I have been looking out of the window a lot recently. Feeling a bit like a child with her nose pressed up against a sweet shop window, wanting to get out and have some fun. At long last the sewing is over, shop orders completed, school play costumes completed and craft events out of the way. Look out bloggers I'm on my way to visit, put the kettle on! I thought today I might have gone into town to start (Yes, start!) the Christmas shopping, yet, here I am once again looking out of the window. I'm nursing a lurgy that I know is trying to take a strong hold of me and am determined that honey, lemon and echinacea will get the upperhand...
On these beautiful quiet winter mornings the view can be quite mesmerising. I was listening to a play on the radio yesterday and one of the characters was talking about April being the month between thin winter and plump spring. Those few words are great aren't they. Winter can be dramatic, violent and stormy, yet it can also be still and calm and ethereal, the air does seem thin at times doesn't it. Early frosty mornings are the best - yesterday morning on the way to school as we walked down the hill I heard a bird singing and its song was all the more beautiful set against a solitary blanket of mist and silence.
I love the run up to Christmas but do regret that there always seems to be such little time to enjoy it all! It would be so good to be able to stand and savour these days.
Early December is a funny time of the year for me, the anniversary of my mother's death colours the start of the festive season. Isn't it strange how one day will always be forever locked in time, no matter what I am doing on that day I will forever be back in the hospital saying my last goodbye...
But now the fun begins. Lists to be written, decorations to be found, endless trips to the loft to find the missing Christmas tree lights, school plays to attend, carols to be sung and somewhere, somewhere in this very messy home there must be some chocolate to be eaten. Home alone, the computer to myself and loads of lovely blogs to catch up with, I'm putting Christmas on hold for just one more day ...
39 comments:
Hi, Kim...a most lovely and tender post. :o) This time is much dark & light...outside, inside, and emotions the same way. I am sorry this time hold sadness for you in the loss of your mother. I hope the small joys of now and your family fun will help temper the sadness, the darkness. Taking time to just be and enjoy is so important during these days, isn't it. So enjoy your tea and visiting around blogland today. And I must say I love this painting with aqua blues and greens...and how you've dressed it at the end with a string of crystals...lovely! ((HUGS))
Lovely post Kim. I feel a little melancholy at the moment. The sun in shining, the sky is blue and it is nice and peaceful. I hope the month continues to be this way.
Hi Kim
Love the post - I know what you mean about taking time just to enjoy.
Last year we went away for a few days on the 10th so I had to be really organised - what was brill was that when we got back on the 15th, everything was done so we could just sit back and enjoy.
I'm terrible for needing a deadline to get things done !!
Merry Christmas
Sara
Kim, I've so enjoyed reading your post - the colours in the painting are just beautiful, and I love the cotton reels! A special, reflective time to remember your Mum.
I'm really taking the time to enjoy these still, quiet days - whereas normally, I can't wait to get winter behind me & look to the spring! Every time we get a sunny day, I make sure I'm outside as much as possible and, so far, it's working to lift my mood and keep the lurgy at bay!
Just wanted to tell you also how much I'm enjoying the lovely book I won in your giveaway.
Willow xx
Lovely post. Sorry to hear about your Mum, it is such a hard time when anniversaries of the like crop up and especially around this festive season.
Beautiful post.
I'm sorry for your sadness hun,
i'm taking christmas week off, so i get a few days to myself, I'm looking forward to watching old films and chilling out, bought myself a copy of the hoilday from amazon.....£3....bargain....!
Big hug for youxxx
December is like that isn't it, so much of life all rolled into one, sadness, sweet memories, fun, laughter and stress. Hope you manage to beat the lurgy, don't forget to take loads of Vitamin C as well.
Hi Kim,
I wish you were closer I would be round to share a pot of hot tea and help with those lists and missing lights!
I have had many trips into the loft too! every year I promise myself that I will sort all my decorations out and label the box's, but there is never a good time to actually do it. Maybe this year.
I am clearing away all the mess that we have made over the last week or so, box's, bag's, crafting bits, etc etc. But I like a home to feel like a home and when a home is used it does get messy, cannot help it! I have piles of stuff all over the place and it is drving me a little mad, I get tempted to just not look and throw it out!
Have a lovely day Kim.
I hope to get my post finished later today and publish it...I am haveing a little giveaway, so do pop in, I would love to hear from you.
Hugs,
Carol xxx
Beautiful, moving post...I can so, so relate to this - december is a bitter sweet month here too...
Thanks for your visit to my blog.
Enjoy your tea and make the most of your precious "me time"..!
Have a great week..:)
I lost my daddy in early December. BUT! All the Christmases we had before that one! Those are the memories :)
Hope your cold takes a hike and you get to have some fun times of peace and quiet!
Hi Kim...I love the painting...quite haunting and the way that you have framed it with cotton reels and glass is beautiful...as a plump person...born in April...I like the quote from the radio play...I am counting the days to the holidays for some time alone with my new sewing machine...
Hi Kim,
So glad that you are taking it easier today...life is so hectic at this time of year...
Take care of yourself,
Niki x
I know how it is to miss someone and have that shadow the celebrations so I am just sending you a virtual hug. I hope today starts the day to a wonderful season for you. Chase those blues away. Hugs!
I find some holiday inspiration on blogs so that is all a part of it. :) I know loosing a loved one near any holiday gives strange mixed feelings. I hope the joys of the season will always win out and that includes thinking of the holiday memories with your mother. I too have lurgy along with a very bad cold. I have had a cold since October and wish it would go away.
Enjoy the build up to Christmas dear Kim!
Hugs ~
Heidi
Hello my dear, sorry to hear you have a bit of a lurgy. I hope its not too sad a time, you write so beautifully and tender about such sad feelings. :-(
If you can't find that chocolate, give me a call and I will put the siren on top of the car and declare it an emergency!
