December at Home, in Our Bubble

Wine & Whiskey
3 days ago
2 min read

In our little bubble, getting ready for the Christmas season isn’t about big productions or over-the-top decorating. It’s a series of small rituals that quietly mark the start of December. To kick things off, we “attend” the parade — which really means grabbing a table upstairs at our favorite local restaurant and watching from the second-floor windows. We have to see Santa to know it’s officially time to get into the holiday spirit. After the parade, the town Christmas tree is lit. This year’s tree is one of the best in recent memory.

Next on the Christmas itinerary is a visit to the local garden shop to choose fresh greens and two Christmas trees. The shop’s festive decor is both charming and inspiring. From there, we stop by the floral boutique in town to pick up a few small touches to freshen up the decor. The shop is so beautiful it’s hard to resist going overboard.

NH-made wreaths for the barn and front door come from the Garden Club, bows handmade by the members. It’s their annual fundraiser and supporting it has become a tradition of its own. We try to keep our holiday purchases local — even down to the Christmas cards.

Then the bins of decorations come out, and it’s time to get to work adding lights, greenery, and ornaments throughout the house and the Barn Lounge. This year I finally assembled the chrome ornament tree I’ve had for ages, the one I’d never actually used. Once I started unpacking everything, it pushed me to put it together and give it a real moment. I filled it with the many beaded ornaments made by my mom, who’s no longer with us. It now sits in the foyer — a space we barely use since the barn entry became the everyday entrance — but it’s the perfect spot for it.

While the decorating is happening, the kitchen is just as busy. So far, I’ve made turkey stew with dumplings, pot roast, short ribs over homemade egg noodles (a bit thick — I’ll dial that in next time), boozy eggnog, cabbage and meatball soup for easy lunches, and stuffed flank steak. December cooking tends to lean into comfort, perfect for this time of year.

I always hang handmade paper snowflakes near the kitchen, a small tradition that somehow makes the whole place feel brighter. Evening Manhattans — stirred, not shaken — have become part of the routine too. In between it all, there’s everyday life: me working part-time, Whiskey working full-time, and both of us just keeping the days moving.

Now the house is decorated, the cards are out, and the everyday rhythm continues. We’re looking forward to the festivities still ahead, including Christmas with dear friends at their horse farm here in New Hampshire. Plenty more to come, but for now — Merry Christmas.

~Wine, Whiskey, Willy & Bell