A Long Winter’s Nap

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Two days till Christmas! And the anticipation is building. I love this time of year! Today is overcast and dark, but no rain yet. We have mild temperatures for December, currently 52°F.

Winter textures. Photo Credit: Amy Earls

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My orange slice experiment is not going so well. They just won’t dry. I think we cut them too thick. Trying another few rounds in the oven at 200°F. No real loss if it doesn’t work out, we weren’t going to eat them anyway. I just don’t want to hang them on the tree unless they are completely dry.

This recipe I found from Barley & Sage recommends cutting them into 1/8th inch slices… mine are well over a quarter inch. No wonder they wont dry out. It’s okay, now we know better for next year. Someday I’d love to try making my own wreath… maybe that’s another thing for 2026. (Will update with photos of how they turned out soon!).

Thursday, December 25, 2025

Christmas day! A gentle, almost imperceptible mist is falling. It’s heavily overcast and quite dark out, consequently, making me think its earlier (closer to dawn) than it actually is (8:35 am EST). The western half of the city is completely obscured in dense fog. No real rain so far. I wish I had thought to buy some suet for the birds (as a Christmas gift). Another thing to add to the list for next year.

Today is all about small pleasures and creature comforts. I am really enjoying my cup of Christmas Spice coffee along side my journal to start the day. Coffee and journaling is my daily morning ritual, but it feels more special today than usual. And of course, I am looking forward to the annual gift opening video call with my family later.

I would like to share with you a small personal tradition that I have. Every year, on the night of Christmas Eve, I read ‘The Night Before Christmas‘ from a tiny little book that my Mom gave me ages ago in my Christmas stocking. Not sure when I started doing it, but since I was young (over 20 or so years at this point). Can’t quite put my finger on what it is exactly, but reading it always brings me joy. It’s a really lovely poem that encapsulates the festive spirit of the season. If you have never read it, I encourage you to give it a try.

Happy Holidays from Seasonfold!

Post from Instagram included below:

Many long-standing traditions at this time of year involve bringing a bit of the natural world indoors. Evergreen boughs, holly and berries, pinecones, wreaths, and logs, laid carefully on the fire, all serve as reminders of the living landscape beyond our walls. In the depth of winter, these elements offer comfort and continuity—small gestures of connection to the season itself.

In Japan, there is a concept known as Kisetsukan, or ‘sense of the seasons’¹. It describes an awareness of subtle seasonal shifts and an attentiveness to how those changes influence daily life, art, and even the spaces we inhabit. Decorating with natural materials, honoring what is available now, and allowing the season to guide our rhythms are all quiet expressions of this sensibility.

As you celebrate today—however that looks for you—may you find moments of warmth, presence, and seasonal awareness. Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful and wonderful holiday season.

1. Inaka Journal – https://www.inakajournal.com/kisetsukan-living-with-the-seasons-in-japan/
   Japan National Tourism Organization – https://www.japan.travel/en/uk/inspiration/the-japanese-art-of-living-seasonally-an-interview-with-author-natalie-leon/ ↩︎