December

December was the last month of the old Roman year which was divided into ten months. The Saxons called it "winter-monat" or winter month, and "heligh-monat" or holy month, from the fact that Christmas fell within it. The 22nd of December is the date of the winter solstice.

We definitely had a winter month as you can see from my backyard a few days ago. Even my cold frames are covered (I checked my lettuce today.....they are all snug and happy).

I love my garden all year round, but the snow is particularly beautiful. I find it calming and contemplative this time of year......a time of quiet. Good for the weary soul. I am not in a hurry for spring to come yet, everyone needs a time of rest.

A snow covered echinacea plant......

"On the first day of winter,

the earth awakens to the cold touch of itself.

Snow knows no other recourse except

this falling, this sudden letting go

over the small gnomed bushes, all the emptying trees.

Snow puts beauty back into the withered and malnourished,

into the death-wish of nature and the deliberate way

winter insists on nothing less than deference.

waiting all its life, snow says, "Let me cover you."-

Laura Lush, The First Day of Winter

Sammy

Christmas Morn

Luke 2:7
"She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn."

Dear God, thank you for sending your son in such a lowly and ordinary way. By this, you demonstrated your love for all mankind, there are no exlcusions. You invited an ordinary woman to carry the King of all kings. You invite me to the table too, an ordinary woman to carry your spirit in me, to show your love through my life.

Thank you Jesus for becoming fully man and yet still fully God. Fill my heart with your love for mankind, especially for those poor and oppressed.

Christmas is a reminder, a pause to re-orient our lives with your love.

Sammy

Merry Christmas

A Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson

Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

Arctic Blast Day 2

Well, we really are officially in an arctic blast of a storm. Church was canceled and we really couldn't drive anywhere, so we went for a very long walk. We bundled up and walked to Laurelhurst Park........see cute Karl.














Oops, someone forgot to turn off their fountain.....bummer.









Along the way we helped push a four wheel drive out of a snow drift, stopped for coffee, treats and made two potty stops. By the time we got home, our clothing was a sheet of ice. Thankfully we had soup on the stove waiting for us.





Here's the latest on the gnome. He's not very happy. He may not see the light of day for a while! I hope he can breath okay.



Our friends, Jill and Laurie, sent this picture of their dog, Scooter. Now to be called Scooter the flying pooch!

Sammy

Arctic Blast 2008

Our clever news studios in town have dubbed our latest storm "Arctic Blast 2008". It's actually very funny since 80% of the time they are wrong. But, it looks like they are right this time. We woke up to snow this morning and it's supposed to go all day and into tomorrow. Thank goodness it's Saturday! Karl and I decided to start early and take a long walk up to Mt. Tabor.

We stopped at Albina Press coffee shop on Hawthorne. They make some of the best coffee in the city. By then we needed a warm up and couldn't resist a yummy cheddar biscuit. Sustenance is important you know.

As we walked home the wind started picking up. According to the news, we're in for the storm of the year!

The gnome is scared!

We stayed home all day. Karl working on his paintings and me working in the kitchen. How much more perfect could a day get! I started getting ready from Christmas dinner. I am making a new beet recipe that has pickled red onions. So, to get a head start I made the pickled onions today. Hmmm, yummy.

Here's my little fairy in the front yard.....she's having fun playing in the snow!

Later, Sammy