By: Beth Kephart ,
on 12/21/2008
Blog: Beth Kephart Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: HOUSE OF DANCE, Christmas cactus, Sandy Gilmour, Christmas, Add a tag
I have noted before that House of Dance was written in the wake of my friend Sandy's passing—that it began as a search to understand the gifts that might be yielded in a friend's final days.
I have not said this: After Sandy's sudden, inexplicable illness and death, her daughters celebrated her in a thousand ways—throwing parties in her name, upholding her traditions, giving gifts, insisting, Sandy would have wanted.... Among those gifts to me was a peach-colored sweater drawn from Sandy's closet, which evoked (through its color, through its spangling of beads) the glimmer of Sandy herself.
I bought the Christmas cactus that I've been photographing these past few days in honor of that sweater and in memory of Sandy. I thought it would be nice to have her color near. But ever since I moved the plant to a warmer spot in my window, it has been putting on a show—blooming in triplicate, deepening in color, yielding fuchsia, of all colors. Fuchsia. I wouldn't have thought these daring stigma possible, except that Sandy was just like that—always the first to notice (to celebrate) the thing that mattered most to you just then, forever bringing the birds to her garden and inviting you in.
Christmas is the creche scene we restore to the hearth. It is the blue lights on strangers' trees. It is last night's party at a neighbor's home, the late-night laughter of a home-from-college son, the right thing—found, wrapped, mailed. Christmas is the abundance of color and also the way that color returns us to old friends.
Lo, everything is lovely! I have not decorated yet, but I am gearing up and will share when I do. Kisses to Bliss and Emma. xoxo
Thanks so much for share the fun and humor of your holiday decorations. Love the piggy. And YES! We mustn't forget the bathroom.
cheerful to see your decorations. most clever. like the blue touch.
Lovely..... but then. you have that "MAGIC TOUCH"....and everything you do IS lovely!
I particularly like the "BLUE" Bathroom....
You know I haven't had time to do anything - but now that Opera is over, I will begin....and will include a "certain" lilac stag....phots coming later this week!
Love you, "BS",
MUWAH!
♥ LS ♥
I am going to enjoy yours this year. I bought a tiny USB tree for the laptop-I have 3 young cats and 3 puppies in the house and I think decorations would be a terrible idea.
I'm actually enjoying "taking the year off". Last year with Luna I did the iron tree with bells, but with the boys I think that would get really tiresome. They are 9 months old and rambunctious. I found a tennis ball in the toilet yesterday morning-no-no noisey things or electric things this year....LOL.
Such pretty things to enjoy. I LOVE that rooster!!
Please,please come over and HELP Me?????
Your a very special decorator gonna follow you like a Hawk,its gorgeous already ;))
xxxMar
Well, you're putting me into the spirit of the season (it's getting later every year to 'deck the halls' since moving to TX and coming from a land of snow!) Love the blue too...
btw I sent you an email the other day, hope you got it? :>
Your tree is handsome even without decorations. I can't wait to see it decked out for the holidays. Maybe I should show a bit of the chirstmas decor here. This is where my muse has been stretching and bending. Fun time of year.
Aaah, it's looking beautiful at your house,,,especially lovin your Rhode Island Red! No surprise you'd be a fine decorator.
We haven't had a tree in several years,,as we travel a good bit and we share Jack's tree with him.
I have a few things I put out every year, such as a ceramic tree that my Mother made long ago.
Traditions, love 'em!
everything looks lovely - I might join in but it's sparse this year
I especially like the pig lounging under the tree.
i shall stroll and strut in the back door and i shall enjoy every magical touch. i may even think interesting thoughts about the blue balls in the bathroom
(hahahhaaha,ahem,ahahaha,sorryhahahee)
happy holidays dearest pumpkin pi
♥
I LOVE to see you decorating your house in little steps!
Love that wrapping around the roosters neck! Would even put it around my own!
That blue sea Christmas bowl is so well in your beautiful bathroom...........I know.......
I didn't came far yesterday.
Wrapped in the presents for abroad and made some cards for special friends.
Bet I made you one ;)
♥♥♥
>M<
Hi Lolo! HO HO HO!!! Okay, I am madly in love with your pig. Please pat him on the head for me, and wish him a Merry Christmas! We have gone overboard here, as usual. Our preferred decorating practice seems to be "String lights on anything that isn't moving!". I have to admit, it is very jolly. :) xox!
now i have a big smile, this was so much fun lo!
i am hoping to get a chance to begin decorating too this week, we finally bought our tree yesterday, but it's outside drying out (rains here).
happy holidays!
♥
You are so creative...these photos could grace the pages of any magazine. It's all so warm and cozy and lovely...I am looking forward to the rest. I so envy kj being able to sit right in front of those blue balls!! (Pssst...try and get a photo! heh!)
Once again, I want to get off the roller-coaster I find myself on, but I did hang a wreath on the front door yesterday! Ah, me..
Looks like you're really getting into a festive mood! Very creative touches everywhere! Look forward to the next photos!x
can't wait to see the tree all done up! very exciting!