Signs of Winter

Signs of Winter December 2024

I have recorded signs of winter through my lens this December as I walked around my neighbourhood. The bare trees, the cold blue sky, the last leaf on the tree & on the ground, and in the neighbour's yard: the folded bud of rose that never bloomed. All these things are prophesies of the cold end of the year that is has now frosted the panes. There is no snow as of yet in Metro Vancouver. First thing every morning I get a hot cup of licorice tea and watch the newscast for Vancouver for an hour to get the facts for my day, so I keep track of these things. My favourite thing to watch is the weather forecast.

We have met for the last potluck and gift exchange of the year with the Poets Society. It is always in late November at the library. Check out my Instagram for pictures of the afternoon here.  We all read Christmas poems from the front of the room at the mic (this is of benefit if you are soft-spoken, like me) and sang carols together while Priscilla played the keyboard. 

 

I have been busily buying wrapping paper and glittering gift bags to

wrap my Christmas gifts with, in

festive colours. They are almost in transit now, despite the postal strike backing up thousands of packages before Christmas (rumour has it that the strike has now cost a billion dollar in lost revenue to small businesses). I made the gifts on an online platform this year. I usually give all the families the same gift. There are four families. Each of my two brothers and sister have over four children ( I can't afford to give presents to all the children as there will be fourteen this Christmas, as my sister-in-law is expecting any time soon.) The fourth family is my aging retired parents. For gifts in past years: one year it was Michael Bublé Christmas albums, another year it was a Brene Brown book to read. This year I can't tell the surprise but it is colourful and detailed art. 

My birthday is December 11, and is oh so close to Christmas. It has come to be known as a celebration in these parts called Empress Day. Each year they have me make a lineup of delicacies like perfume, chocolates, and wine to celebrate my special day. I reminisce on what I have tasted this year and post it on my website. We also have an Empress Greetings' YouTube movie come out on midnight of my birthday. Let me tell you, we have been working for over four weeks to get all this done. This year I didn't want to get up in the middle of the night, and it is 30 minutes long, so I will air the premiere the night before on December 10 at 7 pm. More info here. 

I hope you, my readers, will know by now how special and accounted for you are to me in each season. My writing small sprigs of bloom and botanicals here on this blog is only a window pane of revelation into my personal world. I wouldn't have anything to write worthy of notice, or even of publication, if it were not for your ready hands and eyes on the receiving end. Someone to eagerly read the poems I write, and enjoy their complexity and simpleness both at once, even if only online, or on my blogs, means so much to a writer and poet such as myself.  You are the oranges of my stocking in the wood garret of the artist so to speak. 

I found a French blue 100% linen stocking in my top drawer this winter that has never been used, and smells faintly of dust and lavender. I was delighted to find this treasure that I bought several years ago from a linen store, and can now use this year as I am spending Christmas in Abbotsford. Yes, my parents will be travelling to visit me and my brother's family who have moved here this past year, for the holidays. We are already planning a Christmas Eve and Christmas Day feast at their new home.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,

Emily