12-31-2025 December

Always amazing to me when roses are still blooming in December

When I wrote the Christmas card to share on the blog, I knew that December would be just a tiny part of that story. There was much to share in this busy and full month, and I don’t want to lose track. As is often the case, this blog post is mainly for me, and I won’t be sending out an email or publicizing it. If you happen to still follow the blog via email or RSS, thank you.

I did steal this image from a facebook post about the fog burying the valley

December began as usual, wrapped in fog. For nearly two weeks, the valley stayed gray and heavy, the kind of weather that presses into a headache and slows everything down. With my strong attachment to decorating for most holidays, especially Christmas, I spent a few days pulling out the decorations anyway. 

Mo and I laughed about how uncentered the tree was based on one's point of view

I waited until the very last moment to put up the Christmas tree and gave myself three lazy days to add the ornaments.

Maryruth and Gerald always serve a lovely meal

Early in the month, we gathered with friends. Dinner with Maryruth and Gerald was a surprise treat when Maryruth called and said, “Can you come to dinner tonight? I have a recipe I want to share.” Maryruth loves to cook, and it is always a pleasure to share a meal in her home.

The book was Atmosphere, fiction about the early days of the space shuttle

Our book club continued our annual tradition of a Christmas party at Kristin’s. As always, it was a special day, with Kristin’s home warm and inviting. Her table décor was fantastic and reflected the book we read perfectly. I think most of us enjoyed the book, even though it wasn’t quite what we expected. It was fun to share the Christmas event with daughter Deborah for the first time since she joined the club last month.

Kristin on the left, then Robyn, Jennifer, Connie, Sue, and Deborah

The Sunday after Book Club, Deb treated Mo and me to a wonderful tour of the local Bear Hotel.  Evergreen Bank has a large facility where they store our summer art bears in winter and our beautiful Christmas panels and 8-foot-tall nutcrackers that line the downtown streets at Christmas time.  On this Saturday, it was the annual Christmas Tree Auction, and Deborah wanted us to see the tree that her workplace decorated and donated for the auction.  

Deb, Sue and Mo within the massive redwood trees at the Bear Hotel

It was a lovely visit, and we were so impressed.  I do hope we can get to the Bear Hotel sometime before summer when the bears are in residence.

We skipped the annual downtown tree lighting because of the fog, rain, and darkness. Seeing photos later on Facebook made us quite happy that we didn’t try to attend. The crowds were huge, and the rain was daunting. Later in the week, a rare break in the clouds brought “a bit of sun,” enough to notice and name, before the fog closed in again.

december morning fog

As I wrote in our Christmas card, December also carried a heavy weight with the news of Mo’s brother Dan’s passing, moments that quietly changed the texture of the days that followed as we adjusted to this sad loss.

Another tradition came mid-month as we turned west and spent a few days at Harris Beach State Park, tucked into our familiar site with a view of the ocean. We walked the beach, visited the holiday light show, ate seafood, and slipped easily into the slower rhythm that comes with salt air and tides. 

Christmas time in the MoHo is always fun, rain or shine

Mattie, as always, loved her beach time and climbed the rocks with all the strength and enthusiasm of a young puppy.

sunshine at Harris Beach in December

Mo and Mattie walking the beach in the sun

After the light show, we attempted to get an Irish coffee at the Fat Irish Pub near Harbor, just down the hill from Brookings. It was a bit of a disappointment, with several minutes of being ignored at the bar and then an Irish coffee served without whipped cream and barely lukewarm. We won’t have to try that place again. Our first time having supper at Khun Thai in Brookings was a completely different experience. A spotless restaurant, wonderful service, and fabulous food felt like a small celebration before heading home the next day.

Early morning at Sunset House on Solstice

The solstice arrived with bells rung at dawn, though there is a funny story about that one. I woke up early on what I thought was Solstice, ready to ring the bells and play the Jethro Tull video of Ring Solstice Bells at exactly 7:03 a.m. In the still-dark morning, shrouded in fog, I rang Mo’s antique dinner bell on the back deck, with it echoing all over the neighborhood. Returning to the house and settling into my morning rhythm, I looked at my calendar and, lo and behold, I was a day off on the bell ringing. I laughed a lot at that one. I should have paid more attention to the calendar notice I added last month. The promise that the light would now begin its slow return was worth celebrating, even if it was a day early.

One of Maryruths neighbors on the right with Deb, Sue and Mo admiring the menu

That afternoon, Maryruth and Gerald once again hosted a lovely Holiday party featuring her favorite appetizer recipes.  It is something she loves to do, but as with all of us, as we age, it is getting harder and harder to manage.  Her daughter-in-law, Gloria, was a tremendous help, and I am so glad she and Maryruth and Gerald's son Mike have relocated to Grants Pass to help their parents.  

After Christmas Eve Chowder with Mo, Sue, and Deb

Christmas itself was simple and good. Deb came to share Christmas Eve with our traditional clam chowder, which she proclaimed was the best ever. She spent the night, fulfilling this mama’s love of kids, young or old, sleeping overnight. 

Mattie loved her miniature lambie present after she figured out how to open it

Christmas Day was lovely as well, with an eggs Benedict brunch shared with Matthew later that morning. 

Matthew was very good at pouring Christmas Brunch champagne

We even had some presents under our tree, something that doesn’t always happen since we have eschewed trying to keep up with that particular tradition. But this year was different. Mo and I opened some truly wonderful surprises, including a framed photo Deb had purchased of the three girls at my birthday party last September. 

Sue and Deb on Christmas morning 

Melody and Robert sent us a beautiful basket full of goodies from our local Harry and David's store.  I have sweet memories of visiting Harry and David orchards when I lived with the kids in Medford in the early 70's 

Deanna sent a delightful electronic photo frame with software that lets each family member add photos for me to enjoy as they scroll by on a side table in the living room. I found that even though I can see photos anytime on my computer or phone, the random display of people I love in the background is so calming and lovely.

Christmas Day treated us to some much needed sunshine

December ended the way we like best: traditional Pennsylvania Dutch pork and kraut in the oven, watching New Year’s celebrations roll across the globe, then settling in to welcome the new year quietly from home. A month of fog and friendship, remembering loss and honoring memory, the light returning, a return to Harris Beach, and a quiet holiday.

One more day of sunshine in the bedroom before the January fog sets in again.

We are now readying for our annual trip south, and with the fog still hanging over our valley, our departure date cannot come soon enough. But that will be a new story in a new year, with a bit of hopefulness that our world might get a little less crazy and a little brighter.