Happy holidays

Moonlight zooming over the pond. January 2012.

A LETTER TO SU TUNG-P’O
Almost a thousand years later
I am asking the same questions
you did the ones you kept finding
yourself returning to as though
nothing had changed except the tone
of their echo growing deeper
and what you knew of the coming
of age before you had grown old
I do not know any more now
than you did then about what you
were asking as I sit at night
above the hushed valley thinking
of you on your river that one
bright sheet of moonlight in the dream
of the waterbirds and I hear
the silence after your questions
how old are the questions tonight

– W. S. Merwin

Foggy moon

Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice, and I want to celebrate with some winter images.  The photos are from the archives, taken in 2012, when we had some lovely winter weather (which, for me, means snow).  It’s appropriate, I think, that I’ll be spending the Solstice in the Bogs, where I learned a lot about winter during the Great Outdoor Challenge.

Gold on ice

The plumber was here yesterday morning to have a look at the kitchen sink and make sure there are no leaks.  He wasn’t here to fix the sink itself or the faucets or clean up the mess of putty left on the counter tops.  He’ll be back to do those things sometime next week, maybe.  Or the week after.  Kitchen Design Gal is, I think, working hard to make sure the kitchen is finished before the new year rolls around, but I’m not sure it will happen.

Black & white winter

The cabinet that had to be reordered (due to damage on the first one they delivered) didn’t show up on time so the cabinet installer will not be here today as planned.  That will also be rescheduled for sometime next week.  After Christmas, of course.  Or maybe the week after.  The cabinet installer, I’m told, will need to be here when the plumber comes back to fix the sink.  He has whatever piece of equipment they need to make the sink fit as it should.

Marshmallow world

Everything in its own time, right?  I am feeling oddly patient about it all.  Perhaps that’s because I’m not hosting Christmas in my home.  Or hosting anything, for that matter.  Good friends and family are welcome to visit if they’d like, but M and I won’t be throwing a party anytime soon.

Snow falling

I’m taking a break from blogging while I spend time with family and friends, celebrating love, laughter, and the season.  I’ll be back sometime next week.  Wishing you and yours a wonder-filled and magical winter.  Merry Christmas to those of you celebrating it.

Thank you all so much for your visits, your comments, and your likes.  Thank you for your blogs, your words, and your images.  Most of all, thank you for your friendship.

Happy holidays!

Be good, be kind, be loving.  Just Be.  🙂

Poinsettia in the snow