The purple hour

Christmas star

Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl.  But it warmed more than your body.  It warmed your heart…filled it, too, with a melody that would last forever.

~Bess Streeter Aldrich, Song of Years

The blue hour looked more purple than blue this morning

It was quiet outside early this morning.  Frosty, too.  It was the kind of frost that not only gathers on plants and trees and other objects, but hangs in the air, mist-like.

Hemlock in purple

I took my walk during the blue hour, although I think in this instance it should be called the purple hour as everything had a purple tinge to it.

Neither M nor I practice any kind of religion, but we do enjoy Christmas Eve and Christmas celebrations with family and friends.  It’s a tradition we grew up with, something our parents and grandparents (and great-grandparents and who knows how far back?) observed and celebrated.  We don’t decorate the outside of our home very much, just a few things as a nod to the season.  A garland of pine boughs across the railing on the porch.  A wreath.  And the Christmas star that is so bright you see it long before you see the house.  Mother Nature usually does such a fine job of decorating this time of year that we don’t feel the need to compete with her.

I suppose we look a little Scrooge-like compared to most of the neighbors with their bright lights and ornaments strung all over their houses and yards.

Sunrise reflections on ice

I have always enjoyed Christmas Eve.  As a child, Christmas Eve was the big night.  Mom and Dad would wake us at midnight, just after Santa arrived, so we could open our gifts.  I’m not sure why that particular tradition was begun, but the story I remember is that Dad (who was a police officer) had to work on Christmas Day and he wanted to be there when we opened our presents.  I think my sister and brothers still carry on this tradition.  M and I tried it out once or twice when our sons were young, but reverted back to early Christmas morning for the opening of the gifts.  It seemed to suit the boys better (and gave M and I a peaceful Christmas Eve all to ourselves).

While I was out and about today, the morning clouds gave way to sunshine for a little while.  We have rain changing over to snow in the forecast for tonight, but not much accumulation expected.  Looks like Wednesday night and Thursday will be our next big chance for a goodly amount of snow.

That should do it from me and from the Bogs for today.  Thank you for dropping by and joining me on another early morning walk.  Merry Christmas to those of you celebrating it!  May the peace, love, and beauty of the season infuse your life and being, every day, no matter what you may or may not be celebrating.

I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day.  We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity of the whole year.  As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year.  And thus I drift along into the holidays — let them overtake me unexpectedly — waking up some fine morning and suddenly saying to myself:  “Why this is Christmas Day!”

~ David Grayson

Advertisement

---