Christmas

This year, I am determined to celebrate Christmas. Consider me in for the long haul: the mass on the 25th, the secret Santas, the Christmas movie marathons, the puto bumbongs and bibingkas, and the walks along Bellarmine field when the trees are brilliant with tiny stars.



In the collage, from left to right:
1. Above our table at Sweet Inspirations: branches adorned with mistletoe, berries, lights, and pretty drops of glass
2. At home, a Christmas corner: branches and berries of silver glitter, porcelain Santas (presents from my good friend Rache and the owner of an antique shop we used to frequent)
3. At home, gold and silver balls hang from the chandelier
4. An early Christmas present from Ice: an antique oak writing desk gives home to a stack of post-its and note pads from a student and Lia, a bear coin bank from Zia, a pot of paintbrushes and charcoal pencils, canisters of watercolor and acrylic paint and other craft materials, a silver coaster in need of polish, and Peter Mayle's French Lessons (the first of his books that I have read)