trying new things

Instead of setting New Year’s resolutions, which I gave up on decades ago, choosing goals or a focus word, I decided to try something I had never heard about. Rauhnächte. Have you heard of it?

"The Rauhnächte (Mystic Nights) are a period of 12 holy nights between Christmas and Epiphany (Dec 25th - Jan 6th) in ancient Germanic/Celtic traditions, seen as a time when the veil between worlds is thin, perfect for introspection, setting intentions, and spiritual cleansing to prepare for the new year. Rituals include smoke-cleansing homes to banish spirits, reflecting on the past year, and a popular "13 Wishes" practice where one wish is burned nightly, leaving the 13th as a guiding intention for the year ahead." 

From what I've read, start and end dates vary. Is the 13th wish chosen by that which we cannot see, or by pure chance? You decide.
 

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On December 24th, I wrote 13 wishes on paper and chose them one by one without looking. I tossed wishes into the fire place each night, starting the 25th. One by one my wishes went up in flame. Poof!!

13 days is a long time to wait and wonder. It felt kinda weird. Am I dismissing 12 wishes forever-n-ever-n-ever? I sure hope not. I truly hope by participating in Rauhnächte that I did not open up my world to weirdness. According to my friend Google the Mystic Nights are also celebrated by Pagen, and probably others. Like me, who are not German/Celtic/Pagen. I can't even pronounce "ROW-na-tek-teh"!! Translated from German as "Rough Nights". Also known as "Twelve Nights". I did not smudge my house, nor burn incense or do any other related rituals. Of which there are many.

January 6th finally arrived. A familiar notable date. I grew up celebrating Dia de Los Reyes Magos (aka Three Kings Day) on January 6th in a much different way. That is another story.

Are you curious what my remaining wish to focus on this year is??!? I was too!

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wait for it

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wait for it

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the first wish I wrote down!

I was completely stunned!! I am still stunned. How in the heckle bejeckle did this happen? I mean, my first wish made it though to the end? 2026 is the Year of the Horse and my wish is about horses. I recently received the book Sacred Spaces and a beautiful Horse Journal from Linda, to help me along my way. Did I mention my first wish remained?! Jaw Drop.

Looks like it is up to me to make my chosen wish happen. Next month, it will be two years since I was on a horse. Nemo and I walked around the arena briefly, maybe 5-10 minutes.

me and Nemo

2.3.24

You gotta believe. 

land of wonders ~ december

December on Hidden Cactus Ranch started out much like November closed out. With snow, happy dogs, and snow shoe walks.

 

Tankee 12.1.25

Tank, Remi and Jameson

12.2.25

snow much fun (6X in December)

a snowy porcupine

Nemo is always concerned about my poles

12.3.25

Nemo (22 secs)

Grand dog Jameson turned a corner and is holding his own for now. He is on a raw dog food diet, and a couple meds. He has gotten so skinny. On cold and windy days, I put our old dog Sam's winter coat on Jameson (clipped up).

Heading down to the pines (18 secs)
12.5.25

Our weather turned cold(er) and we didn't go out on walks. I just can't leave J behind. 

Jameson on his fav bed
12.7.25

While flying high in the sky on our way to Vegas, I enjoyed different land views.

Brad said these are crop circle patterns
12.10.25

mountain view from Denver airport

I was in awe of the detailed texture, patterns and rich colors of the desert.

Nevada

It was below zero when we returned from vacationing. Purr was not amused.

12.14.25

A welcome return to gorgeous land sunset views...

close-up

...and more snow shoe walks.

12.16.25

whispy clouds

ground fog 12.18.25

Having recently returned from NFR Cowboy Christmas, we thought it was ironic when this swag bag arrived from Snake River Farms. Brad occasionally orders specialty meat from SRF.

As long as I am off the land topic, I wanted to share an updated photo of my most treasured plant. You may recall the Christmas Cactus I have had since I was 17. It was temporarily relocated to our bedroom in order to have space for a Christmas Tree. It is now 54" wide!

For a couple days, our land wasn't so wonderful. We had wild high winds and warmer temps. It melted and turned our snow into messy slush. What I call ugly snow. 

Jameson's mom took him to her new home for a few days. It had been a minute since it was safe to be in our woods. It felt odd to walk them with only one dog.

12.22.25

mother natures pruning

There were tons of deer tracks all over our woods. As if they held a dance party during my absence. Have you ever noticed some melting deer tracks turn into heart shapes? Beauty can be found in every situation. If you are open to it. I found so many heart shapes!

follow your heart

After Christmas Eve with our family at home and Christmas Day at Brad's parents, we welcomed the stillness of natures fog.

Cierra 12.26.25

We enjoyed a shorter slushy walk in our Enchanted Woods area, after the fog lifted.

Leo and Jameson

Hope & Harmony waiting to come inside
12.26.25

The closing of December was sparkly. Sparkles were literally blowing sideways past our windows. Glimmering reflective light crystals are one of the hardest things to capture. Much prettier than the video clip.

flying sparkles (7 secs)

On our last walk of the year, we found the winds had helped Mother Nature do some tree trimming in our woods. 

A large oak tree with a split had shifted. It needs to either finally fall, or get cut down. Which I understand is a tricky tree situation. I've been watching this tree get increasingly dangerous for years. The split is now complete and reaches the ground. The left arrow points to the trunk split. The arrow on the right points to a large hung up tree sized branch. Waiting to fall on someone’s head. It will not be mine, or our dogs. We turned around and will refrain from walking that part of our Y path. 

big two-trunk tree 12.30.25



little down branches

 

big down tree

Our grand dog Remi is a Bernese Mountain Dog that upon occasion goes rouge on our walks. She is very (very) routine oriented and stubborn. See the black dot at the bottom of the field, near the tree line below? We were going to walk the Western part of our property, but she likes to head north to the pines. So she did. By herself. I looked up from putting my trackers on my boots, and I couldn't believe where she was. Wow, that dog covers ground like a ranch dog!

In order to get Remi to stop, I hollered. Pretty sure they heard me in town. She plopped down to wait for us, as she often does. Sigh. I don't need her walking the woods alone. Remi might look like a bear with a big bark, but is fairly helpless. Although she might lick you to death.

12.31.25

see, Remi’s drop-n-plop

12.31.25

This my friends closes out not only December, but 2025 land of wonders. Onward.

New Year wishes

Wishing each of you a Healthy & Happy New Year!!

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2025 seasonal card



inside stamped sentiment



back of card

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Thank you all, for your continued Blogger friendships! I love reading, learning and interacting with each of you!! 2026 is going to be a great year. If I say it enough, it could happen LOL!

I look forward to unfolding, unpacking and letting go of that which feels heavy. Another year of sharing and caring, learning, reconnecting and expanding horizons.

All my best to you for 2026!!