Holiday Greetings from Around the World
(Introducing our new Norwegian friend, Gnomie) "God jul! Looking forward to the next week of Romjul. So happy to have a stack of books, cozy blankets, cups of coffee, and a good view of the snowy lake to enjoy. Hope you have some warm and wonderful plans lined up. Take time to relax and enjoy a good snooze. Keep it cool!" -Gnomie
“Hello, friends! I hope you enjoyed your Winter Solstice as much as I did! I went to a candlelit concert with gorgeous music and had a lovely flight home over the snowy lakes under the stars. Hope you spend some time in nature this year. Remember to look up at our glorious skies and remember the world is bigger than our little lives…. And what we do with our lives also matters. Do one small thing every day that makes you (and maybe others) happy. Best of luck!” -Flicker
“It’s me! I’m super excited to find all these presents hanging out in the tree. And there are many candy canes to snack on. Rumor has it that these stockings each contain some walnuts. Excuse me, gotta go!” -Scottie
(I’m sure if Scottie wasn’t so busy, he’d wish you a year of delicious food and many things for which to be thankful. Well, I’m pretty sure.)
“Hyvää joulua! We had an amazing celebratory feast in Finland. Betweeen dinner and dessert, we got to spend some time in the sauna. It’s a highlight, for sure. We haven’t had our rice porridge yet, but I’m really hoping to be the one with the lucky almond in my serving. It will bring me a year’s good luck. Here’s to hopes and dreams! Keep yours alive, even when others doubt you. Anything is possible!” - Wol the Owl
"Frohe Weihnachten! We had a festive evening last evening. We enjoyed a family meal with incredible fish. I had seconds and had just finished up when Father Christmas came in. We welcomed him to join us for some carols and snacks around our tree, where the candlelight was burning merrily. Hope you have some bright lights in your upcoming year. Enjoy your family and friends!" -Ober
"Feliz navidad! In case you're wondering, we had a wonderful time in Seville this Christmas. After walking the streets and looking at many beautiful nativity scenes, we stopped to enjoy our roasted chestnuts in the square. Our timing was perfect to catch people singing villancicos. They sounded amazing! After I rest up, I really need to work on finishing my homemade presents. I have until Epiphany to finish them. Remember to spend time being creative this year. Even if you're not great at it, it's really fun. Perfection is overrated! Enjoy all your projects!" =Ferdinand
"Nollaig shona! We've had an incredible meal here in Ireland today. Such a delectable meal of roast potatoes, carrots, brussel sprouts, and, especially Christmas cake & pudding. Good thing we have a Christmas swim on the day's schedule. Take the plunge and do something adventurous and exciting this year!" -Gràineag
"Nadolig Llawen! I'm a little tired today after staying up till 3 am making toffee. It was worth it to have toffee for breakfast, lunch, and dinner today. We did have an exciting time when we took a break to enjoy the festivities in the village. Our timing was perfect, because the Mari Lwyd paraded by. It's a little strange to some people, but it's awesome to have a tradition that goes so far back. Hope you remember to honor your favorite traditions and maybe make some new ones!" -Flambé
“Feliz Pascua from me, Penne! You’ve interrupted my wonderful drink of cola de mono (monkey’s tail). That’s okay by me. Incredible news! I got to see Viejito Pacuero last night as he came through the window to deliver all these presents for us to enjoy. I hate to be rude, but I’m going to finish my beverage so I can get out to the beach to do some surfing. Keep things balanced and take time for yourself and others this year. Enjoy!”
“Um. Is that a candy cane I see? I think I’ve found my new favorite food. They’re pretty incredible! And you can wear them around your neck and keep them for later. Nothing like food that doubles as jewelry. Hey, that’s a great idea! Maybe this will be my year to make something truly innovative or solve one of the world’s mysteries or solve some impossible riddles. Or maybe I’ll just eat more candy canes. We’ll see! It’s always good to be open to possibilities.” -Loonie
“Joyeux noël! I’ve just returned from visiting my friends and family in Canada. We had a lovely catch-up talking about all our travels and comparing stories of past adventures. And, of course, we had to do the rounds of everyone’s favorite places and enjoy special foods at each stop. It wasn’t a contest for the “best” or anything. It’s enough to just enjoy what’s around you and appreciate it for what it is. Take things one step at a time and you can’t go wrong. Best of luck with everything you’re doing!” -Amelia Airheart
“Mrmphg…. mrgphm… grmph” (Note from Katie: Snowball is busy having as many snacks and treats as possible in this festive season. I’m sure she’ll have more to say later.)
“Hello, friends and neighbors! As you can see, the outdoors has many things to offer in this winter season. Please remember to dress warmly and keep drinking water. And, if you run into any hungry squirrels out there looking cute and begging for a treat, don’t feed them! They’ll be fine. Enjoy your hikes and walks and rolls this year!” - Ranger Rita
Hope you had the gift of time with family, friends, and yourself. Here’s us with our newest tiny Stuffie friend, Yeti. Oh, this is going to get confusing. We’ll get back to you. -Yeti, S’mores, Taco, and Fajita