Now, it is winter. It matters little to me what the calendar declares, for I know winter when I see it. December was born of a cold wind, which stripped every leaf and a cold rain followed. The landscape is full of bare trees and sunlight falls where it pleases, claiming territory it was denied just a week ago. The sky at night hosts stars the size of silver dollars and the constellations nearly announce themselves. I love winter.
The after Thanksgiving gathering , my children and I created, did not quite go as we had planned. Brynn and Lyla were both recovering from some sort of “bug” that gave them about a week of fevers and a cough. With Ryan , being just two months old, it was just too much of a risk to have him exposed to such a thing. Christian had taken Thanksgiving day off, and because of that, he was denied approval for the days after. . . so we did not have the “full house” we had hoped for. We made the best of it and made plans for another gathering. When we all left on Sunday, we had shared some good meals, Brynn had fallen in love with Tres and Jennys’ house was decorated for Christmas.
This is an extremely busy time, at school. The holiday concert is this Friday night. It is a huge event. Older students have a light show and prepare food. The youngest children play the glockenspiel and sing. Each class performs a song and then the violinists-around two hundred of them- give a concert for the finale. Every day is filled with rehearsals and all sorts of details. There is always a broken string on a violin, it seems . . or a missing hand bell . . or an amendment to the “programs”. . . and yet . . .I took Wednesday off.
For many years, my sisters, and my mom and I had an annual Christmas shopping day. It was always on the first Tuesday in December. As my nieces grew up, they came too. With Daddy, now needing company at all times, and Mamas’ bad knees. we broke the tradition and instead now decorate their house for Christmas. This year, when we all arrived, Mamas’ freezer had stopped working. This caused quite a commotion, right off. By noon, Dana and I had decorated the tree and Connie had come back with a new freezer. After lunch, Hayley and Mama had transferred the food and Delores and I had the garland and bows on the front porch. Connie did the windows and Hayley concluded the effort by hanging a wreath on the garage. We left as the sun was sinking behind the distant woodlands.
Thursday was a whirlwind of a day. By the time, school was over, I realised I was exhausted. I didn’t feel right. My eyes hurt and I felt weak. I dreaded the drive home, for I was sure I would fall asleep! I was in bed before eight and I am not sure what Christian had for supper.
I slept straight through the night-and wished I could have slept more! I willed myself to shower and dosed myself with oregano oil, which tastes so awful, but works wonders. The rehearsal went well, thankfully. I drank as much water as I could stand throughout the day and doubled up on my elderberry. Still, I was tired and was cold all day. I steered clear of people, as best I could. A good many were out with sickness already. I hardly ever fall victim to “bugs”, but I was sure by now, that I could not deny the facts-I was getting sick-and at an awful time!
As it turns out, the concert went beautifully, with little assistance from me. Practice does pay off, I thought -and not just in music.
Practice in general produces habits and I will do well to remember that. Whatever we practice, we tend to become good at and with time, it becomes a natural act. to us. While this idea applies to such things as diet, housekeeping and most every thing else -it also applies to matters of the heart and how we think, which is a most fearsome endeavor, for it is not a bit swift nor easy. It is a worthwhile effort . . .for all that really matters is the contents of our heart.
After the concert, I came home and went straight to bed. Again, I slept through til morning and awoke feeling mostly restored. I wondered how just sleeping could make such a difference. So when I “got my bearings straight”. I set about studying about sleep. Now, I am convinced that sleep is a very important time for us. I have always tried to see how little of it I can abide with. I like to stay up late -yet I also like to rise early. I do not like to nap, for it seems like a waste of my time. I hope you “can teach an old dog new tricks” for I intend to mend my ways.
Tres had orientation in Elizabeth City on Saturday, and so he spent Saturday night at the rabbitpatch. It still seems “too good to be true” that he will be closer to home and Jennys’ neighbor, literally – and right after Christmas! Lyla is very excited, for she has decided that Uncle Tres will teach her about the constellations! Jenny intends to cook for him, and Will is responsible for finding him a house and a part time job . I will be “on call” for housekeeping, errands and any “loose ends”. . . Tres has a fan club, and will not lack support in his endeavor.
All in all, the past week was full of blessings-even, whatever ailed me for a while, was an experience to learn from. The concert was a success and seeing Tres . . .well, that was the “icing on my cake”.
rabbitpatchdiarycom 
Miss Rabbit…I am so glad you got to feeling better. To much to do this time of year,any time of the year really, to get a bug that puts us down for very long. However…rest is important and the older I get the more I seem to need. Babe agrees with me and is letting me know it is close to bed time around 7:00 every night. Of course if we go that round we are up again at 4:00 which is just a little too early even for an early riser.The time change ,which we all hate, really messed her up and she can’t seem to adjust.
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Dear Beverly- Your hours and mine are about the same. I was getting up at four and by noon, I was wondering how to teach all afternoon! I am trying to adjust and get up at five. I really am trying to rest more. love Michele
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The end of a school year replete with performance is exhausting in a way that only a teacher really understands. I am so sorry to hear you are unwell, try to rest as much as your family will allow.
I am currently signed off sick and appreciate completely the mix of guilt and relief that leaving a class entails. Best wishes and stay warm and rested!
