After a few minutes, Rose started laughing.

“What’s funny?”

She first pointed at the TV screen, then pointed at (out) the window.

“It’s the same!”

It was snowing, the birds were gathering at the feeder on the deck, etc. We both laughed for a few minutes.

Later in the video, there are scenes of an open flame in a fireplace.  Just as this came on, John was opening the doors to the woodstove to add more wood. We both burst out laughing again!!

We are fun!!

The solstice is here again, dad has been dead a year, and we’re snowed in. As usual, though, we have everything we need and are blessed abundantly! Happy season!

I have so many people to thank: first and foremost, my daughter, Madeline, who did all the tech stuff, and helped with some of the text. My husband, John (who has infinite patience with me and my hair-brained schemes) and brother-in-law, Jim, have taken all the product photos.  Hannah and M (again) are my primary models.  All of my family and friends who have supported me emotionally!!

Please take a few minutes to look at the ‘site and let me know what you think!!

Wishes and blessings this holiday season!

I will post a launching notice when we’re ready, and I hope you will visit and promote us to your respective networks!!

Be blessed!

Now I have a new project that I will be posting about regularly. Next summer my Hannah will possibly have an opportunity to study HER craft (ballet) at an intensive workshop in Syracuse. The auditions are sometime this winter, but I have no doubt that will not be the primary obstacle. We need to raise the money for her tuition.

The resources at my disposal are numerous since there is almost nothing I can’t make! After almost fifty years of practice, I figure it all must be worth something to somebody!!

A devoted website is in the works (thank you, M!), and I have already begun to amass an inventory of functional craft things to “market”.

Everything I create is filled with love and blessings because I sincerely love what I do and am blessed to be able and free to do it all. You might want to stay tuned and check out the inventory when I start posting pictures.

Also, good vibes are always a plus!!

They were totally fine, kept us hopping, and we’re looking forward to getting them alone more and more, now. We played in the snow a bunch, played “go fish”, checkers, hide the chip clip (for hours), read books, etc. In the summer we’ll be outside way more hiking, swimming and so on.

I was going to get my OTHER boys (and Hannah)(and, of course, Madeline) this week, but the snow we’ve gotten will keep them away:

They weren’t excited about carrying their stuff uphill for a half mile, and are coming in April instead.
We are always blessed and always have everything we need, so a “little snow” doesn’t phase us.

Right now, I’m thinking Sunny Thoughts!!

Made several modifications on the original pattern (designed by Deborah Newton, and published in the Fall ’09 issue of Interweave Knits). And if I make it again, there are more changes I would make.

It’s very warm.

During the 5+ weeks of this process, some very interesting revelations occurred to me: First, nothing is ever manifest that doesn’t start out as thought. Some thoughts are born out of other thoughts, but everything is a thought first. Then, lots of things I make turn out exactly as I picture them, others nothing like. The difference between the two is most assuredly my thoughts during the process. All of the successes are a result of relaxed confidence and failures are the result of stressful doubt.

With this in mind (vigilantly in mind), success or failure become choices. Not that one would consciously choose failure, but that choosing the right thoughts is the only determining factor. Also, the right thoughts fortified with the feeling of already being successful are completely irresistible energies!

Energy generated is energy returned.
Always be love.

2. I broke 160: Last winter, I topped out close to 200 pounds (199), and have been working on this loss since the spring. Today I weigh 159!! Plan on about 20 more, but we’ll see.

3. An interesting revelation: I’ve been thinking about attracting one thing into my life while the other person here is continuously attracting the opposite. Then I remembered how Jesus’ faith in the abundance of the universe was able to override that of 5000 people on the mount. He had no doubt that the food available would feed them all. There were most likely several there who had doubts, but it didn’t matter. Then he told us “all these things you can do, also, and more even!

So I need to ignore the doubts of those around me.

In August, during one of the Chicago trips, and shopping at my priority fiber shop (The Fold, Marengo, Ill), I found some awesome royal blue romney (sheep breed, great for outerwear) with sparkles. I bought some with no idea what I’d do with it. Then when the magazine came, and I saw the coat on the cover, I went back in October and bought the rest of what she had (about three pounds, total). I’m hoping it will be enough.

I’m spinning moderate singles and plying thrice for a hefty bulky yarn. If I don’t do much else, I can fill a spool in a day, and I think the total number of spools will turn out to be 9 or 10. Then it takes the good part of a day to ply three spools together.

Here’s a picture of the fiber, a couple of spools of singles and what little I have finished knitting so far. I’ve spun about half of the fiber, so what you see is the half that’s left to still spin.

I’m hoping to finish it in time for a trip to York to see Jackie play hockey next month. It’s always cold at the rink!

Spinning and knitting are excellent activities for mindfulness. Keeping focused on the moment, and remembering to be present for this inch, this stitch, and NOT the finished garment (or what’s for dinner) is the goal. Everything I’ve ever made (or anyone has ever made) has been finished one step at a time, and the result is a gift of the universe.

I’m loving life. Stay tuned.

Amazingly, and contrary to popular belief: THIS is the ‘reason for the season’. It is a proven, yet ignored fact that Jesus was actually born sometime in March. The early Christians adjusted the celebration of the birth of Christ to coincide with the festival that most of the people were already celebrating since the dawn of awareness.

The solstice is the marking of the planetary cycle that results in decreasing and increasing of sunlight. Yule, the shortest day of the year is the end of the decrease, the returning of the light, as it were.

Not only have the Christians taken possession of the holiday/celebration, they are now trying to dictate how we manifest our festivities.

Silly, really, since none of it matters. What’s important is to be true to ourselves. Giving and sharing are always acceptable activities whatever time of the year it is, and many of the people who bemoan the outrageous spending at this time forget the increased income from the burst in commercialism.  (Personally, I spend very little, preferring to give creations of mine instead.  This is not because of how wonderful I am and how superior to those who buy stuff, but because I have so much crap I made and Christmas is a good excuse to get rid of it!!)

Also, it’s the capitalist way. It’s what this great country of ours is built on. The freedom to buy and sell goods and services at our discretion is the very thing the lost lives of so many men has purchased (also, the freedom to worship/practice spirituality of our CHOICE).  Looks like a contradiction to me.

We are burning sage and juniper for cleansing.  We will bake something with the sun on it.  Also I’m resolving, in the coming year,  to do whatever I want without guilt or regret.  It’s time.

Please have wonderful holidays.  I reiterate that everyone should celebrate in whatever way suits you, and to respect and honor the ways of others.  This is the only peaceful way.  Be love.

Last Friday, my father fell and fractured his hip. In the hospital since then, he endured (as much as he could comprehend) x-rays, CAT scans, a heart endurance test, IV needles. The good doctors concurred that surgery would be beneficial.  We all agonized over the ordeal he would face with recovery.  Until he fell, he was still able to stand and walk and getting him back to that was their goal.

Mom prayed for God to spare him from this ordeal and her prayer has been answered.  Dad died yesterday afternoon.

He was many things, my dad.   Most obviously manifested in my life and my family is his music.  We are all full with this expression, sometimes loud and obnoxious, that is his legacy.  Family gatherings were always filled with singing amid all manner of gaiety.   He played his accordion in many places with countless different assemblages, far into his 80′s!!

So, although his body has run it’s course and retired, the energy that is eternally my dad will go on in our hearts, and be always profoundly present in every gathering where music and song abound.  Which is every single gathering of this family.

It’s all good.