What We Did over Christmas Vacation

Smith and I are enjoying one more day of vacation.  It will be so nice to work only two days this week and then have four more off.  It would be very easy to get used to this sort of schedule, but we know January will prove, long, break-less and dreary (to say the least).

Over the years our holiday celebration has turned into a non-commercial, non-consumer vacation.  We relax, renew, rethink and rejoice the past year.  An addition to this year, inspired by mamacate’s solstice post, we also considered what our intent for 2008 might be.  The decision was made to make the year ahead more meaningful.  The plan includes doing with less and continuing to work harder on our non-commercial, non-consumer ways.  This will be a process that will take practice, the intent is to carry it on into the rest of our years.

Vacations have a way of slipping by too quickly, so our intent was to do something special each day. Saturday the special 'thing' came to us serendipitously. As we drove home from a delicious dinner we came upon a cemetery covered in paper luminarias. Every grave, and there were many, had paper bag with a candle flickering inside.  The ground was covered with 8" of snow, the trees, both pine and deciduous, were draped in white, and the snow covered mountains made a ghostly appearance in the background.  Rolling hills of lights and small wreaths dotted the landscape, along with the luminarias. It was truly beautiful and amazing.  Often I have wanted to take pictures of the winter ghost mountains, because we can see them so clearly...the white against the dark sky. That night the opportunity was there and I hope you can see, even just a little bit, how wonderful this evening was. (Make bigger.)

Sunday we had breakfast at Snowbird and watched as the skiers scampered towards the lifts.  Wintry, snowy conditions produced new powder for the slopes, and that's just what brings a skier to the Bird.  For us, the food is good, the air is crisp and clear, and the trip is a mini-retreat from our daily routine.

The winter wonderland of the last week had disappeared with warming weather, but on Christmas Eve mother nature brought snow, and we woke Christmas Day to another delight...a white Christmas, complete with clear blue skies.

We hope you had a delightful Christmas, too.

Comments

[Janine]

A happy Christmas to you too! I like your ideas for 2008 - something to think about. :-)

[Jennifer]

Merry Christmas! Thanks for sharing that beautiful candlelit scenery. I can only imagine how magical it must look in person!

[Sandy]

Those photos give me goosebumps they are so beautiful! I so looked forward to those luminaries since you mentioned them!
2008 sounds just perfect to me!
xoxo

[Kim]

So beautiful those little lights in the snow! Your thoughts for 2008 sound much like mine! Here's to the upcoming year!

[Carole]

Those photos are beautiful. We still have a bit of snow on the ground but it wasn't truly a white Christmas as much of it has melted now.

[CindyCindy]

The luminaries in the cemetary are stunningly beautiful in the snow. What a sight! Thank you so much for the glorious pictures. We are very brown here in Middle Earth. That is neither magical nor beautiful, but it is what we get most of the time. Have you seen the moon? I think this "Cold Moon" is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Have your skies been clear enough?

[Dianne]

Breathtaking!!

[Teri S.]

It sounds like you had a wonderful, relaxing time. The photos are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing!

[Vera]

Glad you had a good Christmas! beautiful photos--especially the cemetary ones.

[Margaret]

Lovely seeing your photos of a landscape very different from ours! The lights and nighttime mountains are so beautiful.

[Wool Winder]

Very pretty pictures of the cemetery luminaries and ghost mountains. Sometimes we see something beautiful in passing, but never stop to get the full experience. Wishing you beautiful experiences in 2008!

[Roxie]

The photos are so awesome! What a splendid Christmas gift to all your devoted readers. thank you.

[Sharon]

Sounds like you have found a great formula for an unstressed holiday. And the luminarias are the frosting on the cake! Have a happy, and truly meaningful, new year.

[Marcia Cooke]

Although we've pared back considerably on the "commercial" part of the holidays, it's difficult when there are small grandchildren. I was pleased to see that the oldest one's favorite gift was a kite we found, and his little brother loved his Bilibo (www.bilibo.com). Those luminaria were gorgeous!

