Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

I suppose it was a bit of a lovely coincidence that the last day of December 2020 would fall on a Thursday. My Thankful {things I love} Thursday blog post day ;-D

I've been blogging for many years and I think I will change things up a bit for 2021. Change is good!

I've chosen my "guiding word" for the New Year and look forward to starting a new Journal.

Came across a wonderful quote that I will use in the first page of my 2021 journal

"I resolve to write

a new chapter of my life

every new day

in the New Year"

~Lailah Gifty Akita~ 

So, for the last day of 2020 and the last Thankful {things I love} Thursday post ...

for my ears

***

listening to Loreena McKennitt

love this C.D. "the mask and the mirror"

We had the pleasure of watching Loreena in concert a few years ago and she was magnificent!

The Mystic's Dream is one of my all time favourites

for my eyes

***

looking through the lens of my Nikon

capturing moments of my day

I plan on taking and documenting 2021 with lots of photos!

for my mouth

***

it only seemed fitting that the last bake for 2020 would be banana bread and corn bread :-D

I wonder how many loaves of each I've baked in 2020? 

We are doing a family Zoom New Years Eve night  so these will be yummy with a pot of coffee and fire going this evening.

Making a pot of three bean chili  for tonight's supper

and a wedge of cornbread will be yummy with it

One of my favourite Christmas gifts from my grandson's xx

for my soul

***

I see duplicate numbers *all the time*

12:02 & 1:11 especially

went to preheat the oven and there it was!

for my feet

***

winter walks and horse talks

for my hands

***

finished this painting yesterday afternoon... the last painting (of many) for 2020

~dry your wings~

Dry your wings, 

beautiful one

In the cooling breeze,

by the light of the sun.

You've seen so much

in this passing year

I know you are tired

but the joy is near.

So while you rest your wings

allow yourself this time once more

To gather all the energy you need,

and you will enjoy, once again, all you adore.

~d.d.~

***

"Ring out the old,

ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true"

~Alfred Tennyson~ 

Happy New Year!

deb & the sparrows 

 

Merry Christmas

Believe in the magic of the Season

***

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas 

 

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

Happy Christmas Eve

While this Christmas will be very different, I've been carrying on most of the traditions that I always have and we've started a few new traditions along the way! It's been a year of lots and lots of  friends and family Zoom time - we've baked and sang, danced, had quiz  Jeopardy nights, celebrated Easter, Thanksgiving, Birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day and more. Last weekend we had a virtual Andy Kim Christmas special Zoom get together with family and friends. Last year, we had tickets to his fabulous Christmas special where we all got together and so this year, while it was being televised, we thought we would do the same! Starting a half hour early for "happy hour" we toasted a drink and reminisced. Tonight, we will begin a new tradition ...

for my ears

Celebrating Worldwide Christmas Eve Jingle 6 pm (your time zone)

The idea began in North Yorkshire, England and quickly spread throughout the world. To celebrate and spread Christmas spirit and cheer, give Thanks to our frontline workers, and for the little ones, to help Santa fly his sleigh.

So it's a family Christmas Eve Zoom tonight where we will stand outside with our bells and at 6pm ring them for 2 minutes! Then, we will have a Christmas gift opening. 

I plan on making Christmas Eve Jingle a new family tradition!

for my eyes

Our grandsons dropped off our Christmas presents yesterday . How wonderful it was to see those sweet little masked faces that I haven't kissed in far too long!

This was one of the gifts they wanted us to have early. These eyes shed many tears !

*blessed*

for my mouth

well, not my mouth ;-D because I don't like pastry or mincemeat, but the ones I love happen to love both, so every Christmas I make dozens of mincemeat tarts and a mincemeat Bundt pan cake . It's a vegetarian mincemeat with rum and brandy and Oh my, did the kitchen smell amazing while  these were baking!

for my soul

this little nook in our kitchen soothes my soul.

It's lined with windows looking out to the garden, has a comfy window seat filled with pillows where I sit with a tea or coffee, book and blanket, bird watch, dream.  Above, a branch from our Maple tree holds a garland  that I change with the Seasons and twinkle lights, and a sweet sentiment is stenciled. 

