the last day of January

May i greet each day with grateful surprise...

Mixed Media

Here is one of the studies in mixed media from my online class.  An homage to our stormy winter nights.

Study #5 Black and White

Adapted from Swedish Huck embroidery.

Sunny morning

Lovely bright morning, 20 degrees, before the next little storm tomorrow.  Banana, oatmeal, peanut butter bars baking.  Art guild pr and cleaning today.  Photos coming soon on recent works.

Looks like 7 inches or a bit more

Looks like the storm is winding down, now the chill is due in.  Still warm and cozy and well fed in our little abode.  Hope everyone is well too.

So far so good

Snow has not amounted to much around here, we are lucky!
Working on art classes, starting a sweater for a little one, have a quilt on hold.
Spinach, mushroom, onion, pepper quiche in the oven.

preparing for the next storm

Snow starting again tonight may not end until Tuesday and then start again Thursday, we shall see.
Lots of books and projects laid in, along with a nicely stocked pantry to see us through.

Not sure what happened to Friday

Skipped a post.  That day must have gotten away from me.  Working on taxes and reworking as Turbo Tax had a glitch and we had to resubmit, yuck.  I think at least one set is done, still working on the paperwork for the more complicated batch.  Working on the huck embroidery everyday, should have photos soon.  And the orchid continues to bloom and open, need to get a pic quick.  The sun has come out and there is blue sky so we will be going from slushy to icy out this evening and more snow due tomorrow. 

One third through winter

Icy fog shrouds the whitened landscape.
The bamboo bends but does not break
under its snowy cover.
Sparrows knock drifts down from branches
as they flock on stems above black seeds.

Snowing

Wet snow falling since this morning, I hear the scritch of shovels on ice as neighbors are out clearing during the storm, I will wait until a bit later.  Yesterday I explored kogin, a form of Japanese pattern darning, today it is Swedish huck embroidery.  The black on white is echoing today's landscape. 

Above freezing

Tomorrow snow, but today we had some sun with the clouds and milder temps.  Baking day today, oatmeal, spice, raisin cookies cooling and scenting the house.

Working on a black and white quilted piece

Working on a quilted homage to Bridget Riley's early 1960's paintings, but need to take a break, for my poor back, which aches from working on the sewing machine.  I see now why I work by hand, much easier on me, seems counter intuitive, but that is where it is.  Hopefully I will have something to show soon.  Still working on the Civil War era quilt as well, love this time travel.

Yesterday's exploration

Black and white made me think of blackwork, a form of embroidery I have long considered trying out, this show gave me a good excuse to do so.  Also known as Spanish work, favored on cuffs and collars in the 1500's it is meant to be read the same on the right and the wrong side, this also minimizes the shadowing of the black through the white.  I used this technique from the 16th century in this original 21st century design, sheer fun!

Preparing for the show

One piece completed for the black and white show.

Key lime pie

Tonight, broccoli stuffed chicken breasts, quinoa and butternut squash, and key lime pie for dessert.  Worked on next Civil War era quilt design and a piece for the black and white show, hopefully I will have a photo tomorrow.

Finally above freezing

What a relief to have a sunny day above freezing and possibly a stretch to come.
Celebrated by heading to art group and working on some pieces for the upcoming "Black and White" Show in February.  All in process for now, hopefully work to show by next week.

Wednesday midday

Snow powders the walks and roofs
the big, stray, yellow cat
sits on our porch eyeing us
yet timid to our entreaties.

Hooray a sunny day

More snow tonight and tomorrow, but for now nice and bright even if the windchill is 15.
Working on my classes, so many amazing artists in LifeBook.  Here is a little exercise from this week.

Freezing rain

At least it isn't snow!  Cold, wet and icy, not the loveliest Monday, bu the heat and lights are working so no complaints!  Hope everyone had a good weekend, ours was busy but quiet, still fighting colds/flu around here and spring is still a long way off. The noontime flock of juncos came by to check out the seed offerings despite the weather.  Plenty of meetings, classes, work and chores to keep us occupied.  Tootles.

