A Quiet Christmas at Home in Tahoe

The evenings in Tahoe just before Christmas were quiet that year. We had the wood-burning stove going, keeping the place warm against the snow piling up outside. The main tree was lit, casting a glow on the whole room.

I spent a good amount of time just sitting by the fire in my robe, enjoying the stillness. It was one of those simple, perfect moments, watching the flames and feeling the warmth from the stove.

The next morning, the view from the window was just a blanket of white. I'd set up a little Christmas village on the sill, a tiny town looking out on the real winter landscape. There were fresh tracks in the snow, but otherwise, everything was untouched.

We had a couple of trees up that year. Besides the main one, we had a bright white one covered in colorful, old ornaments that really stood out. It felt like a proper, settled-in holiday, just enjoying the quiet before Christmas itself arrived.