It's the festive season!
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| Patio Lights |
Patio and window lights go up right after Thanksgiving, announcing to my neighbors that the festive season has arrived. Soon the hours of light will increase. Next is the entry décor featuring red ribbons and berries along with pinecones, recognizing my dependence upon the natural world. Sprigs of evergreen collected on my walks adorn pots holding plants now resting from the exuberance of summer and fall.
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| Welcome to the festive season. |
My tree is up, but it’s not what you think! Composed of holiday greeting cards from years past, it celebrates the interconnected web of relationships that has sustained me through the years. One or more of the cards that make my tree may have come from you. Choosing from my assortment of cards brings memories of places I’ve lived and friendships that shaped me. Beneath this year’s Peace Tree, I have lined up cards that symbolize the gift of love received during difficult times of my life.
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| Peace Tree |
Next come all the festive mementos: paper peace cranes created years ago with Cheryl in Victoria, tiny little bells from India, white shells collected on Pacific coast beaches, a Peruvian creche purchased in Brussels to celebrate the birth of my inner child, and small decorative chocolate boxes exchanged with university workmates. Savoring these fond memories, I usually take two to three weeks to put things up.
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| Bells, Cranes, and Shells |
In this season of giving and renewal, may the 2021 winter solstice proclaim Hope and Peace for our troubled world and bring Joy to your heart.
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| I love chocolate! |
