We’ve continued to have snow a few times a week—mostly overnight— and not more than a few inches at a shot. It’s beginning to add up. The Northern Lights are back but not bright and spectacular. Hopefully that’ll come. The snow isn’t deep enough yet for good skiing, but it’s great for cutting firewood. So I head up to Finley Lane most days and put in a few hours. Because I’m primarily harvesting small diameter trees, most of the work can be done with hand tools, not all that dangerous and lots of time to reflect on the amazing experience of being alive.

I never liked the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas ” so I’ve been working on a new Wassail-centric version. After all, Wassail is traditionally celebrated on The Twelfth Night. Here’s my rough draft. Maybe you have some suggestions. If so, please submit! We have about 11 months to finalize.

On the twelfth day of Wassail, my true love gave to me:

Sun descending over Finley Lane, January 2026

Twelve fires burning

Eleven neighbors singing

Ten friends a-laughing

Nine children sledding

Eight couples dancing

Seven poems for reading

Six toasts for toasting

FIVE CIDER KEGS

Fo-ur everyone

a Three-handled cup

Two celebrate

And a bowl of cider from our apple trees!!