Christmas today ~
whimsical, glowing
packaged in brown paper
tied with red ribbons while
Father Christmas ~
a gentle spirit brings
joy and kindness to all.
“When we recall Christmas past we usually find that the simplest things
~ not the great occasions ~ give off the greatest glow of happiness.”
~ Bob Hope
Things are frozen right now,
not just the land ~
the movement of our lives
outside of ourselves.
Inside our homes,
homes where we live,
we can move quietly ~
or joyously and breathe deeply.
Things are frozen right now,
especially our hearts ~
when the movement of our lives
halts.
Inside our homes ~
homes where we live,
we can stand still slowly
and believe in our own strength.
“You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.”
~ Bob Marley
Scattered memories
clustered and frozen in time
nourish me when
I miss my mom.
“Masterpieces are made when a broken person
makes something with their scattered pieces.”
~ Lidia Longoria, Hey Humanity
In memory and with thanks to my mom, Marion
February 22, 1916 ~ December 16, 1971
The Canada Suicide Prevention Service
1.888.456.4566
Crisis Suicide Helpline in Saskatchewan
306.525.5333
In Time for Christmas
Dez was good to her word about getting to the boxes the next day, and planned to get to the workbench toward lunchtime. But work had been halted. When she got out to the old garage the next morning, she saw Samuel talking with someone. She skirted around them, excusing herself and was about to busy herself in the garage when he called to her. “Miss Dez, don’t get started.” He introduced her to Mr. Johnson, from Pest Control. “When we saw all those mouse droppings yesterday, and the holes where they get in, I called him as soon as I got back to my place. Known him for years. We got into a couple of scrapes when we were brainless teenagers.” Both men laughed. Keeping their distance from each other, masks on, Dez and Mr. Johnson said hello. “I did see your van and guessed why you were here.” It still felt odd not to shake hands but the pandemic still threatened outside the Estate, making introductions awkward.
That was a week ago. Dez had been all ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work. Back at the house, she found her sister in the kitchen having tea with Cook and Martha. “Well, ladies, I need to think on my feet and find out what I can do for the next while.” Cook set her mug down. “So Samuel’s stopped work on the garage, did he? I knew he’d called Ed Johnson out here. Pretty sure that old place was full of vermin.” Her sister, dressed in her sky blue jogging outfit and looking ready to take the day off, said. “We can still walk everyday, starting with today and check on progress. We could even start clearing away some of the debris that’s collected in that old hedge.” They were to stay out of the old garage while the Pest Control people were disinfecting and clearing the place of any nests and dead rodents. Hopefully, there weren’t that many. “Excuse me, I need to talk with Digby before I sit down for tea.” She wanted to know if he knew about the kind of Christmas things there may be. At first, he didn’t think he knew, but recalled an old file labelled Christmas. It had been in the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet with several older files. When he opened it there was a list of things “Stored in the Garage”. Most of it was just things like wrapping paper, bows, and ribbons. 'Christmas tree ornaments and handmade Christmas ornaments’ was scribbled in at the bottom in red. “I don’t know if this will do you any good, Miss Dez but at least it’s a start. If I remember correctly, Michael Beaufort’s grandfather made some of those handmade Christmas ornaments.” He had given her the file. She brought it out to share with the three women. “Oh, I remember some of these!” Martha, after looking through the file, sat back and smiled. “It was when you and I first came here, Elizabeth. Old Mr. Beaufort was here one Christmas. He was always carving little animals. The one I remember ~ you remember, Elizabeth ~ was a little horse. No saddle, just a rope bridle. Mr. Michael wanted to hang it on the tree, but it didn’t have a place for a string. So his grandfather just set it up on the mantle piece. The very mantle piece that’s in the living room upstairs.” She stood and, rather dreamily, poured herself more tea from the earthenware pot sitting on the counter. “Those were good days, weren’t they, Elizabeth. It was long before you came here, Miss Emelina - did Mr. Michael ever show it too you?”