Sunshiney day

20 but nice and bright, a bit of bite to the air in the shade, but warm enough in the sun if sheltered.
The cat has been loathe to go out for days and the snow was so dry and frozen this morning it squeaked when you walked on it like on styrofoam. To warm to freezing tomorrow, which sounds good until the freezing rain forecast for the evening into the next morning.  Oh well at least the sleet accumulation is to be low, fingers crossed.

Activation in stillness

The oak leaves cling to the branches
 in the gusts, they rattle.
The sparrows busily feed below
with the squirrels headlong down the spruce.
All in the blank, white, frozen landscape.

Made it to a balmy 16 today

Yep it was 4 degrees on the thermometer last night and it was windy, but we woke up and still had heat so we are fine for now.  Even got out and about today, thank heavens for the new car battery, the car started right up.  Looks like this cold spell is here for awhile now. People are getting out their turtlenecks and long johns and assorted woolies.  The cat has not been too happy with the turn of events, she goes to the door sticks her nose out and hightails it back in, but today at least she isn't going around complaining about it all the time, like she has been the past few days. Guess it is officially winter in PA.

Good grief

5 windchill and dropping to 5 actually with windchills in the minus digits tonite, always a bit scary when it gets this cold.
And the sun is not shining too brightly so altogether a bit icky.

Snow day

It s a white world, so a good day for colors and creativity.  Here is a little warm up from LifeBook.

Wrapping up and begninning anew

Finishing up Spectrum, now 10 months, and starting LifeBook for this whole year.
Also recharging with One Word, Unravelling, A Little Spark,  and Thriving Artists seminar, a bit overwhelming so much new info all at once, but I will let this tide carry me somewhere new and then rest again.

Open and expand your awareness

Your great mistake is to act the drama
as if you were alone.
As if life were a progressive and cunning crime
with no witness to the tiny hidden
transgressions.
To feel abandoned is to deny
the intimacy of your surroundings.
You must note
the way the soap dish enables you,
or the window latch grants you freedom.
Alertness is the hidden discipline of familiarity.
The stairs are your mentor of things to come,
the doors have always been there
to frighten you and invite you,
and the tiny speaker in the phone
is your dream-ladder to divinity.
Put down the weight of your aloneness
and ease into the conversation.
The kettle is singing even as it pours you a drink,
the cooking pots have left their arrogant aloofness
and seen the good in you at last.
All the birds and creatures of the world
are unutterably themselves.
Everything is waiting for you.
~ David Whyte

Weaving the Senses

Every day
I see or hear
something
that more or less
kills me
with delight,
that leaves me
like a needle
in the haystack
of light.
It was what I was born for -
to look, to listen,
to lose myself
inside this soft world -
to instruct myself
over and over
in joy,
and acclamation.
Nor am I talking
about the exceptional,
the fearful, the dreadful,
the very extravagant -
but of the ordinary,
the common, the very drab,
the daily presentations.
Oh, good scholar,
I say to myself,
how can you help
but grow wise
with such teachings
as these -
the untrimmable light
of the world,
the ocean's shine,
the prayers that are made
out of grass?
~ Mary Oliver, Mindful

SALUTATION TO THE DAWN

Look to this day,
For it is life,
The very life of life.
In its brief course lie all
The verities and realities
Of your existence;
The bliss of growth,
The glory of action,
The splendor of beauty.
For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is but a vision.
But today, well lived, makes every
Yesterday a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow
A vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day!
Such is the salutation to the dawn.

(Kalidasa attribution)

2015

The new year was ushered in with explosions and fireworks throughout the neighborhood, hopefully chasing away all unfriendly spirits.
By dawn, all was at peace, quiet, cold and bright.
The sun blessed us with its golden illumination.
The birthday of our eldest commenced after fresh strawberry, banana waffles.
Presents, movies, and walks in the woods followed.
Now the sun is setting and moon rising and we have a snack of Asian delicacies to enjoy.
Happy New Year, may we all fare well.