Happy Christmas

Things feel a bit odd here. Not odd in a bad way - just a different way. The big frenzied shop which I always tend to rush out and do at this sort of time hasn’t happened. I’ve stuck to my ground in that this year our celebrations will be homely, hand crafted, stripped of glitz and very much heart felt.

Sure I’ve wondered now and then if I have enough to fill the stockings, enough satsumas, cloves and cranberries. I don’t know if I have or not. What’s more I don’t really seem to care this year either. Despite all that’s gone on of late I still find myself smiling – rather inanely I guess it must appear to other folks. I feel calm. I feel like I’m living my truth – something I rarely do at this time of year, caught up in commercialism and hype.

When things have started to get too much I’ve tried to do what I always (should) do – get back to nature. Messing in the garden, checking out what’s growing, what needs cutting back and generally clucking around with the hens really revitalises me. The children played in the paddling pool yesterday (in clothes and wellies not swim suits I hasten to add). They dug holes and made puddles. They squished mud between their fingers and formed mud balls. They chased me throwing mud balls till we fell in a laughing heap on the grass.

Lying on the grass looking up at the sky I was struck by it’s beauty. I’m in the right place. It feels good.

I’m sure Christmas will come, right on time as it always does, but this year I’ll welcome it with open and arms and muddy feet as opposed to the usual frazzled wreck who has spent too long tossing and turning trying to figure out whether to do brandy sauce or custard with the xmas pud!

I think this will be my last post for 2008. I’m planning on spending lots of time with family and friends over the next week or two, lots of time just ‘being’ and lots of time getting my head around next years education plans.

Thank you for visiting me. I appreciate your kind comments and lovely emails and am looking forward to a busy, bloggy 2009.