My Canadian family is genuinely wonderful; warm and hilarious. I always have a lot of fun with them. I always feel better when they're around. And it was indeed a great time, filled with laughter and love and so much fun. We played games, told stories, and danced. We gathered outside around a fire as the snow fell. We sang.
I am not a religious person, so Christmas for me is about family gatherings and recconection.
Growing up in Australia, Christmases were hot and humid, filled with pool parties and cold cut lunches.That is also wonderful fun, but there is just something about the cold and snow on the ground and silent mornings that I find spectacularly appealing. I love winter. It is my second favourite season, autumn being the absolutel favourite (the changing colours, cooler weather, watching the rain with a cup of hot tea.... Ahhhh.... bliss).
This winter has been spectacular for snow lovers so far.
Yes, yes, I know it's not technically winter yet. There's plenty of snow here, though, so I'm calling it winter.
Also, getting out of the city did wonders for me. It seems that I'm easily overstimulated, and I find living in the city a little difficult. It seems that I forget how tense it makes me until I head out to the cottages. It strikes me as odd that I don't realise how high my shoulders have risen until the calm of life away from the city lowers them again.
Though it was a very brief stint out of the city, it did spectacular things for me.
We were up well past my bedtime on Saturday. Even still, I could not miss the opportunity to get away from the house in the quiet early morning Sunday and go for a walk in the woods. It was not cold, being only around -8 or so. Snow was falling. It was quiet. There were no cars, no skidoos, no people. There was just me, the dim light, and the snow.
It was so magical. I took a fair number of photos. You can see them here if you're interested.
Coming back to town was rough. Though the cats were wonderful to cuddle, I fell asleep to the sound of sirens and traffic. The neighbours were having an argument.
I need to win the lotto or something, so I can get my house in the country. There is a lot to be said for it.
And now I have to go write.
Ciao!