BRRRR

Oh my goodness it is cold outside. This week we were into the -40s. Celsius that it. We actually had to drive Athena to school all week and there were no outdoor recesses. Still not much snow. I can see the blades of grass sticking up through the little amount we have. We can't go out to play anyway so I guess it doesn't matter.

We have finally bought and decorated our Christmas tree. I totally changed the decorations this year. It is a theme that more reflects our little family. Gone are the gold and red shiny glass ornaments and colored lights. In their place are pine cones, burlap, birch, wood.

I asked Paul to go get a smaller tree than we usually have because I don't have many ornaments. I sold all of our other ones in a garage sale this past summer. The ones I bought were heavily discounted in after season sales last year. The tree he brought home was perfect. A Natural Fir. It is not shaped at all. Branches stick out at random. Lovely. Just what I was looking for.

I have scaled back the amount of decorating too. A few small festive pieces adorn the coffee table and under the tree. A wreath I made out of pine cones from Summerland BC (which Jordan collected for me like a nice Son In Law) graces our front door. That's it. Randy Travis' Old Time Christmas plays on repeat in the CD player in the kitchen. Simple. Natural. Down Home. That is what we need this year. It has been a busy, somewhat stressful fall.

Which leads me to my yoga practice. I am finding it more difficult these days to fit in a full 75 minute practice. My body doesn't want to. So I have been actually practicing yoga more often. Every day in fact, but I carve out time for a 25 minute practice. Lots of Sun Salutations and standing poses. Some stretching and sweet Savasana. It just feels right for me now. Just like beef stew, lasagna, roast chicken and warm food. Lots of warm food. Baked macaroni and cheese, homemade soups, mashed potatoes with gravy. No salads around here. Not in this cold.

When the days are short and the weather is cold I think we all need some self nurture. Lots of time to talk and snuggle. Time to listen to music and watch the fire. Time to create, read, love...Be.