Baker's heartbeat

That's me and Myla at the Festival of Trees, during Thanksgiving (top); above is  Miss Myla just before Christmas. Myla has a birthday in early January. As the month of December ends so does the traditional holiday season. Have you ever wondered about those who have a birthday during the holidays? It's actually a "thing." December birthdays, for example, are during short days/long nights, with busy-busy seasonal duties high on the list of parental priorities. Children especially report the challenge of getting proper birthday attention when the  event conflicts with Christmas or Thanksgiving. Experts advise: Think about a "half birthday," with perhaps the main party held in June when it's easier to stage an outdoor event. My birthday has been in mid-December now for 62 years so I can offer some insight: 1. It's a challenge to find an appropriate way to celebrate, but this is most critical in school-age children. One time my mother r...

See the new Christmas Train? It plays music, the skaters skate and more! It was the day after Thanksgiving and no decorating had been done for Christmas. Instead, imitation autumn leaves wove along the fireplace mantel while pumpkins, gourds and squash were in full display. This is the background to the shorter-than-usual holiday season, caused by a late Thanksgiving and a stubborn blog author who will NOT start Christmas decorating until after a truly American holiday. By now, the Baker home has been decorated, gifts wrapped, cards mailed, and the last-minute preparations are set to launch. It's Christmas in Baker-land and thank goodness for that. It is a year when the family is all going to be present on Christmas, including the days before and after Dec. 25. We'll celebrate in Baker family fashion amid the glitter, ribbons and bows. The Christmas Spirit was re-ignited with the help of a new baby, to Kirstin and Gage Rodewald. "Miss Myla," celebrates he...

Brad and Heather Fox during their show "Stay or Sell" on HGTV The first time I used our treadmill -- 11 years ago -- I listened to a podcast through ear buds and watched an NBA basketball team in action. In those days I had a full-time career, a hubby who dislikes pro basketball, and determination to lose some weight. Hence the decisions on what to watch while working out .... Fast-forward to current day, and it's clear I'm now addicted to Home & Garden, or HG, TV. That's HGTV for the uninitiated, and the cable channel has just celebrated its 25th anniversary. This avid gardener (my blog on gardening is gardensirencall.blogspot.com) also loves to decorate in the home, especially during the holidays. To add allure: The show, "Stay or Sell" (https://www.hgtv.com/shows/stay-or-sell) debuted in late August and is produced in my native Minneapolis. I can dream about early childhood memories while watching Heather and Brad Fox turn homes like ...