tabula rasa

it's been snowing for days. the plows weren't on last night so the streets aren't cleared. no-one has been out. so i've woken to the first day of the new year to a clean slate.

old year, new year

today is a day for reflection. yesterday i finished off my last commission (this mailbox). it's for a friend who has a black clapboard house with indigo trim so i think it will look stunning.

today is cleanup and re-sort and plan the next few months of work.

it's also the day i read my tarot cards. i take notes and read over my cards from last year. this helps me remember where i was a year ago - emotionally, spiritually, financially, physically - and where i am now. the cards help me figure out where i want to be a year from now. i wish you all joy and comfort in the coming year.

grey day for a ski

yesterday was my first ski of the season. barb and i went to the park on the north shore - a 10 minute drive. a beautiful grey calm day. no snowmobiles are allowed in the park so the dogs could run freely. the bay is free of ice again.

more handmade gifts

a few more wonderful gifts i got this year:

robyn made me this beautiful hat. i've been inspired by robyn to learn how to spin (she only started this past summer). her spun yarn is fine and nobbly and dyed soft and intricate colours. i love this hat. light but warm. her yarn and handknit items are available to buy at weeballyarns

barb gave me this lovely handknit rose broach. i loaned her my flower knitting book recently and she took over! i love it's presence.

handmade gifts

this year i gave and received handmade gifts. my son gave me a delicate pottery bowl made by carol mose of montreal. my sister gave me notecards of animal "shrouds"by jane kenyon of vancouver. and my friend gave my a wall tile by deb kzyk and ray mackie of nova scotia. and keith loved the hooked mat i made him...

for a number of reasons i made a conscious decision to give handmade gifts this year. i didn't want to shop in the malls. i like to support other craftspeople. i like to buy local. i like to give unique one-of-a-kind gifts. if you would like to read more about "handmade giving" check out buyhandmade

what it's all about...

lucy and eamon opening their gifts christmas morning.

a christmas of firsts

this was a christmas of firsts:



1. no family came home, so for the first time it was just keith and me.



2. christmas eve mass with keith's mum.

3. christmas morning sleep in

4. we ate breakfast before we opened our gifts.

5. lying on the bed late afternoon reading and then slipping into a nap.

it was all ok...