Friday, February 2, 2018

a thought and an idea

It's Candlemas, or the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. From Christmas Day to February 2 is forty days. Just like the forty years the Israelites wandered in the desert, like Elijah's trek of forty days to Mount Horeb, like Jesus praying and fasting in the desert for forty days, and the forty days from the resurrection of the Lord till his ascension, the number means something. It's the most important thing that ever happened on the earth and I'm never in a hurry to "put Christmas away", so I slowly undecorate, as I slowly decorated the house from the start of Advent up to Christmas Day.


In November the woman I buy my ground beef from sent an invitation to come to her house; during a weekend before Thanksgiving she sells crafts made throughout the year by herself and her family, some jams, and pickles. You can sit at her kitchen table and have homemade rolls and chili and brownies. She's been doing this for many years and always gets a crowd; she says she doesn't care if she sells anything, she just enjoys doing it and having this nice get-together. I bought the above wooden candy canes there, and have meant to post about this since the season began.

What a nice idea for any neighborhood! So I thought I'd share it.

4 comments:

  1. I love when people open their homes to neighbours for get togethers. It's something I miss. We used to do more, but people are so busy. Those candy canes make you want to pick them up. Very tactile.

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    1. Cheryl, I was thinking of you when I posted this; you seem to be so creative throughout the year. But you're right - I wonder if the neighbors would really even come...

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  2. I like those candy canes! We are quite lucky where I live as there are usually a few things going on in the local villages each month. This is especially welcome during the winter months! We have coffee mornings, bring and buy sales, bring and share suppers and quiz nights to name a few. We don't go to all of the events but it's nice to know we could if we wanted to. I admire people like your friend who can open their house to crowds of people and not get stressed about it!

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    1. Clare, what you describe in your area sounds delightful! So many pleasant diversions. When we were there, there were maybe twenty in her small house, but we came right at the beginning. It's for a few hours on a Friday night and again on Saturday, earlier part of the day. It's only by invitation, although you can bring a friend; if a couple of years go by and you don't go, she will stop inviting you, but everyone who does go leaves their name and address so she knows who was there. It's a good system.

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