Raising A Cup As One Calendar Closes and Another One Opens...

 

long sleeved arm cuff purchased at KatWise on etsy

With wishes for a bright, prosperous and brilliant new year filled with every kind of promise that fills and overflows a cup of cheer.  May you meet this coming year with purpose, courage, strength and hope for any and all challenges that come your way.

Not Through the Rear View Mirror...

 *image found on google.com

I've reached a point in my life where I am not particularly interested in looking backwards.  I've learned that I can't change what has happened, although I can certainly learn from what has happened and carry that forward with me.  I do use my rearview mirror when I drive so that I'm aware of what is coming up behind me, and yet I drive facing forward so that I can see where I am going.  As I hope everyone does!!  The point I'm making is that we don't travel very far or very well if we are only looking in the rear view mirror.

As each decade I have lived has passed, I used to think of it as "these 10 years" and not as "10 of 20 or 30", a group of numbers that continue.  For some reason it seems we lump our lives into these decades...our twenties, our thirties, forties and so on.  I've made a conscious effort to stop doing that.  Which I know happened to me during this most recent decade.  I want to think of all the years as a continuous flow, one just blending into another.  I've never been hugely interested in New Year's Eve and all the hoopla about ringing out the old and bringing in the new.  Makes me realize I've probably always felt this way about numbers of years just continuing without the demarcation of 10, 20, 30.  If I had to highlight one aspect of this particular "decade" as being profound for me, it would be that of having had my eyes opened so that I was truly seeing and not just "looking" at life.

How much real change is there in the world?  There is change in technology and advancement in how we live our lives, but is there any real change in people and events?  It is people who need to change.  How we think, what we believe in, how we live our lives with morals, values and ideals.  I don't see a lot of that changing as we put an "x" through another decade.  However, I do live with the hope that it will one day happen.

I'm not one for summarizing events..I could do it but wouldn't do it well.  If you would like an interesting read about the first decade of this century, please read this post at "Awareness".  Dana has written a most incredible essay that is well worth reading.

Fresh Start...

There's a feeling of freshness and possibility brewing inside me.  I can't put my finger on any one thing that is leading me to this feeling, but I'm embracing it and welcoming it and waiting to see what pebbles I'll pick up along the path.

A new look has been brewing within me for awhile.  Time for more change.  I purchased this template from Smitten Blog Designs a few weeks ago, knowing that it was "how" I wanted the face of my words to be presented.  The cover if you will to whatever thoughts, discoveries and possibilities will be shared within these pages over the next few months.

Hopefully the new format, new design and new direction will be as pleasing to you as I expect it to be for me.

Looking Ahead

Forgive me if my words seem to ramble or be a little incoherent.  I started today with a wicked back spasm, the like of which I don't think I've ever had before.  I've taken a couple of muscle relaxants and while they aren't completely relaxing the muscle, they seem to have relaxed everything else!!

I've started looking ahead to the new year.  I'm finding it hard to say "2010" -- it seems almost sci fi to me in a "2001 Space Odyssey" sort of way!  But the fact remains, here we are, entering the second decade of this century.  I think of those I loved who are no longer here to see this occasion, and at the same time I gave thanks that I am, when four years ago I wondered if I would be.

What I'm looking at is not resolutions or promises to myself.  I'm not talking about setting goals and dreams, though I will certainly have those.  I'm talking more about the way in which I will choose to live this year, with what intention I will proceed.

Many of you who read this blog have already participated in these yearly events, of choosing a word that will be your talisman or beacon to help you live with that intention.  I've seen this and I've admired it and thought it such a wonderful idea, yet I have never taken part.  The idea has been planted though and begun to take root.

Last week Gina was talking about this and today Jakki was talking about it.  The idea had begun to take shape after reading Gina's post and seeing Jakki's today was my reminder that I was going to do this.

Gina links to Lisa at Sacred Circle for her inspiration on this idea and Jakki to Ali Edwards for her inspiration. I think there may well be more who have initiated this idea and if you know of anyone, please leave a note in your comments.

Choosing a word isn't as easy as it seems it might be.  I've given this a good deal of thought and decided that of all the ones I like, the word I will be living with and by for 2010 is:

SHARE

I wanted something that would encompass as much as possible in what I do, how I live, what I care about, and who I am.  This one seems to be a good fit.

What word would you choose and will you take the challenge to find it within yourself to pledge a  year to living within one word?

A Little Light...A Little Heavy...

A late dinner last night and then the late showing of "Sherlock Holmes" was a lovely way to end the day.  We all enjoyed the film (though youngest still says "Avatar" was the best movie he's seen in a long time), and it was quite in keeping with the way Conan Doyle has portrayed Holmes and Watson.  It's been produced in such a way that you know sequels will be in the works!  As long as Robert Downey Jr. continues as Holmes, I'm sure I'll keep watching! 

Three of us are fighting colds here which is not unusual at this time of year.  Plenty of sniffling, sneezing, and coughing going around.  'Tis the season to share your germs, fa la la la la, la la la la....

I did get a new camera for Christmas from the men in my life...this is it.  I haven't done anything with it as yet...I'm still reading and familiarizing myself with it.  It's a "mighty impressive" piece of equipment!!

I'm  happily passing the time with reading (nothing new there!).  I finished a nice light novel by Kristin Harmel called "Italian for Beginners" which was charming and delightful.  A little travel, a little romance...

