Sunday, December 1, 2013

December!



Love is like the wild rose-briar,
Friendship like the holly-tree --
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms
But which will bloom most constantly?
The wild-rose briar is sweet in the spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air;
Yet wait till winter comes again
And who will call the wild-briar fair?
Then scorn the silly rose-wreath now
And deck thee with the holly's sheen,
That when December blights thy brow
He may still leave thy garland green.

Emily Bronte

Welcome to December - that month of busy-cozy-snowy-fading light-holidays-solstice-childhood memories time.

It will get busy. 

You may eat too much. 

You may have an extra glass of whatever. 

You will forget to buy a gift or forget where you hid one.

Someone is sure to have a tantrum. 

It might be you.

No matter, on this Sunday morning, let's look out the window and be very quiet and enjoy the snow and the lights.  There is something about December.  And the lights are little beacons, drawing us in, saying "relax, enjoy the show.."














Have a wonderful day and stay safe out there!


 

39 comments:

  1. Great reminder to relax and enjoy the season. It may not be perfection or everything we expect but there is beauty in it.

    Usually we get the lights up in October but don't turn them on until December. This year the cold came early and so it slipped. The weekend brought a mild spell that was perfect to get the lights up and turned on last night. We have a storm warning for Monday and by Thursday it is supposed to be lows of -33 so thankful to have that done. I really enjoy looking at the lights in the snow.

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    1. Hi xoxo!

      We are having a snowstorm right now and I am glad Barry got ours up yesterday - is a relief to get them up! I love the lights late at night or early in the morning - so peaceful!

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  2. A snowstorm already? Wow, I couldn't survive winter in Canada.
    I went to ask about trees today, 5 more days till they arrive, I love the smell in the house once it's up.

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    1. Tabitha, this is the FOURTH snowstorm we have had in the Calgary area this winter already. I am going to have a serious case of cabin fever before 2013 is out!

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  3. Are those your own pics? OMG, coming over now for brandy laced eggnog!

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    1. Yup - out the front window at 7 this morning!

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    2. Cannot believe it! I'd be drinking and eating like billy oh from tonight!

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    3. ^
      behold, my big fat chops!

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  4. Have a wonderful sunday Wendy!
    I am in bed with a cold,but my husband and kids take very good care of me,so its not too bad:)
    Love the pics of your snow,but i am glad it is supposed to be in the 60s this week!

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  5. Snow already!!! Looks fantastic - and it seems you don't even need to buy a tree :)

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  6. Thank you for your posts which are very calming for me. I can already feel the stress creeping in and I am trying very hard to control it. I have a big family and four years ago we have agreed to a "no gifts" rule to keep things simple this season. My husband also takes us away to ensure "family time". However, I am still behind on gifts for friends, godchildren and co-workers as well as home decorations. I wish you can bottle your calm and organizing skills and send them my way.

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    1. Ha! I am sitting on the couch in my JC fair isle leggings procrastinating about wrapping packages that need to be mailed tomorrow and need to do my Christmas cards!

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  7. Oh, so magical! I hoped to get a tree yesterday or today, but it may have to be tomorrow. Everything feels so special in its presence...

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  8. It's 78F here, slightly envious of your snow! The lights looks beautiful!

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    1. That was meant to be look, not looks. Silly autocorrect!

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    2. The downside is that this week we are dipping down to the 40s and 30s, and having already acclimated to year round spring I'm afraid to get frostbite ;)

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    3. Okay, I am going to try to be sympathetic...

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    4. Hey AB, and when it gets down to those unbearable temps, I'll be on the other side of the country where the nights might be warmer than here. Will be weird ...

      Wendy, you have to give us some slack, I'm planning my trip like I'm going to the Klondike. ;)

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  9. I don't trim up the beach place, as were only there the odd weekend in winter. In the city, I keep lights on the terrace railings all year round, different colored mini-strings, and plug them all in for Christmas. I miss the magic of seeing lights in the snow, thanks for this!

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    1. I love lights in the city - you should post a pic for us!

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  10. December just started and I already spent last week eating too much!

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    1. I hear you! Tonight we had quail cooked in a pomegranate stock...

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  11. Note to self…do not visit Wendy in the winter. I thought I had a few Christmas gifts knocked out already. Remembered tomorrow is my mother's birthday. Ooops, good thing I have a Christmas gift I can substitute. Sigh, now what to give her for Christmas?!

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    1. OH NO MISSY!!! We will have you here in the winter! I am quite sure that Hunter was meant to be a Maritimer!!!

      Mothers love diamonds (insert evil cackle)

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    2. Oh he would eat it up. Me…just stick me by a fire with some booze, in a cashmere cocoon sleeping bag outfit and I'll live through it, bitching the entire time :)

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    3. Can I be part of this invite? I'll serve you booze BB I promise!

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    4. She says she will bitch, but I see food, fire and snow and Hunter dancing with all my friends (I think Hunter could be a disco dancer!) and she might come around and you can help Dani!

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    5. Can I be part of the dancing crew? I love to dance and I love you ladies, so it sounds like a good time.

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    6. All dancers welcome! We may have to get everyone who stops in here (commenters and those who prefer not to comment!) to pop by for the zoolander-style dance-off!

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    7. Oh, me, me! I used to dance ballroom and love a fire, some snow and always food.

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  12. Beautiful post, it resonated with me and especially the part about the tantrum, please do not let it be me this year. I've just made the latkes so we can have our family Hannukah celebration, the eats are good this time of year! And the wine is somehow better during these long dark days, it seems it was invented just for this time of year.
    How did you know I always hide a present so well even I can't find it?

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    1. EVERY Christmas morning I wonder where something is and go searching and find it around the 28th. the kids laugh...

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  13. Lovely, Wendy, just lovely! We had a gorgeous warm and sunny SoCal day here. I'm hoping to, but doubt I'll get a taste of winter wonderland when I go on a sidetrack to my dad's/business trip next week. But I'll likely just get cold rain.

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Kindness is a virtue...