Hello, friends. I’ve had a long break from blogging and it’s hard to write again after getting out of the habit for so many weeks! So much happens in December and January and there are a lot of big feelings in addition to all the holidays and events, more than I can unpack. It’s going to sound dramatic, but 2025 was probably my hardest year. There were heartbreaking situations, conversations, and life changing events. Jonny lost his workshop and all his tools to a fire, and a few months later he lost his dad. Our life stopped feeling like our life for lack of a better way to explain it.
We joined a pottery studio for fun and stress relief but by the end of the year, all the tasks we were neglecting at home to play at the studio began to weigh on us and we had to pull back. It’s hard to believe that we ever managed to make time for it! I think winter is part of the issue: the shorter days, all the illness, and also some big projects that we are trying to complete at home.
For now, here are some of the things that kept my hands busy while also quieting my thoughts over the last couple of months:
I made a set of wonky, different sized bowls for Seth, Phoebe, and Elsie (my oldest son and his family), and that was fun. I wrote about that on Instagram so maybe you already saw them?
I also made them a set of cotton velvet mushroom ornaments for their Christmas tree. I’m working on some for my mom now for next Christmas.
I turned 48 a few weeks ago, and spent my birthday money on a small glass terrarium (more on that later) and some watercolor supplies including (affiliate link) this book. I have only made it through a few lessons, but I love it! My younger kids like to paint with me and I like to find ways for us all to be creative together.
Realizing that we really enjoy making pottery, but that we can’t spend hours upon hours away from home at the studio, we purchased a pottery wheel for our home and are awaiting it’s arrival. Larkpur, Beatrix, Silas, Job, and Mabel will be learning too and it makes sense to have a wheel at home. We will continute to use the studio for firing and glazing, but won’t be pulled away from home quite so much. We are excited!!!
P.S. Regarding my books read in 2025, I want to mention that my feelings about War and Peace shifted towards the positive after listening to this podcast episode on it (I don’t often listen to podcasts, but I really like this one!) I think I needed some time to recover and reflect after finishing War and Peace, and to hear other people talk about it’s impact on them. I’m not sure I ever want to read another book that long, but I’m glad I read that one. Anway, do you have any reading plans for this year? Needing something light myself, I’m reading a Barbara Pym right now.
P.P.S. If you are in the path of this winter storm, I hope you are feeling ready! We are expecting to lose power as we usually do, but have a generator to power our pellet stove and a few other things. I am a little horrified by the low temperatures in our ten day forecast! The combination of cold and no electricity is not a fun one. I pray you are all able to stay safe and warm!
I’m seeing this post kind of late, but I want to wish you a better year this year, too! May it be lighter, calmer, and filled with joyful moments even when things get hard.
By the way, I saw you read My Brilliant Friend. I personally loved that book and the whole series. I really enjoyed the complexity of the girls’ friendship, and reading about life in Naples in the middle of the twentieth century. It’s an intense story, but beautiful, too. You’re right, though, if you’re in the mood for something *light*, this might not be the right choice…;)
Have you read anything by Paul Harding? I loved This Other Eden. It’s not light, exactly, but I also would not describe it as heavy. It’s just a very quiet story, which I like.
Anyway, you have a good week, month, and year, Ginny! 🙂
I just finished reading My Family and Other Animals. What a delightful read!
I have followed you for years and am always so excited to see a post from you! Thank you for sharing pieces of your beautiful family and life.
Ginny, I too am sorry for your difficult year and I pray that 2026 will bring you blessings and peace. I have no artistic abilities at all, so I would love to purchase some of your adorable mushrooms and your gorgeous pottery. I know your time is so valuable and you are so busy, but I will keep my eye on your shop. The scarves I purchased for Christmas gifts were lovely and such a hit with the recipients. Thank you so much for continuing to share a bit of your life with us.
Sorry for such a difficult year. All your projects are beautiful and I’m sure a little balm for your soul. Thank you for sharing your life Ginny.
Hello Ginny, I’m praying that 2026 will bring you many blessings. Thank you for sharing your life with us, I so look forward to hearing from you and catching up with your family, your amazing projects, your reading and your wonderful photos.
