The Christmas

I wrote this about 15 years ago, when I was spending my first Christmas away from home. You can probably tell I was missing it.

THIS CHRISTMAS

If we were together this Christmas
The sun would be beating,
People eating, living, breathing
The spirit of the season.
Without reason
They would laugh and enjoy
The shopping, without stopping,
Bopping through the broad but narrow streets
To find the umpteenth perfect gift.
There’d be cooking and cleaning,
That happy, tired feeling
Wrapping, writing, tying, bows
All that makes the Christmas we know
For it’s a fun-filled family time.
And the singing:
Winter, snowmen, sleighbells ringing
In a place where snow’s as rare
As money in January.
This Christmas I’ll be in the cold
But through ice and snow and fog and dew
In my heart I’ll be sharing Christmas with you.

Edible Flowers Writing Challenge

When I found out what my latest writing topic was going to be, I didn't know how to write about it, so I've tried something a bit different - an extended limerick on edible flowers. What do you think?

When you need something different to eat
To give your guests a great treat
Please, don't despair
The answer is here
In a web release that's hard to beat.

The release gives lots of advice
On how to make dishes look nice
With petals delicious,
And oh so nutritious -
To eat them you wouldn't think twice.

So when next you're starting to forage
Try marigolds, roses or borage.
To enhance your provender
Use nasturtiums, lavender
And maybe a small dose of courage.

When it's time for the next Mother's Day
You'll have lots of new tricks to play.
Instead of a bouquet
A bunch or a nosegay
Don't send flowers; eat them, I say.