And something very "heavy", not just in content but in weight and number of pages...I mentioned this yesterday, but if you like historical novels that are well written and informative, Edward Rutherfurd's "New York" would be the one.

And for Christmas I was gifted this book by one of my sons...761 pages...I'm thoroughly looking forward to delving into and losing myself in this one!

Novels and films...a relaxing and enjoyable way to spend holiday time!

Happy Boxing Day

The day after Christmas and all through the house could be heard snoring and snorting much louder than a mouse....

Hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday, no matter what you celebrate at this time of year.

Boxing Day in the old tradition was where the well to do gave gift boxes to their employees and household staff.  A lovely tradition.  But gone are those days.

It's still a statutory holiday here in Canada and it used to be a day when stores, businesses, services where shut up tighter than a drum.  Now of course, things have changed.  The malls and stores are open, early even, for big 50% - 70% off sales and we even had garbage collection this morning!!  Merry Christmas to the sanitation engineers who will have made time and a half I'm sure!

Things are very quiet here today -- a perfect pj lounging kind of day -- it's dull and rainy outside so perfect to be indoors.  Some are sleeping in, some are having naps, some are reading...I myself just finished reading Edward Rutherfurd's "New York" which was incredibly good...but long!  860 pages of incredibly tiny print!

The first game in the World Juniors Hockey tournament will be played this afternoon and my household will be glued to the television for that.  Then we'll take in "Sherlock Holmes" at the cinema and grab a bite to eat.

 

Given that Boxing Day leads into the week of sales, I decided to have a Boxing Week Sale at Bella ♥ Rennie.  Prices on all holiday items have been greatly reduced and there is still no shipping.  Sale is in effect  until midnight, December 31st.

Best of all, with online shopping you can stay in your pjs and not worry about having to battle any crowds!

Peace on Earth

Wishing you all the joys of the season.

Please enjoy this selection of Christmas music if you like as a background while you bake, wrap gifts or enjoy time alone or with family and friends.  I'll leave the music up until December 25th.

Taking a much needed break to enjoy my own Christmas celebrations.

That's What Christmas is All About...

Differences...and Similarities

How lovely...a post that begins with fibre!!  I like to get things moving around here!  But what I'm really talking about are the differences between Canada and the United States.  True, there are differences between Canada and other countries as well, but Canada and the United States share the same land mass and given that, you might expect that things would be "the same", yet they aren't.  Personally I think they've kept it different because we refused to allow them to make us one of their states!!  We really let 'em have it in 1812!

Our spelling is different for one thing which you will notice in the above photographs.  We spell fibre with the re at the end and Americans spell it with an er.  We say programme and they say program.  We say colour and they say color.  And like that.  We've stayed with the British spellings whereas after that fateful tea party, the Americans decided to switch it up and turn it around!  Out with the old and in with the new.

But back to the fibre.  Not only is the word spelled differently, the packaging is different.  We have many similar products because U.S. companies have subsidiaries and divisions here in Canada.  But all is not equal my friends.  Weights are different (our litre is different from their gallon for example) and size is different.  American products are bigger than their similar Canadian counterpart.  As for "content"...well...here's a little story.

When I was in New Hampshire last month and having a field day in Target, I picked up a couple of boxes of the Fiber One bars.  My doctor has told me that I am to eat fibre every day for my cholesterol and the nutritionist recommended that I have a bowl of Fibre One cereal each day.  I can't always manage the cereal but now that we have the Fibre One bars in Canada I can have one of these as a snack and feel like I'm on track.  I was excited to purchase the same product at the same price (even with the slight difference in the dollar...Canadian being slightly lower than the U.S. as usual) but with no sales tax.  Kim told me that she found these "a little too much" for her but I scoffed and laughed saying, "oh I've had no trouble with these at all".  Ahem.  That was before I got them home and before I ate any and then before I compared the boxes.  The lady knew of what she spoke!

Not only are these different in packaging, they are different in the fibre content.  Check the photos please...Canadians get 20% of their daily fibre from one of these.  Americans get a whopping 35% of their daily fiber from theirs.  Trust me...that 15% makes a BIG DIFFERENCE!!!  And why I wonder do the Americans NEED 35%???  Is there a message here???  I tell you, it gives a whole new meaning to the expression, "blow it out your..", well you get the idea...

This body wash that my sons like -- the one on the right is what I buy here...the one on the left is what I purchased in New Hampshire. Same product, but the one on the left was the same price as what I pay here and it is that much larger.  As well, we can't even get the larger size here in Canada.  Is this fair?  Is this right?  Who do I complain to???

I won't be complaining about the fibre -- trust me on that, nor will any of the people who live in this house!!  You'd think an elephant had landed!!

Aside from our differences we do have many things in common and I give thanks for that!!  As for differences, could anything have been more "different" than Bing and Bowie singing together?  I still remember when this aired on television...it was quite the surprise.  But they created beautiful music together by bridging that generational gap.  And that...being able to bridge differences...is what creates the peace on earth.

Celebrate the Season...With Heart and Soul...

My friend Yiota of Shells and Bells Flowers and Showers, in conjunction with her friend Scattering Lupines, is hostessing a bloggers Christmas Party today, to which I have been invited.  The theme of the party is to share with others what warms your heart and soul at Christmas.

*image from rachael ray.com

There is nothing that puts me in the mood of Christmas quite like a cup of egg nog, generally with a shot of dark Jamaican rum, a dash of nutmeg on top and a cinnamon stick to blend it all together.  Ambrosia!

