The presence of presents

We're in another calm before the storm, to the extent there's calm during Christmas season before late Christmas Eve. Christmas cookies and candy are being consumed by elves and wannabes. Too many of any kind of Christmas sweets can de-elf the best of us.

Today we started rereading J.R.R. Tolkien's Letters From Father Christmas. The atmosphere outside is pensive, with snow and bitter cold pending. Christmas, children, Tolkien fantasy and, perhaps, a cup of hot chocolate (and a cookie or two) seems like a beneficial combination to keep from getting sulky and doomy at the prospect of once more snow blowing the drive. As an early Christmas wish, dare we hope the bulk of the snowfall stays North of us instead of getting the 4" to 6" forecast. Fortunately, if the season's trend continues. we're facing more of an annoyance than a serious problem. 🤞

We are currently kicking ourselves though, since we blew through the Summer and Autumn without conditioning the dogs to their booties. The snow isn't a concern, but the real cold is. With any luck we can get through a couple of days of minus temperatures and then return to seasonable. The dogs handle that pretty well.🤞 (again)

Tomorrow, while it's snowing, I need to check the status of the Christmas shopping I need to get done. The Better Half has already taken care of a bunch of things for the Daughter Person, the Son-In-Law(?) and the Son Person, but I've little idea of what has been scratched from the Christmas lists. Sounds like time to share some coffee and communications. I may yet manage to avoid being the Grinch or the Grump this season.🤞 (again)

While there's nothing yet under the tree this year, we're aiming for something like the picture above. When you're empty nesters (again), there's not as much to go under, or on, the tree.

a white pine from our own property

Photo by J. Harrington

[little tree]

By E. E. Cummings

little tree 

little silent Christmas tree 

you are so little 

you are more like a flower 

who found you in the green forest 

and were you very sorry to come away? 

see          i will comfort you 

because you smell so sweetly 

i will kiss your cool bark 

and hug you safe and tight 

just as your mother would, 

only don't be afraid 

look          the spangles 

that sleep all the year in a dark box 

dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine, 

the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads, 

put up your little arms 

and i'll give them all to you to hold 

every finger shall have its ring 

and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy 

then when you're quite dressed 

you'll stand in the window for everyone to see 

and how they'll stare! 

oh but you'll be very proud 

and my little sister and i will take hands 

and looking up at our beautiful tree 

we'll dance and sing 

"Noel Noel" 

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