21 December 2009
Happy Yule! Happy Solstice!
My original plan for the day was to be up for sunrise. Then, somewhere along the line I decided that what I really wanted to do was to make sure I was cutting my mistletoe at the exact moment of the Winter Solstice. So, I let myself sleep in a little later.
The first order of the day, then, after getting Kyle off to work, was my breakfast date with Ronnie. We met at the Old South Pancake House where I allowed myself the luxury of ordering Dutch babies. How I love those crazy little German pancakes! We enjoyed a long-overdue breakfast visit, and since there was still plenty of time before he had to be at work, I hopped in his truck and got the Ronnie-tour of the museum district. Construction is everywhere, and so was Christmas! I was amused by this touch of holiday spirit way up in the air! I got to see the brand new beautiful Fort Worth Museum of Science and History—at least on the outside. What a place! I am looking forward to visiting the inside (sometime after school starts again!). 
We also drove all around the up and coming Seventh Street area just west of downdown Fort Worth. I was unaware that the growth in that area was so extreme. As we headed back to where my truck was parked, I took this photo of the huge inflated Santa Clause currently decorating Casa Manana.
Ronnie went on to work and I headed home just in time to change clothes, get out the little ladder, and to wish I owned anything that would pass for a “golden sickle.” Since I don’t, my garden pruners had to suffice for the cutting of the mistletoe. The official solstice time was 11:47 a.m. CST and at that moment, I was snipping giant bunches of mistletoe out of one of the black oak trees in our front yard. I carefully caught the pretty berried greenery in a white linen tablecloth, not allowing it to touch the ground, and carried it back to the front porch. I should have plenty to send to any of our friends who want some. And, if I’m lucky, they’ll get it before Christmas!
It wasn’t long after all that, when Brittney arrived for a quick costume/measurement session and then a delightful lunch at Fuzzy’s Tacos. Since I stopped regularly attending my dance company class, I don’t see B~ very often anymore, so this luncheon, like my breakfast date had been, was long overdue. We sat and chatted and caught up on Scarborough news and just generally enjoyed the afternoon.
I spent much of my evening getting holiday packages ready to ship to family and friends. Tomorrow to the post office! All in all, it was a good Solstice Day for me. Good friends, good food, good deeds.
~MB