Melt in your mouth shortbread is a must in this house.  The only time of the year this delight is made is at Christmas.  I'm not sure it would taste quite the same at any other time.

*image from how to make

Candy canes for the trees or sitting in a white mug or bowl add beautiful colour to Christmas decor.  They're lovely to eat while watching Christmas movies or specials on tv and even when Christmas is over they are a lovely reminder of the holiday season...crushing any broken ones during Christmas weeks or after and adding them to a cup of hot tea is so refreshing!

A poinsettia or two (placed high up away from pets or small children...even something as beautiful as this plant can be fatal if ingested) adds colour and the gift of nature indoors.  Pine cones and a tree...nature creates its own beauty for us to enjoy.

Candles are a must...singly and in groups as they lend a feeling of warmth, calm and peace throughout the house.

As for what, other than these necessities, warms my heart and soul at Christmas, I'm not sure I can capture everything ...it's a little like trying to catch a sunbeam!  As I sit here, in this moment, this is what is on my mind...

children's concerts at school and watching them sing or perform

seeing paper chains that have been made by children's hands

the sound of a Salvation Army bell being rung and a bright red bucket

being able to drop some money into one of those buckets when I see one

so much music...to hum to, to sing along with, to simply sit quietly with

the smell of gingerbread

filling stockings on Christmas Eve

reading Clement Moore's "The Night Before Christmas"

hearing Linus' speech in "A Charlie Brown Christmas" because it is spoken with such honesty, purpose, love and solemn respect

shiny stars

holiday lights

old fashioned Santas

and angels...being heard on high

but if there is any one song that fills my heart and soul to brimful of bursting it would be this one...

I Wish, I Wish, I Wish....

Wishes.  And Dreams.  And Hopes.  What child has not made wishes whether it be on that first star seen at night, or plucking a dandelion and blowing the pods to make wishes for dreams to come true?  How many birthday candles have been lit over the centuries with the wishes made as the candles are blown out -- and all candles needing to be blown out all at once for the wish to come true?  How many still in our advancing years still make those wishes on birthday candles?

Where would we be if we had nothing to look forward to?  Nothing to dream about or hope for.  Or if you will, wish for?  Do wishes come true?

I finished reading Noelle Oxenhandler's "A Year of Wishing" the other night and over the course of the few evenings it took me to read the book, I would spend some time, pondering Noelle's thoughts and experiences with wishing, and the thoughts and experiences of those she had come in contact with.  I began to question some of my own thinking about wishing, or more precisely what to call what it is that I believe.  I tend to vacillate on my choice of what I call experiences I have.  Perhaps I'm just indecisive.  More than that, I believe that I leave doors open.  I have an opinion on something, but that doesn't mean it is written in stone and can't be changed.

One of the people that Ms. Oxenhandler was introduced to during this year of wishing had an interesting approach to wishing.  Carole called it "putting it out there" and I found myself feeling connected to that idea.  Putting an idea, a thought or a dream "out into the universe" to see it becomes reality.  In truth, I've had these experiences throughout my life without ever taking particular notice or being mindful of them.  I've trusted that all will be well, that what I have needed will come to me and I've projected that in some way.  I'm not sure that I need to label it as such, but I do believe very deeply that if we project that desire, that wish if you will, that dream we would like to see fulfilled then we are putting ourselves on the path to making that possible.  I'm not saying that you just sit back and wait for the riches or whatever it is you're desiring to fall into your lap.  I'm saying that you project it as a reality that you wish to see come to fruition.  That in putting yourself on that path you are opening many windows that will allow opportunities and experiences to come your way.

My mother often said to me to be careful what you wish for (and Ms. Oxenhandler touches on this as well).  You'll know of course that I continued and still do, to put my hopes, dreams and wishes out into the universe.  I can't imagine a time when I won't.

♥

I love this Christmas song and I love figure skating.  I had visions of being a figure skater at one time, but I didn't wish for it...there is a difference.  That was not my calling but it hasn't stopped me from enjoying others who can do this so beautifully.  Like ballet on ice.  I have one son who is a beautiful skater.  He's never taken lessons other than when he was 4 in a learn to skate program where he ran on the ice..he didn't glide, he ran.  We were concerned but only briefly when the young lady teaching the program reminded us of how difficult it is to run on skates and she said he'd be gliding in no time.  He was and he continues to "run" on the ice.  He's played hockey since he was 5 and while I love the game itself, more than anything I enjoy going to watch him create his own ballet on ice.

What are your wishes for this season?

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like...

You most likely thought the next part of this post would be "Christmas", however, in truth, it is "chaos". 

We have a tree that has only half the lights on it as two of the strands are "done".  There are boxes of ornaments sitting on the floor and the table waiting to be opened and poured through and then somehow magically transferred from those boxes to those branches once the lights are up.  We have a gate outside that still requires one strand of lights...the light show "stops" as if it is half a thought...ah, all in good time!  Somehow it always manages to come together.

To that end the other half has taken the day off work...oh, not specifically to finish doing the lights (though that will be done)...youngest son has a school hockey game and once a year his father likes to go and watch, which is lovely for me as it means I'm "off duty" and I've got the afternoon to do as I please (read...do as I need!).  The first born will be home from University some time this afternoon now that exams are d.o.n.e. and he can relax.  Which means mother needs to transform her art studio into a bedroom again.  If I manage to get all this done before needing to leave here at 12:30 then I'll go to the game as well.  I do love me some hockey.

