The holidays are simpler now than they used to be -- I'm grateful for that. I have a few lit garlands in my home, but no tree. This time of year I like to remind myself of the Persephone myth; her descent into the dark and her ascent at the Solstice. The solstice is the 21st and the days will start getting longer and lighter. I celebrate the lights -- the twinkling lights of hope and joy; the light of love; and the light of giving and grace. May you have some "sweet and cozy" to accompany you through the season.
Today, we have a picture-perfect dusting of snow falling, and Christmas music playing on the kitchen speaker. I'm almost feeling festive as I clean and bake in preparation for our sons coming to visit next week. That seems quite sweet and cozy.
I haven't decorated for 3 years now. I really want to, but just don't have the energy to spend on it. As we get older (and we're by no means old, but some days I sure do feel it!), the travel to visit both my family and my husband's family is certainly starting to take a toll on us. Flying 3 times within 2 weeks is just getting exhausting, but we feel the pressure to continue making the trip to both places each year, some from our families, some just from us in wanting to see family, some who we don't know how much longer we have with them. I did not bake this year either. Although your cookies look delicious and make me want to so I can eat them! But running out of time very quickly as our flights approach! Maybe I'll do some after Christmas, Christmas baking.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. All the best in the new year!
I gave up on Christmas a few years ago, when all three of my stepchildren and one of their spouses showed up at our place 3 hours late for a Christmas dinner with 11 other people. No explanation other than they stayed too long at my step-daughter's mother-in-laws and didn't apparently even think it was necessary to tell us they would be several hours late and to go ahead without them.
While waiting, and with everything ready to go, we prepared a plate for my 90 something year old father who lived with us so he could have Christmas dinner before he went to bed. The rest of us ate dried out turkey with all the overcooked fixings at 9:00 pm when my step-children finally honoured us with their presence.
The next day, I took the tree down and dragged it to the curb, and put away all vestiges of Christmas and have never put them back up. I can show you a photo of our living room from July and one from today. Except for the change in the orchid, they look identical.
Oh goodness, that sounds dreadful! Historically, those late for dinner in my family have to make do with scraps after everyone else ate on time. You were gracious to wait for them while they were not so gracious with your time.
Talk about timely! I just finished my newspaper column about how I am not decorating this year! We will be traveling over the holidays and neither of our kids will be with us on Christmas Day. I decided not to bring one bit of decor out as we’ll be leaving a few days before Christmas.. my husband and I also decided not to exchange gifts this year - and we are both thrilled with the decision. We will celebrate with each of our children early and separately - but I’m kind of relieved to not have the big production. Instead, I’ll entertain a few neighbors on Christmas Day - all single ladies - and we’ll have a grand old time. Merry Christmas to you. Your cookies make me want to bake.
Merry Christmas to you also! A low-effort holiday sounds perfect. So long as everyone enjoys their time together, what does it matter if there are bows and tinsel? But cookies are a must!
The holidays are simpler now than they used to be -- I'm grateful for that. I have a few lit garlands in my home, but no tree. This time of year I like to remind myself of the Persephone myth; her descent into the dark and her ascent at the Solstice. The solstice is the 21st and the days will start getting longer and lighter. I celebrate the lights -- the twinkling lights of hope and joy; the light of love; and the light of giving and grace. May you have some "sweet and cozy" to accompany you through the season.
Today, we have a picture-perfect dusting of snow falling, and Christmas music playing on the kitchen speaker. I'm almost feeling festive as I clean and bake in preparation for our sons coming to visit next week. That seems quite sweet and cozy.
Lovely (and lovely that someone else did the work!)
I haven't decorated for 3 years now. I really want to, but just don't have the energy to spend on it. As we get older (and we're by no means old, but some days I sure do feel it!), the travel to visit both my family and my husband's family is certainly starting to take a toll on us. Flying 3 times within 2 weeks is just getting exhausting, but we feel the pressure to continue making the trip to both places each year, some from our families, some just from us in wanting to see family, some who we don't know how much longer we have with them. I did not bake this year either. Although your cookies look delicious and make me want to so I can eat them! But running out of time very quickly as our flights approach! Maybe I'll do some after Christmas, Christmas baking.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. All the best in the new year!
I gave up on Christmas a few years ago, when all three of my stepchildren and one of their spouses showed up at our place 3 hours late for a Christmas dinner with 11 other people. No explanation other than they stayed too long at my step-daughter's mother-in-laws and didn't apparently even think it was necessary to tell us they would be several hours late and to go ahead without them.
While waiting, and with everything ready to go, we prepared a plate for my 90 something year old father who lived with us so he could have Christmas dinner before he went to bed. The rest of us ate dried out turkey with all the overcooked fixings at 9:00 pm when my step-children finally honoured us with their presence.
The next day, I took the tree down and dragged it to the curb, and put away all vestiges of Christmas and have never put them back up. I can show you a photo of our living room from July and one from today. Except for the change in the orchid, they look identical.
Bah Humbug.
Oh goodness, that sounds dreadful! Historically, those late for dinner in my family have to make do with scraps after everyone else ate on time. You were gracious to wait for them while they were not so gracious with your time.
Talk about timely! I just finished my newspaper column about how I am not decorating this year! We will be traveling over the holidays and neither of our kids will be with us on Christmas Day. I decided not to bring one bit of decor out as we’ll be leaving a few days before Christmas.. my husband and I also decided not to exchange gifts this year - and we are both thrilled with the decision. We will celebrate with each of our children early and separately - but I’m kind of relieved to not have the big production. Instead, I’ll entertain a few neighbors on Christmas Day - all single ladies - and we’ll have a grand old time. Merry Christmas to you. Your cookies make me want to bake.
Merry Christmas to you also! A low-effort holiday sounds perfect. So long as everyone enjoys their time together, what does it matter if there are bows and tinsel? But cookies are a must!