Coffee? Call me x
I'm sorry about your Mum, my auntie died last year on Christmas Eve, so I know that our family will feel happiness tinged with some sadness. Always feel like that when I take roses and lilies to my Dad at the crematorium. It's special times when we remember and miss special people. On a brighter note, I love the anticipation at this time of year. Crisp winter days and this year Twiget being 3 means he is getting rather excited too and it is infectious. Enjoy your blog catch up and your pre Christmas moments of quietness.
I LOVE the painting, just gorgeous.
Twiggy x
That quote from the play was spot on, I agree.
This time of year is incredibly emotional for all sorts of reasons and missing someone so, so special is made all the harder.
Take good care and enjoy the chocolate.
Lisa x
What beautiful and poetic words, I adore the painting so peaceful
X
Dear Kim. Wonderful post which really captures these winter days. The photos are beautiful - I love the shades of turquoise and grey, and clear glass crystals are one of my favourite things. Take time to be still, visit some happy memories of your Mum, and just be. Take care. Denise. x
So sorry to hear you are nursing a nasty lurgy... I do hope you can fight it off, I am a great believer in echinacea myself. My OH has had to take the day off work due to a really nasty cold. He never has time off work so its got to be bad! I am trying to look after him yet at the same time I am trying to keep away from him, just haven't got the time to be ill at the moment... so behind with Christmas myself and have my Mum to look after as she is not well (long story) she seems to be having one infection after another and its creating a sort of dementia which is so upsetting. Mum is getting so poorly she is getting muddled up with her regular medications so I have had to take them over....
Mum suffered a stroke shortly after my Dad died and things have not really been very good since then. To be honest the day I lost my Dad I also began to lose my Mum... My thoughts are with you Kim regarding the loss of your Mum in early December, I lost my Dad on the December 12th, seventeen years ago, but December 12th is still a hard day for Mum and I....
Anyway.... just to say love the picture and the colours... and I especially love your wreath on the door... its really nice..
Hope you ward this lurgy off.. look after yourself!!
Love Jane xxx
A touching post Kim. I think Christmas comes with so many expectations and yet hurtles at us so we barely have a moment to take it all in. Here in NZ it zooms p even faster because the sunshine just doesn't trigger the same reactins to get ready that the cold and snow do. Enjoy your moment away from the Christmas mayhem.
I can only nod and share your grief ... It must be a bitter sweet time for you.. with all that is to come and all that is lost.
Your beautiful little winter painting is a perfect icon for this time of year and the cold stillness of each day..
I hope there is some sparkle and joy for you in the coming days.. and a big box of tissues!!!!!
Take care dearest M..
Dxx
P.s sorry for the delete.. posted twice.. silly me!
Kim, I can only feel with you completely. Everyone else preceding has spoken from my heart.
Enjoy yourself, get well and treasure your memories.
Jo
x
as ever a lovely post, yes, I have taken time out today to catch up with my blog reading, I have felt a little lost without it.
Yes this time of years stirs up many emotions. Hope your doping OK.
A lovely post Kim - hope you find time to recharge and reflect today, and that you fight off the lurking lurgy!
Sweet Kim - I do hope the remainder of the month brings with it much happiness and joy! Savour each and every moment of the season with your family, and it will carry you through to Spring! =)
Hi Kim, loving that new banner!
So many people I know have lost loved ones near Christmas so it's always a happy time tinged with sadness at the same time. You'll be glad to hear my Christmas shopping is far from over, I keep wandering aimlessly round town and coming back with only one or two items. Never mind, we'll get there!
Keep that lurgy at bay!
Julia xx
ps. just been out today to buy yet more tree lights, last years never work!
I hope the medicines and the restorative blogs did their work and the virus was kept at bay. This is such a lovely thoughtful post. I hope you can enjoy things over Christmas. There's a loss that overshadows Christmas here too - it's tough but the little ones really help - their joy in it all can hopefully help to lift things a little. - all best wishes and thoughts. Emma x
hope you are feeling better soon - big hugs
lisa x
Oh I'm a bit late - I do hope you are feeling much better now! I tried to get all our cards and presents sorted early in December so I could enjoy the festive period - but something always seems to crop up doesn't it?! Here's hoping your Christmas shopping goes without hitch!
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Hi Kim, I’m sending you a big hug and a kiss!
I hope you are feeling better, that painting is beautiful!
Take care love Lou xxx
hi kim.....i just love your blog...i've been 'lurking' for a short time...i too collect and understand the 'keeping clean' issue.....recently i did remove all those collections from my sewing room so while i'm in there i don't get distracted by the 'dusty sparkles'.......
I am just amazed at your artistry. You have such a beautiful way of arranging things so that I look at them in a new way. The painting and the thread and prism... lovely. I'm sorry you aren't feeling your best, hopefully that will resolve soon so you can enjoy some of that Christmas chocolate. so sorry about your mom, that's rough. I am trying to enjoy mine with all my heart while I still have her!
Hi Kim, Hope you feel better soon and manage to get everything done. Keep taking the honey and lemon!!
Vanessa x
Oh Kim -- another beautiful post! You always warm my heart when I visit. I'm going to try very hard to slow down and enjoy a bit -- in spite of the too long list of things to do!
I see, I am very late to comment on this. I loved the thoughts for your mother... I have those, on the day my mother died, & I feel so priveleged to have held her face, & her tiny hands as she went.
Christmas is a festival older than the biblical implications, & we can all celebrate & rejoice in our families.
Hugs Kim XX
Oh dear, it seems so many of us are feeling a teeny bit down at the moment, I think it may be the total lack of sunshine.
Hope you are feeling better and less lurgy-fied soon, Liz
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