Streeling into Saturday

Sauntering, strolling, streeling–words that mean about the same but the last word is not heard much any more. In Grave Heritage, Flora uses the word and she and Darcy remember that Andy Tucker used to say that. None of the Cozy Critters who heard me read the passage from the book knew what it meant. Yet, I had heard Mom and Dad say, “Don’t go streeling off” many times in my childhood. As it turns out, it is of Irish origin and practically obsolete. Words and where they came from is a history lesson of its own.

Anyway, my thoughts go streeling this morning, here and there, wandering from one thing to the other. My Christmas tree lights glow beside the desk. Cards are coming in from friends I hear from once a year. I love getting those cards! I love looking at the picture Jane posted of her penguin egg hanging from her Christmas tree. The colors of the tree and ornaments are vibrant and say, “Christmas!”

My thoughts, as I said, are streeling, wild and unchecked, and I think about cousins, nieces and nephews, friends who live in other parts and the crazy idea comes that I could just take off, streel off, and visit each of these persons. It would certainly broaden my horizons because relatives and friends live in diverse and far-flung places. Not to worry, people, I’m not going to descend on you. It is only my thoughts that are all over the map.

Christmas is less than two weeks away and children are hoping for a white Christmas. Thursday morning, the sunrise was so red, I took a picture of it. What is that old saying, “Red sky of morning, sailors take warning?” Sure enough, we have a change in the weather forecast for tonight and tomorrow.

Last night, the sky looked beautiful at sunset. I don’t know if that has any weather significance, but it was really pretty.

The Folgers is hot and sustaining and helping gather my errant thoughts from the four corners of the world and zero them in on the here and now and what is at hand. Which is writing–it is at hand, I mean. Speaking of Darcy and Flora and their three published cozies, come Monday I’ll have a Christmas gift for you…a special offering from these dedicated sleuths who, when they streel, do so with a purpose which is to catch the villain and bring him to justice.

Happy streeling to you, wherever you are and wherever you decide to go. Streel with joy!