First stop, before hitting Home Depot, or Lowe's or wherever we end up is a visit to this place, to purchase a gift for someone very special (and he already knows about this shop because he saw me talk about it on facebook!), and hopefully a chance to pop in to the shop next door to meet and say hello to this fabulous woman.

I'm waddling a little today..that's right, waddling, like a duck, or a rhinestone cowboy who's been in the saddle just a might too long.  I went to my first cycle/spinning class yesterday...and I must say I loved it.  I did well for my first time in the saddle, though my posterior is a little sore today.  Those seats are NOT comfortable at all.  Perhaps next time I'll pack a little extra padding!!

*image from google

The benefit to this spinning?  I may not have gone far in miles but I'm hoping I worked off a little weight so that the shortbread cookies I've been eating aren't making an extra dent in the cellulite of my thighs.  I'm a firm believer in you've got to have a little "give and take" in everything!

For those who might be interested, Beth has agreed to me sharing this very easy, simple recipe.  One thing to keep in mind -- shortbread is best baked on a day that is not damp.  I'm not sure if this is a truth or a fiction or an old wives tale.  My Scottish grandmother firmly believed this as passed on to my mother who passed it on to me.  Case in point -- it was quite damp the day I made this batch and they were very "crumbly" and hard to make into balls.  I rest my case.  If you make these -- enjoy to the fullest!

Quickie Shortbread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1 3/4 cups of flour

1/2 cup of icing sugar

1/4 tsp. of salt

1/4 tsp. of baking powder

1 cup of butter - creamed

Sift (or mix) dry ingredients into a bowl.  Mix the butter into the dry mixture gradually at low speed with a mixer.  When all the ingredients have blended together , mix at medium speed until fluffy.

Roll mixture into balls, place on a cookie sheet and flatten with a fork.

Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown (please note the recipe says 5 or 10 minutes...both Beth and I have found that this requires 10 minutes or a little longer so watch the cookies closely).

 

Fashion on a Shoestring...

 *originally uploaded to foliomag.com

I've always been interested in clothing and accessories and how to put everything together to create a look.  When I was a child my innocence about the world actually enabled me to dress and to "create" that look without thinking about it.  If I thought it went well together then it did.  If I liked it, then it was great.  Think of yourself as a young child or any young child you know or have known.  Stripes and plaids?  Plaid and polka dots?  Part of a Halloween or dress up costume and a pair of jeans?  Rain boots with a skirt.  It worked because it felt good and there was no "standard" to reach or live up to.  No "fashion police" to say "halt, cease and desist with this foolery"...there was a freedom and that sweet innocence of saying "I love this."  Then the teen years roll around and we become aware of our bodies and our sense of colour combination and our "style".  We are aware of fashion magazines (even as young as we were with "Seventeen" magazine) and today's youth have MTV, television programmes and more to preach and dictate what is "cool".  We strive to "fit in".

Did you ever develop a style that you could call your own?  Did you follow the trends?  Were you a victim of wanting to be like everyone else or were you more the hide yourself at all costs behind baggy clothing and hope that no one would notice?

Programmes like "What Not to Wear" seem in some ways to ridicule the style choices of others and yet if you look closely they are sincere in offering options and choices that are flattering to the person (victim?) that has been chosen.  What I always come away with whenever I have watched this programme is the lack of self-confidence in the people who are being "helped".  And isn't that what our fashion sense and style is about?  Having the confidence to say "I like this" and "I look good".  That lack of confidence these people show is more a lack of care about themselves upon a closer look.  There is no sense of pride in how they appear...almost as if they don't like themselves or feel themselves worthy of attention.  I'm also including those who are outrageously over the top in skin tight clothing and inappropriate clothing for the occasion.

Last week my dearest friend sent me a copy of this article that had appeared in their local paper as one of these young women below is related to her by marriage.  I love reading these types of articles (as she knows!) and love to flip through fashion magazines while at the hair salon to see what is current, what works, who is creating what look.  I'm not a slave to any of these publications, but I do enjoy keeping abreast of what is going on.

*click on photo to enlarge for better viewing

The article is from the U.K. so some of the designers I'm not familiar with, nevertheless, it is the content that interested me.  Here are these quite young women who are being asked from where they derive their sense of style.  Twice Prada is mentioned and one young woman has a bag (a gift admittedly, but still...) that costs 350 pounds!!!  That translates to about $700 U.S./Canadian.  And she is 21 years of age.  Good grief.    Two young women have a monthly clothing budget of  approximately 200 pounds ($400) per month.  PER MONTH.  The other young woman favours Primark to Prada and has a budget of 50 pounds per month ($100).

They all have an incredible sense of style and excellent taste.  But do you notice what I notice in this photograph?  Do you see the self-confidence that Jenny exhibits?  Do you feel her sense of style and her joy in how she has dressed?  And on a most modest budget..which proves my own theory that fashion and great style can be created on a shoestring.  Obviously the newspaper agreed with me which is why she is featured so prominently.

♥

On a further note to this subject, I've been thinking about my own style over the last few weeks.  Time for a change...gone is the woman who was interested in dressing it up in a specific way.  Newly arrived is the woman who has developed a desire for lounge wear!!  I'm talking comfy lounge pants for winter time and a great sweater or fleece for warmth.  I'm talking about great pjs that can be worn all day if you like...that look lovely and feel comfy!  I'm talking about comfy footwear that says I am at home with myself and I love how I look.  This is for indoor wear only...I have not reached the stage of venturing out of doors in my night wear!  :) And boho -- oh yes, the freedom of boho style!  Or western...not cowboy boots and a holster with a cowboy hat...blue jeans and a great white shirt with a bolo tie necklace or a great pair of earrings.  And boots...any kind of boots...cowboy if you like but I'm talking boots instead of shoes...tall boots, short boots and no heels...I truly believe that this chica is DONE with heels.  I'm talking comfort and elegance.  It can be done.

