Dreaming of Simple Joys and a Cozy Country Christmas

When I was younger, our Girl Scout troop had a wintertime camping weekend in which we recreated an old-fashioned country Christmas in a cabin in the woods. We cooked up a traditional dinner, complete with a stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes, homemade pies and more. For many of us, this was the first time we ever put our hands inside a turkey to pull out the neck and giblets. I remember there were a lot of tongues sticking out and “yuck!” being yelled across the room. We also learned how to make a pie crust from scratch, carefully rolling out the dough, and we took turns mashing the potatoes. In addition to preparing dinner, we also made centerpieces from natural items found on a hike and crafted DIY ornaments, such as birdseed-covered pinecones and dried-bean balls. The Scout leaders hid a cut pine tree in the woods so we could experience what it would be like to go hunting for a Christmas tree. We dragged it back to the cabin and trimmed it with handmade popcorn-and-cranberry garland and all our DIY ornaments. We cut stamps out of potato slices and decorated brown kraft paper to wrap the items we brought for our gift exchange. After dinner, we gathered around the fireplace and took turns reading from A Christmas Carol and playing silly games. I always remember that country Christmas weekend and think how lovely it would be now to spend the holidays in a cozy cabin in the woods with snow falling all around. But these days, Christmas seems to be a frenzied whirlwind of present shopping, card sending, cookie baking and party going. Although I enjoy all the festivity of the season, I'd like to bring more simplicity to my Christmas experience. This year, I plan to take a walk through the snow on a moonlit night, create some handmade ornaments (maybe try cutting a paper-doll garland), and attend a Christmas Eve service in a barn. I hope you find some simple joys for yourself this holiday season, and perhaps this issue will inspire you. Merry Christmas!

When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things—not the great occasions— give off the greatest glow of happiness. —Bob Hope