We are entering the season of Christmas. It’s a big deal, in the USA. Although I did not grow up in a observant religion per se, I’ve always loved this holiday. For my family with resources, it meant private abundance and public quiet. Presents and twinkling and tablecloths; no cars on the street, few airplanes above. Everyone home.
This year, of course, everyone’s not home. But we’re celebrating. I put up a tree. Bought it Saturday and stood it in water but didn’t finish decorating until Thursday. Good enough.
The angel belonged to my grandmother, via her Austro-Hungarian second husband if I’m not mistaken. The wings are a little crumpled. Seemed fitting. And I’ve ordered a few more trees to go with these glass Pop Art sillies from Target.
One very Boomer-appropriate from Simon Pearce, and three more Millennial-esque from Etsy.
As far as actual presents, my siblings and I decided not to draw names as we have in years past. But I sent them all something anyway, because, pandemic. I thought about wine from What To Drink’s new bottle shop, as I very much enjoy their Wine Club, and consumable goods, local, small business are all to the good, but in the end I chose Cowgirl Creamery. Also consumable, local-ish, small. They make deeeeeee-licious cheeses.
I gave my daughter some boots. But also, light. I’ve ordered my favorite candles (Durham, Salvador, Addis Abbaba and Kingston) from Bright Black for her. They may or may not arrive by the 25th but, pandemic. Black-owned small business.
Finally, my son wanted a ginormous countertop water filter, so I obliged. But, also, light. I called a local nursery and asked if they delivered Christmas trees. I explained if he wasn’t there they could just leave it on the doorstep. Apparently they went with Doorstep Is Plan A because he opened to find a cute little friend, the delivery elves long gone.
The lights arrive tomorrow.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas, if you want one, a Happy Hanukkah if you are celebrating, and a non-bleak winter to all. I am going to take a few weeks off, probably until the New Year. Please accept my cheerful, hopeful, grateful best wishes to you, your families and everyone you love. It goes without saying, at least we have each other.
28 Responses
Merry Christmas, my friend! Love and best wishes for a joyous and peaceful and even hopeful time as the world reconfigures around the change of light that solstice will bring.
xoxo
And what a lovely group of followers you have! Enjoy your holiday and some peaceful time afterwards.
From the picture you posted, I’m guessing your son doesn’t live in Brooklyn anymore.
:)
Best of holidays to you and yours. Cheers, claire
Mt. Tam cheese is to die for!
It all looks simple and elegant. I’m afraid we are all isolated from our children.
I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and a better year ahead.
The Jews have a saying, “Next year in Jerusalem”. I think it has many meanings beyond the one stated.
Have a lovely holiday,
Luci
Merry Christmas, Lisa. Wishing you and your family peace, happiness, and health. Your tree is beautiful. I love the angel on the top. Crumpled wings seem right for any year, really, but are particularly apt for this one. May we come together again in a kinder, gentler, more inclusive, and revitalized world in 2021. xoxoxo.
Happy Christmas, Lisa, and next year full of health,hope,joy and peace of mind!
Your tree is so beautiful
Have a lovely holiday
Dottoressa
Merry Christmas from the desert. Sometimes it’s just weird; highs are in the 70s, no one is on the street, we’re not shopping for anything other than food or wine. It’s hard to believe that it’s Christmas amid a pandemic, it all feels odd. I hope your holiday will be happy, your tree is spectacular and I do like the little glass trees.
Merry Christmas Lisa. Your daughter will love those boots, curious which color you chose? I gave my daughter an angel similar to yours, but her ornaments are in storage while they’re staying with us. Getting a tree next week, and will probably hang acorns and other things we find on the ground. It’ll be a strange Christmas but hopefully a cozy one. Sending love and light to you and your wonderful family.
Nice tree!
I went nuts for lights this year, and haven’t gotten to the tree yet.
It seems like a good year not to overdo.
What’s for Christmas dinner?
your son got a lovely tree! as did you. trying to find the small victories and moments to celebrate … hoping for a better 2021, and ready to work to make it so.
Love your posts and insight. Merry Christmas, Lisa, to you and yours.
Your tree is beautiful! Thanks for that candle intel. I have a bit of an addiction :-) And have a restful, peaceful holiday time. xo
Have a very Merry Christmas, and all best wishes for a much better 2021 as well. See you next year.
I dearly love that your son opened the door to a surprise Christmas tree. :-) Thank you for that grin today!
Dear Lisa,I have only recently discovered your lovely gentle blog, it is a joy. I ,m sitting here in Brighton , England. Looking at the sea under rather grey rainy clouds. The tree is decorated and the dinner will shortly go into the oven roast lamb and Yorkshire pudding! The pleasures of home . Happy Christmas and a better New Year.
In our family we don’t celebrate Christmas as such but usually mark the solstice . The change to increasing light seems important enough to celebrate up here in Yorkshire UK (and not just for practicing pagans!). I am reminded each year of my mother’s SAD and belief that midwinter needed some sort of feastday to get us all thru’ it . Things are quieter this year and I’m afraid I like it ! Usually people complain endlessly about the Xmas madness .
So we will be having roast beef on the 21st at my son’s house . To others; happy Hanukkah & merry Christmas as appropriate .
Cowgirl Creamery – good choice. I’m especially partial to Mt Tam.
We got some wine in the mail. I had to sign for it. Luckily my grey hair was my ID.
Thank you for finding Bright Black. I ordered the sample set of candles for all of my children. They smell wonderful! Thank you for the thoughtful and cheerful message. Have a wonderful and safe holiday season.
Cheers to you and yours!
Merry Christmas Lisa. Much warmth and wishes for joy.
Best wishes for a happy and restful holiday! Let’s hope that 2021 is better for everyone.
Your tree is gorgeous! Ours will look more like your son’s on the doorstep – naked, but with many little multi-color lights. We have become just too lazy to put on ornaments, except for our own slightly tattered Renaissance-style angel as topper. And the tree itself seems to grow smaller with every passing year, as does the array of gifts…
But with a crackling fire in the hearth, baroque holiday music on the cd player, and glasses of prosecco in hand, we will hail the birth of the Prince of Peace and wish joy to all people of good will – including you and your dear family, and all the readers of your always elegant, eloquent, and enlivening blog.
Have a wonderful holiday, dearest Lisa, and may The Zoom be with you!
Wonderful gift choices! Creative and thoughtful. I love your son’s photo of the tree!
I am reminded each year of my mother’s SAD and belief that midwinter needed some sort of feast day to get us all thru’ it. Things are quieter this year and I’m afraid I like it. and I gave my daughter an angel similar to yours, but her ornaments are in storage while they’re staying with us.
Happy Belated Christmas Lisa. Somehow I missed this post in the hubbub of the pandemic. I love the gifts you chose for your family. Cowgirl Creamery especially calls out to me–and I love the idea of having a tree delivered.
We had a tree out at our farmhouse–decorated it with our grandsons the day after Thanksgiving. We had to take it down early as we were returning to Dallas. I left it on our front porch, in water, in case our housekeeper or her team wanted it. We’ll see if it is still on the porch when we return, or if it found a new place to shine for Christmas.
Happy New Year!
Hello!
Have a very Merry Christmas, and all best wishes for a much better 2021 as well. See you next year.
Thank you for finding Bright Black. I ordered a sample set of candles for all of my children. They smell wonderful! Thank you for the thoughtful and cheerful message. Have a wonderful and safe holiday season. Wishing you and your family peace, happiness, and health. Your tree is beautiful.Swift Retaining Walls Atlanta
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