When I was reading Gillian's fabulous post the other day, this one comment really stood out for me, like a beacon calling to me on a foggy night...

That you challenge yourself to something new...a language, a new road trip, a new "look" (some of us are still wearing the same old clothes we always did, distinguish yourself and redefine yourself, and DON'T care what others say about it....)

Continuing Journals of a Rockette...and a Little Christmas Cheer

There is still no snow and it's mild.  My neighbours' lawns are green.  It is the 14th of December.  I went out this morning in my winter coat, my snuggy boots (Sketchers!), my fingerless gloves and my fantabulous Betsey Johnson scarf...and as I walked into Starbucks for my decaf grande Americano, I felt...over dressed.  Is it any wonder it is taking some doing for me to feel the Christmas season is here?

We did get a tree...normally we would purchase a Scotch Pine and while that has never been my favourite tree, the others in this house seem to like it.  Last year I wanted to get a Balsam Fir but I was out voted.  When we went to our usual spot to purchase our tree this weekend...no Scotch Pines left, so yes, we have a beautiful Balsam Fir which still needs to be decorated.  Interestingly...I'm beginning to think I'm allergic to Christmas trees...

 In order to create the mood of Christmas cheer, I'm traveling back in time ... thinking about the joy and excitement I felt at this time of year when I was a child...this was the first song I learned all the words to sing in the Sunday School pagent at age 4 (where I proceeded to twist my velvet jumper hem as I sang and the more I sang, the higher the skirt rose...exhibitionism in the Church basement...)

and this was the first song I learned all the words to in the school choir at age 6

 

♥

On Thursday last week I met Beth for coffee at Second Cup and while we talked and laughed and sipped cups of coffee, I put my rocks in a bag and asked her to choose one...

 and this is what she chose...

powerful words and they seemed to have some significance for Beth...although I'm wondering how helpful it will be for the parking ticket she received while we were entertaining ourselves (a ticket I did not get and we were parked in the same lot..)

and these delicious shortbread cookies were a gift to me from Beth...these are exactly like the ones my mother made when I was a child and each bite I took transported me to very happy memories.  My youngest son liked them as well..he finished off the plateful!  Thanks to Beth who has shared this recipe with me.  I know what I will be doing later today!

The Invisible Woman

I watched this on Friday while reading Paula's blog and it moved me incredibly.  This is a glimpse into something truly beautiful.  I hope you will agree.

Sweet Indigo Girl....

*photo originally uploaded to photobucket by lidiya08

Another of those early morning wakings...but nothing on my mind that's troubling me or preventing me from sleeping. I think it was hunger that woke me so rather than stay where I was, I grabbed my favourite long sweater and my leopard print fuzzy slippers and headed down to the kitchen for some cereal and coffee.  Wrote a few emails, read a few blogs, checked out my etsy shop (my sale went very well and thank you to those who made purchases...I hope my work makes you happy, as happy as it makes me when I'm creating) and now I'm thinking about crawling back into my bed perhaps to sleep for another few hours before getting on with my day.  Today is the day we purchase our Christmas tree and do the decorating and get into the spirit.

While I was blog reading, I came across Gillian's post from last night, early this morning and it filled me with joy and hope and possibility.  I love it when others make lists of any kind.  This list of Gillian's is a keeper and something to live by.  Please click on the link to Sweet Indigo Life to see why.

Exterior Illumination...

Let there be lights...and a lot of laughter!

What Are You Giving

A sunny morning, but baby it's cold outside...brrrr.  Wind chill is putting it at about -21 celcius and there is wind.  We had incredible wind last night and after the snow faded to nothing early in the morning, it poured with rain.  My only concern was a possible drop in temperature that might have frozen things to create an ice rink on the roads, but it remained mild enough.  There is a slight "dusting" of snow on the ground this morning.  I'm cool with it staying "just like that" for as long as possible!

After my post yesterday I thought to myself a few times how incredibly boastful I may have sounded, especially to those who don't know me.  That perhaps what I had written came across as me patting myself on the back for being, gee, such a great individual!!  So much for modesty!!  It wasn't my intention and I have to say that the comments I've received have shown me that my intent was clear.

Kim made the comment that we don't recognize our gifts or our strengths often enough, to give ourselves that pat on the back.  Simone was asking yesterday "what did you do" as a reminder to recognize our strengths and our gifts so that others can recognize them as well.  And yes, that is very much what I was doing, what I was saying.   Also that others sometimes see or recognize our gift when we haven't been mindful of it and it's a good thing to be reminded from time to time of the good we can do for others.  Not just for the other person, but for how good it can make us feel as well.

This is new for me, to be able to recognize this and say it out loud.  From the time I was a small child I can remember bemoaning and wailing about the fact that I felt I was born only to serve others, to help others and be there as "something" for someone else.  I could see it only as a trial and a chore.  Some of that I put down to my childhood home environment and how I was being raised. Modesty was huge in my home.  We were not encouraged to talk about the good things we did or accomplished.  We learned to hide under any bushel we could find.  It is only within the last five years that I have actually realized what a gift this is to be born to serve others, to care for others and to help others.  I often wonder what I might have done with my life, done differently if I had been able to see things more clearly at such a younger age.

