“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
—WINSTON CHURCHILL
Many of my most vivid childhood memories were made on Christmas Eve. Most notably, taking a walk in the brisk country air after our traditional church service with my brown bag of fruits and peanuts in tow, followed by a drive up the gravel road to our farmhouse on the hill, colorful lights twinkling in the window ahead.
Holiday music—and even more so, holiday smells—can be so nostalgic. A simple whiff of evergreen or chorus of a certain Christmas carol can emotionally transport us back to a particular time spent with loved ones long ago. I cherish those feelings of nostalgia and hope to instill them in my own children, with festive music, good company, and great smells wafting from the kitchen at holiday time.
In this issue we go merry and bright, sharing Tony Tyrrell and Dan Gartin’s home decorated with holiday cheer, and Julia Burris’ multi-tree decorating tradition. We also include three beautiful lake homes, including our architecture feature and Jen and Tom Uhlir’s Bennington Lake remodel.
On a personal note, my mom passed after a battle with dementia in late September. She was so good at tending to the little things—how the house looked and smelled, and ensuring our Christmas tree was decorated just so. Later in life, she grew to love the collectible figurines called Snowbabies. She let me pick out a few several years ago, and this year, I will remember her and what made her happy and find comfort in our beautiful memories by incorporating these into my home.
Wishing you joy and peace for the holidays.
This column first appeared in the November/December 2020 issue of Home Magazine. Click here to subscribe to the print edition.
