#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

Crab Apples and Christmas Lights

. . . In longest, darkest nights take rest and ease,
And every shortening day, as shadows creep
O'er the brief noontide, fresh surprises find."
- Helen Hunt Jackson, A Calendar of Sonnets: December

Woke refreshed. The whole house slept peacefully and well. Such a mild morning, air a bit moist and surprisingly warm. In the yard, as I crossed to go the river, I stopped to look at the young crab apple tree that I planted and noticed the water drops on the apples were glistening in the faint light next to the little juniper strung with Christmas lights. A cheerful and delicious sight. I drank it in and walked on and into another busy day. I have not yet arranged my flowers! But I dragged a fallen pine branch home to harvest some greens for the arrangements. A day of concern about Covid numbers rising. Gatherings canceled. I am digesting this, as most of us are. The expectation that Covid would be behind us this holiday evaporating. Still, gratitude for the fact that I am boosted and Frank is boosted and my daughter is boosted and the other daughter has her appointment. How amazing that we have a vaccine, including a booster.