Yesterday's post was supposed to be private. It must be the state of mind I'm in to have posted public. 
Thanks for the "hugs" and suggestions. I appreciate them. Really.
Today is a better day. It has been snowing off and on all morning.
I love this kind of snow.
No wind. A hushed quiet. Big wet flakes - the kind you can catch on your tongue. Clean. Warm enough to go without your gloves/hat/scarf.
Aaaahhhh.
Being alone in the snow made me feel so much better. Maybe what made me feel better was to spend a few moments alone doing something I love: Being in nature with my camera; if only for a few minutes.
Here are a few things I captured today.
I can not remember the name of this bush -- it's an old variety that you'll find in older yards. I love that it puts on red berries. I only wish the birds enjoyed the berries.
An empty pine cone bird feeder. Normally this is loaded with lard and birdseed. We used to use peanut butter but have since learned it's not as good for the birds as lard.
This is my gi-normous rosemary plant. I thought it looked so pretty in this snow. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it survives this winter. So far we've had some pretty hard freezes this year and it looks to be okay. I'll be sad to loose this particular plant.
I'm getting ready for Yule!! It's my favorite holiday amidst all the other holidays this month. Calling for the sun to return. Receiving small gifts of games, rocks, shells or things to share with everyone. Burning a yule log and sending wishes of goodwill with the smoke out into the world. Feeding the birds.
A good resource for creating your own Winter Solstice/Yule celebration is Circle Sanctuary's website. Also check out the book above.
It has a very calming effect on our family during this hectic month. Too many folks are focused on purchasing gifts and doing everything to perfection, they forget to relax and pay attention to the true meaning of the season. HOPE. No matter what holiday you celebrate, the meaning of the season is HOPE.
A friend sent me an email today and I wanted to share part of it with you. Here goes:
Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.
Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said, "I love you and I wish you enough".
The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom".
They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?".
"Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?".
"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.
"When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough'. May I ask what that means?".
She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone". She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more. "When we said , 'I wish you enough', we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them". Then turning toward me, she shared the following as ! if she were reciting it from memory.
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude
bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
To all my friends and loved ones,
I WISH YOU ENOUGH........
