Nature's tree decorations

With Christmas day but a week a way, I've been slowly decorating the house and the trees outside. I love to smell the cedar and pine. I have a Norfolk pine that was given to my son many years ago. It was a foot tall, and now has five stems and graces one of my seven foot tall church windows. I have to lean over the balcony of the loft to put on lights it's so tall now. That's yet to do, but the lights await.

And I've dug out the Christmas trappings of years past - the ones I've collected, and the ones collected by my mother-in-law from her childhood - way back when. She is long gone, but I think of her fondly when I bring out the little Santa and tiny tree ornaments shaped like nuts, still holding their silver and bronze gloss.

Walking the property with the dogs I spot something vibrantly red - Nature's very own decorations - apples. Elsewhere there are shiny black berries, or the red of Mountain Ash clumped and hanging invitingly for avian feeders. In other countries there is mistletoe on sturdy oaks, perhaps along with frozen raspberries and nuts still hanging on trees. No wonder Christians decided to make this time of year the same as the pagan celebration of the longest night - and the slow sleep of winter. There is so much bounty still around.

We are truly blessed on planet earth to have so much available - water, food, resources aplenty and beauty of all kinds.

This week I will hold each natural treasure I find in my memory or with my camera - to celebrate this bounty and remind me to take care of it and continue my request to others to do the same. May you each enjoy this week and see the beauty and bounty around you wherever you are.