The Snow

the chimes are still...the snow is deep

are the birds snowed in?

The STUFF of Saturday !

Nikki Soppelsa

Nikki Soppelsa

not exactly a billet-doux ...

but so sweet in its own darkly way
of roses so red
of you so dead
of violets & sky so blue.

Treasures...naturally

I've always picked 'things' up from the outdoors and have made a habit of bumping into at least one little treasure while on a walk or particularly as a memento from a good day with a friend. A few of these were given to me by a friend and one natural object represents a lunch with someone I hadn't seen for 42 years.

The box itself is a 'found' treasure. Awakening one Sunday morning to see a big wooden crate discarded across the street, I couldn't get dressed quickly enough! It was filled with more wooden boxes of varying sizes, shapes...all quite old and wonderful. These were the last remnants of George Shane who passed away more than 30 years ago...I never met him but knew of his love for wood, re-using/re-fashioning cigar boxes, discarded wood into something functioning. This particular box was also a treasure to a mouse...perhaps home once and the segment right above the acorn 'hats' has been nicely chewed into a crescent.

The twig was my last 'find'. Over the season helping a friend to pack and she sending me off with many many wonderful old things from her life, I saw the branch in her driveway and exclaimed "perfect!" She laughed because I'm always gathering, saving. It was the last memento/texture/shape I needed for this little box which was a work in progress. I was right!

I had to give thought on how to have it all remain intact without gluing and so...the wire. Contrast to all that is natural, but also very fine and delicate in its way and my way of working with it. ...a tiny tag to commemorate, remember ... I am so fond of this.

Season's Greetings

Season's Greetings

This the card I made for a very few people this season...six to be exact not including the few I kept for myself. Four of those six people received a little hand decorated sack of meaningful gifts which I thoroughly enjoyed gathering, putting together decorating. In turn, I received little treasures too which are as specific to me as what I gifted to them.

One gift a gift of a friend's art. She told me it has been some time since she gave her art away, that she's happy we are friends and thinks I am good for her. That is a gift in itself! ...and I feel quite the same about her.

This holiday season has been the best I've had thus far in my lifetime. Off work for a little more than a week, comfortable with little Mil, no demands!, rest, art, food...freedom, peace & quiet and ...peace.
...the meaning of the season finally coming to fruition and shared with just a few people who may have had a more hectic time than I (I don't have hectic ever anymore :-), but all feeling quite the same about the spirit, the holiday, the season.

...my most content and contented holiday.

Word of the Day....eldritch

...Strange; unearthly; weird; eerie.

On occasion I find myself wanting to leave the house because of an errand or two and because there is not rush, no time-clock, I dilly dally...until I finally stop myself 'playing', ready myself and head on my way.

Frequently, at the precise moment I arrive at wherever, so does someone I haven't seen in sometime and/or someone I really enjoy seeing. The very second it happens, I am mystified.
Had I been on my way earlier, later...or not at all, I would have missed the person entirely!
The conversation is always energized and seems to benefit both people...so what a shame it would be to have missed that.

I do think that a guiding spirit sees to it that we don't. I had such an experience yesterday and immediately thought...it's happening again. Strange, eerie...but not frighteningly so. More of a comfort because I know someone, something is watching over at least one of us...if not both.

Enough to make an always good day...better.