It always comes back for me to how do I see this situation?  How can I change my thinking, my viewpoint and my perspective.  Once I have done that, it is amazing the opportunities and the possibilities that open.  And in allowing someone else to recognize your gift or say that you are a blessing, you have offered them the opportunity of being a blessing as well.

Giving and receiving.  Now, enough about moi.  What are you giving this season?  And as Simone* asked, "what did you do?"  Come and share with us something wonderful that you have done -- for yourself or someone else.

*please note that Simone is having a giveaway on her blog.  One that those who live in the United States are encouraged to enter.  Remember -- to give is a blessing...to receive?  Awesome!!!  :)

Being a Blessing...

 Life sometimes goes belly up...you are in the middle of running your day with the plans you've made, the things you need to do and then one phone call can change everything.  I had such a day yesterday.  A call that came while I was busy running errands.  My mother-in-law wasn't well, she was worried and she was frightened.  Aging parents are much like young children and keeping that in mind always helps me to be able to assess what my "role" will be.

I stopped what I was doing and went to her house.  She was definitely in a bad way -- dizzy, feeling some nausea and at her advanced age, worried I'm sure that "this was it."  Understandably.  Overall this woman's health is excellent.  She has all her faculties and she's happy living alone in her house, being able to care for herself.  And as long as she can do those things I see no reason to change anything.  Her housekeeper had arrived shortly before I did and it was she that placed the call to me.

I did a quick assessment to determine that nothing serious was happening (no stroke, no heart attack) and managed to get the situation under control and my mother-in-law focused and back on her feet.  As I was doing all of this, the housekeeper kept saying to me "you're a nurse, aren't you?" Which of course made me laugh. I  am not a nurse.  Never wanted to be a nurse (blood?  oooohhh... IV needles??  I used to faint when I knew I was getting one of those....though cancer treatments cured me of that and I can even watch them being put in now!!  Such a big girl!!!  lol!!).  Science?  Oh please....a subject that I was never meant to become close with.  What really makes me laugh is that this woman is not the first person to make that assumption.  I have even had doctors who have been treating me assume that I am a nurse.  It's gone on for years.

I've given this a lot of thought over the last few hours.  Why do people think this?  True, when I'm dealing with something regarding my own health or that of my family, I research. I make myself familiar with whatever we're dealing with.  I look into drugs and medications to know what they do.  I ask questions.  And plenty of them. I don't just sit and say "fine, thank you" to any doctor giving me a diagnosis or a treatment plan.  If you're going to be doing surgery, I want to know all the ins and outs thank you so much.  So I'm educated and inquisitive and informed. 

What I really think shows through in situations like this is compassion.  It is the caring for another individual as we all wish to be taken care of, to be treated and to be regarded.  It is putting yourself in someone else's position and knowing what you would want, how you would wish to be treated and cared for and offering that simply for being able to offer it.  Comfort.  Compassion.  Caring. 

And it is more than that.  Bigger than me or what I believe or feel I have to offer.  I believe that it is a gift that is given from God.  My children call me "random" at times.  Small children will approach me and talk to me.  People will walk up to me and start conversations.  All of them strangers to me.  Animals are comfortable around me.  It is nothing that I "do".  It is something greater than me that I have been given and I give thanks for it every day. 

Being a blessing.  I love it when something happens that reminds me what joy there is in the simplicity of caring and keeping an open heart.  The offering of mindfulness and time.  Isn't this the ideal season to be a blessing to someone else?

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

This time of year, like no other time of year can become fraught with stress, lack of sleep, over spending, over extending and frustration.  The pace has the very great possibility of picking up speed faster than Clark W. Griswold's coaster as it sped down that hillside.  And for what?  Usually a great crash.

Make no mistake, I have been that harried woman, baking and shopping and wrapping and decorating.  I've pulled all the stops and tried to have the hap hap happiest Christmas this side of Danny and Bing.  And sat back on Christmas Day and thought to myself, "that's it?!?  It's over??"  All the hustle and bustle and within that can so easily be lost the most fundamental aspect of what December is meant to be about.  And I'm not just talking about the religious aspect (though let's be honest..that gets lost more than it ought).

No, I'm talking about enjoying the simple pleasures.  The ones that don't cost that arm and that leg. The ones that can be shared with others or alone.  Those little things that just light you up inside bigger than the Griswold's 250 strands of lights.  The ones that allow you to enjoy something simply wonderful each day of the month, that create lasting memories, not just for others but for yourself.

Paula was talking about this last night on her blog (yes, that same Paula who started me off with offering cards to anyone who would like one delivered right to their postal mailbox -- the offer still stands by the way -- you'll find my email on my profile) where she listed the simple things, the ones that are free or don't cost much at all, that make this holiday season so special.  We were invited to create our own lists which I've done.  If you'd like, slide down a little to Amy Grant's rendition of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" while you peruse my list.  Hopefully you'll find a little inspiration and make your own list of wonders....

Some of Sherry's Simple Pleasures (in no particular order)

* freshly baked shortbread where the edges are golden brown

* popcorn and cranberries strung to hang on the tree**

* the scent of pine (and I only like it in December...)

