The Christmas wreath is a standard in our home. It hangs on the inside of the door. It is too thick to hang between the wooden door and the storm door without being crushed, so I hang it so the people on the inside of the house can feel its Christmas spirit.
A couple of weeks ago, my husband came down out of the attic on Sunday night with all the tubs full of Christmas decorations and the box with the tree. I was not happy. I recall that I had asked him the weekend prior to do that, but I was just too tired to care about baubles and beads that night. An argument started – the kind were one partner is trying to do his part and the other is just not in the mood. But the tubs were down and the decorating began. In the spirit of the Grinch, I griped that I was only putting up a tree this year and nothing else and stomped around the room disgusted that I had to do any of it. It was a lovely way to start the Christmas season.
The next morning I discovered the Christmas wreath on the door was hung upside down. I know what an upside-down flag means – the country is in distress. Maybe that was what the wreath was trying to say.
I turned it over and the center fell out. That was when I remembered making the wreath many years ago. I bought a green wreath and decorated it myself. At the store, I found an antique-looking parchment with the sheet music for “The First Noel” hanging on a gold thread and it became the focal point of my wreath. My son was in band and played the trumpet. As soon as the wreath was hung he pulled out the horn and read the music as it hung above the fireplace. Those were good days.
Suddenly I realized the wreath must be well over 20 years old. My son is grown and the wreath (only used for a short period each year) was still intact.
I did a little research and discovered the history of Christmas wreaths and found out that they originated in Germany. An Advent wreath was a circle of evergreens that lay on the table, not hung on the door. It had three candles in the middle, two purple, signifying penance, and one rose, signifying joy. Different colors of candles were lit each week, and the final week all the candles were lit at once. The light of the candles signified the light of Christ, Who would come into the world at Christmas.
The wreath brought back memories and made me realize what great life I’ve had. The memories – most of them good – sustain me and the future is still before me. My Christmas is not in distress. The wreath would once again be a light to go by. We were blessed.
I hope you decorate for the Christmas season and Merry Christmas to you and your family, no matter how you choose to celebrate it.
I’ve known Robert Steele for over 20 years. He’s been an artist all his life. So, the question is, why have I waited so long to purchase his art? Robert is retired these days and has time to do the things he loves; paint and draw. He works out of his home and puts his work on Facebook for all to see. 
If you spent your life believing your fiancé died in a storm and then found out your father had him killed, what would you do? If you thought the people of your small town didn’t know who your father was – but they knew all along – what would you do?
Thanksgiving is next week and I’m sure you and your family have big plans. Mine has been sending email messages for a week deciding on a menu. The person who hosts the dinner takes care of meat and then everyone brings something. I’m a planner and without a plan, I am sure we will not be able to pull this monumental task off. Probably we could, but what if everyone brought only sweet potatoes! So I plan.
I spent the afternoon with a good friend at the theater. We saw Dr. Strange. It’s nice to find someone who shares my taste in movies. I loved the special effects and story behind the Marvel character. I’ve got to say; I didn’t know this character until recently but truly enjoyed the movie. Hollywood has recently dipped into the super-hero pond and caught some fascinating stories to tell. Dr. Strange was another addition to their stringer.
It’s November! And it is still warm outside. I don’t know whether to gripe or be grateful for the weather. We need rain, but in Oklahoma, when the rains begin in the fall, winter is right behind. Last year we had a major ice storm the day after Thanksgiving. My flower beds need attention before the ice and snow. The over waist-high basil should be dried and crushed for use in soups and sauces this winter. And I just got called back to work for the Christmas season.
It’s Halloween! And in honor of my daughter’s favorite holiday we’re going to discuss The Apocalypse Sucks. It would of course, if it weren’t so much fun to write. I mean, if you can’t make fun of the apocalypse, what can you make fun of?
This year I had a ton of homely little plants come up in the garden – left over seeds from last year. And I encouraged them. I fertilized and hand pulled weeds instead of using weed preventers that stop germination. And the garden is a little overgrown, but I have lots of color and butterflies this fall. When I walk out the front door, I am surrounded by a cloud of butterflies that are happily munching on my flowers preparing for winter.
I’m enjoying working on the first draft of Return to Glome’s Valley. Maybe more than the first. I hope to have it ready by spring. I’ve enjoyed working on this story as I did the first. Some of the visitors to the Heavener Runestone Viking Fest mentioned research I should do and things that needed to be included in the next story. Then I thought, dragon. Every good Viking story needs a dragon.
I spent the weekend as a Viking once more. The Heavener Runestone Viking and Celtic Festival was held at the Heavener Runestone Park again this weekend. There were vendors and performers; I met people from everywhere and enjoyed the weather.
Peggy Chambers "Views from the Hammock" site 