A Place Like This

Valarie Budayr

  • Celebration Pie

    Last Thursday was the last day of school for the semester. Mimi, myself,aunt Susie and cousins Ethan and Seth went out for a favorite lunch to just pass the time. As we were eating, text messages started to float in… Continue reading

  • Enchanted Visions

      I wish I could report that all is well here but the truth is that little "o" and I have been very sick with the flu over the weekend. We've been lying flat on our backs feeling miserable. Today I… Continue reading

  • Gnome Week: Rounds and a Winner

    Packed in their back packs or loaded on their sleighs , the gnomes head out into the cold loudly singing their holiday tunes. Together they search for animals who may be having trouble getting through the winter. All the animals know… Continue reading

  • A Gnome’s Holiday Table

      Being nocturnal, gnome’s always come at night leaving for us beautiful round tins filled with one-ders, wishing cookies, and lokum. As we meet nightly for stories, games, and playing music, we most definitely work up an appetite and these… Continue reading

  • Gnome Week: Game Day

    ~ Now the night is nigh its noon     Nimble gnomes beneath the moon ~       It is a winter's evening and there is much time to be together.  All in one place, we have listened to our… Continue reading

  • Gnome Week:A-Gathering and A Giveaway

        During this festive time of year, gnome's and their homes ring out with the sounds of songs,games,  dancing,joking,and stories. To ensure that those who they watch over will also take part,they leave for us on the Sunday after Thanksgiving… Continue reading

  • Gnome Week,Day 1: “Make Magic”

    It is not an uncommon practice in Scandinavian countries to talk about the "gnomes" around us. These tales are usually propagated by loving and doting grand-parents. Mine were no exception, and so it was that we would hear of our… Continue reading

  • Lucia Madness

    Greetings friends. I have not seen my way clear yet today. We are getting ready for Lucia on Sunday and there is always a million things to get done. Top on the list is making LusseKattor,better known as saffron buns.… Continue reading

  • Mormor’s Chocolate Cake Cookies

    Every year a well stuffed box, wrapped in brown paper, would arrive at our home from Gotland Sweden,just days before Christmas. In it were lovely knitted items and my grandmother's (mormor) famous chocolate cake cookies. Mom would immediately grab the… Continue reading

  • First Snow

    One can always tell when winter is coming here. Our local weather people start threatening us with "could be" snow. Usually it never comes. This time it did.   It was early morning and I could see the snow falling… Continue reading