* glowing white candles grouped together and singly

* mincemeat -- squares, tarts or pies

* gingerbread

* specialty coffee -- flavours like pumpkin spice, butter rum, gingerbread or egg nog

* egg nog with rum and a cinnamon stick to stir

* white lights

* presents that are wrapped in paper, not in gift bags

* holly & ivy

* handmade ornaments (by my children, by artisans, by myself, by friends)

* photographs of Christmas times in the past

* caroling

* mulled wine

* Christmas hymns

* children lined up to see Santa and some of the hysterical faces

* the look on someone's face when they open that gift you gave that said "I really know you"

* cards in the mail

* Salvation Army bands

* Salvation Army buckets

* adding cash to one of those buckets every time I see one

* toy drives for children who may have nothing to receive

* how my taste in decorating changes year to year

* Mahalia Jackson singing "Go Tell It On the Mountain"

* Silent Night -- in German

* O Come All Ye Faithful in Latin (Adeste Fideles)

* the day we buy a tree

* my Santa and snowmen collections

* angels

* Miracle on 34th Street (because I still believe)

* National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation watched with my children

* Feliz Navidad sung by Jose Feliciano (you thought that would be #1 didn't you?!)

* A Christmas Carol

* White Christmas

* Twas the Night Before Christmas

* stockings filled with treats (love the dollar store for those; and then some bigger treats too)

* candy canes

* The Nutcracker ballet and the amazing music by Tchaikovsky

and there is much, much more...

** those garlands can be put outside when the holiday is over for the birds (or in many cases, the squirrels) to enjoy.

It truly is, the most wonderful time of the year....

Thought Threads

Waking around 4:15 a.m., rolling over, and then over again and one more time, this time burying my face into the pillows thinking that I'll surely drift back to sleep THIS time...but the more I thought about drifting back to sleep, the more awake I became.  Two or three times I thought about just getting up but it was the fourth time when I sat up, threw back the comforter and decided my day was beginning whether I was ready or not.

So here I sit with my coffee..freshly pressed in my Bodum French press...a lovely Butter Rum flavour because it's December and holiday time and I deserve a treat every day.  Tomorrow it might be Chocolate Macaroon, Pumpkin Spice or the Christmas blend I bought from Starbucks the other day.  Or maybe tea...Earl Grey or Chai.  I won't know about tomorrow until it happens.  For now I'm happy with what I have and where I am (though quite honestly, I think I'd be happier still sleeping for another few hours...).

I've been doing a lot of journaling and marshalling my thoughts over the last couple of weeks...first allowing them to run, for all the things that swirl in my head...you know the kind of thoughts I'm talking about -- the ones that keep you up at 4:00 a.m., or 2:00 a.m. or keep nagging at you as the day progresses...to spill out and onto the page.  These aren't just random thoughts I'm talking about, and they aren't just jotted down as they come to me.  The thoughts are coherent and insightful and the more I write, the more I discover.  I'm marshalling them so that they don't end up confusing my vision or dragging me down and along because they want to be heard and I'm not listening.  You know what it's like when something or someone is inisistent that you listen or pay attention and you are thinking about something else.  You feel like you're being pulled in too many directions and getting nowhere with any of them. Thoughts do that too.  They fight with one another to be heard first until you want to scream in frustration.  Letting them out, to have their say has been making life so much easier for me.  Once those nagging bits and pieces have been removed, I feel I've cleared space in my head for the things that really do matter and require my attention.

I've taken a number of online courses for art journaling and painting and one for journaling and photography combined.  I was discouraged by a few and encouraged in a few and when I thought I would probably never take another online course, one of my favourite artist bloggers decided that she would offer what she does online.  When I saw that I signed up immediately, because I knew that whatever Stephanie Lee was offering, it would be excellent.  I haven't been disappointed and will be a little bereft when the course is finished.  However, I will be taking away with me so much that she has shared.  I have learned something wonderful about the art of journal keeping, about myself and feel inspired in a way that I had been searching for.

Stephanie writes at Semiprecious Salvage.  An artist of many talents -- jewelry, painting, plaster work to name a few, Stephanie teaches in many venues -- Art & Soul, Valley Ridge, Artfest, An Artful Journey and the newly created Be Present Retreat.  Having taken an online course with Stephanie I look forward to the day when I will sit down in a classroom with Stephanie and share art time and soul time with her.  More than what she creates as an artist, it is Stephanie as a person with her authentic heart and her gift of giving herself that I want to experience.

If you are looking for online classes for 2010, or art workshops for 2010, Stephanie will be doing both.  Her Thought Threads journal class will be offered again early in the new year and I highly recommend it.

Now that I've rambled on here, it's time to get out my journal, my favourite pen and let the rest of my thoughts flow.

Whatever Happened To Cards in the Mail???

*image from Bella ♥ Rennie - sold

I've got cards on my mind.  I've been making them, promoting them, selling them and now I need to get down to doing the ones on my own list.

I haven't really been in the Christmas way (it is Christmas for me, not the holidays -- I respect what everyone else celebrates but I still and always will celebrate Christmas) yet, but then it is only the first week of December.  But I know how quickly the days fly and before I know it I'll be cleaning out my studio so my son at university will have a place to sleep once he's home on the 16th.  And then it will be the 24th and then the 26th and "whoosh" it will all have been and gone.  Life is like that.

I was reading Paula's blog the other night and love what she was talking about.  You must go and read this post here as she says it all so beautifully.

