For as many years as I have been visiting the State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin to see the Christmas Tree filling the rotunda, it has always had a certain simplicity about it which I love. The tree sparkles with lights. There are hundreds of hand crafted paper ornaments made by Wisconsin school children. And there has always been a model train circling the tree. Nothing fancy – this year a Wisconsin & Southern replica engine and a few cars are traveling ’round and ’round along a circular track – but it follows a rather nice tradition.
A Christmas Tradition
Capitol Reflection
WInter Dark and Winter Light
How did it get so late so soon.
It’s night before it’s afternoon.
December’s here before it’s June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?Dr. Seuss
Ah, the shortest day of the year. Cloudy, cold, gray outside.
Lots of lights are on inside though, for today only I’m ignoring the electric meter. The lights on the tree are glowing – all those bright LEDs in their sapphire blues, and ruby reds and emerald greens. They truly look like jewels.
Outside looks rather like the above photograph. But the photograph I’m keeping safely tucked inside my mind looks rather like the following one:
Ah, that is so much better!
Marigold Teapot
Not the best of timing, only a few days before family from both coasts comes for a long holiday visit, but I’m feeling a bit under the weather. This photograph of a bright yellow teapot, and the thought of a cup of hot, aromatic tea, makes me feel better. Not spirited enough to wrap the final stack of gifts or bake the last batches of cookie dough chilling in the fridge. But certainly good enough to sink into the easy chair in the living room and gaze at the brightest of tiny lights on the tree. That’s one of my favorite parts of the holiday season, enjoying the twinkling lights in a winter dark house.
Tomorrow is soon enough to finish the wrapping and baking. Now is a perfect time to sit and contemplate writing several lines in my gratitude journal.





