The Christmas Bird House
May Your Days Be Merry and Bright!
Happy Holidays from The Perfume Posse
and a Christmas Letter from Musette:
It’s a balmy 14F here, with a nice 1/4″ of solid ice over all the packed-down snow. Not a creature is stirring, lest they fall down. My girls are snug in their coop ( it’s been in the negatives so we left the light on these past few nights – I’d rather have fewer eggs than frozen chickens), the boyz are snuggled up in their beds, doing their dog-thang, which is always so aromatic. Love My Boyz. I sent El O off to see his mom and am enjoying the solitude. I’m spending a quiet night at home,with a glass of bubbly, happy to be warm and safe and settled. There’s a tinge of melancholy amongst the snuggling, though – missing my sister, who died in the early part of the year – but not in a weepy way – I just wish she were still here to enjoy Christmas Day. For her, Christmas was ‘her’ day – she wouldn’t stir her stumps for anybody! Lounging around in her pj’s all day, drinking tea and indulging in catnaps, it became her ritual. It’s not a painful missing, so I can weave lovely thoughts of her into my reflections – my dad is, I’m sure, having a great time playing bridge with my mom and tias in that Great Rumpus Room in the Sky! LOL! The memories are, shall we say, semi-sweet rather than bittersweet and I’m happy to be settled enough to be able to quiet my mind and enjoy them.
It’s been a rough year in many ways, with ups and downs. But that is the basic recipe for Life, isn’t it, with great times (meeting everyone at LA Scentsation was WONDERFUL!!!) amongst the stressors (too many to count). I am happy to be celebrating Christmas, feeling more positive than I did when 2013 made its debut. I know there have been a lot of challenges, tragedies and heartbreaks for so many of you as well this past year. Here’s to the Season and the days ahead bringing us all some peace and a renewed sense of joy.
After the Mad Perfume Crazy for my birthday (ooh! that was FUN!) I found myself retailed-out. So instead of buying just to buy, I found myself turning outward, which had the lovely effect of soothing my inward self. When I first started writing for the Posse, the supremely practical Patty had a link to a practical charity I’d never heard of, Modest Needs. I fell in love with how they do things and have been giving in dribs and drabs ever since and…..well, having been in ‘modest needs’ a time or two myself, I love that you can directly help someone get over a hump and stop that ‘for want of a nail’ crap right in its tracks. In the past few weeks I had a few ‘me’ simoleans and I found myself throwing $10 here and $20 there and boy, did it feel good. And best of all? I don’t have a bunch more ‘impulse’ lippies in my lipstick closet. And I helped folks who just needed a weld in their Chain of Life. Sometimes it’s something as minor as a single mom needing a her car fixed so she can get to work and continue to care for her family.
And yeah, okay – even with that I got a little sumpin’. But it’s not Christmas morning yet so I don’t know what Santa brought me! 😉
It’s Christmas Eve. Tomorrow I will celebrate Christmas morning with a bottle of Krug and some soft scrambled eggs with lobster, thyme and mascarpone. Yum! I am joyful, joyful!! for all the gifts I’ve been given, among them is the gift of you wonderful, marvelous, brilliant, funny, delightful Posse! I love that you care enough to stop in and chat with us and share your lives and loves and passions.
How are you celebrating the Season? Even if Christmas isn’t your holiday, whatchudoin’ ? What are you giving? What are you getting? Are you staying quiet or are you jumping into a big holiday celebration? If you’re around today, drop a line! I’d love to know how you are.
Merry Christmas! And…May all your days be merry and bright!
Holiday greetings to you all!
I’d love to read the lobster recipe if you’re sharing it. It sounds yummy.
I’ve been reading your posts here for about 4 years, and not commenting much. So,I wanted to take a moment to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed them. I realized this Christmas that I somehow connect taking time to read perfume blogs with relaxing during the holidays. The last few years have also been an unusually hard time for us, and I find myself coming here and to a few other blogs, to read and unwind.
