(89) A quiet day and remembering my beloved Cleo as I think about Christmas

A good breakfast with dried cherries in oatmeal with honey and tea.

I made a simple lentil soup...

one large onion fried in olive oil, 2 cloves garlic,

2 carrots cut up and 4.5 small potatoes cup up and fried at end before adding

dried oregano, dried pepper flakes fried 

then 8 cups water, 1 28 oz can of tomatoes with basil

and a small bag of red lentils.

Brought to a boil and then simmered for an hour.

2 large handfuls of spinach and lemon juice added at the end.

Had with sour dough bread for dinner.

It was a nice simple warm meal on a cold night. 

***

I talked with A from Romania today, that was really nice.

Finished a whole bunch of wash clothes,

weaving in ends. 

***

I've been thinking about Cleo and about loss... 

loss is part of life and I am seeing that part of grief is 

accepting the change, the loss, learning to adjust to life 

after the loss, adapting.

A lot of accepting. Facing the sadness but also accepting it.

Accepting, moving on, remembering, acknowledging the sadness

and accepting it as part of the whole.

***

I hope to put up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving;

as I hope to do a lunch for St Nicholas day on Dec 6th locally,

I don't have a lot of time to both prepare the meal and have the house

decorated festively for the Christmas season and St Nicholas to me

is part of the joy of Christmas and I am excited to celebrate his day,

as I always do, twice, on Dec 6th and Dec 19th

(new and old calendar).  He's one of my favourites and is so dear to me.

I find the Saint's stories of their lives and their deep commitment to Christ

inspiring and that which gives strength. 

***

I gave away, on another topic, or returning to an older one, Cleo my Cat,

I gave away her last 2 cans of cat food today to a local friend 

who has been such a help to us and whose garden

Cleo is buried in. 

I am glad her cat can enjoy these treats.

***

I am really glad at the idea of putting up the Christmas tree while

Mr Husband is home on Friday after Thanksgiving.

It will make the fact that Cleo is not here to jump into the empty box

that holds my artificial Christmas tree the minute the box is empty... 

She did that every year!

How many happy times we had!

She was such a dear Cleo Cat Pal and I will always miss her

and will always be glad I had her. 

***

I found a beautiful white (Lennox brand) table cloth that I hope to use

this year for the second (long) table I put up for the Christmas holidays.

I think it is going to look really beautiful.

I am so glad for that. 

***

Last year's meal for St Nicholas was nice to look on 

and see Cleo too. 

I am thankful that even though Cleo is not with us,

I still have much to do and a Cleo to remember with love,

even though I can't have her sitting nearby, looking at me

for a treat or just enjoying being near those she knew loved her. 

***

Truly we have much to be thankful for.