Sunday Ramblings #63 (Merry Christmas & Happy Solstice) Tips & Ideas

Just 3 sleeps till Christmas Eve. How are you making out? Are you all finished your shopping? Baking? Wrapping? Decorating? All the things?

I’m pretty excited as my son and dil are coming for the holidays. Though we chat weekly, I can hardly wait to have them here in person.

This afternoon is gift wrapping time for us. The shopping is done (whew) and the last of the baking is underway as I write. I’m baking a Finnish syrup bread (a traditional holiday rye bread with syrup and dried orange peels – this recipe is similar to mine) and then my bit (in the kitchen) is done.

The puppy has chewed the cord on our Christmas tree in 5 places so it will have to be replaced for next year. We were really hoping this would be the final one, but Emmy had other ideas. Luckily, the tree was not plugged in while she chewed on the cord.

I know, I know, you are thinking we are awful puppy parents, but I gotta tell you… She was really fast about it, has not chewed on other cords ever, and has enough chew sticks and stuff around that we did not even think this was a thing to watch for.

A hand holding freshly harvested, large orange carrots with muddy tops against a wooden surface. — *Time for folks on the west coast to sow their winter carrots.*

Happy winter solstice… aka, the shortest day of the year. It is all upwards and onwards from here, eh?

Okay, not really. We all know it’s not going to feel like the days are much longer till well into February ; )

If you are on the west coast, don’t forget to sow your winter carrots sometime this week.

Sow as usual.
Make a shallow furrow (one inch), drop in the seeds.
Try to keep them an inch apart as you drop them down.
Cover the seeds with soil.
Walk away. That is it.
You will have fantastic, juicy, tasty, huge carrots in late June or early July. Though, you can harvest earlier, too.

We are in a cold spell, just in time for the holidays. The puppy is hating the cold on her paws and so far does not like any of the booties we have bought or made for her. Anyone have a good brand to recommend for tiny little paws?

Black and white image of a priest and a nun seated at a desk, with a decorated Christmas tree in the background. — *The Bells of St Mary’s is (was) a sweet holiday movie.*

Are you in Christmas mood yet? I am not. I haven’t listened to/heard much for Christmas songs (probably as I have tried to stay out of shops, for the most part). I I have not watched even one Christmas movie/show. As I am of a certain vintage, I tend to prefer the oldies, like White Christmas, The Bells of St Mary’s, It’s a Wonderful Life rather than these Hallmark holiday love stories…

I am hoping that the wrapping while listening to holiday music and drinking some Glühwein will put me in that holiday spirit.

Not Christmassy at all – I did, however, watch the new Clooney movie (snooze fest) and am currently watching Mr Mercedes (so good!), and looking forward to more episodes or Stranger Things on Christmas Day ; )

Okay… here’s what I found for you this week in gardening and homey links.

A cozy living room scene featuring a beige sofa with a floral throw pillow, a coffee table with a pink and green Tradescantia plant, and a tall indoor tree next to a window with blue curtains.

Growing and Caring for Tradescantia Houseplants

No Dig Explained, for Healthier Soil, Fewer Weeds, Bigger Harvests – have you got a half an hour to sit back and listen to Charles tell you how to get rid of those weeds for good? How to grow better carrots? How to improve your soil?

Nicole Salvesen brings a colourful English sensibility to her Alpine chalet – wow, check out the arm chairs, the dining chairs.

A glass display cabinet containing various potted houseplants, with a fan and shelving visible in a green and well-lit indoor space.

This IKEA Hack Turns Cabinets Into Stylish Mini Greenhouses

Watch Florist’s guide to making a Christmas wreath, festive garland & table decorations – this is the most beautiful workshop.

Why Clean Clothes Can Still Smell Bad—and Expert Fixes

The Benefits of Eating an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

The Last Holiday Bits of 2025…

After a bit of searching, I finally found some roses for Christmas. I like to go with roses and tulips or maybe lime green spider mums, but you kind of take what you can get. This year, there were roses… not in any of the colours that I like, so I choose the mixed coloured ones to make into 3 different arrangements.

To keep your roses (or other cut flowers) for a long time, you want to do some prep. Though I am not a florist, I have worked in a flower shop as the ‘help’. The help is the one that preps the flowers when they come in, cleans the flower fridges, and wraps the flowers for taking home. Every once in a while, we get to make some simple bouquets.

Put some water in a large tub or the sink. Add some flower food. If you have time, allow it to sit for a bit before adding the flowers.
Take your flowers out of the wrapping and clean them up. Take off any leaves low down on the stems, anything that will be under water. This will prevent bacteria and keep your flowers happy longer. If your rose thorns have not been trimmed off, take the pruners and cut off the sharp ends. Florists use sharp knives for that, lol, but I just use my small hand pruners.
Then give them a good chop off the bottoms to open them up. I like to take an inch, or two.
Stick them in the water and let them sit for an hour or two, or even overnight.
Get your vases ready – add cool water and a packet of cut flower food.
Cut the stems, on an angle to take up as much water as possible, to the length that you want them to be. You can cut them in the sink, under water, to keep air from entering the stem, but it is not necessary.
Pop them in the vase. They should last you for a week or more.
After the week, remove any stems that are finished, give the good ones a new chop, put fresh water in the vase to get a week or so out of those ones, too.

A beautifully wrapped pink gift box with decorative tags and an ornamental silver ball, set against a snowy white background with festive decorations.

In case you are still wrapping, as we are, here are some free gift tags that you can print out, So many cute kinds, colours, sorts…. I think there are some papers, too? Or wrapping ideas, at any rate.