A Place Like This

Author: Valarie Budayr

  • Our Friendly Neighbors to the Sunny North

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    by

    Valarie Budayr
    in

    Usually this time of year sees me baking like a fiend. It has had to be postponed due to the fact that we're heading to Montreal to be with our family and friends for the holidays. We're travelling today but we'll be back soon with views from beautiful Montreal Canada., which no doubt, will share…

  • My Favorite Christmas Memory: I’m in the Book!

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    by

    Valarie Budayr
    in ,

      As an official co-author of The Gratitude Book Project: My Favorite Christmas Memory, I want to share my appreciation with you!    I was so excited to take part in this book. It happily extends my gratitude practice through my love of writing while remembering my familie's traditions. Yesterday we celebrated the Swedish/Scandinavian tradition…

  • Happy St. Lucia Day

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    Valarie Budayr
    in

    Today a lovely maident with a crown of candles in her hair brings light, song, and sweets during the darkest time of the year. We are celebrating with our Rhythm of the Home family today. Please come and join us. photo from Image Swedebank

  • Woven

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    Valarie Budayr
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      It begins with each one of us just being who we are. Bringing ourselves, our knowledge, and our passions.     It starts simply. A comment on a blog leads to a daily visit, a recipe shared, a book recommended, and knitting along through the seasons until……….   Days have turned into weeks, months,…

  • The Wand-maker’s Apprentice

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    Valarie Budayr
    in

    This summer I bought three distinctively different wooden wands, one for each child. I thought they would be the perfect gift, even for my big girls. The kids were thrilled !!! Little 'O' thrilled like his sisters had many questions.  "Where did you find these?" he asked. "I went to the wand-maker. Where else would…

  • On This Second Day of December: Bookended

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    Valarie Budayr
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    On this second day of December there is a thick frost on the ground which  makes me think of sitting by a nice fire reading. Though there are many special books I could recommend, today I'll share a couple of things I wouldn't want you to miss. The most important is that one lucky family…

  • This First Day in December

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    Valarie Budayr
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    Here we are, the first day in December. I always love this day because it sort of gives us permission. Permission to go inside and get cozy. To make and drink the best cups of coffee. Oh and of course eat the most wonderful sweets. To light the dark in a magical sort of way.…

  • Feasting

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    Valarie Budayr
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    We cooked for two days. Ruth , Susie, and I did our usual "day before Thanksgiving" cooking marathon. It's a good thing we cooked so much because a whole bunch of hungry people showed up. As the time of feasting approached everyone took their usual preparatory places. Barry carved the turkey. Larry mashed the potatoes.…

  • Music to Prepare By

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    by

    Valarie Budayr
    in

    Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays. Way back in August I was feeling a little blue about the fact that so many of our children were going off to college and we anticipated that many of them would be missing this year. ………NOT. They all made the greatest effort to get here and we…

  • Mrs. Fox Aboard the Constitution

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    Valarie Budayr
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    The boy had waited a lifetime. His grandfather was a master model tallship builder. His version of the Constitution sits above my television and all young "O" could think of was the day that he would see the "real" ship for himself. Did his grandpa get it right? Is it as big as he imagined?…