Cards arriving for Christmas.  When I was a child there were so many cards, with handwritten messages from family and friends both near and far and how exciting it was to see all those cards on display.  To read the messages or look at the photographs that had been sent.  Where have they all gone? True I'm older, many of my family are no longer with me, but it seems like the art of card sending has died out with that generation.  So many people no longer send cards -- they choose rather to send an email message or a digitally created card but it seems the act of writing a card and addressing an envelope is devolving into a lost art.  I realize that the stamps are expensive and so are the cards.  But I think it's more than that.  I think it is a society that has become sucked into a vacuum of "the easy way".  We are now raising generations that only know technology.  Technology has given us much at the expense of much.

So I'm joining in with Paula's idea.  If you miss receiving cards through the mail and would like to receive one from me, please send me an email with your postal address and I will pop one in the mail for you. You don't even have to be a regular commentor, you can even be someone who just likes to read my blog.  That's okay.  Seriously.  You'll find my email address on my profile which you can connect to on the sidebar.

What Can I Recommend For You Today?

*image found on google

Sadly, I am sorry to say, it will not be this gentleman.  And I'm not talking about wine or food, I'm talking about books.  Though you must admit the photograph is rather nice to look at!  You may stay right here if you aren't interested in my latest reading adventures...

I don't recall why I wanted to read Diane Setterfield's "The Thirteenth Tale" but I had reserved it at my local branch and when it came in, my "favourite" librarian was checking out my armful of books and told me how much she had enjoyed this.   With her recommendation in mind, I picked it up out of order (!) and lost myself in this tale.  It begins slowly and it's rather sickening to some degree, and then suddenly, without warning, you are ensnared in the story and eagerly read on to discover what will happen next and how this story is going to unfold.  The ending is a little bit tongue in cheek, as if the author is saying "gotcha!", and you feel you've come from the darkness into the light...a little like riding in the haunted house at an amusement park.

Anita Shreve's lastest novel, "A Change In Altitude" does not disappoint.  As always, this author manages to capture the human experience between men and women.  In this novel, she takes us to Africa where expatriates are making a life "around" the natives.  The interaction between Maragaret and all of the other characters is open and challenging, introspective and sharp, and delves into how lives change throughout experience.

While at the library yesterday I had another great conversation with "my" librarian about what I was recommending and she was putting holds on books I had enjoyed.  I like that.  Being able to talk about what has intrigued or what has disappointed.

What are you reading?

*added at 12:50 p.m. -- Paula asked in her comment what I meant about "sickening" with regard to "The Thirteenth Tale" -- two of the main characters are not well in the head (best way to describe it!) or you might say sadistic if you want to be blunt, and their behaviour isn't what we would call "normal". It's nothing squeamishly bad, but they just aren't pleasant people.

Gina recommended Alice Munro -- wonderful choice!  I am not a big fan of the short story compilation but there are some that are just "knock your socks off" good.  Alice Munro is one of those very gifted writers.

A Day in the Distillery District...

What an amazing and enjoyable day I had on Wednesday with my friend Rita!  We met at Union Station in downtown Toronto and walked (and walked, and walked...) to the Distillery District which is south on Parliament at Front Street.  An absolutely beautiful day for a walk -- it was hard to believe it was really the 2nd of December.  Mild, sunny and not much wind.  Bliss!!

*image found on wikipedia

Once the oldest distiller of alcoholic beverages in Canada, the old Gooderham and Worts site has been turned into the very trendy and artistically pleasing Distillery District.  The site is a Toronto historic landmark and is now a warren of cul de sacs featuring restaurants, cafes, galleries, theatre and condominiums.  To read more about Gooderham and Worts, click on the link below.

Gooderham and Worts

 

We started with decaf cappuccino at Balzacs and I fell in love, not just with the cafe, but with the atmosphere and the coffee.

Much conversation, ideas, thoughts, lots of swirling, and I'm not just talking about the chocolate biscuit stick in the cappuccino!

These photographs were taken from the balcony on which we sat, in the most comfortable parsons chairs, with me twisted around to try and capture the beauty.  A very old building with gorgeous brick work, high vaulted ceilings, old wood and old world charm.  Of course I fell in love with the chandelier!

 

 

  

After coffee, we strolled through the buildings feasting our eyes on art dolls (some rather grotesque looking, some extremely detailed and stunningly gorgeous, all with very hefty price tags), a gallery that featured encaustic paintings and art work from Quebec at Thompson Landry Gallery

We wandered into Soma and the heady, heavenly scent of chocolate filled our senses...there is a chocolate laboratory on site and so many kinds of chocolate and confections I know my head was swirling.  We left before we were overcome with desire!

A stroll past the Vintage Gardener yielded these beautiful shots

 

Fawn Ceramics had a large collection of some truly artful mugs on display on the outside windowsill...and I laughed to see this one...

exactly the mug that was in the photograph on the card sent to me by my friend Lois for my birthday!  I thought about purchasing the mug but $38 was a little steep for my pocket just before Christmas.

And if all this wasn't enough to make a brilliant day even more outstanding, Rita gifted me for my birthday with two of her original watercolours (which being a beach lover she knew would be perfect for me!), an amazing accordian journal which I wanted to begin working in as we sat at the table (!) and a bottle of one of my favourite reds!  The card Rita made is one that will be framed and kept.  As you can see, Rita's work is outstanding (and yes, she has had some of her work on display at the Distillery District!).  The quality of the photographs is not the best as it's a dull, rainy day today...but you get the idea!

For those who wished me better health yesterday I thank you -- time spent with a friend on a beautiful day is always the best tonic!