Frye

I also found this bleak image at the Frye that
brought me back to the struggle.

Six Geese a Laying

This morning I looked for a geese emoji, to no avail.  

But after a surprise lunch downtown with Cousin Jane and her husband,

 I stopped at the Frye.

I found 10 ducks a molting.

Four Calling Birds

On the fourth day of Christmas, the new fancy IPad 

was welcomed into the cottage. 

There was a lovely last minute lunch with a friend.

There was time to walk and read.

Three French Hens

Christmastime started off quiet and solitary, but has 

taken off with surprises and activities.

On the third day, Judy and I saw A Man Called Ove  at the Crest.

$4.00 with free parking!

You all must see the movie and read the book!!

Then we had a dinner at the cottage with gifts.

We missed Lady Alice's entertainments and conversation.

Solitary Feast

These have been two quiet days,

with time to read

and think

and write

uninterruptedly 

without a cat vying for lap space 

or dislodging the pen.

The Light Shone in the Darkness

Brenda designed this shower of light from the oculus.

It is beautiful.

Merry Christmas, all.

A Christmas Eve Sans Sleighbells

The Christmas eve gathering was rich in family, gifting, 

appetizers and a table groaning with rich food and fine wine.

But we did not wait for Santa, we did not hide upstairs, we did not wait for the sound of the sleighbells as the sign to run  down the stairs. 

No, we are all grown up now, and the child who was supposed to come wasn't able to, so it lacked the chaos of singing as loud as we could while we waited.

But the  chaos of gift wrapping flying, teasing, and laughter made up for it.

And I left with my voice intact.

Twelve Years Today

Our mother, Mary Elizabeth, died at age 90 on Christmas Eve early on a San Diego morning
twelve years ago.  We were with her vigiling that night become morning. I woke up out of a deep sleep around 4:30 am this morning, about the same time she took her last breath. I have a sense she is cheering all of us on since Christmas
was her favorite
time of year
and she knows more than we do
about what waits around the bend for us  in the New Year!
Keep cheering, Mom.
I think we will need it!

Reminded me of a confessional line in the old days

I went down through the snrain to LFP Town Centre to pick up a few things.

There was no parking, and I knew people weren't all at the gym.

They were lined up like a very long snake waiting for Mr. Claus and paying outrageous prices for the opportunity. It seemed a little late in the season to do this, but maybe  these children had changed their lists or had improved their behavior.

Snrain

Our office was given Friday off.  It was a great day

 to be home to watch the snow become rain and be glad it did so!

Sunday Supper

There was a little dinner and further toasting at Rose House.

The wine was aptly named.

The food and the conversation was sparkling!

A Celebration for the Record Books

The Pastor celebrated his 50th anniversary this weekend.

The liturgy was phenomenal.

The homily was phenomenal.

Then the mayor declared Dec. 18th to be MGR Day in the City of Seattle.

The cathedral erupted in at least 5 minutes of sustained standing ovation.

There was some mention of paking tickets being forgiven on that day.

Then Sr. Anne announced that we had a surprise gift, and had hoped to raise $50,000 for the Hunthausen Fund in MGR's name, but we had missed the mark . Instead we had  raised  $155,000! 

Then we blessed him.

Indeed a morning of  shared blessing and surprises!

A Very Busy Day

Today was a day of making up for lost time.  

I made a list, went shopping for food, Christmas food and drink,

for presents for many.

I wrote the 28th annual Christmas letter and had 120 copies printed.

They may get out by Christmas.

Then it was time to decorate the tree and the house.

It ended up looking pretty good, even though the tree was a little misshapen. 

And it only snowed a little.

The Oaxacan sculpture will wear the Santa hat, instead of Alice this year.

Happy Advent IV

We finally have arrived at the Fourth week of Advent and it's a whole week!

Thank God!

Our Advent has been a different kind of season.

Not one with lots of quiet time for contemplation.

But one of  disorientation and some grief--for our country and for the passing of Lady Alice.

One of just getting things done--set up the wreath, light the candles, put up lights outside, buy a tree, bring out the ornaments in hope there will be time before Christmas to hang them.

But I did finish The Book-- the Lady Alice book with photos of her 11 years with me.

