my favorite time of the year – robin maderich – write-brained scribbler and crafter-on-the-loose

And So, It Begins

(Jeez, I didn’t realize a certain repulsive had made this same comment about something else entirely right when I was putting up this blog post. Believe me, separate topic and no connection.) Well, it’s November. Officially the start of the holiday season (for me, anyway). I have plans. Lots of them. Always do. The onlyContinueContinue reading “And So, It Begins”

Christmas in July, anyone?

Christmas in July. Some folks scoff at it, but those of us who recognize the early draw to the upcoming holidays revel in these days when we start readying for and looking ahead to the Christmas season—despite the awful heat. Stores take advantage of “Christmas in July” by touting sales, but what we early birdsContinueContinue reading “Christmas in July, anyone?”

Christmas thoughts in May

Anyone who’s read less than half my blogs will still recognize how much I love the Christmas holidays. It’s May now. May 22nd, to be exact, and the temperature at 12:06 is still 49 degrees. I’m debating with myself as my fingers grow chill and I put tights on under my sweats, whether I shouldContinueContinue reading “Christmas thoughts in May”

Crafting with little hands

My kids are all grown and I have fur-baby grandkids. As for the latter, their lack of opposable thumbs means I can’t do Christmas crafting with them. However, for those of you who do have children around at the holiday season, I found this Good Housekeeping article with 50 Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids. SomeContinueContinue reading “Crafting with little hands”

Christmas Tree Advent Calendar

I may have mentioned elsewhere that I love to craft. I used to try selling my crafts on Etsy, but because I love to do so many things I really didn’t have the focus I needed for my shop. One of these days, I might just pick one and get back to it, but inContinueContinue reading “Christmas Tree Advent Calendar”

What the Dickens.

This isn’t actually a blog about Dickens, although, yes, I love his works. At least all that I have read. This blog is about a particular gift I received. My youngest son’s fiancée, Lauren, gave me a beautiful wooden advent calendar several years back. The days leading up to Christmas are numbered on the frontContinueContinue reading “What the Dickens.”

‘Tis the season

I know, Christmas is still more than a week away. However, I made my video greeting a little early and posted it on YouTube, am getting ready to post it on Facebook shortly, and I have embedded it above. The video is (subtly, I think?) about how special Christmas is to me and for allContinueContinue reading “‘Tis the season”

Holiday “feels,” anyone?

It’s that time of year and, as an author, I do have to try to sell my books, but it’s much more than a monetary thing. I believe in these stories and their ability to lift the spirits, and that’s what the holidays are all about, yes? https://youtu.be/9XZMlxpU4nM?si=Wihh89p9AV27-MzM Connor Falls Christmas is a family-friendly–indeed, family-oriented–seriesContinueContinue reading “Holiday “feels,” anyone?”

Off to a quirky start

Okay, I did make a list of my ten favorite Christmas movies last year (wait…no, it was 2020! WHAT?), but I’m starting off with a different bunch in 2023. I will, however, leave a link to my former list below, just in case you are mildly curious, or need a little inspiration. So far, I’veContinueContinue reading “Off to a quirky start”

Make this lovely wreath!

This is one of the simplest wreaths I’ve made (especially since I make ones from real greens closer to the holidays), but I absolutely love it. The grapevine wreath I used is 30 inches across, but you don’t need to go that big. This project can be made with grapevine wreaths of any dimension, asContinueContinue reading “Make this lovely wreath!”