Christmas Officially Begins

Or rather it officially began yesterday - December 1st - when Betty Jean's Christmas Cactus burst into bloom. It couldn't have been better timing. Its been rainy and grey here for the past few weeks and when I went into the kitchen yesterday morning there was this burst of colour - two blooms had opened and a few more followed later in the day.




I'm absolutely amazed - I've never had a Christmas Cactus this healthy before. My friend Yvette in the south of France has two in bloom and just as vibrantly. I can only think - and fondly hope - the rest of the season will be as colourful and as bountiful in so many ways.

02 decembre - Santa Bibiana

Christmas is Coming

Yesterday my American friends celebrated their Thanksgiving and for most it signaled the beginning of the Christmas season. In Canada our Harvest Festival is in early October, which is too early - despite what retailers say - to even start thinking about holiday-tide so I've always taken my cue from my American cousins. Here in Italy I've never quite figured out what the signal is for the start of the run up to December 25th so I've created my own.


When Betty Jean's Christmas cactus blooms its time to start thinking about the holidays. And this year its getting set to Bloom with a capital B! I've counted 40 buds - the most I've had on any Christmas cactus.

As I look at it on the windowsill I'm reminded of Betty Jean, Stephen, Sarah and Brian and our friendship during our time together in Warsaw and, as difficult as it was, here in Roma. And it also reminds me of so many of our friends around the world - in Pakistan, Poland, Serbia, England, Greece, the United States, here in Italy, in various parts of Canada and back home in Ottawa. Friendships that have bloomed over the years and continue to do so. Reaching back to my American friends holiday - for that I am truly thankful.

26 novembre - Sant'Umile da Bisignano