We are just past the Winter Solstice here in the northern hemisphere – each day will now grow longer, bringing more light into our daily lives. It is not surprising that many holidays in December celebrate a season of light with candles, Yule logs, Christmas lights and many other traditions.
Without leaves on the trees, the bright winter sun shines through the seedpods of plants and create patterns of shadow and light in the quiet garden.
After a brisk run through the cold morning garden, Pixie enjoys a nap in the afternoon light, 
raising a sleepy head every so often. 
I had the energy this year to fully decorate the house for the holidays, inside and out. The front porch got special treatment to welcome visitors with a rustic green and white theme. (click on any photo to see a full size image)
Inside the house, I managed to get two trees decorated – the one in the front hall is full of musical angels and instruments, birds, magical creatures and the sun, moon, and stars.
The tree looking out over the woods and garden has a rustic woodland theme, filled with birds, furry creatures, nature Santas, and gardening tools. 
I had so much fun decorating that I made a short video of the Christmas trees including a few cameos by Pixie and a soundtrack of Christmas music that I arranged for a CD years ago. Betty, a YouTube friend of mine, also included my video in a montage of Christmas trees on her channel. Enjoy!
As much as I miss spending my summer days in the garden, I look forward to the winter evenings as the sunlight fades and the candles and Christmas tree lights glow in the dark. I often light a fire in the music room fireplace and play Christmas carols with Pixie at my feet, a lovely way to end the evening. 
Whatever you may celebrate this time of year, may the light shine on your path and brighten the new year ahead.
So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing. ~T. S. Eliot
All text and images ©2023 Lynn Emberg Purse, All Rights Reserved, except where noted.
composerinthegarden 
Beautiful, light-filled post, Lynn. I hope your holidays were as delightful as your decorations. ♥
Thank you, Robin, it has been a beautiful holiday season. Wishing you a wonderful new year!
I really enjoyed the video, Lynn, including Pixie’s appearances. I noticed a poodle ornament on one of the trees. We have two collies and four cats and my wife has procured a remarkable number of collie and cat ornaments over the years, so I can definitely identify. with the regalia.
You’ve got a sharp eye (of course!) – yes, there are actually 2 poodle ornaments. One is a white poodle with angel wings and the other is a sparkly black poodle, hard to see though. Both were bought for Angel so I need to get some Pixie ornaments up on the tree next year! I love that your wife collects collie and cat ornaments – it is a fun way to show our affection for our furry kids. Happy holidays to you and your family, Kerry!
Thanks, Lynn. The very same to you and yours.
What a feast for the eyes and ears…and I’m sure it smells good, too. 🙂 The milkweed pods in the sun are gorgeous, Pixie looks so cozy I feel like snuggling with her, and the trees are amazing. I’m glad you’re enjoying the season! Best to you in 2024 – may it be filled with creativity.
Thank you, Lynn – Pixie is a great snuggler 🙂 She has been watching my decorating efforts with great interest and curiosity. Hopefully we can remove the gates around the trees next year when her curiosity doesn’t extend to playing with the ornaments! I wish you every good thing this holiday season and through out the coming year!
Pixie’s a very lucky girl. 🙂 Thank you!
It’s beautiful, Lynn. The narrative, the trees and outside decorations and Pixie. And the wonderful Christmas carol.
I’m so glad we saw each other at Thanksgiving though the day had a somber feeling, with Bill’s back. I’m glad it healed quickly!
All good here with Gioia and Christine. I’m doing some cooking at a shelter on Christmas day. For Christine I printed images from our trip to Bologna, Ravenna and Venice in the spring, to Lake Superior in the winter and late spring and the visual poetry of daily life. So much to be grateful for.
thanks for sharing. Love and miss you both! Doug
Thank you, Doug! It was so wonderful to see you last month – Bill is doing fine now. Good for you for cooking at the shelter – those acts mean a lot. Have a wonderful holiday season, hugs and kisses to Gioia from Pixie 🙂
Great beauty and a quiet, careful composition is so evident in your trees this year, Lynn. They exude both peace and joy. I love the echoes of color and tone, and the added pleasure of seeing Pixie and hearing your beautiful music offered an exquisite meditation. Thank you, and a very merry Christmas to you and your beloveds.
