This quietened my morning and I didn't realize it needed to be. these are the best and most important gifts. The ones that you can carry in your heart. It is amazing when you slowdown, and be more present. Just look.... and listen. Merry Christmas!
Roxanne, I'm honored to hear this story found you at just the right time this week -- thank you so much for reading and being here, and I hope you have you a wonderful Christmas as well! ❄️🤍
I'm so glad you connected with this story, Mary Lou -- thank you so much for your kind words about it this week, and thank you always for being here ❄️🤍
Although I always look forward to your paintings, this essay with photos is gorgeous. I hope you'll explain about the carrots in the shoes. Happy holidays to you.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Ellen -- I'm thrilled to hear you enjoyed this photo essay, and yes! As Katharina was so helpful to explain, the carrots are for Sinterklaas' horse :) In case you'd like to read a little more, here's an illustrated essay I loved sharing this time last year about the tradition 🥕🤍
The carrots are for the horse or donkey that carries the gifts of Sinterclaas (St. Niklaus in other languages) when they come to visit during the night of December 5th.
Thank you so much for sharing about Sinterklaas, Katharina! And you might enjoy hearing that my favorite supermarket here in Antwerp even sells bags of carrots this time of year specifically for Sinterklaas' horse (with a fun little drawing on the bag itself) -- I wish it were possible to attach photos to comments so I could share it with you :) 🥕🤍
That is awesome and funny at the same time! I always thought of the families who must have dug up extra of their own carrots to make this time special for their children - I also used that as a defense that we really didn't need to eat all the carrots because in olden days, surely they must have kept them hidden away for some dinner at a later date 😅
Thank you for your words, your sense of wonder, and the beautiful photos. May your holidays be full of the warmth of love and a great deal of joy, no matter what else is happening in the world. Your light is a gift for all of us!
Susan, thank you so much for your wonderful words here. Please know what a gift your thoughtful comments are to me, and that I'm wishing you the same this holiday season -- it's an honor and joy to connect with you each week! ❄️🤍
I was just noticing the other day how much easier it is to delight in sunrise at this time of year.
I'll add the tingly glow of cheeks after a winter walk, the soft glow of candles as dusk gathers, and friends gathered around the table for traditions and celebrations.
Ohh yes! Those are beautiful additions, Sara -- especially friends gathered around a table. I don't think I'm ever happier than I am during a moment of sobre mesa 🤍✨
Good idea Jose!😀 Beautifully executed, Candace. You’ve got a little redhead! It’s been so hard these past few days struggling with the horrible events in Australia and the U.S. and all the other ongoing conflicts. These beautiful photos are a much needed balm for my heart!❤️
Gayle, I've felt the exact same way this week -- I think it was Monday morning that I checked the news and couldn't believe how it was just one heartbreaking event after another. Working on this story definitely helped me feel grounded again, and I'm really glad to hear it could bring you a bit of comfort as well. Thanks so much for letting me know you connected with it ❄️🤍
Beautiful, soul-stirring, and as we head into a holiday often treated as a measure of how much we can spend and give and eat, the best reminder to find the small treasures that truly matter.
I shared some of your examples with a friend of mine today over a text. She is feeling frustrated that her family moved away from ours to be closer to her husbands work. From your story, I was able to remind her of these good gifts all around us - gifts that matter. Thank you for your thoughtful and heartfelt story.
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment, Amanda -- I'm honored to hear that you not only connected with this story, but that it could also help bring a bit of comfort to your friend as well during a challenging time. That makes my day to hear ❄️🤍🙏
Such lovely pictures and such a lovely message. I find the colours in nature during this otherwise gloomy time quite interesting as well, so much so that I ended up writing a post about all of the colours of Autumn.
Thank you so much, Reema! I'm so glad you've also been finding joy in the colors of nature this time of year -- I really enjoyed reading your post about it, and love that you mentioned the first frost, too 🥰❄️🤍
"Small things, important things, the things in our lives that matter most!" You put that so beautifully, Julie -- thanks so much for reading and being here ❄️🤍
Such a lovely sentiment of all the things that are (in my book too) priceless gifts. And it’s so funny because they are such simple gifts and they don’t come with a price tag either. I had been thinking along these lines too in my recent writings so I definitely resonated with your post today. I loved the format of photography you used as well (but I do love your illustrations too of course ☺️). My gift that matters this year is Gifting Grace. I will gift it to everyone I come into contact with this holiday season as my plan for peaceful connections. 😇
"They are such simple gifts and they don’t come with a price tag either." Yes! I love how you put this, Ángel, and it's exactly what I've been reflecting on this December. Thank you so much for letting me know you connected with this story, and I hope you have a peaceful, grace-filled holiday season 🥰❄️
Thank you!! And hmm, this is my childhood best friend Jen, whom I've loved knowing since I was 9 -- but now you've got me curious to know who Nadine is :)
This quietened my morning and I didn't realize it needed to be. these are the best and most important gifts. The ones that you can carry in your heart. It is amazing when you slowdown, and be more present. Just look.... and listen. Merry Christmas!
Roxanne, I'm honored to hear this story found you at just the right time this week -- thank you so much for reading and being here, and I hope you have you a wonderful Christmas as well! ❄️🤍
All these were so quietly heart-warming, and such an important reminder of the gifts both nature and people are giving us on a daily basis.
