Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Here at Val in Real Life HQ, our winter holidays are low-key. We like to celebrate the season in our own simple way, outside of the hype.
What that looks like varies a bit from year-to-year. Especially since going on the road and riding the roller coaster that eventually landed us in New Mexico. Before that chaos though, one of my favorite holiday memories is the first time I harvested a wild tree in Nevada.
It’s fairly straight-forward to get a permit from the Bureau of Land Management and head into the desert to pick a tree to bring home. But the process of going into the wild to find, cut, and bring the tree home was more purposeful and thoughtful than my previous experiences of heading to a tree lot. It felt richer.
On this day, the desert was still and quiet after the soft overnight snow. Calm. Peaceful. We took our time selecting a handsome tree and enjoyed the rugged beauty of winter in the desert. It was magical.
These days we’re chronically over-extended with work. So I often neglect to capture these moments I want to remember forever and not trust only to memory. You’d probably think it comes as second nature to me. Not so much these days.
This little trip down memory lane is my reminder heading into the new year to take more time for capturing these moments.
Happy New Year, friends! Let’s see what 2026 has to offer.
Bluesky Art Show
This post is inspired by the Bluesky Art Show, a challenge to share artwork surrounding a weekly theme each Saturday.
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