Seeking the Light

December 21, the Winter Solstice, the first day of winter, the shortest day, the longest night, a time to celebrate the returning of the light. 

It was a mild, mostly sunny day here, dry, and above freezing. We had plenty to keep us busy during the day, including a good walk in the neighborhood. We decided it was the perfect time to go to see the light display at the Bellevue Botanical Garden, Garden d'Lights!

The trillium is the logo of the garden.

 There were check lists for the kids so they could search out the various animals in the garden, like this great blue heron.

 The bunny was enjoying the carrot patch. 

 A window in the old visitor's center was turned into an aquarium. 

This clump of trees was beautiful just lighted up in brilliant red. 

 Tom attempting to photograph with his cell phone so he could post on Facebook. 

 The chickens were in the corn patch. 

 Is it a monkey or a sloth?

 I know this is a magic dragon. 

 Frog and dragonflies over the pond. 

 A poinsettia tree. 

 Who?

 Said the spider to the fly. 

 As Christmas day draws nigh, we are checking our lists and getting ready. As you know, the cookies are baked. The gifts are wrapped. Christmas music fills the house.  Tomorrow I'll bake the special Christmas bread.

And each day I look for the gift of that day. The big ones are easy, but some gifts are small, yet wonderful.

Wednesday as I was grocery shopping the man stocking the dairy case where I was getting eggs greeted me with "Hi. How are you." 
I responded, "Good. How are you?"

He was a large black man and in a booming voice he said "I am grand!"  My face burst into a huge smile and I said "That's a response I don't usually hear. It makes me smile!"  And then he was grinning too, and as I walked away, my step was lighter, and so was my heart. 

Simple gifts.