dual personalities

Since New Year’s Eve is tomorrow, you may find the title of this post a little premature, but the party is over for us. Sons #2 and #3 have left, and the rest of us are back at work. We have no plans to celebrate the new Year and will probably be in bed long before midnight.  I’m not complaining. We had a superb Christmas!

Everything looked peaceful and pretty.

The cat even sat on my lap (briefly).

Gifts came with elaborate cards and difficult riddles, and there was at least one shudder-inducing present.

It’s alive! Nicole can now make her own Kombucha

We received books, music, DVDs (including the wonderful Captain Newman, M.D. from my DP), art (again, from my DP), socks, and things less easy to categorize. We played board games, talked and talked, and ate too much chocolate.  The cat entertained us with her feline combat skills. When temperatures plummeted way below zero (into the -20s), we had an excuse to stay inside. It was so much fun that I forgot to take pictures and most of the ones I did shoot turned out like this:

It has a certain modernist appeal, don’t you think?

But now the party’s over and it’s time to look forward to a new year.  I’ve settled on one New Year’s resolution, which I’m stealing from my dear Dual Personality’s post yesterday. I’m going to “foil my foes with joy”!  What about you?

Here’s a poem to contemplate as the new year dawns:

Barter, by Sara Teasdale

Life has loveliness to sell,
   All beautiful and splendid things,
Blue waves whitened on a cliff,
   Soaring fire that sways and sings,
And children’s faces looking up
Holding wonder in a cup.

Life has loveliness to sell,
   Music like a curve of gold,
Scent of pine trees in the rain,
   Eyes that love you, arms that hold,
And for your spirit’s still delight,
Holy thoughts that star the night.

Spend all you have for loveliness,
   Buy it and never count the cost;
For one white singing hour of peace
   Count many a year of strife well lost,
And for a breath of ecstasy
Give all you have been, or could be.

Happy New Year!

While perusing the internet recently, I kept coming across the phrase “the war on Christmas”. I’m not going to comment on this notion other than to say that (true or not) there’s a simple remedy. There’s nothing stopping us from celebrating as we choose. Go all out! I don’t mean with parties and decorations and presents. I mean really celebrate the birth of Jesus. Naysayers can’t stand happy people. And we have plenty to feel happy about.

Despite some nasty winter weather, my last traveler has arrived safely home, and we are now in full pre-Christmas activity  mode. Currently, four of us are scattered around the living room with laptops and tea, while outside it’s loudly sleeting. Son #1 is at work — poor lad.

The cat, having chased the red laser dot up and down the stairs multiple times, has collapsed on the sofa with Keekaw.

We are almost ready for the big day. Our wrapping is just about done, we made a kitty cave out of a box (you can see it in the background in this picture), and we’re preparing a list so the DH can go foraging for supplies.

What’s more, the Christmas cactus actually has ONE flower!

It’s only the second time I’ve gotten it to flower, so I’m super pleased.

Remember to take the time to enjoy your Christmas. It’s important!

*Barbara Robinson, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!