Nearly There

Two cakes baked, Apple and Ginger. Matt is doing something or other with the goose. I should have made Chcolate Pots and Bread Dough but, well, I ran out of steam. I'll do it in the morning while the children take their weekly baths. It's Christmas! The weekly bath comes three days early. Actually, the weekly bath has turned into something of a lie. I think most of them bathe every day, I just don't any longer have anything to do with it.

So, well. Merry Christmas.

Joy to the World.

Gather then the Christmas Cheer, or something.

I have gathered three pots of delicate, lacy white Campanula for my table. I walked up to the flower section, in Wegmans, with one of those little carts. You know, the nice ones that zip around that you only can get if you're not actually shopping for an actual amount of food. I did my real bulk shopping at Aldi yesterday precisely so I could have the little cart. Four children in the play place, two children who theoretically are old enough not to whine or bang into other people, drinking hot chocolate and fussing about me not buying muffins so much that I finally broke down and bought muffins, a husband who suddenly decided to wander off by himself to fill out my stocking. Is that all? That must have been the full count. So anyway, I walked up to the flower place and there they were, all lacy and glowing. And I stood there for thirty seconds and then just put them in my cart, and some of those glowing berry stocks, and went away before I could second guess myself.

I mean, I really love cutting flowers and making lots of small bouquets for my table…but…you know…it's not going to kill me to just plunk these on the table and not fuss at all. I came home and arranged the berry thingamabobs right away, with some cuttings from my evergreen bush, and made the cakes, and washed all the candle holders, and roasted the little pumpkins from Thanksgiving, and then petered out. So tomorrow is listening to Lessons and Carols in the morning, and baths, and the pageant. Once that high clear voice hits that first wavering and then sure note, and everyone has to stop and be perfectly still, no talking, no wiggling, just listen, then it will be surely be The Great Feast of Christmas.

May it be merry and bright!