Monday Morning Musings:
On Christmas Eve, sugar-rushed
to cookie-coma amidst twinkling lights,
we settled, sofa-snug, with snoring cat,
as the wind locomotive kept rushing past
tumbling the tracks, but traveling on,
and I finally slept–
waking to coffee scent and gifts,
traces of dreams, trailing, falling,
like the rain, silver-streaking the windows,
before evaporating,
and now beyond grey curtains, the pale Christmas sun,
waits to make her entrance,
rising with hopes–
not if, but when—
we see each other again,
as the days grow longer
and the light grows and flows
through clouds to dance on branches
and brush the river with shimmering glow—
then, I hold this beauty close—the unexpected gifts–
that warm my soul within,
and I watch as a spirit flies from tree
on white heron feathers
winging toward dawn . . .
and a new day begins.
I know this is a very sad time for many people, and I know I am fortunate for what I have. Although I missed being with family and friends, I did have a good holiday. On Christmas Eve afternoon, we saw our younger daughter and her husband and puppy in the afternoon (when it started to rain, son-in-law came up with a creative idea), then we had fondue for dinner and watched Love Actually. In case anyone is wondering, you can use leftover flat champagne in fondue. I used the leftover bread to make baked French toast that we had for brunch on our post-storm Christmas Day, as we streamed a Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas special. It was very relaxed—the upside of no visitors and not having to be anywhere is that we had no schedule and didn’t have to worry about the house being clean.🤣 We Zoomed with family later in the afternoon and evening.
Christmas Eve Fondue 
Let there be light and more light
Surprise Gift 
Simple Joy
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
I’m pleased you had a joyful holiday season 😊
Thank you! I hope you did, as well. 😀
I survived it, and the kids had fun, so that’s good enough for me!
😀💙
Looks and sounds perfect 🙂
Thank you! It was relaxing. I’m still eating cookies . . .😀
The cookie obsession is one that hasn’t caught on here. Too lazy probably 🙂
Happy Holidays, Merril.
While varied, the lighting in your outdoor photos is stunning, especially in the first photo.
Thank you very much, Ken!
I hope you had a happy holiday, too.
We did, indeed.
😀
I’m so glad you had a good holiday. I appreciate some of the quietness of it, too (and not having to clean house!). I love that your shadow has become a tree spirit. 🙂
Wonderful! I would have cheese fondue but my kids are not fans and I’d end up being the only dipper… sigh.
I watch Love, Actually every year, too.
I love cheese fondue.
I know you watch Love Actually. Younger daughter watches it every year, too. I mentioned it to my husband, and he said he didn’t think he had ever seen it, so I said, OK, we’re watching it then. I liked that I hadn’t seen it in a few years because I didn’t remember everything. Husband said afterward that he thinks he had seen it before. 😏
It’s so good!
Of course you know. Silly me 😉
And glad hubby kept you company and other than the Mr. Bean part – which usually annoys me but for some strange reason didn’t this year. I think it’s because my youngest came to watch that part with me and giggled me into joining her 😉
I like the Mr. Bean part–though that’s one of the things I had forgotten. I’m glad she came to giggle with you! 😀
It was better this time ’round. Go figure 😉
😀
Loved your photo collage and poetry. Happy New Years!
Thank you so much, Gwen. Happy New Year to you, too!
Lovely pics and prose Merril. We also watched Love, Actually – a first for us though our sons and daughter in law had seen it a few times and thoroughly enjoyed watching it again with us.
Thank you, Susan. I hope you had a good holiday. Younger daughter watches it every year, and I suspect she first watched it with me.
I’m so happy you had a nice holiday, Merril. Great musing and photos! Mick is looking a little doubtful about the fondue. 🙂 I’m really curious about the tree.
Thank you, Jill. No, he wasn’t doubtful, he was concentrating on keeping the bread from falling back into the pot! 😀 We both have Covid hair. Hahaha.
I’m not sure what you’re curious about?
Covid hair…LOL! I tree looks almost charred around the bottom. I wondered if you used some special lighting.
Neither one of us has had a hair cut since this all began. I was just beginning to consider it when the numbers went up again.
Ohhh–yes, I think I used a filter, so the colors and shadows are somewhat intensified. 😏
“rising with hopes–” – and I’m clinging into it. It is always nice to see people going on despite of this interesting times. I love the shadow picture, by the way!
Thank you very much!
Love the tree spirit!
Thank you so much! 😀
Thank you for sharing your Christmas photos with us, Merril! (My husband and I also have COVID hair. I’m going to have to start wearing a hat for Zoom meetings.) Your river photos are particularly stunning today. I love your tree spirit!
Thank you so much, Liz.
My hair is halfway down my back now–like when I was in college. 😀
I hope you had a good holiday.
You’re welcome, Merril. When I was in college, my hair was long enough to sit on. I certainly hope the pandemic doesn’t last that long! My husband and I had a good holiday. We did a Facetime gift unwrapping with our daughter and son-in-law in San Diego. Watching them open their gifts really made the day for us. And their two very naughty puppies added entertainment value.
I’m glad you had a good holiday and got to Facetime with your daughter and son-in-law (and pups). 😀
I have already eaten way too many cookies. Of course I love the shadow spirit, and also that peeking cat.
My hair is also haircutless, but I always wear a ponytail, so it really doesn’t matter–I cut my bangs every few weeks, sometimes to better effect than others. And great skies! (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe. I’m still eating cookies!
I can pull my hair back, but my husband’s hair really needs to be cut.
My nephew was complaining . I’ll see what he looks like on our family call for New Years. I have seen a lot more man buns lately, but that’s definitely not his style.
My husband has joked about that. I’m not a fan. 😀
You hit the nail on the head with your description of the frightful storm we experienced in Florida: ” the wind locomotive kept rushing past. . .” Fortunately the weather was balmy Christmas Eve morning when our family gathered on the patio to exchange gifts and snack.
Your fondue photos are hilarious and the shadow spirit photo is priceless! 🙂
Thanks so much, Marian. The wind kept waking me on Christmas Eve night, but fortunately we didn’t lose power. I’m glad you had good weather for your family gathering!
Can you tell I really like cheese fondue? 🤣
Yes, indeedy!
Beautifully done. “I like cookie-coma” and the shadow spirit. Your prose paragraph is sensitive,
Thank you very much, Derrick!
I’m happy that you are, and that you are safe & happy, and that your family is safe & happy.
What a year?
Yes, indeed. Thank you!