I found that colors, textures, and smells really did help. I’ve developed quite the ‘fragrance addiction’ : ). Hey its safer than food, and I watch the money spent, so its cheaper than therapy. I’ve discovered some beautiful fragrances,that help me relax, through you all.
. And, I love your charity suggestion. I will check that out. It sounds very worthwhile. We have experienced how many incredibly kind, compassionate, generous people there are in this dear world.We have been helped so much, and we want to give back when we can…. Friends, friend’s- friends, aquaintances, and strangers found ways to ‘come along side’ and help us through a very tough time. Some gifts were material but MANY were other kinds of reaching out…real listening,emotional support, jobs done for us out of kindness,and contacts and friendships made. So, I really appreciate your comment above, that money helps, of course, but its sure not everything!
Joy to you. Hope this new year is a treasure for you, and the rest of the crew.
Here’s to a marvelous 2014 for all of us! We have been celebrating the complete craziness which is a Puerto Rican Christmas season. We arrived the 19th of December and immediately plunged into the season by going to the beach at La Playida with a group of miscreants intent on partying until the sun dropped. Next day was shopping and prepping for a huge party at our daughter’s house. We had the Lechon man with a whole pig, each family came with food from their particular country or state, and it was wild. Next was Christmas morning, and we headed for Ponce for two nights of festivities and black sand beaches. Yesterday was a wild bus ride for the day in a party bus headed into the hills for food and rum and more food and more rum. My eardrums are still reverberating. If we survive, we’ll be back to “normal” on the 18th of January.
Wishing you the season you deserve, and hoping you all get enough dessert!
Dear Musette, I wish you a sweet, sweet 2014. Health for you and your dearest, peace, joy and beautiful fragrant discoveries!
This year I baked gingerbread men to gift everybody, and the house smelled amazing! My boy, however, had ideas of his own, felt over the cookies while playing with his grandfather during Christimas lunch and broke them all, which was a bit disheartening, since they were the only gift I had to offer. But they tasted good, and people were eating them anyway…
Merry Christmas, Musette!
Glad you’re warm and cozy and enjoying Christmas. We’re having a quiet one, also–just the DH and me and our four cats, as our family is scattered from Scotland to southeastern NM. We’ve already had Cookie stop by for his Christmas breakfast–he’s the neighborhood guard dog, so we feed him as a reward for his protective services 🙂 Santa brought us an early present this month–a mama kitty and her four kittens have taken up residence on our deck, so we’ve been feeding them and enjoying their antics.
Am also at an age where “things” aren’t as important, and the DH gave me a wonderful gift–a donation to our local animal shelter! Much more soul-satisfying than anything else I could have asked for.
Wishing you and all the Posse-ites GOOD health and best wishes for 2014!
Sharon, my fragrant friend, happy holidays and all good things to you! I experience the same little satisfying twang of happiness and gratitude every time I break out the Bois de Paradis! I hope you, the DH, and your 4+4+1 furballs (and I thought I was on my way to being a crazy cat lady – clearly I’ve got some catching up to do) have the best of years yet!
Sharon, you know how much I value your friendship and your presence here on the Posse. And your gift of Louise Penny……I am still so much in your debt. 😀
I’m so thrilled that you are having a lovely Christmas with your DH – and Cookie sounds like a fabulous dog (you know I am All About the Dog). Give him a smooch for me! DH’s gift is fabulous!!!!! Alas,my ‘people’ are not quite that evolved….but I’m getting them there – a friend wanted to give me a bottle of perfume (huh?) and when I asked her to donate to Modest Needs instead, she was sort of…insulted. Then I showed her my armoire…and explained how a private, business-related version of Modest Needs saved my bacon 3 months ago…..’twas then that the lightbulb went off!
