Today was our first snow accumulation. It always makes you feel more like ‘Christmas’ when there is a light dusting of snow.
My narcissus in the window is starting to bloom. It is sooner than I thought, but not less welcome for that. The stalks grew up quite tall in my southern window shelf, but very strong and firmly rooted among the rocks in the glass. Growing forced winter bulbs is easy and quite satisfactory. I might try to get some more kits during and after Christmas season; I think I would like one or two in my bedroom window. It’s like having an elegant fresh flower arrangement.
Our tree is fully decorated and fills the rooms with balsam fir aroma, we keep topping up the water in the base and found the tree preservative, which usually has good results in needle retention time. If I find a really cheap one I might buy a very small cut tree for the front porch- haven’t decided yet. Of course that would mean buying outdoor quality things to decorate it…. so I don’t know if I want to do that this year. Haven’t sent cards or done much gift shopping yet, and I really ought to be on top of those two activities. I am just slow this year, but I haven’t obsessed about it, I figure it is some of my response to this being the time last year that I lost my father. So I try to take it easy on myself.
I figure if everyone has one gift that shows I care for them, and I can be calm and loving throughout the season that will be the best and happiest Christmas celebration for everyone. Frantic really does not do justice to the beautiful remembrance of how Jesus entered our world and began His good news message. Serene and peaceful is much more in tune with the quiet gratefulness that wells up at the thought.
