"Smooth ice is paradise for those who dance with expertise" Friedrich Nietzsche
A few pictures to share with you from Boxing Day, 2009. We all managed to get through the day without falling on our backsides or being hit by falling branches. That is a very good thing.
We were so happy that the cyclist remembered to cover their bike seat:)
A trite corny perhaps but this line from an all time favorite children's singer (Raffi) came into my mind on the drive home yesterday. We had a wonderful number of days with our families but the highlight for my family was when my brother in law, Barry, brought out his beautiful shiny white accordion and lead a family carol sing. My beautiful mom all decked out in red cashmere and pearls, woke up from her nap in her favorite chair to sing along to her favorite ( jingle bells ). I am only sharing a few pictures with you today.
Alice believes!!!!
and I am certain her magic spirit rubbed off on all of us.
xxoo
m
"Life isn't long enough to do all you could accomplish. And what a privilege even to be alive. In spite of all the pollutions and horrors, how beautiful this world is. Supposing you only saw the stars once every year. Think what you would think. The wonder of it!"
— Tasha Tudor
"be faithful in small things because it is in them that you strength lies"
Mother Teresa
Merry Christmas to all my family and friends. I wish you strength and peace today and all the days that follow. We all have unsung heroes in our lives like this little yellow bird always willing to lend us a hand.
xxoo
m
It was a beautiful cold morning with the perfect fresh snow as you can see on my car window. If you have no idea what I am referring to you can search under the category , art installation in a secret location, and get the low down. My art installation is completely covered in snow now.
No sign of the lace pieces and the covered stone but there were signs of some visitors very nearby.
I did manage to find some sporophytes looking quite perky.
And I gathered a few things to make use on some ephemeral ice pieces.
The gifts are finished and wrapped, the cakes and cookies baked and we are ordering sushi for dinner. Tomorrow we will be hitting the road to spend Christmas with my mom.
“To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.
To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,
and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings,
and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.”
- Wendell Berry
from “To Know the Dark”, Farming: A Handbook
(Harcourt Brace, 1970)
A very colorful song from this tiny woolen bird on this the darkest day of the year.
Happy winter solstice friends!!!
I have been working late at night
and early in the morning
in my make shift studio in the kitchen.
Wondering if I could ever make enough stones for my show at Craftland in January.
In the words of the littlest engine " I think I can , I think I can" . Last count was 31 and 9 covered vintage tea saucers for a wall installment. My hard working hands are definitely looking forward to a rest in the new year.
It is -6 degrees celsius at the moment with a low expected tonight of about -10. You know what that means? Perfect weather to make ice decorations for the holidays. This arctic chill also coincides with the advent calendar activity of the day over at the awesome website, cut out and keep ( click on the 19th and you will see what I mean) and also the January issue of Woman's Day Magazine where you will notice something familiar on page 16.
The kitties and I are staying cozy and warm in the kitchen finishing up a few Christmas gifts and listening to Joni Mitchell. These few lines from one of my favorite songs of hers, the circle game really hit me today.
Then the child moved ten times round the seasons
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
Words like, when you're older, must appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams
I have a wonderful last minute gift recommendation for you. Funny when I did the link for Joni's website it just so happens to also be on her homepage. I think almost anyone would enjoy the 1970 concert, Amchitka, in Vancouver British Columbia that launched Greenpeace and included Phil Ochs, James Taylor and the ever so lovely Joni Mitchell. You can purchase and download the music here. While we are on the topic of ephemeral ice art, I think you would enjoy the art of Gloria Lamson.
Enjoy your weekend.
'Twas In 'Twas in the moon of winter time, when all the birds had fled, that mighty Gitchi-Manitou sent angel choirs instead; before their light the stars grew dim, and wondering hunters heard the hymn: Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria. children of the forest free, O sons of Manitou, the holy child of earth and heaven is born today for you. Come, kneel before the radiant boy, who brings you beauty, peace and joy: Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria. This was the first Canadian Christmas carol written in 1643 by a Jesuit missionary living amongst the Huron people in a settlement about two hours north of where I live. It has been one of my very favorite songs at this time of year since I was a young child. When I was driving home from visiting my mom I was seeing formation after formation of birds , mainly geese, migrating south. This seemed unusually late this year as normally we see this late September and early October. I was hoping that they will make their journeys safely and this song popped into my head. A little later I heard it on the car radio and sang along. This is a little work in progress I started in the summer and picked up and worked on it a little bit at my mom's last weekend. I am going to make it three dimensional with a polar bear paddling the colorful canoe on the lake. The huron carol has given me some inspiration as to how to finish the piece and I will definitely show it to you again when it is completed. xxoo m
The Moon of Winter Time
Within a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found, a ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped his beauty round; but as the hunter braves drew nigh, the angel song rang loud and high: Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.
Thanks so much for all your beautiful comments on the last post. I saved them all for when I got home after my very long day at work and they soothed and comforted me.
Christmas crackers have been a very integral part of my families Christmas celebrations ever since I can remember. They were invented in 1847 according to wikipedia and I bet my ancestors on my mother's side of the family have been using them ever since. My mom used to buy them at the department store but when I began a family of my own I also began making my own crackers. They became such a hit with the children and guests that we were making them for almost all our celebrations ( easter, thanksgiving, birthday's...). It just wasn't a party unless there were crackers at the table.
To make your own all you need are cardboard tubes cut up into suitable lengths, poppers, tissue paper, other paper or stickers for decoration and wool, string or ribbon. For the contents you will need small gifts, candies, fortunes , jokes or quotes. We tend to skip the tissue paper crowns but you could also make your own, fold them up and add them.
For the party we hosted last weekend I made birch bark crackers and filled them with little nature inspired prizes, st nicholas day treats and since it was an "office party" , quotations from the tv show "the office".
The birch bark paper, that is one of my new favorite things came from a piece of real birch bark and a trip to the office supply shop to use the color photocopy machine. I copied both sides of the bark. I stamped the pieces with a fern and then used this to cover the tissue paper covered cardboard tubes.
Place the popper in the tube and tie off one end before you add you prizes, treats and jokes. Then you need to tie off the other end. I bet once you start making your own you will never purchase the store bought ones again.
Here is a picture from the family archives so you can see this has been in my family for many decades. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.
m.
