Christmas 2019

A few years ago I decided that cooking a Christmas dinner was in my past. This decision meant that younger generations could take over as future hosts. However, this year we rose to the challenge and hosted a dinner for nine guests...family and friends. Our diverse group, ranging in age from 19-86 years, gathered to share a turkey dinner (slightly overcooked) complete with all the trimmings ...delicious!

Adrian and Marika arrived around 3:00pm

to share our new tradition of a book gift exchange.

Wearing their new Canucks toques...

we toasted each other with a traditional "Nusty Rail".

Morning coffee

I love the simplicity of making a single cup of coffee

Watching the slow drip through a paper filter

Inhaling the aroma of dark roast with a hint of cinnamon

A relaxed anticipation of the flavour

Settling finally with cup and book in hand

On a grey winter morning. 

A question

While painting all of these locks...this question came to me. 

Is it better to be locked in or locked out?

On the one hand being "locked in" indicates some level of security...safety from the outside world. On the other hand being "locked out" implies expulsion...removal from the inner world. Either can denote danger. Locked in against your will...locked out as punishment or retribution.

In everyday life we use locks to serve two purposes...to safeguard our possessions inside and to ensure that potential thieves or predators are kept out.

Locks also provide an emotional roadblock...keeping your feelings safely locked inside and ensuring that psychological harm is locked out.

A glimpse of sun

A glimpse of sun today

between dreary days.

Who...or what escaped?!

Finally...someone or something escaped!