Garlands  of special treats hang today from  branches scattered all through the garden for the birds and squirrels. Another tradition that I started with my children when they were little and do with my grandsons. This year, while I'm making the garlands without little ones helping, I am definitely thinking of them. A few today for Christmas Eve, the larger ones will go out early Christmas morning. I love standing in the kitchen making Christmas breakfast and watch as they arrive and enjoy their Christmas breakfast with us. 

for my feet

nothing like putting on your wellies and walking the beach

So very grateful to live by the lake.

I could (and do) walk for hours here. In fact, I often loose track of time it is just so blissfully serene.

for my hands

I have fallen in love with abstract art!

It all began with not wanting to waste paint I had out on my palette.

I began by just moving the paint around and really loved the results.

Here's a little snippet of "How does your garden grow?"

One of the things I love about abstract art are the little "hidden" gems that reveal themselves!

Since I'm not painting with any idea in mind, just letting the muse take me where it will , and there is no "story" written in pencil first before I begin to paint , the painting really tells me "it's story". I was quite surprised when I spotted *myself* in this painting ... sitting on the beach, looking out at the lake as I often do. Serendipitous xx 

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas ~ even though it may look different this year, it is still magical and the most wonderful time of the Year

d xx 

 

Home in the Woods ...

Yesterday, while walking through the woods, we came upon this twig fort. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me. An adorable squirrel with his mouth full of leaves on his way up to his nest stopped and walked over to me as I was talking to a Crow who had also approached me :-D.  Of all the times not to have brought the camera, I thought!

So today, Archer and I headed back for a walk through the woods to take some photos. No crows today. Lots of squirrels, but none with nesting material in their mouth. I did however, get some photos of this lovely, very creative  fort.

"The human soul is hungry for beauty...

when we experience the beautiful,

there is a sense of homecoming"

~John O'Donohue~

And then came upon this sweet little "mini fort"

Someone had their nails painted :-D

 "I was in love with the whole world

and all that lived in its rainy arms"

~Louise Erdich~ 

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

for my ears

the meditative, grounding sound coming from my singing bowl

"Be selective.

With your time. Your energy. Who you let in to the doorway of your heart.

The soft soil of your inner life

is not a stomping ground.

Not a place for the curious taker or thief.

Not a place for the envious or judgmental.

Or anyone who wants to keep you small.

It is a place only for those

who breath in your radiance, vulnerability and brokenness

with a hushed awe and reverence.

Who bow before the glowing scars and silvered shards of pain.

It is a place only for those who intimately understand

(and deeply honor) the (whole) divinity you are working to reveal"

~Deborah Anne Quibell~ 

for my eyes

sparrows in the snow enjoying the seed falling from the feeder (and a mischievous squirrel) who has been keeping me amused ;-D

"Remember, you are sacred land.

Choose your travelers wisely"

~Della Hicks-Wilson~ 

for my mouth

ginger cookie star tree and a happy dusting of powdered sugar "snow"

"That house was ...'a perfect house, whether you like food or sleep,

or storytelling or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all'.

Merely to be there was a cure for weariness, fear, and sadness"

~J.R.R. Tolkien~ 

for my soul

spotting nests in the bare branches as I walk with Archer is always a blessing to my soul. I have spotted nests in all shapes and sizes ~ each one beautiful and unique much like the birds who created them.

"Maybe the journey isn't so much about becoming anything.

Maybe it's about un-becoming everything that isn't really you,

so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place"

~Paul Coelho~

for my feet

we have needed to really bundle up these last few days as the temperature has dropped. Archer walks very slowly, stopping often, so nice warm boots are a necessity. 

"Reflecting on our day

we find what is sacred.

Through our senses the spirit speaks.

Walking the path of life

we tread on holy ground.

Ordinary everyday events and things

radiate the divine"

~Sr Stan~ 

 for my hands

all my handmade items for gift giving have been made... now, with a week until Christmas Eve, it's time to create some treat jars/cookie mix jars ~ a tradition.

