Between my job at the shipping company and pet sitting my life has been jumping. Sixteen or eighteen hour days are not unusual from around the middle of November until Christmas. Everyone always says Christmas is about religion, peace and reflection however work for UPS, FedEx or USPS and Christmas is the hell season. The public who is sane, pleasant and understanding the rest of the year become unruly this time of year. In the years I have worked for the shipping company I have been called every name in the book, been told I’ve ruined many Christmas’, been swung at, have been threatened and all over a package. People don’t want to hear that when their flight was delayed due to ice or school was closed due to blizzards it means our planes and trucks probably can’t move at peak efficiency either. People want their packages right away right now. The biggest thing I want to tell people is that Christmas is December 25 every year. It has not changed in quite a while but people still call yelling at me. As a result I often find it hard to embrace Christmas. So I have developed my own little rituals that make me happy. I have put up happy little Christmas trees around my apartment along with bowls of small ornaments. My Mom gave me a planting of her Christmas cactus last year and I was delighted when it started blooming recently. I also have quite a collection of Christmas CD’s-‘my favorites are Harry Connick Jr’s, Elvis, Vince Guiraldi, and Jim Reeves.

All the pictures come from a pet sitting job I am currently doing. They have very festively decorated there home inside and out. The top and bottom are from a tree outside. And I loved that Oliver jumped up next to the holly and candle. As I left the house tonight to head home it was wonderful to see the Big Dipper hanging over the river, it’s handle pointing down. The geese were quietly talking on the river.

I’m thinking of heading to Assateague Island this Sunday. I think I need some quiet walking time. As long as the wind is not howling I think I should be good. There is supposed to be a rocket launch from Wallops Island on Wednesday evening. I hope to see it while I’m at work.

I hope your advent Christmas season is a peaceful and content one. Enjoy natures gifts and keep an eye out for snowy owls they are heading south from Canada this year. They have already been spotted here in Maryland!