Best Yule and Christmas Ever

One of the problems with the holidays is that the actual events rarely live up to the anticipation. This year was totally an exception to the rule.

Blue Moon Circle, our families, and friends (included my visiting step-daughter Jennifer, who was a BMC member before she moved to CA years ago) had a glorious Yule dinner party last Saturday night. The house was filled with light, joy, and laughter as we came together to feast and play our traditional silly gift exchange game.

Sophie and Nate dressed up

Sophie, Nate, their mom Robin, Jenn, and her mom Jo

The kids and I with our usual dignified pose

You got to open a gift, but not necessarily keep it

Me, Chris, and Bobbie--friends are the best gift of all

We always manage to cram everyone around the table, even if we are practically in each others laps

If that wasn't enough, Jennifer, her mom Jo, and our mutual best pal Ellen came to my house for Christmas Day. I made (on Jenn's request) Eggs Benedict with crab cakes and homemade hollandaise, with hot chocolate or mocha.

Ellen, Jo, and Jenn

Then we opened presents and delved into stockings (my first!) and generally had a fabulous time together. That alone was a gift without measure.

Jenn is an artist--she gave me a painting inspired by my book!

Her mom was thrilled to get a caricature of Jenn--it looks just like her!

Ellen gave us all headlights...just in case.

My booty and my new stocking that Jenn made and decorated with the name she used to call me as a kid: Mommy Debbie. Cat treats, author goodies, and rainbow duct tape!

I'm pretty tired--it has been a long, exhausting, rewarding month at The Artisans' Guild, and I worked Christmas Eve until after 4. I'll be back to work tomorrow (Friday), but I'll have an awful lot of great memories to carry through into the new year.

Magic in the Music: Lunasa

I went out last Friday to see an Irish band called Lunasa. They are on tour in the USA and happened to come to my little town between bigger venues. And we were damned lucky to get them. THEY ROCKED.

Those of you who have been here more than two or three times may have picked up on the fact that I spend most of my "free" time writing. I believe the term obsessive may have been bandied about. But it is true that, other than gatherings with Blue Moon Circle or the occasional movie with a friend, I rarely go out in the evenings. I'd rather be writing. (Also, my budget is somewhat restricted.)

But something about this group intrigued me enough to break my usual patterns and bestir myself to fork out $20, pull on my new  The Boots, and put on actual make-up. My pal Ellie (who runs The Artisans' Guild with me) and I joined a small but enthusiastic crowd to listen to this acoustic five-man band.

The band's name, Lunasa, is taken from a Celtic holiday (celebrated by Pagans like me) named for the sun god, Lugh. And I'm telling you, these guys shone like the sun; their joy for playing and their truly stunning musical skill made the night...well...magical.

If these folks come to a town anywhere near you on their tour, GO SEE THEM. You won't be sorry. And if not, go to their website and buy a CD. This music is the best remedy for the blues I've found in a long time...I dare you not to tap your toes!

http://www.lunasa.ie/

Has Deborah Lost Her Mind? The Boots Version

Let me start out by saying that I am not a shoe person, per se. I don't even like to wear shoes, if I can avoid it. (Yes, I am an old hippie--why do you ask?)

I have plenty of shoes. More than I need, probably, despite not being one of those women who buys shoes. But most of my foot gear is flat and practical: clogs, low sandals, slumpy boots.

Which is why the picture you are currently looking at is a clear sign that I have lost my freaking mind. (Yes, I actually consider myself to be reasonably sane most of the time--why do you ask?)

I was leaving work yesterday and as I walked past the shoe store next door to my shop, I saw these boots through the window. Stopped me cold in my tracks. (And not just because it was snowing, and I actually WAS cold.) I looked at the boots. Then I looked at the big "SALE" sign. And despite my recent (and relatively successful) resolution to stop buying things I didn't need, I went into the store, tried them on, and bought them. All in about three minutes.

For one thing, they were on an insane sale: originally $64, on sale for $12.50--even with tax, I spent less than $13. But that's not why I bought them. I bought them because when I looked at them, they made me happy. When I picked them up, I felt joy. Why? I have no idea. They have freaking THREE INCH HEELS, for goddess's sake. I don't know where I'll wear them, except maybe at a conference somewhere. (Now if this had been a REALLY good sale, the boots would have come with a date. LOL.)

So, have I lost my mind? Apparently. But you know, they're sitting in the middle of the table right now, and they still make me happy. So I guess that's okay.

Have you found joy in something unexpected lately? I'd love to hear about it....

Red Chair Joy

Here's the thing about joy--it often finds you unexpectedly; coming out of nowhere when you least expect it. The trick, I have found, is to be paying attention, and to grab it when it is floating by.

I found joy in the strangest place today; I found it in a chair. A red chair, to be specific. No--I'm not kidding. A chair.

I decided, a few days ago, that I might take a bit of the money I inherited from my grandmother (Germambie, who as many of you know I lost back in February) and buy myself a new couch. She was a big one for joy, my grandmother. She lived and breathed it, in fact. But that's besides the point.

The point is, I have an old couch that I've re-covered, and stapled back together, and duct taped underneath so the cat couldn't climb up inside (Samhain, I'm looking at YOU). And I thought maybe I would finally go looking for a new one. Haven't found one yet. Instead, I found this.

Yes. It's a chair. A recliner, actually. And it is RED. Mind you, this isn't a great picture, and it is more of a wine-red than this shows. But still. Red.

I'm a woman who lives in a house where most of the walls are a nice mellow cream color. Whose tastes run to neutrals like black and brown and maybe a touch of slate blue/gray. And this chair is RED.

And when I saw it in the store, it caught my eye. I thought about it for two days, and tried to talk myself out of it. "Self," I said. "It's red. Not tan. Not black. RED." And my self said, "Don't care. Want it. JOY."

And so today, I went back and I bought it. And you know what? It makes me happy. This red chair, sitting in my living room, minding its own business and getting ready to collect cat hair in various shades of black and gray and even orange (I'm looking at you, Samhain). Why? Because it is comfortable, and fits in the space, and I can use it to write in. And because, for some inexplicable reason, it brings me joy. And joy is nothing to pass up, when it comes to you. Even if it is RED.

Clearly Angus agrees. Yay. Yellow cat fur. What was I thinking?

Oh, that's right--joy. Red chair joy.

What unexpected thing brought you joy? Really--I want to know.