The day after the day after....

Christmas 

came and went

relaxed

 mellow

low key

for the most part

~

Except for a

slight malfunction with the plumbing

(so we had no use of water in the front part of the house)

and 

NO WAY were we going to call a plumber on Christmas day!

~

no problem

~

 we skipped Christmas dinner (and the associated mess and hassle)

and just did snacky finger foods 

which was GREAT! 

~

We went for a walk on the beach

which was perfect

~

warm sunshine

salty air

tumbling surf

calm baby

happy parents

happy dog!

When we got home

we picked some fresh oranges

 added some  champagne

and just chilled.

As the day fades into the past

~

I will remember it as a day

where we

~

Chatted, napped, read, nibbled, shared gifts 

that were personal, useful, creative

~

A day that was 

authentic

 uncomplicated

and full of ease (despite the glitch in plans)

~

all because of my darling family

~

Pretty much perfect.

Looking forward to tomorrow...

I will miss this

tomorrow

~

when the grand kids look outside 

to see 

if the reindeer ate the carrots and oatmeal

left as a tasty snack

~

I will miss reading the letters 

to and from Santa

~

the noise

and excitement

~

Tomorrow will be fun

for a different reason

Tomorrow is Kaitlyn's 

first Christmas and she is a riotous celebration unto herself

~

Here's wishing everyone

a fun filled Night before Christmas

~

may all the last little details be finished with ease

and joy

A Star...

I 

will have

no star atop my tree

~

rather

I hold a star from the sea

~

I feel

 it nudge my hand

~

whispering

"remember me"

~

and then

~

I place it gently back

~

grateful

~

  a star held me

I 

will not have

~ 

tinsel and lights 

strung from the branches 

of the Christmas tree

~

no bulbs and bobbles

~

rather

I will witness the twinkle 

of 

~

the dew and lace nature

strung to catch the early morning light

My gifts

~

simple

~

handmade

~

heart felt

~

few

It's time

~

to "re-member" 

~

the precious presents

~

the day to day moments we take for granted

~

family, friends, health, generosity, good will, warm homes, soft beds

~

Wishing all the most joyous, fulfilling, peaceful, inspiring, genuine and precious celebration

of life

Let it Snow....

Southern California is nice an all

but

Christmas just isn't the same without snow

~

tree lights

hot cocoa

wrapping gifts

a fire

bulky sweaters

even Christmas music

are not the same 

without 

that good ole mood maker

snow

~

There is an intimacy 

a coziness

and warmth

to looking out the window 

and watching snow fall

~

There is something to be said for

The Four Seasons

(and I don't mean the resort)

It'll be our little secret...

I made an executive decision

~ 

I won't be "doin" Christmas this year

~

No tree

~

No baking

~

No Christmas cards

~

No standing in lines

~

No extra VISA bills

~

No presents for the sake of getting presents

~

It's like Christmas and I are 'breaking up' 

~

Something else has caught my eye

~

and

~ 

Not ONE person I know needs any more

STUFF

~

So I will give the 

Twelve Days of Christmas 

to the grand kids

(since I already had that) 

~

and I will donate what 

CASH 

I could have spent on "the holiday" to 

the USE-LESS water project

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Lauren decorating her tree

Daniel 

(my son) 

just got home 

from chopping the tree

 I stayed home with the baby

while she napped

~ 

I love that he went out into the forest 

and picked the tree nice and fresh its so intimate

don't you think

~

It is the

 ultimate of Christmas in the mountains

the man, in the snow, with his dog, and a saw

the silence of the woods, and the crunch of snow

~ 

Perhaps we will decorate it tonight and I can do a little family 

photo shoot

~ 

I love being behind the lenses during the holidays it gives just enough degrees of separation 

to not get sucked into the madness

~

I love carols playing on stereo, fire crackling in the fireplace some eggnog, cocoa or hot cider

little twinkle lights, ornaments with stories

~

I love stringing popcorn and cranberries and writing Christmas cards to friends and family

~

Fingers crossed...

I will get enough of the holiday experience here so that I won't feel required to go home and decorate 

my apartment

~

Thinking about it 

is giving me a headache

after all this year it will only be me and the cat and other than a new place for her to hide Bushka doesn't really appreciate 

or care if I have a tree

~

Does it sound like I am trying to talk myself out of decorating?

You are absolutely correct! 

Does my

post 

look 

like

a 

tree

First...the tree

Just my size!

That's what I want
a Christmas that is just my size
small, intimate, authentic
~
Not that anyone is asking
but
~
What I want for Christmas
is
~
regular contact with my children
to feel included
~
a job that is
fulfilling and purposeful
~
more time
to take photographs
write, collage journal, hike
volunteer
~
be completely out of debt
~
Peace
Not world peace
I know that is just not in the cards
at least not for this year
~
but inner peace
radiating like a sunrise
one golden ray at a time
until all the cold corners of my world
are touched with light and warmth
and the possibilities of a new day
~
and then
with warmth radiating out
I can continue the ripple
like a raindrop
falling
on
a
pond
~
not in a storm
or a cloud burst
but gently and quietly
until
~
joined by others
we create a joyous riot
of peace