sunning

 

She managed to insert herself on the rocker, amidst the pillow and books.

only simple shepherds

 When came in flesh th' Incarnate Word,
The heedless world slept on,
And only simple shepherds heard
That God had sent his Son.

time of wonder

 I was reading in chapter fourteen of Revelation; there are angels overseeing the elements - it spoke of one who has authority over fire. It would be handy to remember that, in case of a fire! I find this kind of information very interesting. Which brings me to a book I got for Christmas, Living in Wonder, by Rod Dreher. He speaks of how and why we’ve come to a point of being totally unaware, or even ignorant of anything beyond what we can apprehend with our senses. It’s a big interest of mine. You know I love fairy tales and such.

"We... are proud of our mastery of the material world, but it has made us miserable, because we no longer feel at home here." 

There was snow on the ground, and then we got a little more on Christmas Eve morning. Everyone seemed pleased about it. We went to our cousins at the shore on Christmas Day, and they had none, but it was still here when we came back home. :)  Now, it's gone; we are going to be in the fifties for three days. A varied closet is a must around here. 

It's the fourth day of Christmas. I've got to find the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on the BBC, since I was working when it was live. I never want to miss it! 

I was thinking the other day about the garlands of popcorn and cranberries some people make in the winter, but it seems so tedious. And I've never known anyone who actually did it, so I don't know if the creatures actually like it. So I popped some corn, and stirred it around with peanut butter, then threw it out on the snow on a cold day. It was after the squirrels had been dining, and nobody seemed to notice it. I'm not sure they want it. 

Rod Dreher's book has many examples of different individuals which he hopes will illustrate his point. Marshall McLuhan (if you're my age, you'll know the name):

"I never came into the church as a person who was being taught. I came in on my knees. That is the only way in. When people start praying, they need truths, that's all. You don't come into the church by ideas and concepts, and you cannot leave by mere disagreement. It has to be a loss of faith, a loss of participation. We can tell when people leave the church: they have quit praying."

                                                                     -  from Living in Wonder

Merry Christmas!

 "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom, a light has shone. For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace."

                                  -  Isaiah, 9:1, 5

the little King

 Come to be born, to bear us to our birth,
To touch a dying world with new-made hands
And make the rags of time our swaddling bands.

-  Malcolm Guite, Waiting on the Word

last Sunday of Advent

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid thou our sad divisions cease,
And be thyself our King of Peace.

mercies

 I think I need to stop relying on Accuweather for my forecasts - they said we'd maybe have a dusting of snow yesterday morning, by eleven o'clock. There was nothing when I went to work, and it didn't look like snow. I brought my boots anyway. Mid-afternoon it began to snow and snowed all day. Although there was little accumulation. But it's cold out now, so it isn't going to melt yet, so it's pretty out for a while.

I awoke with a headache, and the Exedrin didn't do the job, so I had to take some more. I sipped my lavender tea, and it got better, but didn't go away. So I had to go grocery shopping with the headache in addition to only being able to see half as well as I usually do. Some Twinings tea caught my eye; it was on sale. There was something called Winter Spice which looked nice, and even though it was mainly chamomile, I bought it. I'm not keen on chamomile, but it was Christmas-y - can you buy Christmas? Because a lot of things which seem to have the proper aura do appeal to us, don't they? We buy them, thinking this it it.

Anyway. I got home, put away the food, fed the cats, started some laundry, and decided I would sit quietly for an hour, then get busy doing whatever. I made a cup of my new tea, sat down with some books, and promptly feeling tired, dozed off. It wasn't for long, and I awoke to find my tea lukewarm. I took a few sips, and realized the pain over my left eye and near my left ear was diminishing. I drank the rest. My headache was finally (almost) gone. I need to take another look at chamomile as a help for my headaches. I also have felt rather too relaxed for the rest of the day, but I've learned a new thing about herbs and I'm grateful!

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.

just when you think things are going well

 I had an appointment today at the eye doctor; I had to go two days without my contacts! I managed around the house, but it was weird. You can easily fall into your own little world, if you're as near-sighted as I am. I had to go without the lenses to allow my eyes to go back into their normal shape. Well, I had the days off; I was able to cook, wash dishes, do laundry, read. I cleaned, but at times it felt like going through the motions, since I couldn't always tell if I was getting the result I wanted. :D I made cookies today. I worked on my dress - that was strange. Bringing it up to my face so I could see it, but it was a strange perspective. Still, I managed. But I'm behind with the Christmas cards now, since you really need to see what you're doing for something like that. And, type - I tried writing a blog post, but it was too awkward. 

