Southern Sonoma Country Life

Outside my home office window the street is empty of neighborhood walkers and vehicles at four in the afternoon on a December weekday so close to Christmas to be eerily devoid of holiday hustle and bustle if it weren't for the knowledge that folk are doing what they're supposed to and staying home.

Ordinarily I would be racing around from holiday event and party and last minute errands but this year, December 2020 is so utterly different for all of us — wherever we are in the world. 

I've shopped locally, walked most of my errands, filled the pantry from farm shops and favorite purveyors and I have to be honest with myself about not missing much of the department store/mall, big-city holiday lights outings I used to enjoy in season's past. 

Nightly news and updates from friends and family around the globe fills me with the fresh concerns we're all doing our best to process as we strive to stay safe and well while staying in touch. Ever the optimist, even I have to confess to the sorts of pandemic dreams that would make for a decent Netflix thriller. 

Christmas couldn't come at a better/worse time in so many ways, it's simply going to be a season for holding tight to all we are thankful for in our lives and for making the best of the holiday in however we see fit or are able to muster.

In sticking close to home I've collected lots of lovely photos this winter and in sharing a selection with you, I hope you enjoy this year's curation of literary quotes to suit this muted though still welcomed yuletide. 

And so, here, it is, Merry Christmas, as the song goes . . . Wishing you and yours a peaceful, quiet winter snuggle. Thank you to all the doctors and nurses, medical staff and each and every essential worker out there on the front line this Christmas and every day. 

“The fragrance of pine resin is frankincense poured out—a balm of stars and snow and moonlit nights” — John J Geddes..

“On a busy day twenty-two thousand people come to visit Santa, and I was told that it is an elf's lot to remain merry in the face of torment and adversity. I promised to keep that in mind.” — David Sedaris. 

“I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.” — Harlan Miller 

“The rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting.” — Louisa May Alcott.

“Christmas doesn’t come from the store to sit under the tree;
It comes from the heart and is spread for free.” — Nadine Sedaka Boulos.

“I spend the morning in the local grocers, bringing in the Christmas provisions: Stilton, ham, Brussels sprouts, a capon of terrifying dimensions. Unfathomable quantities of potatoes. Red wine and white, a bottle of Marsala. Turkish delight and cherry liqueur chocolates. A bag of satsumas, some wrapped in blue and gold paper. Several pots of cream, just in case.” — Katherine May. 

“Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.” — Peg Bracken. 

“Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart. ” — Washington Irving. 

“I sit beside the fire and think of all that I have seen, of meadow-flowers and butterflies in summers that have been; Of yellow leaves and gossamer in autumns that there were, with morning mist and silver sun and wind upon my hair.
I sit beside the fire and think of how the world will be when winter comes without a spring that I shall ever see.
For still there are so many things that I have never seen: in every wood in every spring there is a different green.
I sit beside the fire and think of people long ago, and people who will see a world that I shall never know.
But all the while I sit and think of times there were before, I listen for returning feet and voices at the door.
(Fellowship of the Ring, Book II, chpt 3)” — JRR Tolkien. 

“This was the time when Mother usually did her knitting. With ten children in the family, she didn't have time to knit more than one pair of mittens a year for each of them, so she gave the mittens to them at Christmas. The children never asked who the mittens were for, even though they watched each one grow. Some had stripes of bright color and some had little patterns, and of course some were big and some were small.” —Lee Kingman. 

“Like kids who only ever get socks for Christmas, but still believe with all their hearts in Santa.” — Barbara Kingsolver. 

“At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.” — Chris Van Allsburg.