Monday, December 20, 2010

HEADING TOWARD CHRISTMAS

A pair of cardinals pause before breakfasting.
The morning is overcast, the dimly-lit sky filled with snow—flakes so fine the air seems hazy. The river is dark, somber, moving quietly along. A pair of cardinals are sitting on a limb near the cottage door, glowing bright against the gloomy background. 

Yesterday was Myladylove's birthday and also our anniversary. We celebrated the former last night, at a favorite Italian restaurant south of town, joined by my daughter and son-in-law, and fellow-father-in-law. Good food, good company, and I daresay a good time had by all; the best way to tick off another year's mile-marker. Myladylove and I had enjoyed our anniversary dinner the night before, at a Mexican eatery not far from the cottage. Unlike birthdays, years shared in love are like dividends paid from a treasure whose value increases annually.

Here's a newsflash: the Christmas tree is now decorated…well, almost. I still have a handful of ornaments to put on later today, between writing and zapping off a column, plus finishing a couple of other chores. But the bulk—which must number at least a couple hundred and are about evenly divided between various speciality decorations and standard glass balls—have been hung. The only question remaining is whether or not to add a few packets of those silver mylar "icicles." My mother never thought a Christmas tree looked finished without shimmering strands of icicles, along with the lights, ornaments, and garland. But they're time-consuming and messy to apply correctly (no, you don't just stand back and sling gobs at the tree) and time-consuming and messy to remove. And of course Moon the dog always eats a few, which does tend to brighten up her morning walks. Nevertheless, I agree with Mom that the added sparkle is worth the time and mess—so providing there are a few packets among the tubs of decorations, I suppose I'll add them to the tree along with the remaining ornaments.

Tomorrow morning, at 8:00 a.m. sharp, Myladylove has to be in the dentist's office for what is hoped will be the final installment to last week's tooth cap fiasco. Then it's a concerted push to finish our Christmas shopping, which at this point now seems possible. Who wudda thunk? And if we're really on a roll, we'll make it home in time for a fireside dinner, carols on CDs, and a leisurely hour or two in which to admire the fully-decorated tree!
——————— 

24 comments:

Rowan said...

Happy Anniversary to you both and Happy Birthday to YourLadyLove! I do hope that the permanent capped is fimly affixed and that a successful shopping expedition followed. I'm afraid I had to laugh at your description of the previous trip to the dentist and shopping malls though I'm sure the dentist part wasn't very amusing for your other half! The photo of the cardinals is so beautiful, I know I've said before how much I love the vibrant colours of these little birds. Enjoy your evening, it sounds as though you will both have earned it:)

Arija said...

My oh my, those cardinals!

Best wishes for both a new natal year for your Ladylove and your Anniversary. May the begun year be full of love, good health and enjoyment.

I am starting to wish that the sun would break out here too. We have the heaters on and rain and hail from the Antarctic where normally we would be sweltering in the high 90's. So much for global warming.

Happy days, safe driving and hopes for the crowning glory to hold this time.

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Sounds perfect to me! This is truly what it is all about isn't it - connecting, sharing, loving, serving, remembering, breathing - with a joyful and grateful heart.

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ-

"Happy Anniversary" and your celebrations sounded wonderful. Good to know your tree is decorated :-) and that you and your Lady will be able to set by the hearth fire and enjoy the view, the love, your home and life. Hallelujah!

"Merry Christmas"

Love Gail
peace and hope.....

George said...

What a splendid photo, Grizz, beautifully composed and full of bright color to contrast with the grays of winter. May you, your ladylove, Moon the Dog, and your Christmas tree fare well in the days ahead. Merry Christmas to all.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

"...years shared in love are like dividends paid from a treasure whose value increases annually."

You do have a way with words.

You made me smile with your reference to the tinsel eaten by Moon the dog brightening up her morning walks.

Stunning captures of the cardinals, too.

Carolyn H said...

Griz: I love your photo of cardinals in the snow. They're a real show-stopper at any time but there's something about seeing them in snow that's just about perfect. Thanks!

Carolyn H.

Grizz………… said...