Kitty, your words are always a balm to my soul – thank you. Decorating the house for the holidays is so much like planning a garden season, just a different medium. Pixie thanks you – she’s loving and mischievous and adorable and brings so much to everything I do. I wish you a very merry and blessed Christmas to you and your family.
Wonderful festive celebrations at your house!! Had the energy to decorate myself, but Pekka is a pretty no-fuss sort of camper – end result, minimalistic gleeful expressions! After the warm front we had, our snow levels were halved. A few days later, a fresh flurry of cold fronts traveled through the Nordics. Everything is once again coated with several inches of snow. I’m living in a snow globe at the moment! Merry Christmas Lynn!
“Minimalistic gleeful expressions” within a snow globe sounds fabulous, Kate. Have a wonderful and joyful Christmas!
Thanks so much for sharing your Christmas decor with all of us. It is beautiful. Merry Christmas to you both.
Thank you, Graham. Merry Christmas to you and Marilyn!
Dear Lynn. I adore your Christmas trees – both of them – and your holiday ambience is beautiful and wondrous. Wishing you and yours, including sweet Pixie, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Oh Babsje, thank you so much. I felt so peaceful and joyful this year as I “decked the halls” – it takes me forever now (!) but I enjoy it. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as well.
Thanks for the reminder that the days will start lengthening! I was too busy with family functions to notice that milestone!
Oh it is an important milestone, isn’t it? It takes a while to register visually but the season of lights transitions us steadily towards the return of sunny days.
Following your own theme is always the most fun. You find so many pieces to fit into your idea that you wonder why it never occurred to you before. When I saw the microphone in the tree I had a good laugh. What do you suppose was your inspiration this year? The seemingly endless gorgeous autumn? Who wouldn’t want to extend that into the darker season?
The microphone is funny isn’t it? It was a gift from a musician friend. I wanted to keep it a bit traditional this year, green and white mostly, especially outside. The trees are always my favorite to decorate – every ornament speaks to me like an old friend and reminds me of our travels and my life as a musician and gardener. Have a wonderful holiday, Bernadette, my thoughts are with you.
Such beautifully themed trees, Lynn, and your outdoor decorations are equally lovely. Have a cozy Christmas, time for a well-deserved rest!
Thank you so much Eliza. I love that – “a cozy Christmas”. We are hosting our large family for the day so rest will come on the 26th! Have a wonderful holiday.
Lovely to see your beautifully decorated tree and the video of your garden through the seasons.
Thank you so much, Gerrie, I really do love Christmas and all of the festivity. Years ago, we spent New Year’s Eve in Australia – it was beautiful as we sat under the stars on a warm evening and listened to the pipers long after midnight, a time I will never forget.
I’m so pleased you had such a happy time in Australia.
A warm night under the stars is a joy.
The front porch decorations not only adhere to a green and white theme but also announce, in at least one case, that a musician dwells within—where a festive ambiance prevails all the more. Happy Holidays and New Year.
Ah yes, two musicians dwell within so it is the intro, or prelude(!), to what lies within. Happy Holiday and Happy New Year to you too, Steve!
The milkweed pod photo is stunning. I enjoyed the video because it had various aspects of you. Merry Christmas to both of you.
Thank you Frank – yes, my trees really reflect my quirky self and the things I love 🙂
That was a real voyage of exploration round your tree. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Well thank you, tootlepedal – so delighted that you enjoyed the voyage! Happy holidays to you.
Thanks for sharing your Christmas time decor with all of us. This is probably worth keeping up until April!! Merry Christmas to you both.