"When I grow up, I want to be that old lady with long grey hair, who lives in a corner of the countryside, surrounded by mountains and rivers and all the animals... who grows her own food and makes her own remedies; and her house is surrounded by plants, wind chimes and all sorts of weird and funky ornaments"

~Unknown~

Time with the trees ...

It's amazing the things you miss. I'm not even sure how many times I have passed by this lovely tree walking with Archer through the park. Perhaps it's because we normally don't walk in the direction facing this beautiful tree spirit, but when we did, it took my breath away! 

I knew the next time we headed to the park, I was going to bring the camera!

All bundled up for a nice, long, Sunday walk.

Archer really surprised us with the amount of energy he had! Might have been the fact that he was able to go off-leash for the first time in months. He certainly took full advantage of the freedom. I don't blame him one little bit. We did too!!!

"I'm going back into the woods

to listen to ancient trees

branches long and withered, wise

Reaching up to thread my dreams,

My faith I'll place unto them

Barks rich with hard-won battle scars

Leaves whispering of courage, hope

Rings of life that guide the stars'

~Carly Dugmore~

I absolutely loved this quote when I found it.

What you see depends on what you're looking for.

This is one of the lovely pines that has helped fill my gathering bag with pinecones for over 36 years.

I've made so many wreaths using the cones from this beauty.

Pine sap drip ... can you spot it?

And after a lovely walk, tree visits, photo taking, it was time to head back home.

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

for my ears

the sound of happy, chirping sparrows

"She did not need much,

wanted very little.

A kind word, sincerity, fresh air, clean water, a garden, kisses,

books to read, sheltering arms, a cozy bed, and to love

and be loved in return"

~Starra Neely Blade~ 

for my eyes

the joy of snowfall 

"to create one's own world

takes courage"

~Georgia O'Keefe~ 

for my mouth

let the Christmas baking begin! All the favourite, traditional cookie and cake recipes are ready to go. Ingredients bought . Gift boxes waiting to be filled to the brim with homemade treats from LaLa's kitchen :-) 

for my soul

So many ideas for paintings come from my walks along the lake. I often say, I've walked a painting into existence.  The words to "Hello, it's me" came from a recent beach walk.

Hello, it's me

just wanted you to know

that I've been looking for you

in morning light and evening shadows.

At the water's edge

watching the ebb and flow

As the seagulls fly by

I think they know.

Will they take my message

across the sky

With their wings 

write hello and goodbye?

In their comings and goings

through clouds and skies of blue

Leave a heat shape behind

so you'll know I'm thinking of you!

~deb dunn~

At the water's edge, bird and cloud watching. As I intuitively painted, I thought of my beach walk. Listening to the gulls and watching as they flew overhead. The ebb and flow of the water. Making out images in the clouds.

To my surprise and delight ... it was only once I scanned this piece that I spotted the gull.  The power of thought!

While in a cafe, an admirer came over and asked Picasso to do a little drawing of her daughter. He obliged and drew something on the napkin in front of him. Picasso politely handed the drawing to the woman and said, "that will be $12,000"

The woman reeled, "What? That took you less than a minute!"

"No," he replied frankly, "that took me forty years"

for my feet

just looking at our prints, I think you can see why Archer is referred to as my "velcro dog" :-)

"The dog puts his cheek against mine and makes small, expressive sounds.

And when I'm awake, or awake enough he turns upside down, his four paws in the air and his eyes dark and fervent.

"Tell me you love me" he says

"Tell me again"

Could there be a sweeter arrangement?

Over and over he gets to ask.

I get to tell"

~Mary Oliver~

for my hands

sprinkling bird seed onto the concrete hands in our garden. The tiniest of birds love this spot.

"We were made by the same Potter from different clay.

We won't be the same shapes or made for the same use.

We were made to be wildly unique - drastically different from the next.

Celebrate the different purpose.

We were never made to fit the same mold"

~Han Elaine~ 

Happy Thursday. Hope you have lots of Thankful things on your list too!

d xx