The wind has felt like glass shards with the weight of yesterdays' cold; hurling insults at trees as it snaps and shatters in sound and feel, stealing breath and body heat like a thief. Backyard ponds beckon brave skaters; blades shave and scrape ice that feels solid and thick underfoot.

Fireplaces stay lit and oil burners rattle and cough round the clock.

Even the winter birds have stayed hidden with heads tucked under wings, forgoing feeders. No seeds or suet can lure them for more than a quick moment.

And so they wait...and watch a december moon hang heavy looking like a rice paper cut-out that just might tear in the angry wind.

New yoga session begins next week as does the introduction this month of a guided meditation program at Derry Oncology. It is another way to create a place for transformation for patients there and I look forward to seeing how it takes shape.

May this new year find you warm and well, surrounded by family and filled with contentment.

sending peace.

amaryllis

Greek legend tells of how the amaryllis flower came to be...the Oracle of Delphi gifted his wisdom to an innocent goddess in pursuit of her true love. She was to arrive at his doorstep for thirty nights dressed in all white and gently extract a tiny drop of blood from her beloved. On the last evening (perhaps the night of winter solstice) she arrived in brilliant red, transformed by her love for him. The wisdom of this bloom symbolizes persistence and patience and of course, the beauty of profound love.

Each year, at the onset of winter, I begin my staggered planting of amaryllis bulbs in an attempt to have them bloom in sequence. How orderly and so very organized, right? I like to have one blooming on my sister's birthday as a celebration of her spirit. Still, year after year they make their way through the dark brown soil in their own time, on Nature's schedule not mine.

Some bulbs are anxious and sprout immediately and others, late bloomers to be sure, only begin to rise up green after many days or even weeks. Waiting patiently for just enough sunshine and water, they remain unhurried. Some contain one enormous blossom; big and bold and impossible to ignore...they trumpet their own arrival. Others hold several blossoms, blooming back to back and petal to petal. Occasionally, certain bulbs seem content with their own greenery; no striped pink or scarlet blooms at all; just a tall emerald stem with a silent bud flanked by leaves.

May this holiday season bring you much joy and contentment. These last few days of december find me encouraged by the quiet quilt of new snow and early darkness that prevails...the time for taking stock of last years events will soon make way for more sunlight...

sending peace

holiday lights

december events

I am convinced that I witnessed the very last formation of snow geese as they left for warmer skies last week...last ones to leave the party, I guess. Maybe they were reluctant due to balmy days and the the lemon-hued full moon; perhaps the newly donned strands of holiday lights made it hard to exit. No one told them it was december....

Just in time, they fell into place and flew.

Just before the first powdery snowfall and brittle wind began to lift birch bark from the trees; white strips in the woods waving small flags of surrender to winter's approach. Pine boughs begin to bow down, too. Autumn's last leaves disappeared under vanilla frosting till april.

Point taken, honked the snow geese as they drifted together toward southern sun.

sending peace.