There is a lesson in all this. 

Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen.*

Meanwhile, Annie got a couple of non-adjuvant vaccines yesterday, and was a bit off. Daisy seemed to realize this, and when Annie went to sleep in the spare room, Daisy stayed nearby on the bed. What a nice little buddy.

*from People Look East

Christmas card prayer

 

new doors at last

Right after I took this picture she reached over and flipped that tree onto the floor. For the second time. I moved it.

The snow is gone. That's okay - we had it! Once it comes, the season takes on a new aura, and winter feels like it's really here. And after a dreary and very rainy and warm day, today was bright sun and chilly. And tomorrow will be around the freezing mark. 

We now have new storm doors! My brother found a fellow who could install them, and he did the front door this morning. They are easy for me to clean! I can remove the glass myself!

The glass part goes way down, and it is going to take some getting used to. I feel exposed, and Daisy didn't feel the same when I put the chair there. If they can get accustomed to sitting on the floor, then both of them could enjoy the view at the same time. But I'll keep on the lookout for a low bench, lower than the chair. 

It affords a better view of the brave little cherry tree.

That is one deep split. I suppose eventually the left hand part will just crack and fall onto the driveway. 

Frodo and Sam have achieved Mount Doom, and the ring has been destroyed. 

I'm at a bit of a standstill with my dress; the back keyhole facing is not laying flat, and I'm going to put in a few handstitches to do the job. And so I plod along, decorating a little, sewing a little, cleaning a little, reading a little, preparing for the Child to come.

Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.

the time is near

 I had a birthday, and there was snow! That always makes it ten times better. 

Winter has started early, which has been a topic of conversation around here every day, but it's going to be more temperate this week, and maybe up near sixty on Wednesday. The snow is melting, even as I type. 

We sang People Look East this morning at church; I think I always mention this in December, but the melody, the lyrics, the sprightly and hopeful air it has -

People look East, the time is near
Of the crowning of the year.

I love to sing it. 

I haven't done any cards yet, and it's practically two weeks away. We will what happens, and what doesn't. 

From Isaiah 30:  ...the Lord will make the glory of his voice heard in the joy of your heart.

rocking the Advent cradle

 “The way to begin healing the wounds of the world is to treasure the Infant Christ in us; to be not the castle but the cradle of Christ; and in rocking that cradle to the rhythm of love, to swing the whole world back into the beat of the Music of Eternal Life.”

                                              -   Caryll Houselander     

trouble and pain (but not really)

 The Thanksgiving dinner came out very well. We had leftovers once, and I had to put what remained into the freezer - we will appreciate it better after a bit of distance.

I'm taking a different approach to Christmas decorations this year, and I spent part of the day working on the living room. 

A red bow would be nicer, but this is good for now; I may change this picture anyway, but I love this one, with the warm colored flowers of late summer, something discovered at a rummage sale.

I want to start making cookies, but may have to do it piecemeal: mixing up dry ingredients ahead, mixing up the dough the day before, baking one or two batches at a time, etc.. Whatever will work. It seems I do lots of things like that. It's another way of going forward. 

I ran out at the blue hour, just to get some air. Very briefly.

Some leaves hanging on.  I keep forgetting the bulbs I just bought - will I be able to get them in before the ground freezes? It's in the twenties at night, and will only reach into the thirties much of this week! Why can't I remember these bulbs??

"On the first weekday of Advent, we are reminded that the full coming of the reign of God through Christ, for whom we long, will bring trouble and pain to all of us in whatever sinfulness we are engaged in, but only to cleanse us to dwell in justice and peace in his presence."

- Magnificat, December 2024

season of expectation

Thanksgiving was very nice, and now it's Advent.                                                      

When you shall come, O Lord,
Wrapped in your glory bright,
Then shall the earth in terror quake,
The sun withhold his light.

When you shall come, O Lord,
Then shall the books be spread,
And from their secrets you shall judge
The living and the dead.

O Lord of justice, your coming overthrows all that is not ruled by you. Fill us with expectation and transform our hearts and lives, so that we may welcome you when you come. 

Readings from Magnificat.