Wishing you the best!!!!!
xoxoxoA
We aren’t Christmas people and I avoid shopping for anything but groceries at a brick and mortar store from November to January, but that’s because we are fortunate to have like minded family and friends who live close enough that we can get together whenever we want. Today my husband and I hang out in pj’s and watch movies and relax. 2013 has been a roller coaster emotionally and physically but it’s ending on a positive note. Big fragrant hugs, Ms A & everyone 🙂
Happy Holidays, darling! How’s the knee?
I’m glad we’re both ending 2013 on a positive note! Wishing that for everyone!
xoxoxoxoA
Hey, thanks for introducing me to Modest Needs. I love the idea, and who knows when I myself will have some modest needs.
I grew up in a large family that became progressively more destitute over the years. I’m the eldest, and I’ve always been a bit ‘above’ these things, but it broke my heart watching my younger siblings becoming confused, sad, angry, bitter, all the way to just plain apathetic over the years. My parents put on a brave face, but I know the holidays are a huge blow to their self esteem. I only moved out on my own this year, and while I make ends meet and still have money for books and drinks, I still had to take out a credit card to buy everyone a little something this year :/ it’s my first credit card, and it has a nice limit… But I’m terrified to see the bill. I don’t want my family to know, though; I’d rather they just take my gifts as evidence that I’m doing well.
Christmas is just another day to me. I prefer to give little things all year round. This year I’m going to treat myself to a nice day alone, finish up knitting a scarf, have some coffee, read, and clean if I’m feeling ambitious. I’ve just discovered the awesomeness that is Perfume Posse 😀 so my gift to you guys– is me! ;D
Matsukaze, welcome! We’re thrilled you’re here!
Watch that credit card, hon. Those things have a way…..really! But it’s nice that you can share with your family. Money is a very nice thing to have, not gonna lie on that one 🙂 but it’s not the only thing…and ‘things’ are just that….things. If you have the love of your family and friends and a good sense of self, you’re ahead of the game. I’m less anxious, now that I have simoleans again….but I’m not any happier, if that makes sense. Money helps us feel more secure (nice to keep a roof over your head, etc) but it really doesn’t buy happiness. Which is why I don’t need to buy any more perfume right now. I hope your sibs can turn their apathy into something positive.
We look forward to seeing you here, often! Merry Christmas!
xoxoxoxoA
We are having ups and downs here. Had to put my precious little Mika cat down at the end of last week, the cancer was just too much for her little body anymore. I have had her since she was 3 weeks old and will miss her terribly. I am now the only female in the house and neither the husband nor the boy cats are any help with laundry and bed making.
On the bright side, my husband got promoted yesterday which he is thrilled about but which means that his only day off is today. He was to have had tomorrow off and several days next week. Seems like every time I take time off to see him his schedule changes at the last second.
We are off to the in-laws’ for huge formal Christmas so maybe that will get me in the spirit. The cats woke me an hour early so I am a smidge grumpy. Someone sprinkled extra crazy on them this morning for sure! Now off to see if I can still squeeze into my church clothes after all the cookies and wassail I sampled yesterday. Merry Christmas!
Liz, my deep condolences on the loss of your baby girl, Mika, but it’s good to know she’s no longer suffering. I’m sitting here with one of my boyz pressed against my bad leg (luckily it’s the smaller of the two) and the other, giant dog on my right foot. A tad ouchy but I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
And, days off aside, what a lovely gift, your DH’s promotion!!! Grab a catnap so you can enjoy the day!
Merry Christmas to you!
xoxoxoA
Dear Anita,
Sending you love and best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Bright and Blessed New Year in 2014. My family of four has finished opening the gifts, and now everyone is playing with their new stuff. I’ve come down with a cold, so I plan on hiking back on up to bed and reading a mystery while sipping tea, in between blowing my nose. 🙂 For dinner this evening, I’m doing spiral sliced ham, wild rice, cauliflower with homemade hollandaise sauce, and a chocolate & raspberry cake that I ordered from a local bakery. I bought prosecco for the DH and myself. The teens can have sparking cider. Christmas part two will be on Saturday with my side of the family. Hopefully, I’ll be over the cold by then. I hope that you, the chicks, the doggies, and El O all have a wonderful holiday season. Love your charitable giving suggestion. I strongly recommend Heifer International, where you can buy livestock for folks around the world, from bee hives all the way up to cows and water buffalos.