That seemed more important than decorating.

Now the book is done, and now that it is the 4th week of Advent it is time to 

cross into the immediate Christmas preparation.

A Night Out

Tonight was Hamlet live from London with Ben Cumbersnatch at the SIFF.

Almost four hours of wonderful acting in an intimate little theater.

One of my former parishioners who was not even in school yet when I met her was sitting in front of us.  She recognized me!  That's three  young adults with incredible sight recognition skills in one week!. I guess I haven't changed as much as I think. 

She studies theater and has been living in China for several years.

A Very Fifties Christmas

Today was the corporate staff party. 

Mariam and Carrie, who were not even close to being born in the fifties, planned it.

They researched fifties holiday food on line 

and so there was ham and Waldorf salad, the best little smoky sausages and rum balls and fruitcake and jello and punch.  High on the Karo syrup factor. They threw in a vegetable tray and pitchers of water for some of us.

They pulled off the most remarkable coup--getting everyone else who had been born closer to the fifties laughing and having a rollicking good time!

There were charades and our team won.

There were also carols.

I lost my voice from yelling and trying to sing.

And a recitation kind of contest with 'Twas the night Before Christmas.

RZ knows every word of it. 

Cathedral at Lessons and Carols

The arches and columns of the cathedral took on a haunting glow as the lights went down
and the Lessons and Carol Service began.
Ir was like we were transported to another country for an evening.
The lessons and carols were also beautiful.
I

Remembering Lady Alice III

Cecil arrived in August of 2010.

Alice had just begun to enjoy being the only object of the keeper's affection.

She hissed and stared him down, but he ignored her.
He was used to living with many animals and was ten years old and had been abandoned by his previous owners.He knew a good situation when he saw it. 

Finally they took up their separate lawn chairs in the back yard and 

continued staring at each other from those posts.

Mostly they slept.

Come fall, they grew a little closer.

Cecil offered to help with the blog.

Cecil learned that the keeper wasn't very present once summer ended, 

and so he and Alice had only each other,

Fall turned to winter and they became attached to each other.

Cecil became a kept gentleman cat. 

Alice enjoyed ordering him around.

He didn't seem to mind much.

They became inseparable.

Gaudete!

Tonight I lit the third candle, which seems impossible.

Thanksgiving was just yesterday, ? No?

The narcissi are taking their time blooming though.

Maybe by Epiphany.

It's been quite an Advent.

But the cards and well wishes of friends observing 

the passing of HRH has been very touching.

It's time to start thinking about Christmas.

And I am quite behind.

Still Snow

While most of the city looks like the snow never visited,

the cottage here is still a bit of winter wonderland.

The Kittyrood roses survived the freeze and the snow.

But the back 40 could stay white for awhile.

Finally, Snow!

There was much talk about snow, where and when it would come.

It was late, but it allowed many of us to outrace its arrival and spend time in town tonight.

But it arrived at a convenient time.  It started like tiny icy mica flakes that we could hear as they landed on the remaining leaves, and suddenly

it began to blanket the frozen ground.  

Advent II

A wise and dear  friend, after hearing about Alice's passing, 

spoke about the empty and emptiness

as our Advent this year.

Certainly very true.

The house is so quiet and I am getting used to it.

 A gift from the vet arrived today.

Very sweet.

We also know that HRH's treatment bills probably paid for 

 the orthodontia for the vet's child or private schooling.

But they are wise to acknowledge the loss they couldn't prevent,

which  was inevitable.

Remembering Lady Alice--Part Two

Lady Alice and Prince Anastassi had some adjustment problems 

at first. Stassi's nose got pushed out of joint more than once by the frisky

 little rescue princess. 

The keeper and everyone else made such a fuss over her.

He felt he had lost his place in the royal household.

But, after awhile, she won him over 

with her innocent charm and her big eyes. 

She let him be the big brother.

They became the best of friends.

And shared the patrol of the backyard and the back porch.

St. Nicholas Day

Today the Feast of St. Nicholas shone bright and chilly.

The half moon rose bright over the bare branches.

The sun set like a campfire over the Bay.

No snow, but a biting wind.