“A good book is the best of friends, the same today and forever.”
My sister and brother-in-law are coming down today. I’ve held their Christmas presents and Christmas goodies for ransom until they visit. Every Christmas my sisters have certain expectations from me. Moe and Rod, in Colorado, expect English toffee. Sheila, who’s due here any time now, expects her fudge and date-nut bread. She won’t be disappointed. Once I knew Sheila was coming, I made both of them. She’ll open her presents first then we’re going to lunch.
Last night was warmer than I expected. When Gracie went out before we went to bed, I decided to follow her and check out the night. She went into the yard, and I stood on the deck looking at the lights strung across the driveway gate. They’re coming down after Little Christmas. I’m going to miss all of them, but I’ll miss the star most of all. It lit up the night. I’m thinking maybe I just ought to keep it lit, let it keep away the deep darkness of winter nights. It will have to be moved a bit so I can open the gate but that doesn’t seem like a big deal.
Whoever chose December to celebrate Christmas chose well. Joyousness and celebrations and music and color and families gathering together brighten even the darkest days and nights. Fireworks, I think there should be fireworks.
I finished my book today. It was the newest James Patterson, at least I think it was. He seems to write a new book every month. This one was an Alex Cross novel.
Books go quickly for me. If I like one, I take every opportunity to read it. Whatever break I have, out comes my book. When I’m watching a TV program, the commercial is another opportunity to read. Often I get so involved in the book I lose the program I’m watching. A day spent reading a good book is a day well spent.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: Alex Cross, books, Christmas, holidays, Light, presents, stars
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January 7, 2012 at 10:22 am
We shot off fireworks Christmas Eve. It was a lot of fun and we’re going to start a new tradition.
Have fun with your guests!
Erin
January 7, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Erin,
That’s a great new tradition.
I was saying we should do it on the night of the Winter Solstice to keep away all that darkness.
Guests opened gifts, ate lunch and left-quick trip.
January 7, 2012 at 11:02 am
Hi Kat,
I changed Rocky’s Bah Humbug Festivus collar back to his normal leather one. The rest of my minimal Christmas decos are still up. I had no tree except for the little New Zealand pine with trim. It’s in a coffee cup sized pot so not intrusive. I really don’t want to put away maraca-playing Santa Chihuahua La Bamba. The rest of the decoration was balsam candles. They can stay, too. It’s dark of winter and there should be light and the smell of evergreen.
I’ve been on a Terry Pratchett binge in the book dept. So far I’ve read Mort, Reaper Man, and Hogswatch. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy about Death as an entity. 🙂
It’s a lovely sunny day here. Maybe it won’t make 50F but it’s still warm enough. The sun porch is hot so I will open the inside door and let the heat in. Whoo hoo! Maybe I will sit out there and knit a while.
Oh, I bought some bird seed. Now I need to find a place to put it. Waaay away from the house so the spawns won’t get any more ideas of colonizing. 🙂
Enjoy your day.
January 7, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Hi Caryn,
My house is completely devoid of Christmas. Gracie’s Merry Christmas collar has been replaced as has her Merry Christmas mat under her dishes. I’d keep the balsam candles-love that smell.
I have a few twigs with lights on them and a gourd with lights inside I light at night. It gives the house some brightness.
We made it to 60° today-wwe should have been sunning at the beach!
The spawns will come. Beware. Look to the skies. Protect your children.
January 7, 2012 at 11:10 am
It’s snowing here right now and the temperature has start to drop. It’ll only last a couple of days though, warmer winds are coming they say.
I haven’t read a book in quite some time now. I’ve started plenty but none of them has been good enough it seems. I’ll try them once again, perhaps I just wasn’t in the right mood for them.
It’s fun to listen to the music that was popular when we were born 🙂 They still play Goping Whopy on the radio every now and again over here 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
January 7, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Christer,
It is so warm here you’d think it spring.
I always have a book going. I can’t imagine not reading one. Maybe you just need the right books!
I couldn’t find Goping Whopy!
January 7, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Like you I am an avid reader. I am waiting to buy the iPad 3 when Apple releases it in a couple of months and switch over to buying digital books. I enjoy the printed ones but they are difficult to transport on long trips and are getting harder to read in certain places. Digital books on the iPad have back lighting and the ability to change the size of the text. I have noticed that the brightness of the lights in most hotel rooms have been reduced to where someone with middle age or older eyes can’t see the printed page easily. I am sure this is an attempt to reduce their energy costs. In China I had to place the room keycard into a special holder near the door to get the electricity to turn on in the room. When leaving the room I removed the card and the electricity turned off after a short period of time. The lights in the room were very dim. I hate to have to carry my own light bulbs when traveling. Maybe I should buy a battery operated head lamp, but then I would have to carry batteries.
Of course most of your readers were born within a small time span. I don’t think very many of them would have stuck around if you were posting heavy metal or grunge metal music on this site. I only know about that genre from my 14 year old son.
What do you mean by the term “Little Christmas”?
Yet another warm sunny day here in North Texas but rain is forecast for the beginning of next week. We can use the rain.
January 7, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Bob,
I bought digital books when I went to Africa. It was so much easier carrying an iPad instead of all those books. I loved lying in bed and reading at night.
I would think you’d be able to buy batteries anywhere if you had a headlamp. Even 40 years ago in Ghana we could buy batteries for cassette players and cameras.
LIttle Christmas is the day the Magi arrived with their gifts.
I don’t watch the Grammy Awards any more as I don’t know any of the singers. Heavy metal to me is something like iron which is difficult to pick up or carry.
60° here today. It felt like a day in early spring.
January 7, 2012 at 5:10 pm
Christmas in January. Well we used to always throw a 12th night party but all our friends moved away back then and we ended up here in Florida. We couldn’t get it started here because few showed up since school is in session, better planned for the holidays. I really enjoyed them and everyone got a present. The next morning we would do away with the pine tree. My wife took the ornaments down this year on New Year’s Day. Big difference.
January 7, 2012 at 7:59 pm
Z&Me,
My lights outside are all that are left, and they’re coming down tomorrow. This is the part of Christmas I hate the most-its dismantling.
The next party is Chinese Bew Year-we’ll take any excuse to get together!
January 7, 2012 at 7:50 pm
Hello Kat,
Happy New Year to you.
“Four Strong Winds” has always been a favorite with me–particularly this version by Ian & Sylvia. You’ve probably heard it many times, but on the off chance that you haven’t, give it a listen.
OMOT
January 7, 2012 at 7:55 pm
Happy New Year to You as Well!
This song has always been a favorite of mine as well. My friend Ralph, with whom I was in the Peace Corps, would pull out his guitar in the evenings during training, and we’d sing along. I always asked for this song, and he’d groan.
January 7, 2012 at 7:51 pm
And it’s even more enjoyable if I actually include the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjfTDPhMdTk&feature=related
OMOT. Again.
January 7, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Thanks so much for posting this. I ove it no matter how many times I hear it.
January 7, 2012 at 11:17 pm
Happy New Year Kat
I have several versions of this song but the Ian and Sylvia has always been my favorite.
Herb
January 8, 2012 at 10:33 am
Happy New Year to you too, Herb,
I’m with you about Ian and Sylvia, always my favorite version as well.