A Festive Mystery . . . and a Week in the Rear-View Mirror . . .

I posted this photo, sans animation, sans falling snow, in Friday’s Five Things post, and by later that day, I noticed this .gif version parked on my Google+ page, which I rarely bother with. I suspect one of my lovely readers magic-wanded this into being — isn’t it delightful? I’d love to know how it was achieved and by whom — please solve the mystery for me.

I’m slowly recovering from my dental miseries, although I was mistaken about the stitches coming out and will have to wait a few more days for that. Meanwhile, I’m eating slightly more solid food now and I’m eschewing the pain-killers for most of the day. In fact, against the post-surgery instructions sheet’s advice, I went for a modified long run yesterday morning — 16 kilometres on our cold, sunny island, the snow-dusted dirt roads glistening brightness into my spirit even as I carefully side-stepped the icy patches. Yes, I was more fatigued than perhaps I should have been, but oh, I needed those endorphins. And I finally had a decent night’s sleep!

Now to catch up on work. I’ll be marking hard all day today with the clock ticking loudly so that I get these essays back to students at tomorrow’s and Tuesday’s exams. But then, I have some festive plans for a Vancouver visit — shopping, dining, visiting. . . . can’t wait and will tell you more later. . .

Meanwhile, before I grab my green fine-tip pen and head to my armchair with this stack of words, let me just point you back to last week’s posts:

On Monday, I showed a favourite Festive combo made with silk brocade pants.

Wednesday, I posted a photo of the Festive Outift I wore to the dentist. Yes, I did, and I might have gone on and on a bit about Oh, the Dental Horror. . . . okay, I get it, if you missed that post, perhaps you just want to keep on walking . . .

Friday’s post was another round-up of goodness in my daily life, the meme/genre that’s quickly becoming a favourite to put together:Five Things Friday

And now here we are again, back at Sunday, the wheel ready to spin its weekly spin all over again. . . .

Are you managing to slow it down a bit, to savour it as the days splash by? What moments are you stretching out, rolling around in, what images and smells and sounds of the season are tripping you up in your headlong rush to December 25th? I’d love to hear. . . .

And I would really love to know who transformed my photo into a sweet little animation, turned a .jpg into a .gif so cleverly . . . Thank you, whoever you are!

14 Comments

  1. Madame LĂ -bas
    8 December 2013 / 4:44 pm

    I went to see Albert Herring last night. I enjoyed the scenes of village characters and the "the odd man out". The music is so different from the Italian operas but I do enjoy the variety of productions that Vancouver Opera Association offers. Today, I will be attending an Advent carol service. We really enjoy the music of Christmas.

    • materfamilias
      9 December 2013 / 9:25 pm

      That's about how we felt as well — not quite as captivated by the music but definitely engaged by it. Some very good performances and a wonderful set.

  2. LPC
    8 December 2013 / 6:01 pm

    I am deeply enjoying not working right about now. There are some things about my job I really miss, but business during this time isn't one of them:). Glad to hear your teeth are recovering, albeit slowly.

    • materfamilias
      9 December 2013 / 9:26 pm

      So many things that would be wonderful to indulge in at this time of the year . . . and especially here in our current cold snap, it would be lovely to stay in and cocoon. I'm glad you're making the most of your current freedom from a work-imposed schedule.

  3. K.Line
    8 December 2013 / 6:17 pm

    Um, I am most definitely not slowing down to note the beauty of the season. For starters, I don't find it beautiful this year. Also, everything is converging in the busiest way! I'm pleased to hear that you continue to heal – and so well that you could even go running. I mean, if it was still painful to movement, you wouldn't be able to bounce up and down for 16K, right?! That's gotta be improvement.

    • materfamilias
      9 December 2013 / 9:28 pm

      Uh-oh, I'm hearing some serious Humbug. . . it's probably easier to feel festive when the weather is a bit more manageable as it is hear.
      Not sure the running was the smartest idea as I'm really tired now, but it felt good at the time and you're right that I would have known right away if it was hurting and I would have stopped.

  4. Tiffany
    8 December 2013 / 8:39 pm

    That's so beautiful! It is almost enough to de-Grinch me. The timing of work, a mystery illness (possible Dengue fever), etc, have all conspired to make this the least festive December in memory. I'm hoping that I'll get through this week and suddenly find myself energised and inspired …

    I love that you also mark with a green pen 🙂

    • materfamilias
      9 December 2013 / 9:29 pm

      Yikes, Tiffany! I hope you get a decent diagnosis and a whack of good meds soon — and that you can find some time to rest up. . .
      The only time I don't mark with a green pen is when I can find the perfect shade of lilac in just the right fine tip 😉

  5. Unknown
    9 December 2013 / 4:02 am

    Glad to hear you are recovering well enough to go for a run. I'm enduring my yearly holiday cold and look forward to it being gone by the time the family gets here. Be well. Jennifer

    • materfamilias
      9 December 2013 / 9:30 pm

      I'm warding off any thought of a holiday cold with the sheer knowledge that it would be horribly unfair for me to get one after I've just endured the tooth woes. Right? Take care, and rest yourself up so that you can revel in having your family all around — especially that little guy, so cute!

  6. Lorrie
    9 December 2013 / 5:54 am

    The gif is lovely. I'd love to know how to do that, too. Glad to hear your dental woes are subsiding.
    We had two of our children (with their families) over today. A walk around Mt. Doug park followed by roasted potato soup and watching the little girls race around the living room. Ahhh.

    • materfamilias
      9 December 2013 / 9:31 pm

      That's a perfect, perfect afternoon, isn't it? So satisfying to see the adult children in their families. . . love it!

  7. Catherine
    9 December 2013 / 10:40 am

    That is pretty – let us know if you find out how to do it. Hope you are finished with the dentist – mine is ongoing misery – he had to cancel our appointment last week and now I have flu and have to cancel the rearrangement…

    • materfamilias
      9 December 2013 / 9:32 pm

      Oh, I'm so sorry. I have just one more visit (thought the stitches were coming out last week, but that's for this week instead) for this round. The implant will be another story, not to be told for a number of months. . . .The whole hassle of trying to find time for appointments is always hateful to me, almost as much so as the appointment itself. I hope yours works out before too long — and I do hope you get over your flu in time to enjoy the holiday season

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