A New Theme, A New Year

How have your holidays been? It's been a quiet holiday [the enjoyable kind] where one day effortlessly flows into the next. No to-do lists. No crazy running errands with a long list. Just time to read, to watch the fire, to gaze at the tree, and daydream while the snow falls with a warm cup of tea. How the end of the year should be spent, in my humble opinion. 

These last weeks of the year and today especially are such a great time for quiet reflection and 'taking stock', as the Queen would say. A new year, a new slate filled with dreams to be born. 2013 was a journey in learning how to live the right life for me. Learning what nourished me, literally and figuratively. It was a tale of meeting my inner 'road warrior' [aka abundant, resilient, mindful energy]. And now I'm ready to follow my bliss.

'When you follow your bliss....doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors and where there wouldn't be a door for anyone else.' Joseph Campbell

May the coming year bring you all that your heart desires. 

Friday's Quote

'IN CHARACTER, 

IN MANNER, 

IN STYLE, 

IN ALL THINGS, 

THE SUPREME EXCELLENCE

IS SIMPLICITY.'

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Made By Hand

Made by hand gifts became an assembly line project this weekend. What started out being made for friends and family, quickly became discovered and requested for my lovely neighbor's salon. I was thrilled to say the least. 

Lavender toner, rosewater toner, aromatherapy spray, impurity oil, hand salve, lip scrub and soaps filled the kitchen along with bottles, boxes, labels and supplies. By the time dinner hour rolled around, there was little to no room to cook [lavender may or may not have been accidentally added to dinner - that's just between us though]. 

Making each item is a total treat for the senses, but the packaging process wins me over each time. It becomes a process of playing until the packaging alone becomes a gift. 

And you may recall a reoccurring theme with these felted acorns. Perhaps it's a sign as having just discovered the Acorn Theory.

A Letter to December

Oh December. Your days may be darker and shorter, but the spirit of your season brings forth a glow that warms the soul. Extra reasons to gather. Cards in the mail. Snow flurries glittering as they fall, as if to mimic the twinkling holidays lights. 

The scents of fresh pine, warm cinnamon, sugared plums and candied fruits fill the air - heightening the senses- connecting memories from past seasons to the moment we're in. The magical qualities of your season bring moments to cherish making the season bright. 

A December Weekend

A perfect December weekend. 

 Holiday cheer and good friends. 

 

Making hand made cards. 

Hand delivering said cards in a winter wonderland 

[the white stuff arrived in abundance]. 

The smell of pine in the house. 

And this little guy caught red-handed snooping at his stocking. 

A Natural Holiday

Each holiday season I tend to choose a slightly different theme for decorating. Sometimes I know well in advance on what it's going to be and yet other years, such as this one, it happens naturally as the boxes are unpacked. 

A natural, woodland theme made it's way onto the tree. Pine combs and felted acorns are nestled throughout the tree along with a white lace felted ribbon. Ornaments were kept to a minimum. It's all about the light and natural elements -- much like my current path. 

The simplicity of it goes well with our everyday style, unlike other years where the red and green colors of the season tend to be a bit overpowering. 

Oh simplicity, how you are my goal this season. 

Friday's Quote

'Walking, I am listening to a deeper way. Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me. Be still they say. Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands.' - Linda Hogan, Native American Writer

Happy Thanksgiving

Friday's Quote

'A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between her work and her play, her labour and her leisure, her mind and her body, her education and her recreation. She hardly knows which is which. She simply pursues her vision of excellence through whatever she is doing and leaves others to determine whether she is working or playing. To herself she always seems to be doing both. Enough for her that she does it well.' - Zen Buddhist Master 

November

Oh November. Your slowing of time brings forth all there is to be grateful for. Your sun fades all of that glorious color from the month before into a sea of washed out colors that in the afternoon light has a golden glow. A glow that leaves us feeling your presence, helping us to feel our own.

Here, in this month, there is time for quiet reflection. To thank and be thanked. To love and be loved. And let us not forget to thank you, for your light.