I'm so glad you connected with this story, Mary Lou -- thank you so much for your kind words about it this week, and thank you always for being here ❄️🤍
Although I always look forward to your paintings, this essay with photos is gorgeous. I hope you'll explain about the carrots in the shoes. Happy holidays to you.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Ellen -- I'm thrilled to hear you enjoyed this photo essay, and yes! As Katharina was so helpful to explain, the carrots are for Sinterklaas' horse :) In case you'd like to read a little more, here's an illustrated essay I loved sharing this time last year about the tradition 🥕🤍
https://dandelionseeds.substack.com/p/christmas-in-belgium-1
The carrots are for the horse or donkey that carries the gifts of Sinterclaas (St. Niklaus in other languages) when they come to visit during the night of December 5th.
Thank you Katharina! I lived in Germany for many years and feel I should have known that! That's lovely.
You are so welcome! I always thoughts this part was the most fun for kids, but hardest on parents! So many carrots!
Thank you so much for sharing about Sinterklaas, Katharina! And you might enjoy hearing that my favorite supermarket here in Antwerp even sells bags of carrots this time of year specifically for Sinterklaas' horse (with a fun little drawing on the bag itself) -- I wish it were possible to attach photos to comments so I could share it with you :) 🥕🤍
That is awesome and funny at the same time! I always thought of the families who must have dug up extra of their own carrots to make this time special for their children - I also used that as a defense that we really didn't need to eat all the carrots because in olden days, surely they must have kept them hidden away for some dinner at a later date 😅
Thank you for your words, your sense of wonder, and the beautiful photos. May your holidays be full of the warmth of love and a great deal of joy, no matter what else is happening in the world. Your light is a gift for all of us!
Susan, thank you so much for your wonderful words here. Please know what a gift your thoughtful comments are to me, and that I'm wishing you the same this holiday season -- it's an honor and joy to connect with you each week! ❄️🤍
This is lovely.
I was just noticing the other day how much easier it is to delight in sunrise at this time of year.
I'll add the tingly glow of cheeks after a winter walk, the soft glow of candles as dusk gathers, and friends gathered around the table for traditions and celebrations.
Ohh yes! Those are beautiful additions, Sara -- especially friends gathered around a table. I don't think I'm ever happier than I am during a moment of sobre mesa 🤍✨
Good idea Jose!😀 Beautifully executed, Candace. You’ve got a little redhead! It’s been so hard these past few days struggling with the horrible events in Australia and the U.S. and all the other ongoing conflicts. These beautiful photos are a much needed balm for my heart!❤️
Gayle, I've felt the exact same way this week -- I think it was Monday morning that I checked the news and couldn't believe how it was just one heartbreaking event after another. Working on this story definitely helped me feel grounded again, and I'm really glad to hear it could bring you a bit of comfort as well. Thanks so much for letting me know you connected with it ❄️🤍
Beautiful, soul-stirring, and as we head into a holiday often treated as a measure of how much we can spend and give and eat, the best reminder to find the small treasures that truly matter.
Thank you so much for your wonderful words here, Susan -- I'm so glad you connected with this story ❄️🤍
I shared some of your examples with a friend of mine today over a text. She is feeling frustrated that her family moved away from ours to be closer to her husbands work. From your story, I was able to remind her of these good gifts all around us - gifts that matter. Thank you for your thoughtful and heartfelt story.
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment, Amanda -- I'm honored to hear that you not only connected with this story, but that it could also help bring a bit of comfort to your friend as well during a challenging time. That makes my day to hear ❄️🤍🙏
Such lovely pictures and such a lovely message. I find the colours in nature during this otherwise gloomy time quite interesting as well, so much so that I ended up writing a post about all of the colours of Autumn.
Thank you so much, Reema! I'm so glad you've also been finding joy in the colors of nature this time of year -- I really enjoyed reading your post about it, and love that you mentioned the first frost, too 🥰❄️🤍
Gorgeous photos! I enjoy capturing the world around me as shown here. Small things, important things, the things in our lives that matter most!
"Small things, important things, the things in our lives that matter most!" You put that so beautifully, Julie -- thanks so much for reading and being here ❄️🤍
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What perfect gifts!
I'm so glad you enjoyed this, Cate! ❄️🤍
Your posts are gifts that matter to me :)
You just made me tear up, Minaz 🥹 Thank you!!
❤
Such a lovely sentiment of all the things that are (in my book too) priceless gifts. And it’s so funny because they are such simple gifts and they don’t come with a price tag either. I had been thinking along these lines too in my recent writings so I definitely resonated with your post today. I loved the format of photography you used as well (but I do love your illustrations too of course ☺️). My gift that matters this year is Gifting Grace. I will gift it to everyone I come into contact with this holiday season as my plan for peaceful connections. 😇
"They are such simple gifts and they don’t come with a price tag either." Yes! I love how you put this, Ángel, and it's exactly what I've been reflecting on this December. Thank you so much for letting me know you connected with this story, and I hope you have a peaceful, grace-filled holiday season 🥰❄️
Lovely photographs and lovely reminders to appreciate the little things in life.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Frances -- I'm so glad you connected with this story ❄️🤍
This was lovely. :)
Also: that old friend wouldn't be called Nadine, would she?
Thank you!! And hmm, this is my childhood best friend Jen, whom I've loved knowing since I was 9 -- but now you've got me curious to know who Nadine is :)