Things are Christmassy!

Normal, everyday things seem different around Christmas, don't they? Cold winter nights are just cold in January or February, but at Christmas time they are cozy and crisp! I burn candles all the time, but at Christmas they are prettier. They glow. Burgundy and sage colored home accents are now decidedly red and green. Hot tea is the stuff! Suddenly it not only tastes good, it makes me feel good when I drink it. Surely you know that hot chocolate was made for Christmas! It's always good, but at Christmas it's almost a food group of it's own. At Christmas, it's all more of an experience! I have a better attitude about traffic at Christmas. I listen to and enjoy music that wouldn't excite me any other time of the year. I mean, who listens to Alvin and the Chipmunks or Bing Crosby in June? I don't even mind Wal-Mart as much this time of year. Maybe that's a stretch, but grocery stores, quick stops, gas stations seem friendlier to me, and it's just easier to smile at folks and strike up conversations.

Funny, isn't it? I wonder why it's that way? It's not just a 'mood', really. It's in the air... things 'are' different! It's the magical part of Christmas that I didn't quite outgrow, I guess. If it is childish, I'll keep it. I would really hate to out grow whatever it is that changes the mundane, day to day life into a different, more pleasant place. I wish I could keep it all the time.

I was thinking about all this just now because I'm baking brownies. I bake brownies other nights, but they are just brownies. Tonight, they just smell... well, Christmassy!. It's great! Happy! Comfy! Cozy! Homey!!

It's over cast and cold, with a light, misting rain this evening. In my world that's next to perfect! In my world at Christmas time it's delightful, enchanting, captivating! I think I'll just take full advantage of it all. Maybe I'll stay up late and look out the windows at the mist, or sit on the couch with just a candle burning. I could do that any night I choose, but this time of the year it's just... nicer.

Yes, I know what Christmas is really about, and I am not making light of it, or trying to change the focus. I just really enjoy the feeling of Christmas time.

Me, a candle, and a warm brownie looking out the window at the rain. Sounds good.

I'll add a warm brownie if they make it that long. ;-)

Oh! The Weather Outside is Frightful!

Well, frightful might be a little strong, but for us here in Mohave County, Arizona, it has been pretty wintry! I don't think it ever topped forty-five degrees today. It has been gray and drizzling since I came out of church last night. I absolutely love this kind of weather! All day long I've been pacing from window to door and inventing reasons to go outside in it and get wet and cold. It's clearing up as I type, but for the moment it's still blustery and damp, just crying out for a nice, cozy lap blanket and a cup of hot tea.

This would be a great night for a fire. Sadly, we don't have a fireplace. There are so few days here where we'd actually get any use out of one. I got a small wood burning stove at a yard sale once, but we never installed the thing. It's sort of a spendy undertaking, both time and money wise. With the triple-walled flue pipe and all that's involved with putting that in, plus bricking in the area where we would want to sit it, we just never went to the effort to do it. Maybe I will. Maybe I will...