Oh, I love Heifer Int’l, too!
And Dina….I love the idea of that ‘cold’ ;-). Maybe you can keep it long enough to have your family make dinner and do the cleanup.
xoxoxoA
DIna,
Hope the cold is just a minor annoyance, and that the rest of your Christmas is fun. If you like mysteries, I recommend the series by Louise Penny, starting with Still Life. The characters are so real, it’s difficult to concentrate on solving the mysteries! Be sure to read them in order, as she builds on the core characters in each book.
Dina, I wholeheartedly endorse Sharon’s recommendation. She introduced me to Three Pines & Inspector Gamache and they quickly became my beloved friends. You must read them in order, though. So start with Still Life. You won’t regret it! xoxoxoA
Thanks, ladies, for the recommendation of Louise Penny. I will eagerly search them out. I can always use a new mystery series to read. 🙂
Merry, Merry Xmas, to you dear Musette.
I got through 2 presentations last week (would rather have oral surgery!), brought the steam shovel in to clear out the once-a-year “dining room” (really perfume room/office 364 days a year…do people really have a dedicated room just for dining?) to entertain my brother’s family last night. Having a few minutes of respite before I have the dubious thrill of hosting my ex-in-laws, along with my teens, ex and my darling sweet survivor BF for Xmas breakfast. Big love over here, sending some on over to you!
XOXOX
Michelle
Michelle, You win Christmas Saint Award! Interestingly, I’ve been there, with the exes and family – I found that, unless there is real Ugly there, it’s not the horror folks make it out to be (of course, everybody has to bee-have! LOL!) . You have a generous and wonderful soul, to do that! My very best wishes to you for a wonderful day and a wonderful 2014~
xoxoxoA
Merry Christmas, dear Musette, Patty, March, and all. May it be a beautiful day!
Thank you!!! And we’re wishing you the same!
xoxoxoA
Hey Musette,
we had a super Christmas with 13 at table. Unlucky for some but we had a splendid time. Food, booze, games, laughs and silliness reigned.
I am blessed.
Here’s hoping you feel the same way at the end of your day. Merry Christmas.
Portia xx
Portia, No table is unlucky if loved ones are around it! And definitely no table is unlucky if you’re at it! It’s a grey, dank day here and I’m just fine! My boys are good, my girls are good, El O just called and he and his mama are good…..life is a-okay!
Love you, sweetie!
xxoxoA
Scrambled eggs with lobster sounds DELISH. We’re staying warm and having a low key day with just me, the boyfriend and the furballs (three cats). Every year, it seems like I get less and less inclined to make a fuss about the holidays. Well, except for the food.
LA Scentsation was a high point of my year! It was so exciting meeting you and so many other Posse peeps, and I fell in love with Portia (who I think has a future as an ambassador to all nations on the planet and off).
Like many here, I adore your posts, Musette, which regularly inject a much needed giggle into my days. I wish you warmth in the winter, delicious food all year round, and all the marvelous scent one woman can wear. And a Merry Christmas!
Lisa, it is the absolute best! I used to stay at the Prescott in SF and this was on the breakfast menu….too divine! I use lobster tails, steamed, then pull the meat out….the hardest part of this dish is the patience it takes to soft-scramble the eggs! LOL! Drinking a glass of bubbly while your slowly stirring helps…:-D
xoxoxoA – and thank you for the warm, wonderful wishes. Wishing the same for you!
Merry Christmas, Lisa! Think about you every time I wear one of the lovely Swapmania items you sent. Hope you and yours have a great holiday season.