Monday 24 December 2012

White Christmas






The garden and fields outside the windows are a study in black and white, as I light the wood stove in the early morning gloom. Snow flakes flurry before the wind blowing down from Mount Mikuni in the north west, and to the south east the sky is growing pale between the jagged edge of the horizon and the clouds that cover most of the sky. I have made a mental note of the point on the horizon that the sun rose from on the solstice, and will watch its progress back to the east over the mornings from now till summer. Gold begins to condense on the edges of the clouds before congealing into a shining globe that floats upwards through the pale sky. Shafts of light spear through the falling snow, and thousands of diamonds sparkle across the white landscape, before the fiery ball disappears up into the cloud bank. The weather bureau forecasts a top of minus three today.

These last few days, since the end of the exhibition in Utsunomiya, have been spent preparing fire wood for winter and installing the large, cast iron, slow combustion stove that we have finally brought here from Mashiko. There will be roast dinner and steamed pudding for Christmas tomorrow! The potted fir tree has been brought inside and decorated, and its top is adorned with the "goldish" star which I made when the children were small. There are presents around the tree, wrapped in white and red, with ribbons of gold and silver.

The boys spend the morning outside ravaging the snowy landscape and building toboggan slopes amid bursts of spontaneous snowball fights and laughter. The cats forge a path between the shed and the house, occasionally following the children round but huddling, for the most part, in whatever warm spots they can find. By tomorrow morning fresh snow will make the world new again, erasing the tracks of children and cats alike. 

Mika and the kids are making ginger bread this afternoon, but whether it will be a house or little people is still a matter of debate! Tonight, before they go to bed, the children will put out a snack for Father Christmas, and their stocking at the foot of their beds in hope of presents. I know they have been good...even double checked the list just in case. I, for my part, have cunningly asked Santa for charcoal...

I pray that there is peace on earth; at the very least there is peace in my home, and that is a very good start. I wish you all health and happiness, and may you be blessed in all your endeavours. 

Merry Christmas!  

    

17 comments:

  1. Beautiful writing that fills our hearts.

    Blessings Be to you and yours too.

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  2. Merry Christmas! Your writing touches my heart as always

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  3. Peace, health and happiness to you and your family, Euan, from a regular reader on the other side of the globe.

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  4. As always, your writing draws me close beside you. It feels as if I am there, in your home. I hope Christmas brings only sweet surprises for you and your family.

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  5. And to you too. Many thanks. Can we have pictures of the beautiful snow please. Here we have rain, and more rain. Peace to you, and charcoal too.

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    1. I have taken some fresh photos this morning for you and added them to the post. Hope your rain turns into snow!

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  6. Christmas blessings to you and your family

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  7. Thank you for your Christmas wishes. May your family be blessed with peace, joy and good health In the year ahead.

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  8. What a ride the last year has been.

    Peace and Joy to you and your family at this Yule time.

    Happy Boxing Day!

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  9. Thanks Euan. I will send you some pictures of my garden. I have several new water features!

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  10. Hi Euan
    I'm sure you will know Tim Holmes. Not sure what access you have to Australian television but the Holmes' family story of separation and survival of this new year's fires in Tasmania (aired on ABC 7:30 report 7 Jan 2013) will resonate.

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    1. Thanks KMS, Just watched that on the ABC news site, so glad that they are safe. I pray for the safety of all during these terrible fires.

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  11. Sounds like a beautiful Christmas. We missed seeing you...hopefully we can be together at Christmas again soon! Love yto everyone, Cantaloupe and the clan xoxoxoxo

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  12. Can't wait to see what beautiful pottery the winter inspires you to make!!

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  13. hi euan. the little drinking cup I bought from you at ebiko made it safely home with me and gets a lot of use. some out of town friends stayed with me recently and they gravitated to it - I saw them seeking it out and using it every day. best wishes for a wonderful and prosperous 2013.

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  14. Hi euan, I've been following for three years, and love all your posts. I'm really excited to see what work the winter and comming of spring has generated in your new home. I just read the Studio Visit for March's Ceramics Monthly and what a pleasure it was to see you and your story. Hope the winter has been kind to you and your family.

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  15. Really interesting. Glad you survived the snow. Thank you for sharing your blog and pottery. I love visiting it for inspiration.

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