Spreading my Wings: TIS THE SEASON!

TIS THE SEASON

Tis the season,

To trim the tree, palm tree it is.

Tis the season,

For Poinsettias, in your neighbour's garden that is.

Tis the season,

The weather man calls for "A very hot winter day" 30 degrees Celsius.

How strange.

Question, how do one celebrate the season, in Southern Florida? Just like in Canada I guess. To my surprise, they trim "Natural trees". Strange, but true. People set out to pick and buy their very own evergreen from the tree lot just like us. Some trees, even comes "frosted". Very pretty I must say. For us, in the North, ( not sure if it's up north or down north, I want to say "up"), we tie the "tree", to the car top, drive it home and let it sit to defrost impatiently before the trimming starts. Here, I heard on the local radio, that they "de-spider it" if that is a word. Yes in deed, ....spray it, or do something to it, before it comes in the house. Who wants an infestation of spiders? ( thought about you on this one, Christina Langlois). Strange, but very smart.

Celebration of lights, parades, midnight shopping, crazy traffic, all the same. It is not uncommon for the locals near buy, to take a little evening boat cruise in the inlets to see the waterfront homes all lit up for the Holiday Seasons.

For us, Jean-Paul and I, celebrations will be kept simple. A swim for sure, cocktails by the pool with our snowbird friends enjoying warm sunny Florida, in the absence of our close ones. Hopefully, it will be followed by a moonlight after dinner coffee and desert. I will try to capture a photo, of the "Cold Moon", the full moon of December, just one of the added gifts of the season. Last time we had a full moon on the 25th, was in 1977. Take a good look at it.....for the next one will be in 2034. Don't even want to do the math. All I hope, is that I will still have my eye sight to see the next one.

All of the seasons traditions that are so close to my heart, "tourtière", "biscuits sablés", "réveillon de Noël", will be revamped by the essence of simplicity this year. We did not come up with a menu for our festive meal yet, but it will be very "un traditional". We will celebrate with a small table top tree and a few candles to light the very spirit of the magi of the season. The gifts of health, love, friendship, joy, peace and abundance. These are the real gifts of Christmas for me. Something to rejoice now and all year long.

Jean-Paul and I would like to wish all of you a Very Happy, and Merry Christmas. Our one wish for all our friends, loved ones, immediate family far and away that we miss dearly, is for Peace and Happiness for one and all.

I have captured a few photos of the season for you to enjoy! Merry Christmas!