Friday Favourites: Lights in the Darkness

 

When I awake early, I get out of bed, put on my cozy robe, and pad quietly downstairs. I turn on a few lights, sometimes light a candle, and read in my chair until I hear my husband stirring. The house is quiet and I rather enjoy the solitude. The heat from the candles makes the German pyramid blades go round and round while the carved deer and trees spin in unison. The longest night of the year is approaching, and soon the earth will tilt once more to the light. 

December offers a banquet for the senses, and many chances 

to lose oneself in the plain deliciousness of life - 

all the sights and smells of the season, from wood fires to baking. 

Diane Ackerman

The Christmas decorating is mostly complete. I like things quite simple and pull out my red bits and pieces to mix with white ones. Lights and a bit of greenery add life. 

This has been a busy week. A few appointments, including a much-needed hair cut. It's wonderful how good I feel walking out of the hair salon with shiny, bouncy hair. I feel like I walk a bit straighter. 

The beaded pearl garland goes onto the dining room chandelier in the same fashion every year. A hand-blown glass ornament hangs from the center, and rustic metal stars hang on the garland. I sometimes think I could adapt things a little, but am happy with the way I've done it for years, so why change? I've read about the Ralph Lauren look being in vogue this year and have no desire to embrace it. 

Our natural Christmas tree is not a fashion plate but looks so pretty with the lights and ornaments collected over the years. 

I've been readying the house for guests. My siblings and their spouses, plus my parents, are coming over for the weekend. Beds are made, bathrooms cleaned, and food prepared. We will have an early Christmas celebration together. I wonder sometimes how many more years we will gather like this, and I treasure the times we are together. 

  

This is the irrational season

When love blooms bright and wild

Had Mary been filled with reason

There'd have been no room for the Child

Madeleine L'Engle

After Annunciation

We've had so much rain in the past few days. On the mainland roads were closed due to flooding and Vancouver was cut off from the rest of the province. Here it wasn't so bad, but I went into the garden to cut some herbs and sank deep into the mud softened by all the water. The red poinsettia leaves add some brightness to the gloom outside the window.

One day I did some shopping in Sidney-by-the-Sea, a small village about 20 minutes away. The lighted streets and shops were so pretty, and I especially liked this small passageway hung with glittery snowflakes that shone against the dark sky. 

I read an interesting question on Instagram this week and sadly didn't note the account. Here's the question: If you could spend Christmas in any book setting, where would it be?

So many possibilities. Would I like to spend Christmas at Green Gables with Anne and her ilk, or in the Scotland of Rosamunde Pilcher's Winter Solstice? Then there's Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and Laura Ingalls Wilder's By the Shores of Silver Lake? So many possibilities! It's fun to dream a little.