It’s Christmas Eve
– and we wait, remembering the coming of the Light.
Content
…or, “how I’m feeling right now” 🙂
We’re on a mad dash to Christmas, although most things are bought or done. There’s just the cleaning, and a visit to the markets, to go.
I am feeling contentment, looking round at all the beautiful things around me.
This time last year, we had pretty much put Christmas (at least the glitzy trappings) on hold. We were unsure of the future, and maybe a bit tired…
This year, we are settled, and with more space than I could have dreamed of last year.
Wandering around the place this morning, it struck me that this vast, weedy garden of ours has provided gifts I knew I wanted, but didn’t think to ask for.
I have wanted roses for a long time, but I’m not much good at plants until they’re fairly well established (and able to look after themselves to a large extent). Here, there are at least five rose bushes, in various sizes, from my big, prolific rose bush at the back –
…to the little, straggly plant at the front, which I can see is a miniature rose bush!
They all seem to be pink, and nicely scented.
Not only that – we also have scented flowers here that we had in the house we lost, and I had thought would not have again. The hedge plants have sweetly scented white flowers, the same plant we had in the old house (I can never remember the name), and we also have “Geisha Girl” plants (trees?).
My frangipanis are exploding (not literally…)
We have had time lately to go out for a cuppa, and spend some time talking.
“The Still Life Of Contentment” 😀
My nativity scene is still not complete. I’ve had some ideas, but they haven’t worked out – there’s always next year!
I’ve added a donkey, though.
Maybe life is not perfect.
Maybe it never will be.
I am content (and maybe even quietly happy…)
I hope you are too!
If you need a bit of cheering up, here is Pub Choir‘s new collaboration.
Or maybe you’re in need of quietness and peace, in which case – have a silent night ❤
Behind The Sparkles
We went to a Christmas service Saturday night.
It was sparkly, jingly, bright…all the Christmassy things.
I got to belt out some carols (I do love carols!), and enjoyed the littlies dancing with abandon (both on the stage and in the aisles – do children come equipped with springs and a battery pack?).
We got home and I went looking for new Christmas songs. YouTube threw this one into the mix.
I love the twinkly lights and baubles, the memory of snow and freezing churches, the family lunches and cold after dinner walks to settle the abundance of food.
But for all the glitz that the ads and movies show as the Christmas experience, there is just as much darkness and pain.
The ones who are broken, whether in body or mind (or both), who find it hard to jump into the glittery fantasy.
The ones who are trying to pay the rent and the bills and still feed the family.
The ones who don’t have family, or have lost someone loved this year.
For all the different stories out there, it’s good to remember that the first Christmas Day wasn’t neat and tidy, wasn’t sweet-smelling and photo-ready.
It was about a small baby, born into chaos and scorn, who came just for us. Who sees past our shiny facades, and looks for the lost and weeping.
That Christmas story embraces everyone who looks past the sparkles, to search for the real gift of Christmas.
Decking The Hall
…or, at least, that weird little section of the house that’s part dining nook, part kitchen extension.
The tree’s up, and snuggled into its little corner quite nicely.
My angel, who has been topping the tree for nearly 30 years.
The boys haven’t been feeling the Christmas cheer, so I put up some decorations for them.
I don’t think it helped.
As we’re in a new space, I’ve been able to change things around. Also spread them out – there’s so much space!
I did take some more rose photos, but I’ll share another anticipatory flowering…
Christmas frangipanis!
🙂
I don’t know how you’re feeling about the season.
Maybe this can help you…get your jingle on 😆
Cause Baby it’s Christmas!
(nearly)
Thinking About The Tree
December is here!
Christmas songs are sneaking into my head at odd moments, and I’m contemplating putting up the tree next week.
Last year the tree stayed in its box under the bed. We didn’t know if we were moving, there were boxes everywhere, not much room…we decided to take year off decorating.
I don’t know what it is about the last few days, but I’ve suddenly leapt into Christmas mode! Christmas Day itself is just over three weeks away, so I can’t say it’s too early 🙂
Perhaps it’s because we feel settled here. Perhaps we just needed a rest last year. I’m excited to see how our decorations fit in this house.
I’ve been looking for a Nativity set lately. I couldn’t find anything in our budget that I liked, but then my Mum gave me some bits towards putting one together. Until I figure out how to make the rest of the figures, they’ll be here.
There’s even a cat in attendance!
We went to a wedding today, which was beautiful ❤
We were outside for lunch afterwards, and this was our view.
As trees go, these were quite majestic.
I’ll still enjoy my little fake tree with nearly thirty years of accumulated baubles…
Just to start off the Christmassy season with a smile – and an acknowledgement that Christmas here is considerably hotter than some other parts of the world (even if we’re not in LA).
And a bonus – this is more of a “winter” song than a “Christmas” song, but we’ve had the air conditioner on, and this made me (happy) cry.
Now The Song Is Over
Another of my favourite singers gone – Shane MacGowan, who died yesterday.
