"All of us need all of us to ever find the land"

[mrissa]

 

"Oh you beauty," I said softly to the lussekatter dough when I went to see how it had risen.

It was -8 F when I made the stuff--that's about -22 for you Celsius pals--and the house is chilly and dry. It's thick socks weather, extra lotion weather, hot beverages at every turn weather. It is also apparently weather that my lussekatter love, because I have rarely seen the dough this enthusiastic. I also remembered--I should not admit this to you all, but I will--to put on the egg wash. So they are extra-nice, really. Golden and shiny and just as they should be.

So something in the world is just as it should be.

That's part of why we do this, right? There's so much we can't make right. I can't bring a friend back to life, but I can bring saffrony goodness to another friend, his widow, and help her with a chore. It's good, in the dark times, to reach for the concrete things we can do, and use them as fuel for the harder, less certain things. To light small candles and use them to find our way to the bigger ones.

I have had to give myself extra quiet in this dark time. I've had to leave room to find a little more peace, because I've needed that room, and not giving it to myself wouldn't mean I didn't need it. Compounding grief with cruelty is never the way--even when it's directed at oneself. So--small kindnesses, this year, on the road to bigger ones. For ourselves, and for those we can reach.

Happy Santa Lucia Day.

2023: https://marissalingen.com/blog/?p=3875

2022: https://marissalingen.com/blog/?p=3654

2021: https://marissalingen.com/blog/?p=3366

2020: https://marissalingen.com/blog/?p=2953

2019: https://marissalingen.com/blog/?p=2654

2018: https://marissalingen.com/blog/?p=2376

2017: https://marissalingen.com/blog/?p=1995

2016: https://marissalingen.com/blog/?p=1566

2015: https://marissalingen.com/blog/?p=1141

2014: https://marissalingen.com/blog/?p=659

2013: https://marissalingen.com/blog/?p=260

2012: https://mrissa.dreamwidth.org/840172.html

2011: https://mrissa.dreamwidth.org/796053.html

2010: https://mrissa.dreamwidth.org/749157.html

2009: https://mrissa.dreamwidth.org/686911.html

2008: https://mrissa.dreamwidth.org/594595.html

2007: https://mrissa.dreamwidth.org/2007/12/12/ and https://mrissa.dreamwidth.org/502729.html

2006: https://mrissa.dreamwidth.org/380798.html — the post that started it all! Lots more about the process and my own personal lussekatt philosophy here!

Comments

[anne]

Speaking of things that are as they should be, it's Lussekatter Post Day ❤️

[themagdalen]

Yes.

[lisajulie]

Started mine. But the yeast is sulking. However, the new oven has a “proof” setting, so yay for that.

[mrissa]

Some years the yeast is like that, sympathies. I hope the proofing setting works well!

[lisajulie]

The proof setting is awesome. The yeast eventually took off, I’ve made the lussekatter and they are on their second rise.

[anne]

New oven! 🎉

[sartorias]

Very well said!

[okrablossom]

Thank you for all of this, but especially the second half of "Compounding grief with cruelty is never the way--even when it's directed at oneself."

Sending you all the light I can spare.

[pameladean]

I am so glad they are extra-specially nice.

And I so appreciate every small kindness you have done me over the years, in their multitudes, and am glad that you are extending them to yourself.

P.

[mrissa]

It has literally always been my pleasure.

[pameladean]

<3 <3 <3

[gwynnega]

I am so happy to see this post.

[umadoshi]

Thank you for this, as always. I love this tradition so much.

[thistleingrey]

*lights candle*

[rosefox]

I thought of you as always. I'm glad you had some good things of the day.

[pegkerr]

I cheated and got my lussekatter at Fika Cafe the day before. And then drove across town to BOTH my daughters' homes to deliver so they got lussekatter, too. Fiona has to get up at 5:30 am these days to work and also going to school, and Delia was packing to move, so neither of them were available to bake.

I have no regrets.

[mrissa]

Absolutely no regrets!