Anyway, we got started bringing out the Christmas stuff last weekend. I've gathered boughs and holly and pine cones galore, and will be arranging and decking this Friday when I'm staying home from work! Whoohoo - I just love hooky days from work, don't you? They seem all the more special because you're supposed to be at work. :) Kinda like a snow day, without the snow!
Above everything else at Christmas time, I love the smells of Christmas. The sweet, pungent aroma of the tree and the greenery, the spicy candles burning and something sweet and delicious baking in the oven, or simmering in the crockpot! When I walk into my house, I want it to smell like Christmas. Like a brisk walk in the woods on a cold morning, without the being cold or wet part. Yeah, like that! But, with the underlying scent of wood stove added in. Layers of smells...and all of them good, but together it just says warm and cozy, Christmas. To me, anyway.
We're getting our tree this Friday and will spend the day decorating, arranging greenery and probably do a little cleaning for good measure. My hubby has lights strung on our fence down the driveway, and will decorate our lovely little Pine tree in the front yard. Our wreath is hung on the door and we're way more Christmasy than we ever are this early in the season. But it just feels good for some reason. I am totally into decking the halls and anticipating the Christmas season. Last year, we didn't even get a tree. Not for any particular reason, just didn't get one. It probably had to do with the fact that our living room was in a state of chaos, being re-done and nothing in its' proper place. There's nothing like a construction zone to squash all feelings of holiday merriment! But we're finally done with all that. Like a gazillion trips to Goodwill later - we're pretty much done! Whew!
The only hitch lately in my get-along is exactly that. My sciatica has flared up and has been giving me fits! It hasn't really slowed me down a lot, except that I'm not sleeping well. And when I don't get adequate rest, my brain doesn't function properly, and I tend to get cranky. Last night was a bit better, but for this tosser, I can only sleep in one position. On my left side. What a drag! I'm usually one of those people who sleeps primarily on the tummy, with my arm extended up above my head and under my pillow, and I change positions over and over and over again. But for some reason, my painful leg is only happy in the one position lately. Seriously, cramping my style. Thank God for Tylenol and those little, blue sleeping pills.
On the horsey front, all are doing well. Carrying ample winter fat and plenty of thick, fuzzy hair. Even Ladde continues to slowly improve. He had yet another abscess recently, this time his left front. We think it's drained and he's recovering again. Poor guy! He is a trooper though - he just takes everything in stride and keeps on keeping on. The last few days he's been turned out in the big pasture with all his herdmates. And that makes him happy! And if Ladde's happy, then we're happy! His weight is down, his feet continue to get less and less painful, no more cresty neck and the supraorbital fat pockets above his eyes are pretty much gone. The pergolide is doing its' job. We'll pull some blood and have his ACTH levels re-tested before long and if we can, we might try reducing his dosage to 1 mg daily depending on what his levels say. If they're elevated at all, I'm going to leave the dosage alone. Like my dad always said, "if it's not broke, don't fix it". I believe that.
Thanksgiving with my family was nice and quiet. No drama, good food and a nice time visiting. The weather couldn't have been more perfect! After that deluge of rain which brought us about 7" of rain in a week or so, it turned cold and crisp. Blue skies and sunshine. My kind of weather! But, like all things, this too has passed. We're cold and wet again. Grey skies abound and muck boots are once again, my friend. *sigh* Oh well, we're almost to winter so I guess that's to be expected. I'm just thankful that the weather does not seem to have a strangle-hold on my emotions. So far, so good.
The bright side to getting this close to winter is that once again, our daylight hours will slowly start getting longer each and every day. The time to hunker down inside, with a cozy fire, my favorite blanket and a good book are here. Make the most of what is! A time to slow down and reflect...I like that. The perfect anecdote to the Christmas rush. Gather friends and family round, enjoy the simple things. That is what I hope to do this season.
Hope you all take the time to really savor the joy and anticipation of this season, in whatever way brings you happiness and peace. Go on, make merry!
9 comments:
Have you tried physiotherapy for the sciatica? It worked wonders for my leg cramps and limited sleeping positions and also my walking and endurance.
I haven't Ian, but thanks for the suggestion.
Well, it sounds like you've got a big dose of the Christmas Spirit! I feel like I need to get a move on with the tree and decorating, too. It's kind of tough with no kids in the house. I'm thinking, what's the point? Probably bad of me. I've even been contemplating one of those teeny old people trees. I remember one year when my mom did that and I thought it was terribly depressing. I've inherited our family tree. It's been in the family for about 46 years, I guess. Super difficult to assemble, but brings back many good memories. >>I'm talking myself into putting it up as I sit here.<< Glad to hear the horses are all doing well and that your Thanksgiving was pleasant!
You sound like your ready for Christmas! I love Christmas and just got done decorating except for the candles in the windows. Have to shop for presents yet. Love the smells of Christmas too.
Glad to hear everything is going well with your critters. Have a great day playing "hooky" on Friday!
I used to get a lot of sciatica in my Taekwondo days. Trigger point self-massage really helped. A tennis ball pushed between wall and the middle of your butt muscle, and rolled back and forth on the sore spot. then do the same with a spot right where your thigh joins your hip in the very side of your body. Do the rolls about ten times, then stop and do it again later as many times as it occurs to you to do it.
Chrimas smells here are rather odd: Hot eucalyptus from outside, plastic tree and tinsel smells inside, mix of cool aircon air (if you're lucky!)and hot whiffs of roast lunch. :)
Tina, I never even thought about your "smells" being so very different at Christmas time! I do love eucalyptus though! Thanks for the suggestions, I'll give them a try.
Doesn't feel like a normal December here this year and I just can't seem to drum up any enthusiasm to haul Christmas out I'd the box yet....maybe if I start baking.......
Horse time is always good.
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