[Norma]

Oh, the photos are just wonderful. Aren't you having fun with the new camera?! I bet that field of luminaries was a powerful sight. I can just imagine the calm feeling it must have invoked. Lovely!

[Heather Joins The Round]

What an amazing picture! I'm glad you wrote "make bigger"!

[Chris]

The luminaria pictures are stunning.

[knitnana]

Amazing photos, and I'm green over your white Christmas!
Am thinking along the same lines as you...for 2008.
(((hugs)))

[Laurie]

Just beautiful. I am so happy that there is such beauty in the world. Thank you for capturing it.

Intent. I, too, was moved by Cate's post. It is a good way to begin the New Year.

[Cheryl S.]

The photo of the luminarias came out great! Definitely a lovely way to end an evening.

[Kara]

It sounds like you had an amazing retrospective holiday. Those luminaries are amazing!

[Tan]

really beautiful!

[claudia]

Great job on the photos. I think its amazing that a ski area has good food to attract non-skiers. Never experienced that...I guess I'll have to ski the Bird for myself!

[Zarah]

Gorgeous photos, as always. The cemetery pictures are really wonderful. Merry Christmas, and here's to a wonderful, happy, and healthy new year.

[Teresa C]

It's all so wonderful. I'm so happy you relaxed, feel better and seem refreshed. On to the New Year!

[Carol]

How very beautiful. A very Merry Christmas ans Happy New Year are wished for you guys :)

[Kelly]

Sounds like a great Christmas break. All you pictures are so pretty!

[Mia]

The photos are lovely. And the luminaries in the snow make everything glow. It sounds like you are feeling better and having a fantastic holiday.

[Sarah]

Glad you were well and able to enjoy your Christmas vacation!

[Jenny]

Sounds lovely!

[Opal]

It sounds like you had a wondrous holiday. Your pictures are just breathtaking and make me envious of your weather, despite the fact that I'd probably freeze my tushie off.

[Manise]

I think I will put a paper luminaria on my mom's grave. Thanks for the great idea. Cate's post has made me think a lot about my life and how I want to proceed from here on.

[marie in florida]

it was clear and about 70 here yesterday. while we were driving me home from hospital Vivi played her first self started game of hide and seak peek a boo with her mom. hiding under the edge of a blanket peeking out and laughing like a goof....LOL. topped this morning by her peek a booing me by hiding her face on her momma's boobs.

christmas gifts.

[Teyani]

what a fabulous photo of the luminaries and the ghost mountains in the background. wow.
I write "intentions" every year, and read them aloud to myself on New year's day.... it's interesting to look back at the end of a year and see what has changed.
one of mine for this year is to laugh a bit every day. life is often far too serious.

[Birdsong]

I am glad to see you had a delightful holiday on your own terms! What lovely photos, as always.... I am also glad you got today as another vacation day... it helps to solidify those intentions to get a few more hours to mull them over before diving back into the whirlpool.

[Jane]

Oh, those are just beautiful photos! I've never seen luminarias on graves before, but think it's a lovely tradition. Have a wonderful New Year.

[Tonia]

What a wonderful Christmas. I love the pictures of the cemetery.

[Lark]

So glad you are feeling better. I saw many empty souls looking for redemption? meaning? acceptance? at the mall before the holiday (I knew what I wanted and made a surgical strike--but I only see a mall once a year or so). I really wondered if they thought the goods sold there might fill their emptiness. Not for me. We stayed home, baked cookies, played games with friends and laughed. My resolve is to be extravagant this year. With love, with joy, with peace, with a listening heart. Good energy and blue skies to you, my friend!

[susan]

I decided to go to Vegas! I'm still there now. Crazy, huh.

[Pat K]

What an amazing sight! I've often wished that I could take pictures of our "ghost mountains", they are so awesome. Hope you continue to feel better.