“All I know about any decorations is that I got rid of them. I wasn’t on my best behaviour or in the best of moods then. I didn’t know where any of them went, I just wanted things my way. I think I told Michael I wanted them destroyed? I am so ashamed of myself for much of that time.”
Quiet settled over the kitchen table. Emelina sat with head down, a tissue prevented her mascara from smearing. Dez put her arm around her sister. Cook just changed the subject. “I’ll take more tea, please Martha. When is Brigitte moving to the University? We’ll have to get your place cleaned and fixed up for Miss Dez.” Dez’s attention was pulled away from her sister. “I’m ok, Dez. Just a few old memories. I’ll get us more tea.” Emelina stood, picked up their tea mugs, and went to the counter. “Cook, I haven’t even talked with Martha yet!” Dez was almost taken aback when she heard about her move into Martha’s duplex. “Well, Martha and I got to talking one day and I let it slip that you might be moving into her place. I suppose I overstepped my bounds, Miss Dez ~ I’m sorry.”
“You’re all right, Cook. No need to apologize, but thanks. I’m glad it’s been dealt with. Martha, you’re probably ready to get your office back!” Dez laughed. “I’ll be sure to take my bed with me. But on a serious note, just getting that old garage taken care of will take longer than I thought it would. For now, I’ll concentrate on what needs doing out there. I’ll sent Brigitte an text to see when she’ll be out here again. We can get together and see when she’s moving out and I’m moving in.”
~~~~~
“I’m glad we got out here, Dez.” The sisters had finished lunch, the afternoon was clearing and warm. Even the birds were settled for the afternoon. Just an occasional calling gull, or twitter of junco’s. The morning’s wind had calmed to just a breeze warmed by the sun. Any puddles had dried up, leaving the ground still soft and a bit muddy. “We’ll retrieve those decorations, Em. Don’t know how many, but we’ll clean them all up. Maybe even in time for Christmas.”
“Christmas is the day that holds all time together.”
~ Alexander Smith
But…….I was encouraged to revisit that stubborn opinion.
I am willing to change a lot of things about food ~ different proteins, brown rice instead of white rice, different flavours and spicing. Bread is not one I am willing to do without. Bread is not just food. It is the very sustenance of life ~ especially mine. Or am I being selfish. I have baked bread for many many years. I have eaten bread many more years. My mom’s, a good friend of my mom’s, aunts, women in my hometown. So giving up bread was not an option.
More oatmeal - one of the dietary recommendations. I like oatmeal. I make porridge with the granola I make. Can’t doctor it with extra deliciousness. You know, butter, honey or maple syrup ~ or brown sugar ~ and a generous dosing of cream. But that’s ok ~ I make very tasty granola.
I asked myself ~ and Google ~ is there a No Knead Oatmeal bread? Yay!!! There were several recipes. So there you have it ~ my first No Knead Oatmeal bread with my blueberry jam and only a thin, thin, scraping of butter. Delicious and yum....just tone down how much I enjoy. (A few vegetables on the side for an extra bit of healthiness.)
“All sorrows are less with bread.”
~ Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
A vision like a Christmas card, early morning pink sunrise swathed ~ trees frozen and frosted with icy rime.
Beneath this icy canopy,
gentle showers of white froth
drifted down as I passed.
On the sidewalk below treetops and sunshine, a frosted spray of Christmas brought me home ~ another smile to my heart.
“But frost, like the crystallized dreams of autumn,
began to coat the clearing with its sugar glaze.”
~ Victoria Lohgut
nor a large one,
nor even a Charlie Brown One
But bright Christmas balls
and treasured decorations to
brighten any corner of home.
“Love Christmas, not just because of the presents but because of all
the decorations and lights and the warmth of the season”
~ Ashley Tisdale
Author's note: When I first posted my 'not a Christmas tree' I had not finished decorating it. Today, I filled the greenery with some of my treasured ornaments.
