Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays my friends!
Today I'm wrapping gifts and waiting for the snow to begin.
My wrapping paper, from that seems-long-ago visit to Home Goods is red and white polka dots, candy canes, and toy trucks.
Wine for friends.
I'm drying orange slices sprinkled with cinnamon today. More to keep the house warm with the oven going than because I want or need this year's popular craft of dried oranges. The house smells nice.
Mo is snoring happily in his bed, hoping I won't make him go out and get his feeties frozen.
No snow so far...a hawk is lazily soaring over the dunes, looking for lunch with no success.
*****************
Since it is such a quiet celebration this year I have time to notice and muse about odd happenings this Covid Christmas of 2020. For instance....
*This week at the store there were no pecans for my snowball cookies. And no cauliflower.
* People aren't sending Christmas cards even though many people are home more this year and should have the time and the desire to reach out. But no. On the other hand, outdoor lights are popular and everyone has a string or two.
*Wreaths are on many doors---but often people are deciding not to ''bother'' with a tree. I'm making do with my little tree
and dreaming of someday again having a BIG Tree again.
*My town is showing outdoor drive in movies all month! Three shows a week, "stay in your car" at an oceanfront park with soccer and cricket fields. Bbbrrr! But I would love to go, how fun. Bring popcorn and a thermos of slightly spiked hot chocolate, blankets and even Mo could come.
*Off topic, the TRUMP flag is still up! Three days after the Electoral College vote. The man was smugly sitting under that flag, with no regard for democracy or our Constitution. And yet, Mo and I later saw another TRUMP flag. We need a local ordinance: NO political signs or flags. Please.
********************
My gift to me is the Pilgrim Landing 400 years ago commemorative fabrics, found on a Black Friday sale. [Judie Rothermel for Marcus Brothers] Not sure what one might make with it, only many-pointed compass rose designs come to mind.
Or maybe just to cherish, important memories and heritage meaning for me---right or wrong, history happened. The fabrics are softly colored with an anachronistic 1830-1850 look about them. There'sm a delightful toile with the Mayflower . plus a map print, lots of ditsies.
Later...as the snow has begun to fall and the wind shakes the old roof tiles and windows of our cozy cottage, I'll leave you with this letter I saw online, a superintendent closed the area schools [W VA] ahead of this storm. I think is is so beautiful, what a kind and thoughtful person this educator must be. And I send similar wishes to you all in this time fear and craziness, in the plague year.
A letter from Dr. Bondy Shay Gibson below:
''Dear Jefferson County Schools Community,
For generations, families have greeted the first snow day of the year with joy. It is a time of renewed wonder at all the beautiful things that each season holds. A reminder of how fleeting a childhood can be. An opportunity to make some memories with your family that you hold on to for life.
For all of these reasons and many more, Jefferson County Schools will be completely closed for tomorrow, Dec. 16, in honor of the 1st snow day of the year. Closed for students closed for virtual. closed for staff. It has been a year of seemingly endless loss and the stress of trying to make up for that loss. For just a moment, we can all let go of the worry of making up for the many things we missed by making sure this is one thing our kids won’t lose this year.
So please, enjoy a day of sledding and hot chocolate and cozy fires. Take pictures of your kids in snow hats they will outgrow by next year and read books that you have wanted to lose yourself in, but haven’t had the time. We will return to the serious and urgent business of growing up on Thursday, but for tomorrow---go build a snowman.''
Sincerely,
Bondy Shay Gibson, Ed.D.
Superintendent
love
lizzy
gone to the beach....
.jpg)
