Me as an angel
by Steven
Christmas this year. Maybe the whole flooding of the stores
with stuff -- shiny, exotic in the thick of November's attempt
at subtlety thing was what got to me. But today it was brilliant --
white snow lined trees, snow on the ground, blue sky and cold
weather. Josephine and I drove out to the Yorkdale mall after work,
and in the new Crate & Barrel store I got that Christmas feeling.
It was the luminous red I think. I didn't actually want anything.
There was a very Swedish feel, which is cheaper at Ikea (plus you
can get a salmon dinner at Ikea for $20 for two there). But I think it might
have been the store design -- very festive and colourful. Walking around
with Josephine and laughing I felt hopeful. I will miss my son and his
girlfriend like crazy at Christmas, but I started inviting people to
Christmas dinner, and felt better right away.
The presents part is nice. I'm not religious, and school always
goes almost until the day before Christmas. But the real tree
makes the house smell amazing. The pine boughs over the
doors in the living room and on the hutch in the kitchen jazz
the joint up. I like the music, which we only bring out at
that time of year. And after walking through the sparkly
wonderland of Yorkdale with Josephine, I realize that religious
or not, I'm going to enjoy the feeling surrounding the celebration
all over again.
Besides I do believe in angels -- especially human ones.
The image is one Steven took of me as an angel. See if
you can figure out how he did it. We learned the technique
from my photographer son, Christopher.
Have a why-not-enjoy-yourself? day.
Snow really helps. We don't have that down here, but I grew up with it and there is just something about that muted sound and smell of cold. Mmmmmmmmmmmm... Season's greetings!
ReplyDeleteHi Laurel,
ReplyDeleteSnow helps, but seeing the idea of
Christmas presented more tastefully
also helped. The smell of cold. We do get that -- especially today.
Season's greetings to you too!
Take care,
Barbara
Hey Barbara, (it's Claudia!). I'm glad the spirit of Christmas has found you, I think I'm beginning to feel it too, especially after last night's snowfall. The photograph of you as an angel- did you put Christmas lights on your arms and then wave them up and down, while Steve used a slow shutter speed? Check out my blog: http://cookiesandclauds.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteTalk to you soon,
Claudia
Hi Barbara....by golly I think you have given me the Christmas spirit! Luscious red, tasteful design, snow, and a Swedish theme. I miss lots of snow like we had in Utah...so I have to settle for maybe three times a season if we are lucky! Seasons Greetings dear one. The photo looks like light writing as mentioned by Claud-Hop. It's wonderful...congrats to your son and you for being such an angel!
ReplyDeleteHi Claudia,
ReplyDeleteI like the blog. Some great photos --
you are a complete sweetheart.
Barbara
Hi Theresa,
ReplyDeleteClaud-Hop, also known as Claudia
is completely right. I had Christmas,lights on my arms and Steven took the shot.
Three times a year was the number of times it used to snow before global warming. Now we get snow almost every day. It snowed yesterday, it snow tonight while I was shopping. Luckily the ground in the city is still warm so it isn't staying. Our streets never get
ploughed, so it's horrible, if the
streets get too much.
Hey have a Happy Thanksgiving weekend. Isn't that this weekend?
Ours was more than a month ago. So
I have to remember that it's time
for the big meal in USA as we call it in my family (or Oosa).
No doubt you will have to cook like
crazy. But I know you can. My mother was a bacteriologist so I am
just nuts around turkey. But we had
turkey burgers for supper, and they
were good!
Take care,
Barbara
Just reading this helped me feel more welcoming toward Christmas. I usually hold it back with stiff arms and try to avoid places that might play Christmas music in the middle of November, but yesterday I caught myself singing "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" on the way to visit my folks. After reading your post, I open my arms wide. We won't have snow here in San Antonio, but it'll be Christmas just the same.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan,
ReplyDeleteIf I was down in Texas I'd come to
your gallery and give you a big hug. I don't know exactly what you're going through, but it sounds rough. Yet there you are turning out
beautiful portrait, after beautiful portrait. So if you're singing that's wonderful! We haven't got to the songs yet, but this weekend Christmas is only a month away, so
I realized I better start the cards.
Email me your address, and I'll send you one. Every year I plan to make my own, and then it's too late!
Yikes.
Thanks for stopping by. Love your work,
Barbara
Is it Christmas already? I'd best get busy and find some of that Christmas spirit myself. My favorite day is actually the 26th.:) No snow here yet.
ReplyDeleteHi Eldon,
ReplyDeleteMy youngest asked if we could have
Christmas after Christmas -- and take advantage of after Christmas sales, but I think we'll have it on the actual day, as usual.
There have been years when we've had extra Christmases, but it gets impractical with work, and university starting up, and so on.
So you mean you're happy when it's over! There is an incredible feeling of peace that sets in then isn't there.
Take care,
Barbara
Totally....:)
ReplyDeleteEW
Oh, Barbara, you just made my day. I'm sending you my email address right away. You add such light to the world. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteUmmm... I don't see how to email you. Here's my address- susan@susancarlin.com
ReplyDeleteHi Eldon,
ReplyDeleteYou do make me laugh. Totally.
That sounds so much like my students.
Funny.
Plus I know what you mean. You haul out whatever plastic you can use up to
the limited limit, clean out whatever
tiny savings you have, shop until you
drop, give away your hard won art work, go completely nuts trying to
make it a great day, and then --
whammo -- it's over and you have
a whole year to try and earn that
money back again.
But at the same time here it gets us through the darkest time of the year, and it's fun, and presto.
Peace on earth.
Barbara
Hi Susan,
ReplyDeleteThanks I'll email you.
Barbara