I have to say, I didn’t quite keep up with his post-Pogues career, but a handful of Pogues albums were among the CDs I carted around Europe and the UK when I was travelling in the mid-90s. I had one of those big zip up CD holders, and a portable CD player that chewed up the batteries, but kept me company on my travels.
I haven’t listened to them lately.
Fairytale Of New York is one of my favourite Christmas songs. It’s possibly not for the fainthearted, but it is oddly…romantic? Optimistic?
Pogues songs seem to me to have been a mixture of drunken Irish ditties, romantic ballads, and some deep thoughts on life, death, and society and its inequities. For a supposed punk band, there are a lot of beautiful songs.
Shane’s voice is part of the soundtrack of my youth.
Thank you for travelling with me.
Down all the years. Down all the days.
Drowsing In The Summer Heat
At least that’s part of the reason!
We’ve had a bit of a virus drifting round the house this week, so we’re all a bit languid at the moment. The heat hasn’t helped…
Littlest Bean has had the worst of it, but even my Babe spent a large part of yesterday sleeping.
Lots of cups of tea and snacky things happening.
Still, there’s time to smile.
I’ve been reading a lot, but also listening to cool music 😀
Or if I’m feeling a bit more energetic…
Time to turn the air conditioner on again!
The Elephant In The Room
There are various nooks and crannies in this house, just waiting for beauty.
Books, of course, are what I choose first…
I also have a collection of jewellery. I don’t wear jewellery that much, but I love looking at it. The wardrobe that came with our room has lots of shelves, so I have space to hang up my sparklies 😀
Finally, a way to display my medals (from virtual challenges).
Also, a place to hang up necklaces so I can see them, and they don’t attract dust.
I had a good week for most of last week, and got all sorts of washing, cleaning and organising done. This tends to culminate in some days of not so good, which was the last few days. This morning I felt I was turning the corner a bit (and today has been better), but Biggest Boy came in to say good morning to me, and the first thing he said was, “You look really sick!”.
Such encouragement for the new week 😆
I have had my moments today, but I think what he was seeing was a combination of middle aged lady and lack of sleep – dark circles under the eyes, with an overall crumpled, bleary look…
Still, it’s been a good day.
But – what about the elephant?
Here he is!
A tiny little being from the charity shop ❤
There’s just enough room for a tealight (via a flap at the back).
So many ways to light up a room…
And to bring some more cheer – another fun song! Complete with what I think is a depiction of the way the years seem to speed up as life goes on (and how that sometimes feels…).
Just tell ’em we’re survivors!
😀
All At Sea
It’s been a good few days.
Got things done.
Felt OK.
Maybe the heat helps a bit (although, not too much heat!) I’ve washed the quilts and changed the sheets.
Tweaked the garden a teensy bit, and tidied up some things that have been annoying me.
Even been out of the house a few times…
I spent more time out today than I expected to, so even though it’s nice to have the ability to wander, I’m very tired now. When I’m tired, I don’t think quite as fast or as well as I’d like.
So – no words of wisdom here.
Just an easy to like sea shanty medley.
Live, and a cappella.
Although Adam seems to be having fun with a looper back there…
This was originally released during lockdown, where each member of Home Free recorded their bits at home and put them together for the full clip. Worth a listen as well. 🙂
Maybe you’re after some nostalgia?
Or maybe you just need a lullaby?
That’s the Hound + the Fox, with Tim from Home Free taking a guest role.
Hopefully a good night’s sleep will bring a more combobulated tomorrow…
Clearing A Path To Joy
No more boxes!
Upstairs, at least…
My bookcases are sorted, my DVDs are arranged, and my decorative touches are placed around the house. Some things might be moved again, but it still feels like home.
I didn’t have a good health week last week, but this week has been OK. It was lovely to be able to sit in the lounge and enjoy the space!
So far, this house has been easy to keep clean – not much dust on surfaces, haven’t noticed much in the way of unwanted wildlife (just an ant or two).
There are lots of surfaces to fill with trinkets.
Here’s a metal crayfish I found the other day.
He lives in the bedroom at the moment.
I also picked up a little cat dish type thing.
The head tilts slightly downward, which apparently helps cats to not get furballs when it’s used as a water dish.
This one holds our keys – as Sweet Bean says, we get to decide what the cat’s brains should be 😆
I thought my camphor chest could be an emergency seat if we get hordes of visitors all at once, so it needed some cushions.
My bits and pieces for the glass display cases are downstairs, but I decided to let my giraffe sit on the bookcase for now.
Because everyone needs a random giraffe 🙂
There’s a quiet joy in a lack of clutter, and in knowing you’ve accomplished everything you set out to do in a day.
There’s also joy in finding new songs!
These are two I’ve been listening to the last few days – one because I looked up the song we’d been singing in the online service Sunday, and the other because YouTube recommended it to me.
I hope you have been able to find joy in your day.
And maybe you’ve even been able to find your very own decorative giraffe!
❤
1000 Fields of Roses 