It’s Advent in our house, the season of waiting. Of course, we’re waiting for Christmas. First and foremost, around here we do that by getting a tree and decorating the house. This year there’s a learning curve involved. One simply does not throw up window candles and a blow-up snowman in a southwest pueblo-style house as one did in their New England colonial. For one thing, there’s no front yard for Frosty. So, he’s history. Instead, his little, light-up, burlap buddy is gracing the front door. Glass balls gussy up some landscaping. Fortunately for us, the previous owner had strung our big, backyard pine tree (maybe it’s a ponderosa?) with lights long ago. (We pray to God that the lights continue to function.) Festive red and completely-appropriate-for-New-Mexico chili lights hang on the pergola.
I decorated the indoor tree last night. Despite our 12 or so-foot ceilings, we’ve been trending to shorter trees in the past few years. In Massachusetts, the family room had a cathedral ceiling. We spent decades practically needing a crane to dress the tree. It was plenty fun, but I’m done with the holiday bombast and have been moving to a quieter Christmas. That includes focusing on smaller things. Like the tree.
Because we’re new to Albuquerque, we’ve been anxious to experience some of the city’s traditions. The River of Lights is on the docket. I’ve hit up two big arts festivals. Trips to the fairs are also intended to gather intel, to determine the feasibility of High on Hooking setting up shop next year. We’ve got some possibilities…
Friday night we headed out to Old Town to see the city’s Christmas tree being lit. Us and a couple thousand other people it seemed. Parking was a bitch! But it was a pleasant evening. Streets were closed and lined with hundreds of luminarias. Shops and galleries were open; carolers and school kids sang. Flamenco dancers in street clothes clicked their castenets. A good time was had by all. Till we tried to leave and sat waiting in traffic for some time. Yeah, now that we’ve experienced this venue, we’ll move on to something less parking-challenged in 2016.
Waiting’s not just a part of the Christmas holiday for me this year; it’s factoring into my hooking too. First and foremost, I’ve come down with a case of shingles. Damn rheumatoid arthirtis meds lowered my immunity that much. The ironic thing is that my guild members and I were discussing shingles – and the priority of avoiding them – when we did our monthly Botanic Garden demo a week ago! Little did I know what was percolating just under my skin at that moment… Hence, not much hooking’s going on.
But I am able to plan which is another big thing to do in December. Albuquerque’s Fiber Arts Council has scheduled its 2016 spring show. Members of all guilds are encouraged to submit pieces as are non-affiliated artists. The theme is “Colors of the Southwest.” Now I’m in the midst of planning a new rug that has to be finished by early March. Call me indecisive, but I can’t for the life of me choose from the various designs I’ve sketched. It’s back to the drawing board with help from the likes of Deanne Fitzpatrick‘s Simply Modern book. Unfortunately, Susan Feller‘s Design Basics for Rug Hookers is still buried in my unpacked boxes of books. But we’re making progress on that front! Bookshelves are being painted as I type. (Tom’s turn; we only have one paintbrush at the moment.) We will have an office again by Christmas.
Waiting is a December tradition: for a baby to be born; for Santa; for family, friends, and festivities; for the new year and all it’s to bring. Being in a new place and home adds a wrinkle to it all. Not to mention the freaking shingles. But I’m praying that I’m able to gracefully and productively anticipate the results of all preparations, for Christmas and for rug hooking.
Our willingness to wait reveals the value we place on what we’re waiting for…
—Charles Stanley
Waiting for the patience to wait; to completing two small hooking projects. Not waiting but anticipating a happy healthy 2016 for family and friends.
Love the SW ornament on your tree and this newsletter. Feel better.
Thanks, Syl. Bought the ornament on a trip out here years ago. Just brought it “home” this year. 🙂 Ah, to have patience to wait. Sometimes feeling like a kid in December again. Now isn’t waiting inherent in anticpation?
So sorry to hear about the shingles. I hope you have a mild and quickly healed case. I just got the vaccination this year.
I am enjoying the stories of your ‘settling in’ in ABQ. Never having lived in the Southwest, it has always interested me. Your descriptions bring it to life.
Toni
Being just 51, I hadn’t even thought about the vaccine yet, Toni. Though I keep telling Tom to get it. He’s being stubborn, but at least he hasn’t caught it from me. Yet. 😉
You and Mike will just have to come out and see what life here is all about! (Don’t worry; I want to visit you too.)
Peter had shingles when we lived in Tokyo and it was awful! Hope yours is a mild case. I asked my doc about the vaccine and she wasn’t that keen on it. She said that if our insurance paid, then I could get it but she said it’s not awfully effective. But I guess something is better than nothing. Sounds like your house looks lovely for Christmas! We are getting a tree tomorrow but we have to find a neighbor to help here as Peter had hernia surgery awhile ago and can’t lift… This getting old stuff… ;-D
Uh oh, still dealing with the henia. Just give the neighbor a drink or some cookies and you’ll be good. The PA I saw for the shingles told me the same thing about the vaccine, as Tom hasn’t had it. We were afraid he’d catch it since he was putting cortisone on my rash before we realized what it was. He seems to have emerged unscathed, though. The meds they gave me (antiviral and neuro pain reliever) seem to be helping. Gets worse as the day goes by, but I find it better to go out and do things so that I’m distracted. Christmas decor is good, but we have pictures and artwork linging the floors until the office is ready. Then we can decide where everything will go. I hate clutter like that, but am trying to be cool, a Type A trying to be a B. 🙂