Belatedly Christmas

A poem I came across again, from a favorite poet, David McCord.  I should have pictures with this, but I don't at the moment.  I just love the poem and had to put it down.

COME CHRISTMAS

You see this Christmas tree all silver gold?
it stood out many winters in the cold,

with tinsel sometimes made of crystal ice,
say once a winter morning - maybe twice.

More often it was trimmed by fallen snow
so heavy that the branches bent, with no

one anywhere to see how wondrous
is the hand of God in that white world of his.

And if you think it lonely through the night
when Christmas trees in houses take the light,

remember how his hand put up one star 
in this same sky so long ago afar.

All stars are hung so every Christmas tree
has one above it.  Let's go out and see.

Oh Christmas Tree

This should have been posted closer to Thanksgiving.  Babymomma set up this wintry scene for the babies.  In their shared gait trainer, this desk is the perfect height for them.  The two colored "buttons" are touch activated, the slightest touch, and they are plugged into a box that you can set for time so when it times out, the buttons need to be tapped again; teaching the little ones cause and effect and also empowering them.  One button turns on all the lights, the other button sets the King and Queen to dancing while playing Zippa-dee-do-dah.  We wish it played a Christmas song, but covered in "snow" it makes for a very festive scene.  Grandbaby girl was terribly sick for the past six weeks or so, making it pretty much impossible for her to be in her gait trainer so we would put the buttons on her lap in her stroller.  I was hoping for THAT picture, when she first turned it on and her face was full of wonder but she's just been too sick to really enjoy much of anything.  She is doing much, much better now so for that we are very grateful.

The Bluebird of Happiness

Well, I don't know about that, but they do put a smile on my face.  December First arrived with a gentle snow and rain mix throughout the day and a couple of Eastern Bluebirds.  My header picture is from that day, with a bit of snow falling in the background.  Tuesday was a foggy, drizzly day and the front yard was just a-flutter with activity!  Three bluebirds were in and out of the holly all morning and while waiting their turn, sat in branches above the yard.

Waiting to drop into the holly bush.

This Bluebird found itself in the company of Mourning Doves!

Joy

I can't remember which Christmas this little guy found his way into my stocking.  He's missing a few pompoms and I'm not sure if he was holding a lantern or a Carol book, but I think he was holding something.  My mom always managed to find something unique for each of us that would sit peering out of the top of our stocking, or end up hanging above our stocking on the edge of the staircase.  I can't help but smile when I look at this face, with such chubby cheeks and eyes all squinched up with such a light in them.  For now, he is standing in a little basket between the kitchen and dining room, daring us not to be joy-full as we celebrate this season of Advent.  I introduced my grandbaby girl to him the other day and she reached out and gently touched his cheek and said "hi" in her sweet, tiny voice reserved for babies.  We are full of joy as she has had a few days of feeling mostly herself again after a long gloomy November.