My Christmas cactus opened its first bloom on Christmas Eve. We were already halfway through our family celebrations at that point, and I had moved most of the houseplants into the Morning Room upstairs, in anticipation of needing all possible space for human bodies.
Several days before actual Christmas Day the family started to arrive, from five locales in four states. Three days later, the first departures happened, and by the afternoon of the Fourth Day of Christmas, I was alone in the house again.
Once Pathfinder and I were the only ones left, I brought the cactus with its stand downstairs again, so I can admire it throughout the day.
Before I continue with the Christmas theme, I want to show other current floral happenings in house and garden. Blooming orchids, my first picking of Chinese Broccoli, and a last Japanese anemone. The pomegranate bushes are decorating the garden with their changing color.
It was a lovely, lovely Christmastime. Soldier’s and Kate’s families couldn’t come this year, but Pearl and Nate and two of their children’s families were able to make it. The youngest child was my great-granddaughter Lori, who is 6 1/2 now. She is a lot of fun!
Lori met several family members for the first time. I wonder if in 2026 I will manage to meet my two great-grandsons who will soon be a year old. They live in two different states, but were brought together for an early Christmas, from which meet-up I received a picture to share:
It rained a lot the whole week of our festivities, but not constantly. There were enough breaks that a few short walks were taken, and one outing to the coast. While most of our group was gone on that latter trip Pearl and I both took naps. She did much of the cooking for several days, but I made one large dinner and breakfast for the crowd. Pippin and the Professor served in the kitchen one night as well. The food was abundant and appreciated!
This year I didn’t make any cookies myself. Lori’s cookies were from a King Arthur gluten-free recipe, and the spice profile was really nice. I did make some goodies to eat and give away: This Sticky Cranberry Gingerbread was the most popular recipe in all of 2025 on the New York Times Cooking site. I’ve unlocked it as Christmas present from me to you ❤
I forgot to take a picture of mine. I followed the advice of several cooks who added ginger, more cranberries, and less sugar. It was enjoyed very much by everyone, with a dollop of whipped cream on top. I want to make it again soon.
I made Candied Espresso Walnuts, and our longstanding traditional California Fruitcake/Jesus Birthday Cake/Nativity Cake, which I hadn’t done for some years. People sliced from one big loaf for breakfast and snacks here, and I gifted the others. This time I made it with a gluten-free flour blend, which worked pretty well.
Lori took the initiative to find this felted hummingbird ornament among the things her family had brought, and gave it to me early. She had seen other hummingbirds on the tree and didn’t want to delay.
When she was ready to go out and explore my garden and greenhouse, her shoes were in the bedroom where her mom was sleeping, so her father let her use his boots.
I love my Christmas tree this year! It is a Nordmann fir from Home Depot — amazingly symmetrical and well filled out. Last year the big LED lights I had on my tree were so bright it pained me to look in that direction, so I bought tiny incandescent lights this year and they are perfect.
I had laid in bright materials for making paper chains, in case Lori would like to do such a craft with me. She wasn’t interested, so I made three long chains after everyone had arrived and were doing all the work around me. We hung them on the black railings that had recently been painted; after that, I somehow had the energy also to hang up the ribbons pinned with the prettiest old Christmas cards.
Because of the comings and goings all week, I didn’t wait for Christmas Day or Epiphany, but put the Baby Jesus and the Wise Men in their places at the outset. I’d like to wait until the Presentation of Christ on February 2nd to take down the tree, and to put away the Nativity scene. I’ll need to gather some fresh greenery from the bike path before then!
I know that by today, most people are thinking ahead to the new year coming in, so I wanted to post these images of the end of 2025 while it is still December. Happy New Year! I wish you courage and Hope in the coming year, and may the good desires of your heart be fulfilled in 2026 ❤
Gladsome Lights 
What a glorious time you have enjoyed with your family!
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You have a lovely home and garden. I particularly like your orchid. I’ve managed to kill every single one I’ve had.
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I never would have bought one on my own, but I was given about a dozen when my husband died ten years ago, which got me started. But I really don’t have a good place for them, so they rarely re-bloom, and I think I might be done with them, or most of them, after these two are done.
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One of my friends has superb orchids that look very similar to yours. She manages to keep them coming back so it can be done. Just not managed it yet!
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I am so in love with every word and photo in this post. What a fantastic Christmas, filled with love and fun and family. Can’t beat that. Lori is darling — and when you said you had two new great grands, I didn’t realize till I saw the photo they were twins! That has to be a handful! Your garden is looking fantastic and so does that gingerbread recipe. Thanks for sharing it. All the baking looks good. And your tree is a stunner! I love the idea of the paper chains and I wish I’d thought of it. I’m putting that in my memory bank for next year and hope those little boys haven’t grown out of the fun crafting stuff by then! I leave my nativity up at least until Twelfth Night. Yours is especially beautiful.
What a grand holiday you have had. very moment looks so very special! Thank you so much for sharing so many photos and all the wonderful memories!
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Thank you, Jeanie. The grandboys aren’t twins, but cousins born one month apart 🙂 and living in different states from each other and from me.
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They look identical — not just the outfits!
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Happy 2026 🥂
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Thank you, Eterea! I found this comment in spam just now or I’d have wished you a Happy New Year as well. It’s not too late, is it? Happy New Year!
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I had my recipe for California fruitcake lying about for weeks, but in the end decided not to make it. I may compose one in late January or February; it’s such a sunny bit of sweetness. Thanks, too, for unlocking that cranberry recipe. It looks good, and I might give that one a try.
I smiled at your paper chains. They were a staple of our decorating when I was a child, but we cut our paper from old catalogues and magazines. They weren’t especially elegant, but they would have made an interesting historical record of the time had we kept them!
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One thing I remember from school days back when, was cutting the chain loops from construction paper and sticking them together with white paste from a jar. They must have taken a long time to dry, and wouldn’t have been very sturdy.
Stapling is tricky but would have been an improvement, not practical unless doing them at home. I used shiny Scotch tape this time, and even my older grandchildren were remembering when that material was in short supply and carefully conserved. It was an occasional treat for them to receive a roll of their own from Grandma in a package of craft supplies.
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Those great grandsons look like twins, so cute. It looks like a lovely time was had by all in your home for Christmas doings. How lovely that you could enjoy the time and the help in the kitchen, too. God bless you dearly in 2026! Happy New Year!
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Thank you, Ellen 🥰
May your family be kept in God’s grace this coming year.
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Happy New Year to you! I’m glad your Christmas cactus bloomed because many people have trouble with that. Mine bloomed too but I have no idea how I got it to bloom! Are those wild mushrooms? We had tons popping up around the neighborhood and in my backyard. I’m fearful of the dogs eating it and getting sick.
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The mushrooms just popped up here, too, so I guess you would call them wild. But not all wild mushrooms are toxic.
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It is sweet to see a glimpse of your family Christmas.
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What a wonderful Christmas! Still waiting for my Christmas cactus to bloom, but my mom’s 100+ year old one did! So happy to see so much of your family together! Blessings in the new year!
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