“Freshly cut Christmas trees smelling of stars and snow and pine resin – inhale deeply and fill your soul with wintry night.”
This morning is frosty. My car windows are covered in rime. The icy leaves on the ground make a crinkling sound when the dogs run in the backyard. Their fur is cold when they come back inside the house. It is a winter morning.
Today I have an empty dance card, but it is filled for the rest of the week. I’m missing my sloth days, the days of staying in my cozies, taking an afternoon naps and watching Hallmark Christmas movies even though I know all the plots.
Nala doesn’t just bring the inside out. She is now bringing the outside in. Just a bit ago she dragged pine branches through the dog door. Leaves, still attached to those branches, were all over the living room floor. She doesn’t just strew the leaves. She also chews the branches. Small bits of wet, chewed bark are on the hall rug. Nala is a pip.
My father used to say, “He’s a good egg.” That was quite the compliment. My sister says it every now and then as a homage to my father. That always makes me smile. When I’d visit my parents and sleep late, my mother used to say, “You must have needed it.” We still say that with my mother in mind. So much stays with us.
Of all holidays, it is Christmas which carries the most memories. We keep family traditions and add some of our own. The trees of my childhood were decorated with the same ornaments each year. Some of those are on my Christmas tree. My mother even sent a few to Ghana. They were my connections to home on my first Christmas ever spent away from home. They were on the small tree in my house, also sent by my mother, and on the school’s Christmas tree in the dining hall during the Christmas assembly. I have a picture of that tree with a gingerbread man hanging off a branch. The last time I had seen that gingerbread man was on the family tree in the corner of my parents’ living room.
It is time to get my tree, to fill my house with Christmas.
Explore posts in the same categories: Musings
December 5, 2022 at 6:51 pm
Hi Kat,
Wow, when I left my office for home this afternoon the temperature hit 82°. I don’t know if it’s a record for early December or not. When it was 50° this morning I dressed in layers. Tomorrow is forecasted to only reach a high of 75°. I’m sure the winter winds are not that far off. 🙂
Your dog Nala, is a genuine character. Who would ever think a dog would find enjoyment chewing on pine branches. Yuk! I had an uncle Harry, who made a living in the junk business. Maybe your dog thinks she’s in the scrap wood business. Have you ever thought to list all of the stuff she has either dragged inside or dragged outside? 🙂 Maybe she will try to drag your Christmas tree out through your doggie door. Good luck!
Last night we ventured out with my daughter to look at Christmas lights. My spouse and daughter enjoy the variety of seeing all the different decorations. I think you see one set of lights, you’ve seen them all. 🙂
Later this month we will bring her out to look at the lights in our area. Last year a neighbor’s house was an illuminated cornucopia of lights, music, and a moving light show. While we were enjoying the show, a producer from the ABC affiliate, WFAA TV, interviewed my daughter about how much she liked the display. She was on the news that evening for about 10 seconds. I’ve told her the news folks probably won’t be back again this year at that house.
December 5, 2022 at 7:43 pm
Hi Bob,
Wow, we don’t even that high in summer until August. We figure a day in the high 40’s without a wind is a warm day. Layers at 50? We reserve wearing layers for low 40’s or high 30’s. Poor baby! Only 75°?
Nala is a character. I heard her trying to drag scrunched up paper bags through the dog door. She left them when I appeared. I need to do another trash clean-up in the back yard. She was carrying a plastic bag around the yard this morning.
I disagree. Lights are unique to each house or yard. Even the light bulbs are different. The LED ones are easy to see. They have a weird light. I got hold of my factotum’s wife today. She’ll pass along I need him to do decorating.
That is cool your daughter got interviewed for TV. Your neighbors house sounds wonderful. it reminds me of one in the next town over. They even have a TV out front showing Christmas movies.
December 5, 2022 at 11:22 pm
We set a record of 81°. Hasn’t been this warm this day since 1954. BTW the foliage this year is outstanding.
December 6, 2022 at 9:45 am
I never thought foliage would be around this late in the year. You must have had some cold nights for it to be outstanding. I love foliage rides.
That is just so hot for anytime of year let alone almost winter.
December 5, 2022 at 7:14 pm
Hi Kay
We’re now approaching mid-Xmastide (tonight’s sunset marks the earliest sunset- we begin to move North again!) I thought you might enjoy having in your repertoire a Martha’s Vineyard Xmas song
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C-SbqHjqNsk
December 5, 2022 at 7:55 pm
Hi J,
I love that you found one from Martha’s Vineyard. The ocean is spectacular, and the tree getting brighter as the night got darker was beautiful. His voice was perfect for the setting.
Thanks!
December 5, 2022 at 8:05 pm
Hi Kay
Two typos…Kay= Kay and M=J!
December 5, 2022 at 8:27 pm
I figured this was a comment from someone new who wasn’t quite sure of my name. I corrected my M, but I can’t correct yours. I’m okay with Kay!