We’ve just celebrated the Winter Solstice/Yule on the 21st and our coldest season is noticeably revving up. And here comes Santa Claus with the Baby New Year following close behind. 

Christmas, especially with young children, is an exciting time of year, isn’t it? The magic and excitement of getting that Christmas tree and decorating together; but first (in my family’s case) we had to determine how many books or magazines we needed to straighten our “Tower of Pisa” ... we never had a straight tree! We still laugh about it, too.  

Then there was the stabilizing phase: Tying two to three pieces of fishing line from the tree to the wall, particularly when we had a kitten or young cat possessing exceptional climbing abilities ... still makes me smile. That same young cat would enjoy laying under the tree with the elder ones pretending they were outdoor cats. Oh, the daydreams and napping dreams they must have had! 

The baking and decorating of cookies – particularly the sugar cutouts when after hour three became Pollock canvases for colored sugars thrown from across the table. Good times. One year, in particular, the girls and I made these cookies with their sister, Mandy, who had never made Christmas cookies! We had a blast. I thought of her while baking and decorating them myself this year, which was quite odd, but time marches on and so do our kids ... to their own digs. 

Presents. A big dinner. Game time (there are always new games every Christmas, right?), dessert time and, when I was young, birthday party time for my younger sister. Yep, she is a Dec. 25 baby. One of four such Capricorns I know today.  

And after all the celebrations - the gift giving, meals and desserts, drinks, toasts ... the memorable times with family, friends and neighbors, life returns to the daily rhythms of our lives January through October-ish. No more holiday soundtrack, now it’s time to get back to our “regularly scheduled programs.” Normal daily life resumes, but we all need to spend down time this winter with Mother Nature and appreciating what she offers. 

If you have young children, bundle up and head over to Boothbay Region Land Trust (60 Samoset Road, Boothbay Harbor) to walk and to read the current book, “Winter’s Gifts.” Synopsis: "The tale of a young Potawatomi girl named Dani whose family celebrates the darkest season of the year by treasuring the slowness that winter brings. Dani’s schoolmates think it’s silly to think that Earth gives us presents, but on a magical snowy day, Dani has the courage to teach her friends about the gifts of winter: Resting, remembrance and gratitude. Can Dani help them receive winter’s gifts?” 

If you have time, bring a thermos of hot chocolate to warm up with back at the car! 

The Land Trust’s preserves afford us great opportunities to stop and ... ID the trees by the bark. I’ve always found the differences in bark quite interesting, and there’s something about the textures, like sculpture, you just want to touch it and that’s OK!  

There’s a whole different vibe in the winter wood. If you stop and breathe in the cold, sharp air ... stop and listen to ... quiet. Stop and let the peace of the setting fill your soul with, well, peace. And for a few minutes, just be.

When you park your car, grab a tree ID map at the kiosk of the preserves cleared for winter. Cross River is one of them. For more intel, visit www.bbrlt.org

Walking along Ocean Point Road from Grimes Cove to Three Trees, yes, I know all of the trees are now history, but that area will always be Three Trees – I’d wager it will be for many of us.

The Point is a great place to relax, to breathe in the salt-laced air ... speaking of: After taking a deep breath in, hold it, and then exhale forcefully two or three times; it’s a natural way to expel any negative emotions you may be carrying inside – but you probably know that ...

It’s also a great place to meet folks and their pupsters. My shih tzus Merlyn and Rondibear loved it. So many scents, so little time ... And while our pups may not be relishing all the same scents we are, it’s a win-win for all.  

If you can’t make it to Ocean Point, walk around your neighborhood or around the block, clear your head and then get back to making new holiday memories for you and yours.