GOODBYE JANUARY...SO LONG!

Last day of January...yay...may the rest of winter be kind to us and will let spring come around the corner.

In the meantime, toe-up, magic loop sock class #2 is today. Always nice to learn new techniques and I do like this way of making socks over 4 double-pointed needles.  Today I want to finish my painting - more shadows and highlights need to be added, maybe some details and then I am on to something different.  This week my pendents arrived from the woodturner in Ajax...so close to us.  I do like this work, he is talking of having a studio open house and I think it would be fun to see his workshoop and meet the artist.

beginning at the toe so no grafting is involved and knit with just one long circular needle - brilliant is all I can say.

A little different than my first painting, hope to complete this one soon as I am itching for still life now.

Little things make me happy, especially wooden things.

..and another painting project of mine..these original 35 year old pressed wood cupboards were still dark and cavernous inside, impossible to find anything.  This is the cooks's cupboard, this picture taken before it was complete - 4 more magnetic spice strips have been installed to the inside of both cupboard doors..and I have filled them all!

Sinking

I want to live in this room

I want to make tea in this kitchen

And I want to sleep in this bed until spring.

Sinking. I am sinking and February, the curelest month, has not yet begun. T. S. Eliott was wrong.* Thank you February for being the shortest month.

*T. L. Eliot "The Waste Land

photos from Indian Summer...lovely...never cease to excite me with the colours

PEACE

My lovely niece, Sarah.  I look at this photo whenever I feel myself slipping away. This is a particularly S.A.D. day, coupled with sleep deprivation and I'm in trouble! Her tranquility helps me hold on.

Thank you Sarah

Watercolours and Windchimes

A day painting, in a workshop led by Marlene Bulas, with an old friend. Time spent in the country with snow softly falling. Life is good. 

This was my first time ever trying watercolours.  Previously I would get out my paints, make a mark on the paper and pack everything up mumbling something about this medium being too difficult.  My masterpiece is unfinished, but I am happy with my first attempt.  Today I just may be inspired to complete this humble painting.

I wish you could hear the sound these beautiful chimes make..spiritual, melodious...a gift from a friend.

Deflated

That is how I am feeling today

One by one the chips started to fall

Crumb by crumb

Tumbling down

Sucking the air right out of me

One disappointment after another today

It won't last, this feeling

A minute
An hour
A day or two at the most

Glorious sleep may be the medicine for the cure.

http://anindiansummer-design.blogspot.com/

And so I went to visit a favourite blog, Indian Summer, for absolutely beautiful images that always cheer my soul.  It never fails, but only minutes after browsing through this site, I am dreaming of new rooms in my house, changes, colour, fresh, new

Kiva...I just love Kiva!  http://www.kiva.org/  Microloans

This is how it works.  You 'invest' $25 in a group of your choice - your choice of gender, country, business, horticulture, jewelry makers, shopkeepers, farmers, taxi drivers, and the list goes on - they pay you back with a bit of interest.  You take your interest and your original $25 paid back to you, and 'invest' more, and more. I have a little, but my little $25(+$10)  has done a lot for 5 groups of women from all over the world. I like that!  I have invested $35 and my $35 has translated to $125 to five ambitious groups,  and I still have $7.08 in my 'kitty' to add money to, or just wait until it grows to $25 again, to reinvest . I have never had so much reward from such a small amount of money than this little venture I stumbled upon about a year and half ago.   Highly recommended..

Ecquador - Animal Sales - new investment, Jan.10/10.
Peru - Retail groceries and meat and store supplies, paid back in full
Tanzania - Food market, paid back in full
Pakistan - Jewelry making supplies, paid back in full
Dominican Republic - Food sales, paid back in full

Inspirational isn't it?

The WORD. 

I have noticed on several of my favourite blog sites, that people are choosing a word for 2010 instead of setting a resolution in place.  I never make New Year's resolutions; in fact I have difficulty with any resolution that means I must change something negative about myself into something positive. I don't like the idea of starting off a new year, or a new day or new minute with a negative tone, especially if it is directed at me....by me! This negative tone is an internal battle with myself that I must curb..I must stop... and so I will pick a WORD to wisk me into the new year, a new decade.

I have been pondering my WORD for about 10 days now, checked the meanings of words I know the meaning of, from various research sources....just to see the 'wording' of the meaning.  So many words. I want a simple word, a word I can repeat to myself when the chips are down.  Compassion is a word that I like, but it is with with compassion that I try and live each day.  Joy and Passion were the final choices.

JOY noun: something or someone that provides pleasure; a source of happiness; the emotion of great happiness.  verb: make glad or happy; feel happiness or joy.



PASSION noun: strong feeling or emotion; a feeling of strong sexual desire; any object of warm affection or devotion.  verb: an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action; something that is desired intensely

joy or passion

Joy is my word
with joy in my life I invite passion
to follow along with us (me and joy) like a friend.

joy and I will fight obstacles along the way

ignore them
send them spinning away from me.

joy

I'm playing with the webcam....me and 'B'

The 'mirror' ears!! too funny...must pay more attention to background next time.

Eat less and move more.  Really see what is around me.  Take it all in.  Create something each day. 

Pictures from a winter walk today in the brilliant afternoon sun, clear blue sky,  fresh white snow, cold air and just me.

Let's go

Ready?

That blue, can't stop looking at it

Come along "Pantoufle" *http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0241303/

Over the little bridge

past the pond rink

to the river

the light is changing

time to take the path home.

The new year

A new beginning

I have plans for this year

Plans for me

2010 is going to be

All about me

(and my friends and loved ones too)

I have my new calender

Insight from the Dalai Lama

To be my daily guide

I will surround myself with colour

And beautiful things

Wednesday January 6, 2010 ..the lesson for today...  "According to basic Buddhist insight, the mind is essentially luminous and knowing.  Therefore, emotional problems do not reside in the mind's essence; such counterproductive attitudes are temporary and superficial, and can be removed."

I think that quote is a lie...full of shit...they don't know.