winterglow
The wingbeat of December has been filled with leisurely days and small winter pleasures. Replacing the moth perforated geraniums in the front flowerpots with fresh scarlet pointsettias and repotting the window boxes with vibrant red and white cyclamen added a festive air. A trip to Arizona to spend some holiday time with my mom, friends and family sweetened the season as well.
Bud has had time off and we've strung popcorn and cranberries for our pencil pine, made kitchen messes with homemade fudge and gingerbread house assembly, sipped steamy cups of wassail stirred with cinnamon sticks, and have read Pablo Neruda's Memoirs and The Catcher in the Rye aloud at twilight. I've been forcing Red Lion and Dancing Queen amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs in indoor canisters throughout the house. They surprise me each day with new bits of growth, color and bloom. Friends came over for Eve dinner (the traditional chili and tamales I've had for Eve dinner since I can remember, only now they are vegetarian and gluten free).
There are no snowmen in Santa Monica, though we do still have the company of incandescent hummingbirds and the black phoebe that's been singing here since spring.
I hope your season has been filled with so much joy.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Reader Comments (6)
Lovely to see your decorated house! We here are nestled close to the roaring fire with fresh bread about to be made ~ the cat is on my knee ~ the dog at my feet ~ the tree ornaments sparkle. xo
brooke ~ how perfectly cozy!
No snowmen here either - but lots of other good things. Your holiday season sounds like it's been lovely!
xo
cortnie
cortnie ~ happy to hear your holiday has been filled with goodness! i must admit, i would have really liked to have had a snowman. ;)
Your December sounds so lovely - and your home looks so beautifully festive. I want to string popcorn and cranberries now. I haven't done that in many years. (No cranberries then, though, and I'm glad to see it because they make the popcorn seem even more festive!)
My December has been full of quiet pleasures: cookie baking (this year I felt inspired and did 3 batches, which I never do), cinnamon roll baking with a friend, lots of hikes with the pup (our weather was incredible up until last week, very non-December-y), and time with friends. I am not sure I want the season to end.
elizabeth ~ i am imagining the sweet aroma of cinnamon rolls and cookies wafting through your house filling atlas' head with mischievous ideas. :)
one year we had three gingerbread houses lined up on the kitchen counter and rave, ever so quietly, entered the kitchen while we were napping and nibbled a sample from each one.