the signs of the season

Hot chocolate and fresh popped corn. Colored paper cut into strips and pots of rice paste to make paper chains ... Silver glittered stars hung under the porch ceiling & strung with lights. Spilled glitter sparkling underfoot and tracked everywhere. A fabulous overnight visit with my little friend Oskar, who is seven this year. We had fun! It's beginning to feel like Christmas.

The truth is I must find a tree to start the season off properly. That and snow must fall in the meadows. At least it seems an imperative to get me to feel the excitement. I believe that the little winter lights that appear suddenly in the night on the icy eaves, look for houses with ice crystal glittered windows filled full to brimming with the warmth of Christmas.
They peek inside, those little imps. The spirit must be there. I want them to choose this cottage as one to light the way. So first thing, a tree. Into the front windows it goes. A fire is lit and the wonders begin for me.

The cottage smells of the season. Grand fir, cinnamon and bowls of tiny oranges. Cloves and apple cider. Ornaments are pulled from their resting places ... Tissues unveil the treasures kept from year to year. Loaves of gingerbread cool on the side board ready to slice to go with the fresh vegetable soup for a simple supper.

The kind of evening where giggles abound. Candy canes are tasted, stir chocolate, even some make it to the branches on the tree. Red and white and tied with little ribbons so the kittens cannot carry them away.

Yes, this year we welcome as our guests, two kittens. Found left alone in an empty box placed in a shed, door shut. I cannot imagine the why let alone how someone could ever ... It was twenty-nine degrees outside. But angels exist. Discovered half frozen by a dog that made someone listen. We call them, Jesse's kittens.

A knock on my door. A neighbor dog (Jesse) & his person standing before me holding a towel presented with a plea. Inside I spy, a quiet bitsy gray kitten. Maybe two-weeks old. Twenty minutes later, another knock. Same neighbor. Another kitten.

Weeks later and what must have been a hundred bottles of KMR (kitten milk) & strained chicken ... And I am chasing & pulling two frolicking monkeys from under wrapping paper covered with teeth marks, out of boxes of now shredded tissue, and repeatedly removing the two dangling furballs from the tree top.

Every year (since for as long as I can remember) a birthday cake has been baked for Christmas Eve. This year the cake will probably have footprints in it.

::sigh:: Christmas at the cottage.
I may be standing in the middle of the kitchen apron on, next to the table with frosting prints across it, perplexed look on my face ... but always, everyone is welcome. If you find yourself down our lane, stop by. But check your pockets before you leave.
I may have misplaced a kitten.

=^..^=love, zU

Comments

[vivianneroni]

Hi zuzu! thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment! I followed you back to this site sorry blogspot didnt work out for you.. this is good here though! I love your pictures and your site. I'm rushing this morning so just a quick skim through, but enough to know that I will be back again when my crazy life calms down a bit.. (check mylatest post!)
have a great day!
vivian

[vivianneroni]

Hi zuzu! thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment! I followed you back to this site sorry blogspot didnt work out for you.. this is good here though! I love your pictures and your site. I'm rushing this morning so just a quick skim through, but enough to know that I will be back again when my crazy life calms down a bit.. (check mylatest post!)
have a great day!
vivian

[Tracy]

The kittens are so adorable! I can't understand why people are so cruel to animals - and to each other. I'm glad they have a happy, warm home now. :)

[Boxwoodcottage]

Oh ZuZu!:D What joy! I'm so glad that you are finally back! Never gave up hope! Long live Elsa di Imac!I so missed you and your cottage stories! How is my little friend Chichi doing? Is he still living in the cottage garden?
Thank's a lot for your sweet comments over at Boxwoodcottage. I hadn't blogged for weeks, the season was just to busy, but now I'm back too! The found little kittens are making my heart melt. Our cat Sammy was also found outside in a dirty garbage box before we saved her from the animal sanctuary. How can humans be so cruel? I'll never get that.
Yes snow for Christmas would be the icing on the cake! I hope for snow for every enchanting cottage in the world this Christmas!
Hugs and Smooches to you and all of your cottage mates!
Carol xoxo

[naturegirl]

ZUzU you have a gift of two little angels for Chritmas! Look at the blue blue eyes on the one! I don't like the story of how they came to be but I would like to imagine that the fairies around your magical cottage had LOTS to do with YOU having these little fur balls! They are so blessed now in having YOU as their human mommy!

What ever happened to our sweet CHICHI...that little miracle squirrel??

You are special zUzU ...hugs hop along NG xoxoxo
purzzzzzzzzzzzzz..from Babie and Paisley

[Lisa M.S. Oceandreamer]

ZuZu when I received your comment on my blog I was SOOOOOO thrilled and happy you are back in bloglandia. I feared you had moved or gave up or something....so what a delightful and wondrous surprise! I've read back and it sounds like many things have shifted for you - I hope the fairies still surround your cottage and keep you safe.
Look at those little grey babies....so sweet and nurtured by you. Yes they are a tangle of mischief but I know they speak a silent language of thanks for their lives!
I will add you back on to my blog list now with a big smile on my face. Welcome back!
XOXOXO
Lisa

[kim]

oh my 2little orphans found by 2 sweet angels and delivered to yet another angel for safe keeping...this brings tears to my eyes....miracles of the christmas season....warms the heart...
xoxo

[Jill]

Those lucky little kittens! Thank goodness they were found. Nothing like a sweet mischevious kitty! Enjoy!
xox JB

[Rella]

oh...how wonderful. The fragrance, the beauty. I am so there!! With bells on (for the kittens)
xo Rella

[Carrie West]

ZuZu, YOUR BACK, YOUR BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOW IT'S REALLY CHRISTMAS FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OOOOOOO HOW I'VE MISSED YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M SO HAPPY JUST SO HAPPY!!!!! THE AMAZING QUEEN IS BACK!!!!! YIPPEEEEEEE HURRAY!!!!! I'M GIDDY!

[eb]

Dear dear zU - you are back - and I am so happy about that - guess what? - I made silver glitter stars today - and altho I had been to visit you - and wanting to leave a long juicy note - I had not registered this special information - now - about these precious kitties - our Byz - now 15 used to climb our first Christmas trees - before the Boonster arrived... so funny these little ones - so excited to race to the top and perhaps kiss an angel... is that where you were perched? Oh I am so happy to visit and relish your delicious tales - and especially in winter to sit at your hearth and nod and hmmmmmm to your stories - and chuckle and sigh...

thank you so much for your visits and kind comments - I am just tickled to be here with you again... so much has happened hasn't it...

let's catch up dear zU...

xox - eb.

[Sandra Evertson]

Ah, the little part about your two new kittens, sounds like pure Heaven to me! I love all of that baby innocence, energy and love! They do grow up to be long napping kitties, although I know at the moment that time seems in the distance!
Happy Holidays to you and Yours!
Sandra Evertson

[tea]

Have a wonderful Christmas zU!
The snow pictures look glorious and those kittens are just the sweetest!!!
tea
xo

[Samantha]

You're an angel for adopting those two beautiful kittens! Happy holidays to you and your family & friends!

[Vicki in MIchigan]

So glad you are back!

Bless your heart (and your neighbor's and Jesse's!) for saving those kitties. I look forward to seeing them here.

Best of holidays to you.