DPP 15: Christmas Chocolate

I. is a secret fan of advent calendars, and we acquired one this year from Trader Joe's. It is travel-themes, and celebrates Christmas traditions around the world. We had a bit of a chocolate fest tonight, because he's forgotten to open the calendar for almost as many nights as I've not had time to update photos:

[Belated] DPP 13 & 14

I. and I took some time on Thursday to go for a wee walk at our nearest National Park. The waterfalls--about which I posted last year, also--were in fine form.

Yesterday was my last Friday at the Folger until after Christmas. I try to spend the hour after tea-time transcribing a manuscript, and was surprised and delighted to come across a poem I'd forgotten that was especially seasonally appropriate:

(Folger MS V.a.148, folio 42v)

It says:

Hark hark y^e sphear’s inticeing notes

            The Orbs are strung againe

            Intelligences tune y^e sky

            And make their Journey harmony

The Cherubims Exalt their Throats

[and then it continues on the next page, which isn't pictured here].

 

[Belated] DPP 10 & 12

It's been a hectic week. Here's Monday's grading:

And a note to say that the Christmas cactus is really flourishing, and I'm glad that the December Photo Project encouraged me to stop and look at it for a moment.

Tuesday was Most Hectic, so there are no photos. It's Finals week!

DPP 09: The Stars in your Folds

For several years, I. and I have lacked a large tree-topper. Today I convinced him to acquire what looked like a beautiful origami star kit at the local grocery store, only to discover (to his relative dismay) that it required quite a lot of hole-punching and glueing. We were not able to finish the project tonight, but we had a nice time working on something large and slightly tedious together nevertheless.

(We listened to Mannheim Steamroller all evening. There's very little non-traditional about that!)

[Belated] DPP 08: unCommon Grading

I took this yesterday morning: the exciting part of my grading stack. This semester I asked students in my literature classes to keep commonplace books of passages they found meaningful, thought-provoking, or rhetorically beautiful. I was so excited to read them, after this photo, that I forgot to post it!

Non-traditional song:
Frank Sinatra, "Whatever Happened to Christmas"

DPP 07: Morning Has Risen

Fridays are the best days. On Fridays, I. drops me off at the metro on his way to work early in the morning, I travel into the Big City, and I spend the day reading in one of the most amazing libraries in the world. From the moment our alarms go off until the time we finish supper, there is a lovely and predictable routine that starts with bathing, cooking breakfast, packing lunch and books, driving to the metro, greeting the newspaper man at the metro entrance, and then riding the metro: setting off from the semi-darkness of the first station, disappearing into the underworld of tunnels that run under the city, and then stepping off, ascending from the dark catacombs of transit into the dazzling beauty of sunrise on Capitol Hill. As I walk towards the Capitol, then around and past the Library of Congress, the mornings are bright not just with the pink gleam of sunrise on the national marble, but also with the promise of time about to be well spent. Photographs will never do these moments justice.

DPP 06: Cactus Advent

Last year, I. and I decided not to acquire a tree, but we bought, instead, two Christmas cactus plants. We've been eagerly awaiting the re-emergence of flowers all year, and have just realised that we may actually have cactus flowers for Christmas this year as well! Look how close they are:

We are waiting for the advent of our cactus flowers as well as for Christmas!

DPP 05: Star Bright (Reprise)

The administrator of the adjunct office at my primary school this semester is wonderfully crafty, and she makes these beautiful fabric stars every winter. Many are given as gifts, but a few (like this one) are used to decorate the Adjunct Christmas Tree. Isn't it beautiful?

Non-traditional Christmas song of the day:
Dee Mullins, "Remember Bethlehem"

DPP 04: Star Light, Trek Bright

Every time we watch Star Trek, my husband reminds me that watching scence fiction with his wife has been a dream of his since childhood. I am glad I am (sometimes) able to oblige.

Non-traditional song of the day:
"Just Another Star" by the Gents.

DPP 03: Say "Cheese," Cheese!

Today was a long and busy day, the weariness of which was mostly remedied by the wonderful snack I. prepared for me when I arrived home at the end of it. It is not an especially dazzling photograph, but it reflects a wonderful moment in my day.

Non-traditional song of the day:
The Gents, "Just Another Star"(on the album "Follow that Star")

[Belated] DPP 02: Coffee Hour

It is the most wearying time of the year . . . and I am grateful for family members who are willing to drive to meet us to enjoy our company, even for only a few hours, in the middle of this busy holiday season.

Non-traditional Christmas song of the day: Lindsey Stirling, "Warmer in the Winter"

DPP 01: The Road Less Driven Upon

I realised yesterday that I'd not posted on this blog in a year. I'm thankful for the December Photo Project, which has encouraged me to dust off my camera and also to blog (briefly).

December started quietly; I. and I caught up with family and did some shopping. My next seventeen days will be filled with grading, writing, and other general busyness--after which Christmas will begin in earnest with the arrival of family for the holidays.

I took a quick photo at the end of the day; this is the nocturnal view from our balcony. Last year I started the DPP with a lovely walk, which was the plan for today, until it stayed drizzly and wet all day (leaving us with the most beautiful reflections of light on our nearest street).

Non-traditional Christmas song of the day: "What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas" (this version by The Emotions).