These Are the Days...
an overview of life lately + merry christmas to all
These are the days… of beautiful sunshine and rainy cold—a summary of life in many aspects. Of the warmth of new flannel sheets on all of our beds and the comforts of a cosy home, in contrast with outings that don’t go as planned. (We’ll try again, Fairhope, AL and Grand Hotel at Point Clear!)
These are the days… of nostalgia of Christmases past… when the boys were little and everything was exciting… when we actually got cards WITH LETTERS in the mailbox…when our extended families got together… when grandparents were still with us… and also realizing it’s sometimes the smallest things like cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove, that are remembered…
These are the days… of little cedar saplings pulled from the ground with the taproot intact and plunged in glass jugs of water to liven up the living room and boughs of greenery tucked above the mirror and tied with a velvet ribbon.
These are the days… of afternoon sunshine dappling Christmas craft projects in the studio with apple cinnamon hot tea at hand whilst listening to A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.
These are the days… of holiday treats. Namely, red cinnamon hard candy (the first batch is already eaten). And peppernuts1—the frustration of getting the crumbly dough manipulated into dime-sized logs is as traditional as the cookies themselves! Which is better, snitches of dough from the freezer or crunchy baked cookies with slightly soft centers, fresh from the oven?
These are the days… of taper candles burning at breakfast and again at supper.
These are the days… of covering the plants because it’s going to freeze and uncovering the plants because now it’s 80* and they need to breathe.
These are the days… of Christmas carols. I love Christmas songs. I know not everyone does. I’m Grinchy in other areas. Not getting my hopes, dreams and ideas accomplished before the season is over, makes me feel like a Grinch! How does December go by so swiftly?
These are the days… of gingerbread houses. I like to make homemade gingerbread shaped into the cottage style with a steep pitched roof, glass candy poured into the window holes, decorated with white icing and a light inside to make the house glow. I don’t have mine made yet!
These are the days… of going ice skating, late at night, after the Ice Flyer hockey games.
These are the days… of hanging the old limp plaid stockings. Santa doesn’t fill them—we fill each others’ during the season.
These are the days… of a big fat orange cat and a slightly smaller grey and white cat, curled on the bed, or on the rug or on my lap… which brings to mind the following poem that I love by Brian Bilston, and a little happening:
This is the short little poem I was inspired to learn, sort of last minute, for the poem fest the youth group put on. At home, in the shower, and to a few other random people, I could recite it perfectly! On the night of the event I got up with a measure of confidence. The first stanza went fine. Then, all coherent thought fled. Careers. Something about careers. But what?! I reached in my pocket for my phone, but alas in my confidence I failed to bring it onstage. Finally I took my seat to locate the poem. Meanwhile the next volunteer recited an entire Dr. Seuss book without a glitch! But, not being one to give up easily, I returned and was able to recite my little poem after all. Now I know all about stage fright. I hope the audience wasn’t too embarrassed for me. I still have friends— so that’s a plus!
These are the days… of in between for our family. Nobody participating in youth group, but both boys out of school. (the younger is doing an online course at home now, after finishing grade 9 at school)
These are the days… of trying to get teenage male humor! I don’t seem to catch on to memes, no matter how hard I try!
These are the days… of hardly being able to tell when the oldest son gets a haircut (a trim?) and of easily being able to tell when younger aspiring barber son gives himself a haircut and a new “do”!
These are the days… of dad and sons leaving by 6-6:30 in the mornings, all going to different jobs and having their own stories to tell at the end of day…construction, aviation mechanics, and fence building. One day a week I go to my hobby job of working at a bakery/bulk food store and the rest of the days I am happily home, doing laundry, baking sourdough bread, making cookies and multiple batches of hot cocoa mix.
These are the days… of restoring a cottage for rent, and creating RV sites after the regular day’s work.
These are the days… of Christmas suppers and parties… of drawing names and getting a gift that starts with the first letter of their name—kind of fun!
These are the days… of being with the Schneiders on the Saturday before Christmas and the Kaufmanns on Christmas Day… of a few days camping with our little family during the holiday and hopefully meeting up with fellow friends!
These are the days… of remembering the real reason for the season and being ever so grateful He came as a babe and for peace in our hearts in the midst of it all.
These are the days… of calling this my Christmas Letter!
These are the days… The Good ole Days!
Sending love and cheer for all the year! I'd love to hear from you about your days!
xo
Rhonda (40) & Wade (almost 45), Jacob (18) and Neil (15)
Peppernuts, or Pfeffernüsse as they're traditionally known in Germany, are delightfully small and crunchy spice cookies.
Hi, old friend…. Somehow I saw this on someone’s status and I see it’s you! Of many years ago. Would love to cross paths and catch up all those many years since 17. 🫣🤔 -Rose (used to be Giesbrecht)
"of trying to get teenage male humor!"
Since our three girls are married, it's only our fourteen-year-old son at home with us. I complained to my husband the other night that I just don't get it. He thought for a moment before replying, "You don't have to!"