagrin) Dirty Santa. …