This weekend I get to celebrate 38 with a special somebody, we’re celebrating with a little SanctusReal and JJHeller tonight LIVE.
Also In addition to MORE SNOW DAYS…and SICK DAYS, I have been getting ready to take over a gymnasium with crafts for our upcoming womens retreat. I love testing out new DIY ideas. This week I made these giant 10″ crepe flowers! Just a few more ski days and I’ll be ready for spring… 
I am still in awe of the weather – am I old if I talk about that? Last week we went on our last ski day with the girls and they were going down black diamonds – seriously at 5 and 7 years old! This week has been steady 75- 80 degrees everyday – seriously Northern Michigan in March! I expect a few rogue days here and there in spring but this is just too wonderful! We don’t have any official spring break plans and I am really not regretting it at this point.
So all that to say, I have continued to play outside more and “make” less. There’s just no way I can focus in my basement studio when all my spring bulbs are emerging and the kids are running around the yard and begging to go on bike rides. There is just this beautiful peace about enjoying what’s around you and taking it all in. I really was not expecting for such a dramatic change in my schedule this year, I find myself pacing and waiting for that comfortable “routine” to emerge one of these days. I have been in two studies this spring, the book of Acts and James. I am feeling bathed in the word and my mind is almost saturated to the fullness, which is slightly glorious and overwhelming all at the same time. It still seems too intense to completely process and share, I have to soak in it a bit more to grasp all that the spirit is leading.
My new hat is now finished but I need to recharge my camera battery. I searched all the normal and abnormal places for my camera charger today – It really rattles me when I lose things. Little S told me I should make a wish for it , because she wished for 3 things for Christmas and got all of them, even if she had to wait a bit for the last one. Oh to be seven! I wish I could find my camera charger, the case, and my favorite gloves that all seem to be missing!
Last week was sunny, this week is snowy. Little H pointed out the heart left from my tea bag stain. double love.
I am working at that goal list… perhaps I’ll combine “draw more” with “send snail mail”. I found a pack of blank “artist” postcards in the basement. And on a quick trip to the grocery store this morning I backed my cart up for these pears, the colors are as refreshing as the sunshine on this winter’s day. A few moments, watercolor pencils and sea salt. A few moments… there was a time when I rarely stopped for this kind of thing. Now to decide who to send it to!
We kept the original leaded glass picture windows on the front of our house. I admire how they capture the light and distort the scenery. Yesterday they framed winters own art sprawled across the glass panes. I’m mesmerized by the ice crystals and abstract design.
Happy New Year! Thank you all for a wonderful 2011, it was beyond my expectations!
We cautiously rung in the new year with my husband’s family who were passing around the gift of the stomach flu – yik. Grateful for a safe seven hour trip home to Michigan, we left in a hurry to beat our first winter storm home. It started snowing as we drove into town – AMAZING! Also grateful that nobody else fell victim to this volatile virus in the car.
We did manage to celebrate with one bottle of champagne between the healthy, I was more interested in claiming the cage. I have wanted to make one of these cute miniature parlor chairs since I first laid eyes on them here (photo above). This is what I learned – I am not so great with wire (photo below)!
Did you make a resolution for the new year? I am generally a goal orientated person, I make lists constantly mostly so I can cross things off… I may not be keen at picking one new years resolution but these flowed readily into a “want” list for 2012:
I want to sketch and draw more.
I want to actually do my hair more and wear a pony tail less.
I want more 3000 yard mornings in the pool each week.
I want more dates with my husband.
I need more quiet times in the word.
I want to paint my nails with my daughters more.
I want to entertain more in my home.
I want to explore surface design on the clay and expand my artistic style.
I want to make more homemade bread.
I want to eat less dessert and more vegetables.
I want to capture more memories.
I want to be a great friend.
I want to take more family vacations.
I want to purge my basement.
I want to ski downhill lots.
I want to get back into writing snail mail.
I want to give generously.
merry christmas – I feel like I should get that in before tomorrow, which is new years…. already!
Did you have a good holiday? We’ve been in a whirlwind of travel and visits, which typically is the best part of December. This year the season has left me a bit – homesick. Never thought I would say that about our little rural community but sometimes there’s just no place like home.
On a brighter note I share Andy’s gift to me (or at least the wrapping). I did like what was inside, I just got a kick out of the presentation! You can’t blame a guy for trying, but maybe next year I’ll make sure I leave the gift bags somewhere handy.
I haven’t made an ETSY treasury in a while but I couldn’t resist doing something themed for Christmas. This was my grandma’s favorite song, it was always the highlight of the Christmas party. ”FIVE GOLDEN RINGS” was the most cherished line, and typically by the end of the song everyone tried to out-sing their line to that dramatized tune. But only the true position of five golden rings was allowed to hold the wooden spoon microphone!
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In my search to remember all 12 days I found this list linking the popular song to a ”catechism song” to help young Catholics learn their faith. Here is an explanation of the twelve days below, I found them very interesting.
A Partridge in a pear tree–Jesus Christ.
Two Turtle Doves–The Old and New Testaments.
Three French Hens–The Trinity and/or Faith, Hope and Charity.
Four Calling Birds–The Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Five Golden Rings–The first Five Books of the Old Testament.
Six Geese A-laying–The six days of creation.
Seven Swans A-swimming–The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
Eight Maids A-milking–The eight beatitudes
Nine Ladies Dancing–The nine Fruits of the Spirit
Ten Lords A-leaping–The Ten Commandments.
Eleven Pipers Piping: The remaining eleven faithful apostles.
Twelve Drummers Drumming–The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed
“Peace is first of all the art of being.” - Henri J.M. Nouwen
There is a stillness this week, it feels like Christmas but the pace has slowed. I have a Christmas tree up and a poinsettia on the kitchen table, but I hope the nutcrackers’ and other decorations don’t mind their boxes for another year. I realized I haven’t set foot in a mall, and really just stopped at one physical store. All my gifts are handmade or bought online. Some may argue that I am missing the season but as I am on the couch more often these days with a cold I cannot shake, the knocking me off my feet is kind of what I needed. Without the commercialism of the “holidays,” hype at school, numerous parties and fabricated to do lists, I just sense “peace.” Today I got to read to my 5-year-old and hold my 7-year-old as she was melting down after-school and I realized that the excitement of Christmas could have easily carried me right past these tender moments. How precious to embrace peace, to focus on the story, the quiet night, the entrance of a new family, a new journey, a new place, a new hope.
The annual cookie exchange with my SpringHill ladies – always one of the best parties of the year. I exchanged ice cream for cookies this year the choices were; gingerbread, peppermint, mint chocolate, cannoli and caramel egg nog. I loved these sweet little pint containers, so convenient!
One of the best exchanges of the evening though was the sharing of hearts as we are able to catch up with those in town for the holidays and friends separated for weeks by busy schedules. I love these ladies, who they are, what the do, what they believe in and certainly for what they make! Those moments of exchange as we mingle around the room will last much longer than the temporary sweet treats, and nourish the soul. Thanks ladies for another great tradition!
