Winter Magick! (Maggie)

We had the most beautiful ice storm the day after Christmas. It was interesting, because we'd had a similar one a week or so earlier, and I'd set forth the intent to capture some gorgeous photos of the ice glistening on the trees. But the sun never came out that day, and so that magical effect was never there to photograph. Then, like an extra bonus gift, the ice returned right after the holiday. Every tree was coated in ice. And then the sun came up brightly, and lit the trees up just the way I'd been hoping for. So I took my camera out into the freezing temps, and snapped a pile of pics. Some of them are just stunning, if you ask me. =) I'm posting the two best shots of the bunch.


Our family holiday was lovely. Last year was full of tension, hurt feelings, and way too much alone time. Last year showed me what I didn't want, which showed me what I did want, which launched a whole pile of desires that became this year's reality. I had the family here for Christmas Eve dinner, then I went to one daughter's for Christmas day breakfast, and to another's for Christmas night dinner. Everyone was happy and loving and there was almost zero tension, aside from the usual holiday bustle. The kids had a blast and gifts abounded. I received some lovely ones. Dinnerware from one daughter, a fabulous camcorder from two others, movies & cds from the others, and it was all great.

I also received some incredibly special, thoughtful, insightful gifts from someone special to me, including an Iphone of all things, and an incredible wide angle lens for my camera, and a ton of other tender, touching gifts that left me deeply moved and almost weepy. It means so much when someone not only knows you well enough to know exactly what you would love, but takes the time to find those things and wrap them with tender care. Some things were just something I had mentioned in a passing conversation. That's just so cool when someone cares enough to remember those things.

A dear friend gave me a Pilates kit, complete with the big ball, small weighted balls, stretchy bands, dvd, and more. I can hardly wait to give it a try. Another got me one of the Esther Hicks books I'd been wanting, just out of the blue, and another sent me some incredible homemade bath salts.

I love giving and receiving gifts. I'm going to make it a resolution to give gifts to people throughout the year, little thoughtful things to let them know I was listening and thinking of them. Why wait for the holidays?

I did have my usual holiday mishaps, which I think make for fun stories, so they're not so bad. We put off getting a tree until the last minute and wound up choosing one in the pouring rain. Which meant not looking closely enough to realize it was actually two trees that had grown together, which made it almost impossible to get into a tree stand, and to stay upright. I made it work, eventually, through much trial and error. Then I decided the top part needed trimming, so the star would fit up there. At that point it was fully decorated and the lights were on and twinkling merrily. I got my big garden shears, climbed up on a chair, and gave a few chops at the twigs that were in the way. And naturally, chop number three went right through one of the strings of lights. I saw it coming, but couldn't stop in time! So for the remainder of the holiday I had lights on the bottom two thirds of the tree, but none on the top. Oh, well. It was still pretty.

The other mishap still hasn't been remedied. Somehow my mailbox was beheaded on Christmas Eve. I'm pretty sure Santa winged it with his sleigh as he flew past.

Ah, but it's all good.

I have one remaining mission for this year, and only one, really. Finish the book! I can't think about anything else until that's done and now that the big gift giving days are past, I can really buckle down. It's due on 1/2. And it will be done and done perfectly (she vows, fist in the air.)

That is what I'm off to do right now. Wish me luck. Enjoy the beauty around you. Oh, and if you had any fun holiday mishaps to share, please post them here. Turkey on the floor. Burnt rolls. (Been there, done that.) It's all much funnier in hindsight, and if you can laugh about it, it feels better immediately!

Happy final week of 2007!

Maggie