Sunday, December 30, 2012

On the fifth day of Christmas ...

 
 
Today I'm enjoying thinking about my own personal holidays and the rituals that I observe throughout the year.  Glance over at my Profile and there you see it: "Ceremonials of common days."  That description is the essential definition of ME.
 
One activity I especially enjoy and perform without fail is changing my quilts and home decor each month.  (Actually, I do thirteen changes, not twelve, so it's every twenty-eight days.) (Yup, lunar.)  It's very important for me to "locate" myself in the wheel of time in this vast universe, and marking the turn of each year is how I try to accomplish that.  If you were a reader of mine last year, you probably remember my "Around the House" posts.  I'll be doing those again this year -- see if you can spot any changes, kinda like an I-Spy game :)  January's photos will be posted on Thursday or so -- we still haven't taken down the Christmas decor and put up the January stuff. 
 
I also keep a list of seasonal and special foods that we enjoy to celebrate holidays and ordinary days.  I have a daily menu record in a ring binder that dates back to the late 1980s.  Some of the dishes that we repeat from year to year are family traditions, and others are new recipes that I've tried and liked and chosen to continue. I'm an egalitarian -- I enjoy celebrating ANYTHING! 
 
And after all, what I'm really celebrating, every single day, is that I'm still here and that the universe is still up there ...
 
 
 Looking ahead:  I'll continue to make every day somehow special, whether it's an actual holiday or "just another day."  I like the systems I'm already using for home decor and meal planning.  I'll try to remember to share more of my cooking and food observances.

Looking back:  Well hmmmm, I only read three books in May.  I finished a runner and three lap-size quilts.  The apple trees and lilacs around the valley were in glorious bloom.  Our next door neighbors moved away -- their house is still vacant.  We had all the fencing replaced.

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2 comments:

Bonnie said...

It is always such a pleasure to read your posts (and see your pictures) because of your good outlook on life. I don't often comment, but I do read each and every one of your posts. You are forever an inspiration to me.
Happy New Year!

jirons42 said...

If you find a way to bottle your attitude, I'll be the first one in line to purchase.