Day Three Hundred Fifty Five 2013

Yes, Christmas is almost here, and yes, it would be nice to have one of everything [and we all know that ain’t gonna happen, right?]. That’s not why I took a snapshot of my computer desktop screen. See that? 66 degrees? First day of winter? Maybe it’s just me, but this time of year, I’d rather it be cold and sunny than hot and rainy. It’s also the  shortest day of the year, for all you daylight savings time people out there. We’ll be inching toward longer daylight each day, one minute at a time.
Wishing my bro-in-law, Terry, a big Happy Birthday today!

Day Three Hundred Fifty Six 2012

Looking through one of the beveled glass windows in my front door this afternoon I could see three suns. That would have been a nice reality on this cold and blustery first day of Winter—the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Happy TGIF and Happy Winter, everyone! (The Mayans had no clue. I'm not surprised. Are you?)
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Wishing my brother in law, Terry Sissom, a very happy 56th birthday today!!

Day Seventy Six 2012

.....three days ago

....and today. The best part of spring (and it isn't even officially spring yet!) is when our cherry trees bloom.

"Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough."
- A. E. Houseman, Shropshire Lad

Day Three Hundred Fifty Five 2011

"So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us - Listen!!
All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, fest, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!!"
- Susan Cooper, The Shortest Day
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Wishing my brother in law, Terry Sissom, a very happy 55th birthday!

Day Three Hundred Fifty Five 2010

Christmas tree lights reflecting in my window pane looked like glitter raining from the sky on another cloudy, drizzly day. The sun was on vacation on the first day of winter--the shortest daylight of the year. Happy Winter Solstice, everyone! Rejoice! The days get longer from now until June.
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Wishing my brother in law, Terry Sissom, a very happy 54th birthday today!