Here in the White Mountains of New Hampshire we got 12 inches of snow but thankfully we still have power. Blessings to you and your family.
I like your book list. I also keep a list of books I’ve read, but I don’t make the notations. Maybe I should!
I’m sorry for such a difficult year. Out of that came pottery making and the bowls are beautiful. You could indeed sell them. I know you’ll have fun making more at home. And I love how the mushrooms turned out. I live in MO and we only got about 4” of snow and butter cold temps. Thankfully the power is on. I do hope you will not lose power.
I really understand how difficult some years are, having had several years recently full of difficult trials! Winter is so long and dark for me, living in a far- north region. My husband was going to get me a pottery wheel for Christmas and my birthday this year ( I share your birthday) but he had no clue what to purchase. May i ask what kind you got? Pottery is something I’ve always wanted to learn. Blessings on your home and family!
Barbara Pym is one of my favorite authors to re-read again and again. You might enjoy making your own clay. Our Deacon, who is an engineer and saint, led our little art group in taking [what appeared to be] regular dirt clods, and refining it and forming it into clay. We ended up making pottery and firing it. Such a fun adventure.
Let me know if you end up being able to paint watercolor! Our art group (again) has been doing watercolor tutorials from youtube. It is very hard. Drawing is more enjoyable for me, but watercolor is such a challenge.
The mushrooms are adorable.
Some years are like that. But your family looks happy and healthy, praise God!
Wondering if you know about the Buddhist monks walking, some barefoot, from Fort Worth Texas to Washington D.C on a Walk of Peace. The monks and their dog Aloka will be passing thru Fredericksburg on their way. Hope you get to see them. They are bringing hope and peace to the thousands of people as they walk. Sending love and peace!
Hi Theresa! Thanks for sharing that about the monks! I didn’t know, but found their Instagram so I can keep up and hopefully we can see them!
Hi Ginny,
I’m so sorry that last year has been so hard for you and your family! Alone losing a parent is a lot. Thank you for being honest. I don’t think it offends anyone, even though many seem to be here for some kind of comfort and glimpses into a family we mostly imagine to be a happy one. But for me as for anyone who is suffering somehow, I guess, I can’t stand surface level blogs that exclusively show the nice and bright sides of life.
Anyhow, I’m praying for new hope, strength and trust in God and that you might have a brighter 2026.
Beautiful gifts you made!
And to have your own pottery wheel seems kind of a genius idea to me.
Sending love from Germany.
Angela
I always enjoy your posts. The pottery wheel at homes sounds like a great idea!
Your blog posts are so inspiring and welcoming to my heart. Thank you for enriching my life.
Happy 2026!
Hi Ginny! I love your blog, photos, reflections (and lip balm!) Thank you for your generosity in sharing.🙏
I also love your book recommendations, I think you’ll love Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton 🐇
Life happens and then some more.
2024 was the one for us…survived a tornado, and a hurricane in the NGa Mtns, lost our pets unrelated…..that is about 1/4.
Just keep breathing. Find time for yourself. There will always be a better day.
Thank you for enriching my life with your beautiful blogs, images, family and products.
I love, love, love your velveteen mushrooms! so much so that I bought that issue years ago. they must not take much for the caps, or else your pieces were of good size! have you bought ‘the mushroom color atlas’ yet?
Ginny, what are the two books shown in this blog entry? Both look charming! I have saved your book list. I always love knowing what people are reading. I’m currently reading the Little House books. It appears I’ve never read them….must have just watched Michael Landon!!!! Our book group is reading The Long Winter from that series. Talk about cold!!!!!! I always look forward to reading your blog and enjoying your photographs.
I’m almost certain the first book pictured is, A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman!
So sorry for the loss of your father in-law and the workshop.
Just love your posts Ginny ❤️ hard to believe I’ve been reading your posts for 14-15 years! The watercolour book looks great!
Beautiful photos, beautiful life! Lovely children and gifts and reading list. Hoping 2026 is wonderful for you all! Thanks for the blogs!
So what is the picture book shown in your photos?? Merry Christmas!
I came to ask the same thing! 😀
I’m almost certain it’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman!
The first picture book is this. I’m not sure what the second picture is!
I’m almost certain it’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman!
Thank you, I ordered it!