The great holiday vanishing problem

Sandra at the party

Notebook sketch

black marker on bond paper

9 x 6 inches

Barbara Muir © 2010

(In the middle of  a conversation 

at a party I had a sudden urge

to capture this friend's face.

I have in no way done it justice,

but I am indebted to the host, who

gave me paper and a pen,

and to my subject.)

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for my disappearance.  I have been shut in with
a stack of exams a mile high, and only released to
out in fancy clothes to head out to a party, and to
put on warm clothes to buy a tree.

Jennifer and her tea

Notebook sketch

black marker on bond paper

6 x 9 inches

Barbara Muir © 2010

(My friend's Christmas party

is a lovely one.  Most of the same

guests come every year, and the hosts

serve a delicious meal.  It always

features seafood, and then other delicacies

-- a wide variety of goodies.  Good

conversation and good wine flow

dependably.  I quickly did this sketch

at the end of the evening when Jennifer

had a moment to sip a cup of tea.)

Here I am again, and weather, Christmas preparations
and family permitting I will try to stay blogging right
through the holiday.  My friend Marcia Labelle posted
a warm wish for peace and happiness to those of all
faiths and non-faiths.  In Canada, whatever your
celebration, or non-celebration, you have a holiday
at Christmas, and another one for New Year's Day.  So
whether you string lights around your house, light
candles, or eat special foods, there's a fairly good chance
you will be invited to a party, or hear choirs singing in
the malls.  And that's a good thing.

Tonight, or this morning we're seeing a total eclipse of the moon,
which will not fall on a Winter Solstice until 2094.
I'm not sure I can make the next one, so we've watched some
of this one, and will be wakened by our son Sam at 3:15 a.m. to see
the grand finale.

Have a reveling-in-the-Solstice day.