Rowan…

Rowan, if you can't laugh at life and your own follies, there's just no hope. But sometimes it's harder than others. The tough part is that because of limited days off, extra work hours, various doctor appointments, and such things as her tooth capping and my my colonoscopy, we've had only a two half days of gift shopping together since early November. Now it looks like tomorrow may not see the tooth permanently capped as they've already changed the appointment (because the lab doesn't have the cap done yet, let alone shipped) from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. But we'll be able to shop until whenever…

Cardinals are just beautiful birds, especially against the snow. I see them by the dozens each and every day, many at very close range. I never get tired of them or of taking their photos.

Grizz………… said...

Arija…

Thank you for all the well wishes. And I'm glad you're taken by my cardinals.

I don't mind cloudy days.In fact, I've now finished and zapped off my column and have several hours ahead to get some other things done. I work well when it's cloudy.

Did you ever figure out my email address? Write if you did; let me know via a comment if you didn't. It's easy, really…

Grizz………… said...

Bonnie…

Nothing beats family, friends, and love. People are life's only worthwhile treasures—caring, loving, sharing with one another. The rest is just stuff.

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

I expect most of our truly cozy, peaceful evenings are going to come after Christmas. But that's okay. I'm thinking about becoming old fashioned and celebrating Christmastide in its entirety.

Meanwhile, if we pull tomorrow off, the rest will be fun!

Take care…

Grizz………… said...

George…

Merry Christmas to you, too, my friend. As hectic as it's been lately, there have also been moments of beauty and joy—lots of laughter. I'm really not complaining.

You can't go wrong with a redbird shot…

Grizz………… said...

Linda…

The Irish gift 'o gab…though I meant every word. Nor was I kidding about Moon's post-tensil walkabouts.

I believe cardinals were put on this earth to make photographers look good.

Grizz………… said...

Carolyn…

Can't believe you're not hip-deep in snow already—but I knocked on wood when I typed that, so you're safe for now.

Is there anything prettier than a male cardinal, all puffed up, sitting in a dark green cedar thicket? Or like this pair, waiting until the time is right for their fancy selves to come to breakfast?

Jain said...

Lovely photo! It struck me as a portrait of Grizz and Hisladylove, pausing amid the bustle to appreciate the season. Enjoy!

Hilary said...

The Cardinal pair is such a beautiful shot. Happy Anniversary to you two love birds and a Happy Birthday to yourladylove. :)

KGMom said...

Happy anniversary. Happy birthday.
And happy Christmas.
I like the greeting "Merry" Christmas--but I think in olde tyme days it was more Happy Christmas.
Anyway, hope all are merry and bright...

Arija said...

No, I didn't. Now if you leave a comment on my bog ( says she sneakily) I will have it as all comments come in via email.

I'd really like that Grizz . . .

So sorry to hear about the tooth fairy not coming up to scratch.

Robin said...

Has it really been a year?

Oh! Happy, Happy....Grizz!

(I'd love for you to visit me...

anddaybreaks.blogspot.com)

New life. New blog.

Merry Christmas to you and YourLadyLove....

Grizz………… said...

Jain…

I love that thought, which hadn't occurred to me, silly old romantic that I am. Thank you!

Grizz………… said...

Hilary…

Thank you very much. We've had a wonderful year, enjoyed a good anniversary dinner together, and Myladylove had a fun and fine birthday get-together, too.

Grizz………… said...

KGMom…

Thank you…for all three. And it was at least as often "Happy" Christmas as "Merry" Christmas a century or two ago. Then there was the business of "Old Christmas" as well as "Christmastide."

Grizz………… said...

Arija…

Don't give it a second thought. Not only does my version of a "high security" email address listing prevent most web crawler programs from snarfing up my actual address—it apparently confuses most folks who read this blog, as well. What I had assumed would be obvious, obviously isn't. And of course we all know what they say about those who assume…

Anyway, in the right-hand column of the Riverdaze front page, below my mug shot and WELCOME, you see this:

—————
You may write me at:
macscribe AT gmail DOT com
—————

The "AT" is just the @ symbol; the DOT is just a "." or period. Thus it's muckscribe@gmule.com (Yes, I intentionally misspelled those two words—the paranoia remains. The "macscribe" and "gmail" are correct.)

Clear as mud, right? Fear not, I'll leave a comment on your blog.

Grizz………… said...

Robin…

It has been—368 days, to be exact. What's more, I'd do it all over again. Amazing.

I will get over to your new blog. Absolutely.

And Merry Christmas to you!