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I sure hope you are better soon! Your posts have been so very beautiful and really provoke such wonderful thoughts.
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Your writing is a great way to end the day. I always feel like I have had a lovely visit with your family and I love the closeness of all the members. I am so glad your concert went well. That speaks highly of the teacher. Love, Your Sunday School teacher from the past.
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That is an amazing number of violinists. How large is your school???
I’m glad you overcame your bug and that the concert went so well.
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we have a bit over 400 students. Kgarten does not play violins- so as you can see most students are in the program. I also teach general music. Thank you dear-and I so love your posts of the holiday affairs.
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I am in awe of your teaching. I trained as a school music teacher and found I was allergic to groups of children. My education wasn’t wasted, since I was an organist and choir director for 25 years. Still, I read of some of the things you do and saw how David adored the music teacher in his school. I wish I could have been like that.
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When other teachers walk in my room-they are dazed and forget why they came in! ha! It is about the only thing I am good for.
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That is most amusing.
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Usually getting sick during the holidays is just from trying to do 20 things at once, getting tired, and not taking care of ourselves. Glad you got some good nights of rest.and I hope you will pause now and then, sit quietly. and relax. Happy Holidays my friend.
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you are so right-and working at a school really is a factor too-thankfully, I am hardly ever sick. love to you-Michele
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I was a school secretary years ago when I got the mumps. Working around children gets rough sometimes. They get well a lot faster than us old folks. Love and Happy Holidays Michele.
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I hardly ever get sick and so this shocked me! I take elderberry and vit c and eat healthy! this got me anyway-but only lasted two days. It has lasted most folks a week! my sis just flew in from NY and she has it! Cheers to good health and a Merry Christmas! love Michele
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And a lovely icing it was! So true about habits and practice. To be good at anything—even living—requires much practice and patience. Thanks for the reminder. And, glad whatever you had didn’t hang around long.
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me too!! I really do not get sick-but this time surprised me! Merry Christmas! love Michele
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And merry Christmas to you and yours!
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School is always a whirlwind this time of year. I know what you mean. Our concert is a week from Friday, the last day of school. Children are already over excited about the holidays. It will be quite a week! Best to you, Michele.
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But isn’t the excitement so magical! Best wishes for your concert-and the wonderful time after! love Michele
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Yes, the excitement is magical! I’m so glad we are both the glass half full. Best to you, Michele. 🎄
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I have always believed in the healing power of sleep! If you go to bed and get a really good night’s sleep when you first begin to feel sick, you can often either avoid or lessen the symptoms of the illness. I’m so glad you’re feeling better now, and trust the little ones are too.
I like how you adapted your family traditions so that you can now decorate your parents house instead. I agree that what you do isn’t so important as simply being together and helping each other!
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I have learned for myself that you are right about sleep and really intend to do better. Our bodies deserve it. Thank you Ann- you are someone that I admire. So very sensible! We love the day Christmas comes to my parents’ house. thank you so much and Merry Merry Christmas! love Michele
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Glad you are feeling better. ;I remember a couple Christmases ago coming down with the stomach flu. My children made the meal. It wasn’t what I had planned totally but no one went hungry.
I understand the fact of timing and family not always working out. It is not easy when children do not all live within 10 minutes of home!
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We all wish we lived next door to one another. We are always scheming and dreaming about it. haha! love Michele
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I’m so glad even feeling badly you were able to make your concert….and that the hard work previously done had payed off! May you experience much joy this Christmas season dear friend! PS, love oregano oil;)
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Thank you and Oregano oil is wonderful!! But the tastes is so terrible! I try to eat dried oregano a lot-that taste I love!
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Congratulations on a another successful holiday concert, in spite of ailments!
More kindredness: I’m the same with sleep. I hate to go to bed too early. I like to squeeze every last moment out of the day. I also like to be up at sunrise.
Indeed, the two are at odds.
And napping on a day off? What a waste!
Someone said as we get older we need less sleep.
I’m delighted.
All my best,
Scott
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Again I find myself unfollowed by someone I am following. I refollowed, Michele. Dozens of blogs I have had to refollow. I so loved reading another diary post from you. So happy you are feeling better especially at this time of year. I’m wishing you a very Merry Christmas now just in case our paths don’t cross again before Christmas. Much love to you!! xo
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That has happened to me too-I even was unfollowing a blog or two that I have no understanding of how that happened! I hope our connection stays good! Merry Christmas! love Michele
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I have crossed paths with several “practice” quotes over the years. One maintains that ‘practice makes perfect,” while the other speaks to the “permanency” of practice. I prefer the second, because I can’t wrap my head around anything being ‘perfect,’ because I don’t believe we’ve ever even experienced “perfection.” Coming close is very nice however, as long as it doesn’t put a strain on the whole process of achieving it.
In my opinion, striving to do our best, which is where “practice makes permanent” comes from is super duper. And yes, once we’ve reached this mark, we won’t need to struggle with reaching it again. It’ll also be there waiting (the strategy all done and dusted) If we ever need it again!
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lovely- Practice does mean permament- good or bad. Happy new year!! thank you and love-Michele
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Yezzz!😊
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