Thankful Tree

November. The raw, stark beauty gets me every year. And yet, with all the hustle and bustle around the corner, it can go by way too quickly if I don't take the time slow down. This November, I am making a deliberate effort to connect with nature, to bring it into our home in order to pause each day, recognize where I am and all that I am thankful for by hanging a thankful card.  

Last weekend, as Arte was out with the mower battling the leaves, I headed into our woods for branches. I'm not sure who was more startled upon my exit. Me at the sight of the mower getting a little too close or Arte by a crazy branch lady running out of the woods. It had to be a funny sight. 

Those same branches have been arranged into a 'tree' of sorts that sits on one of my favorite pieces of furniture with a few pieces of artwork, mine and others, that bring me joy. 

Reflecting here is easy. Natural. Comforting. A place I look forward to being. The week has brought many things to be thankful for. A happy Jax, new product orders and an unexpected rainbow.

I ended the week at the vet for a routine laser therapy for Jax and before leaving the tech brought out her one pound puppy. Oh my heart. I fell in love fast as that little love snuggled into my neck. One of the benefits of an almost blind dog, is that he never noticed. I could have held her for a few minutes or an hour. I'm really not sure, but I do know the joy was the same. 

Product Development

With some of my bases from class ready, it was time to dig in this past weekend and begin product development. It was the best kind of mess to have in the kitchen. It smelled beautiful, was rewarding and did not equate to a sugary or high calorie treat. Rather it was a treat for the senses and a soothing reward for overworked hands. 

In addition to a couple of different batches of soap, a new lavender salve is ready for testing. The healing properties of lavender and calendula in this salve is sure to heal dry, cracked hands. It's made with love and hope; all one has to do is use daily. Nature will do the rest. 

Packaging is always by far my favorite part of the process. Playing and fussing over the details is pure joy for me. And imaging the surprised and delighted testers receiving these is icing on the cake.  

Friday's Quote

Be Fearless. It's one of my new phrases that I say to myself on a regular basis. There's nothing like setting some big goals to invoke a dose of fear. Fear can be a strong indicator that you're onto something worth pursuing. On the flip side, it tends to trip us up when that 'out of the comfort zone' feeling creeps in, often leading us to run the other way.

The other night I was polishing furniture [stay with me, I really am going somewhere with this] and was determined to have some fun with it since this is typically not a chore I enjoy. This shift in thinking, had me rearranging treasures, which ushered in new energy and helped to bring a different perspective to old beliefs.

When fear creeps in, why not meet it with,

'Be brave. Be bold. Be different. Risk succeeding.' - Nicole Levy

Horoscope

It's an at home with the sniffles kind of day. In between cups of tea, bowls of soup and naps with the dog, I'm soothing and feeding my mind as much as possible to keep it nourished and content [sitting around and nursing a cold, was not on the to-do list]. This means slowly making my way through the stack of magazines and books that have been accumulating on the coffee table. 

It's not often that I read my horoscope and not because I don't believe in the practice, but rather due to all of those seemingly bogus horoscopes out there. You know the ones. They say you'll meet the love of your life on the 19th, an epic fight will occur on the 30th and don't wear red until next month. They sound more like a random psychic reading pulled out of hat rather than an actual horoscope. 

And then there are those horoscopes that are so spot on, it's hard to believe. In the past few weeks, I've been working on defining six month, one-to-three year and three-to-five year goals. Not an easy task. I've gone around and around on this the goal setting merry go round. Altogether now, can we say 'dizzy'? 

Although I've made considerable progress in the past day or so, I know it's a process that will ebb and flow, but 'stumbling' across my latest horoscope, from a reputable source, has brought some peace to the process. 

Late Bloomers

Late bloomers seems to be a reoccurring theme here. The end of last week it was sunflowers, this week the lavender is surprising me with it's late in the season blooms. Does this happen every year and I don't even notice? [please don't answer that]

Clearly these late bloomers have my attention. The more I sit quietly with nature, the more I realize how it's speaking to me. Telling me it's okay to be what I call 'a late bloomer.' Nature is full of them. They are beautiful and on their right path at their right time. 

Oh how I have been looking for answers, that all along have been at my doorstep. Perhaps it's time for a new ritual. Tea time with nature. To sit and sip with her, to listen and to drink in her wisdom.