In this 256th Episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, your host Tommy Cakes is kicking off the New Year about Lessons Learned from Our 2025 Holiday Season. This will include my birthday, the holidays, the new backyard bird sanctuary project and what’s on tap for the coming year.
Grab a drinky drink and pull up a chair by the fire. It’s cold out there! So, I am curious: how did your holiday season work out?
- Was it the magical and idyllic Christmas that is the stuff of legends and Hallmark movies?
- Was it more like “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” crossed with “Christmas Vacation” where the world, car and tree are on fire, the turkey is bone dry and the dog is rummaging through the garbage as the dishes and disasters stack on top of it all?
We have been there and done both kinds of Holiday Seasons, and there is usually more lessons learned from the raging dumpster fire rather than when everything works out like a Hallmark movie.
This year we had a different kind of 2025 Holiday Season. We had guests, we had travel, we stayed with some strangers (who were super nice), we raced storms and entertained family and friends. There were some Lessons Learned from our 2025 Holiday Season, so we should talk about them. Some things were great, some were meh and some won’t be repeated again.
Not to sound like a total movie guy, but it was a bit of “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” this season.
Let’s talk about it as we learn, do, grow and be a little better everyday!
What Are We Discussing Today?
In this episode, we are discussing and reflecting on the following topics today:
- Happy Birthday Tommy Cakes – It’s my birthday on January 2nd!
- Happy Birthday Small Scale Life Podcast – It’s the Podcast’s 10th Birthday on January 1st!
- Lessons Learned from Our 2025 Holiday Season (Winter Equinox, Yule, Christmas and New Years)
- NEW: Backyard Bird Sanctuary Project
- What’s Coming in 2025
What are your Lessons Learned from the 2025 Holiday Season?
Food for thought:
- How did our Lessons Learned from the 2025 Holiday Season resonate with you?
- Did you have a great Holiday Season or did things get messy?
- What could you have done to improve on the flow and outcome of the 2025 Holiday Season?
Sometimes the best answer isn’t the easiest things to do. We get that completely. As we say here often: we need to learn by doing, and that is how we grow. We aren’t going to have endless sunshine, unicorns and rainbows. Sometimes things go sideways, but if we take the time, there probably is a lesson in there somewhere. It can even be….”Screw that! I am never going to do X or be with Y or think Z again!”
It’s ok to NOT be ok; we just need to learn from the event or issue and do better next time when it comes our way. And trust me…something like it WILL swing back around again. The Universe has a way of testing us time and time again to see if we ACTUALLY learned those lessons.
If we fail, don’t worry, we will be tested again.
What is on your 2026 Agenda?
Before we get too far down the road in 2026, I am curious:
What’s on your agenda this year? What do you want to accomplish?
Are you:
- Looking to lose some extra pounds? We have the “Renew You” program and have done the Whole30 Challenge a few times
- Looking to save some money? We have some budgeting tools and shows that can help.
- How about starting that garden? We have some shows that can help you.
- Have you thought about being a more kind, gentle person? Perhaps starting a gratitude practice can help with that effort.
We have done a lot of shows over the past 10 years and explored a lot of topics. Check out our Archive Page for a list of shows, and you can always hit that search bar. There is a lot of material squirreled away here, and if you take a look, you’ll find something that might work for you.
Feel free to email us at realsmallscalelife@gmail.com and let us know what you are working on OR to ask questions. We are always happy to connect with folks and strike up a conversation.
Listen to this Episode!
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Slow Down this Season; Why Not Feed Your Birds?
Recently I recorded a show about the Slow Down Season. We are running around so much in “eternal summer” state of mind, we miss what is happening around us. We miss the simple beauty in our backyards, and it is amazing what happens when we slow down, observe and connect with Nature.
For instance, with our Backyard Bird Sanctuary project, we are attracting all kinds of birds to our backyard. There are some birds that visit that I have never seen before (ie, bluebirds, Eastern Phoebes and yellow rumped warblers). It is amazing, and we are just entering our 4th year here. We are creating something special, and a big part of this story is our high qaulity, small batch, homemade bird seed and suet creations.
I am offering “the good stuff” at the Tommy Cakes Seed Etsy Shop, and you can find all kinds of seed and suet products there that bring the birds in and keep them coming back for more. You have tried the rest (from the Big Box Store that is full of corn, millet and lard), but maybe you should try…the best. Try the power bars, cakes, cylinders and seed from Tommy Cakes Seed; your birds will thank you for it!
So will I!
We ship in the United States
Sorry folks overseas or in other countries. We don’t ship to you.
About Small Scale Life
Small Scale Life is about gardening, homesteading, wellness, simple living, and creating a more intentional life — one small step at a time. Wherever you are in your journey, you can begin right where you are.
You can find Small Scale Life in the following places:
Disclaimer
At Small Scale Life, we are not medical professionals, doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, or therapists. We are not in or connected to the medical community. Always consult a professional before trying any of these activities or any practice. Create and live your Small Scale Life as you choose, but do it carefully.
Any actions you participate in are voluntary and at your own risk.
Special Thanks
For Small Scale Life Podcasts, I would like to thank Sean at Osi and the Jupiter for the intro song “Harvest.” Sean wrote this specifically for us, and I really enjoy all of his work. You can find more Osi and the Jupiter at their Bandcamp site: https://osifolk.bandcamp.com/
I would also like to thank Austin Quinn at Vlog Vibes for the intro and outro music. For more information abut Austin and Vlog Vibes, please see the Vlog Vibes YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY80LeqtJf-YBzJy2TWKpDw
In Closing….
From the North to the South
From the East to the West and
Everywhere in between.
May the gods, spirits and folk
Be blessed at this place.
May we heal the land and
Protect the soil, animals and plants.
May we live in strength and love.
Leading the Way
As we learn, do grow and
Be a little better everyday!
This is Tom from the Small Scale Life Podcast.
Have a great week!
We’ll get together soon to have another conversation and have a few laughs. In the meantime, stay safe and take care everybody!