Turning Down the Volume

Sssshhhh.... can you hear the whisper of approaching silence sweeping the Sonoma county countryside? After all the jingle bell rock of pre-Christmas cocktail parties and rolling down the aisles of over-crowded gift emporiums, the promise of a little at home peace and joy is the best present we can give ourselves this holiday season.

Toys for all  good boys and girls are wrapped and tucked under the tree, happy fridge packed to bulging point, pantry stuffed with crackers, nuts, boxes of clementines and ginger beer, clean sheets and towels throughout the house, a stack of classic movies sits atop the tv.....

All that is missing from this festive scene is one of Santa's Little Elves on loan with an apron and a wooden spoon. This blogger is ready to kick back, can you tell? Just as soon as I have baked a frothy-topped chocolate Guinness cake, a hefty pan of chocolate gingerbread, assembled the sherry trifle, sausage rolls, a tray of cannelloni, baked the ham, peeled the parsnips....

Comments

[Frank Simpson]

To add to the seasonal atmosphere I offer the following: "I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.

Their faithful Friend and Servant,

C.D. December, 1843."

[Tanya]

I highly recommend the book "Skipping Christmas" by John Grisham. Especially therapeutic for anyone who is so worn out by the season that they're tempted to toss in the tinsel next year. It is a precious and quick read. One of those books that was loaned and we've never seen again and hope someone is reading right now!

Happy Holidays Frances and thanks for entertaining us, making us think and reminding us on a daily basis how blessed we are to be living in Sonoma County!

[Frances]

"I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -- apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that -- as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!" Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol