Dreams Fir Snowe

Posted on December 4, 2011 by City Farmgirl Rebekah Teal

Yes, I know. Snow doesn’t have an “e” on the end. And sure, it’s “for” not “fir.”

Funny, my daughter (she’s 10) is super-attuned to southern accents; and for some reason, she doesn’t want one. (Can you imagine that?) She corrects me on “fir” and also gets me on “dee” for “day,” as in Mon-dee. No, no, no, she says. It’s “daaaay, not deeeee.” And you know what else? She tries NOT to say “y’all.” (Whose child is she any way?)

Anyway, I spend my winter in the south dreaming of snow, chanting for snow, dancing for snow. I saw a flurry the other day and was THRILLED!

And guess what? By the time you read this, I’ll be out-of-town, out-of-pocket chasing a dream that involves winter and Christmas. So will you do a big, huge favor for me? Will you take a minute now and send out some energy and prayers and thoughts and wishes into the universe for me? A simple, “hope your dream comes true” would be awesome. So powerful. Thank you!

And to thank you for helping me along, I’m doing a drawing. Leave a comment here or at www.rebekahteal.com and tell us what Christmas smells like to you. That will enter you in the drawing. You can also email me using the email address. You can enter until Friday night at midnight, and I’ll draw a name on Saturday morning. It is that easy: what aroma means Christmas? Now, your comment won’t show up for a few days, because I’m out of town, but leave it any way, and when I get back, it will magically appear.

What will the winner receive? A 2012 MaryJanesFarm calendar!! I just ordered mine, and I ordered an extra one that I’ll send to one of you. I have to tell you, there is something about having a MaryJanesFarm calendar hanging in your kitchen, greeting you every morning with a big, cheery Farmgirl hello. Each year the photos are gorgeous and inspiring. And there’s always special Farmgirl designations for certain days that you don’t see on regular, run-of-the-mill calendars. If you don’t win this one and you haven’t ordered one, you’ll want to treat yourself to a MaryjanesFarm calendar this year. It will make you smile and feel good. Every single day.

Now, about Christmas. I heart Christmas. I don’t freak out or sweat it or go overboard, maybe that’s why I heart it. We always have lots of time to do simple things together. No, we’re not a crafty bunch at my house, but we do other things, like baking cookies and watching the Grinch and singing carols together. I tend to be in the Christmas spirit all year long, so when it arrives I’m actually not so frantic about it. I play Christmas music all year too. In fact, I had some horrible dental work done and took my iPod to drown out the drilling noise. Afterwards the dentist commented that I seemed so relaxed; he asked me what I had been listening to. James Taylor’s Christmas CD! It was the middle of summer, so the dentist thought I was quirky. Yes, well, what can I say?

Christmas, oh Christmas. Don’t sweat Christmas, y’all. Take it slow and do things late. Can you believe someone is actually saying that?

I am a slow and late Christmas shopper. There are usually no presents under the tree until VERY close to Christmas.

And nope, I will not shop at the mall this Christmas either. I haven’t for several years and it has been great. I’ve become an Etsy shopper. And also, a store opened up right down the street with local arts and crafts. Very cool. That’s where you’ll find me and my money.

I am a slow and late Christmas decorator. I slowly put out my Christmas stuff. (I put it pack it back up the same way….slowly.) That being the case, I don’t have a single Christmas decoration out. Zero. Nada. Now, I picked up some pine garland the other day and will put that out on my mantle in the next day or two. The sales person told me that I needed to mist it with a bit of water every day to keep it fresh. I like the long needles of pine, but the smell isn’t the same as it is with a fir tree.

You’ve heard of the bells of Christmas, but what I want to talk about are the smells of Christmas.

This is the time of year to take time smell the……Christmas trees! We like to go to a local family Christmas tree farm. Some years we cut down a tree from there, but the trees that grow well around here are Leyland Cypress and Blue Sapphires or Cedars, not the Frasier Firs I adore. So, some years we go to the farm and buy the Frasier Firs from NC that they ship in.

I love the firs. The aroma of Christmas for me is the fir tree. Yes, that is the smell I most associate with Christmas. That is my Christmas aromatherapy.

The second aroma that screams Christmas to me is mint.

Oh, how I love candy canes!

I go around all season with a candy cane in my pocket and one in my mouth. I bet you’ll remember this when I mention it: do you remember the way you can lick and suck on the end of the candy cane until you can get it to a sharp, sharp point? How many times did you cut your tongue or cheek on a candy cane’s sharp or jagged point?

It is that time of year when my favorite coffee in the whole wide world becomes available. Millstone Holiday Peppermint. This coffee is too die for. Awesomer than awesome.

And have you discovered the mint flavored Redi-Whip? Squirt some of that on top of your coffee and you’re in for pure delight. Seriously good. Oh! And put a chocolate covered peppermint candy coffee stirrers in there. It’s almost too good to be true.

Oh! And there’s peppermint flavored ice cream. Do yourself a favor, and grab some of that. Edy’s has a “light” version that is rich and creamy and has bits of peppermint candy in it. Oh my!

Speaking of candy canes, I went to school with a girl named Candy. What a great name! I always thought she should marry someone with the last name of Kane. I mean, come on, how cool would that be? Candy Kane. Awesome. Candy was my favorite girl’s name for a long time.

Until a girl named Snowe moved into the area. Snowe? That was the best named I’d ever heard.

I thought Snowe should marry a guy with the last name of Mann, or Ball. (‘Course that was in the dark ages, before I realized that women didn’t have to change their names when they got married.) So Snowe became my favorite girl’s name.

Until I graduated from school and worked with a girl named Noelle. Okay, that one takes the cake! Noelle had to be the best girl’s name ever. (I don’t remember thinking of the man’s last name she should marry. Guess I was too old by then to think such thoughts.)

Anyway, I always thought if I ever had a child and if that child happened to be a daughter, well, she’d surely wind up with one of those names. Candy, Snowe, or Noelle. She didn’t. I can’t explain why. They just didn’t seem to work when it came to naming time at the hospital. No Christmas or winter names for her, as it turns out. We named her Alyssa.

I heart dreams, fir, mint, snow and all of you! Your kind words and notes of support and encouragement keep me going! I hope you enjoy your winter and all your winter dreams come true!