Merry Christmas, everyone! However you’re celebrating, I hope you’re able to find the moments of joy.

If you’re looking for some ways to fill today, let me give you a few suggestions, each about an hour:

The String Queens are a D.C. trio and are amazing. They released a holiday EP this year, Our Favorite Things, and have left their album launch on YouTube for your enjoyment.

Ford’s Theatre here in D.C. has converted its annual performance of A Christmas Carol into a radio play (scroll down to the bottom) for the stream, through Jan. 1.

A film version of A Child’s Christmas in Wales was made a few years ago. If you’d like to hear Dylan Thomas read his nostalgic holiday poem, that will only take you 20 minutes.

Wishing you and yours a relaxing, peaceful day.

Three beautiful things from my week past:

1. Our friend Sam and his brother, Alan, share their family kugel recipe with me. It was my favorite dish the years I spent Christmas Eve at their grandparents’ gathering.

2. Rudi’s post-travel COVID test came back negative.

3. Christmas cookies from the farmers market.

How about you? What’s been beautiful in your world lately?