December- as Christmas engagements start to fill our calendars

 Savoring simple daily pleasures 

December 1st. Traditionally here in New Zealand, this date heralds the (Optimistic) start of summer months, welcoming Christmas decor into our homes and our social calendar filling up rapidly. 

Whether its due to my recent relaxed trip and re set, or the fact I've been under the weather now for more than a week, this year the overriding urge I am feeling is the opposite of the usual increase in hustle and bustle, festive engagements and urgency to shop for gifts and tick off endless lists. 

This season I feel a simple sense of calm. Of paring back and taking stock and winding down for summer, rathe than cranking up for the silly season. 

While I have several events in the diary I very much look forward to- from ballet recitals, to festive theatre productions to a Bach performance, I also am on my own countdown, which has begun earlier than usual this year with the finishing up of my girls dance schedule, and my own, sports seasons wrapping up and gradually school years coming to an end- even earlier for my eldest as exams are now all over. 

I am savoring the simplest of pleasures such as enjoying my first morning coffee in my treasured Spode China Christmas collection, Peppermint tea in a large comforting Christmassy mug, lighting the advent candles with dinner for the first time last night and bringing out our little terrace of houses with its rolling star to mark the date (Pictured) the anticipation of going to choose our tree from the farm and adorning it with our precious victorian-esque glass decorations; trying a new recipe for a Buche de Noel, planning a simple, elegant Christmas day feast, and carefully considering meaningful gifts for closest family. 

I happily feel as though I've stepped out of the rat race its so easy to be swept along with- without even feeling any of the usual sense of urgency or need to accomplish and frantically tick off "to dos". 

A sense of calm and faith that it will all fall into place prevails and I am so looking forward to savoring the simplest of pleasures. Lingering over coffee in the morning, relaxing snuggled up watching old time favorite Christmas movies, wallowing in several books I have on my reading list, appreciating the magical twinkle of the hundred of white Christmas lights on the tree in the evenings and the intoxicating smell if the fresh pine, and then, once the new year rolls round, a beachy restorative holiday to look forward to with family. 

Its a feeling that is new to me- with slightly older children now, Christmas takes on a somewhat different shape- no less magical, just differently magical. We are not welcoming overseas guest this year, we have no major events to organize or host (yet) and the events we do have booked in are all outside the home, affording us the treat of coming home to a peaceful house and a twinkling tree. 

I'm greatly looking forward to tending to my little potager- vegetable garden- balmy evenings on the deck listening to the birds good night calls turn into the crickets and moreporks, and waking when my body is ready to fresh new days to fil with whatever we please, in no rush. 

I will likely miss events we are probably not going to manage this year- the infamous street in town where every house decorates for Christmas quite spectacularly as onlookers wander up and down with dripping ice-creams or candy canes in sticky fingers.  Visiting the historical department store with its magical indoor forest leading to the real Father Christmas, and the carol service at the cathedral.  But all these wonderful, magical events take scheduling and organization and planning that simply isn't part of my festive scheme or capabilities this year. 

So, today, already the second day of December, is a very quiet Saturday, with one or two errands, relaxing at home, a simple nutritious dinner - with the advent candles lit- and an early night. 

No guilt, not feeling duty bound, no late night shopping scramble. Just peace. And contentment. And quiet moments to savor.