Mighty Oaks Issues

Been experiencing muscle fatigue—covid tests were negative. That was my first experience with the nostril test and of course I jerked back making it more uncomfortable. Ah well.

I’m working on my son’s 30th birthday rug again.                 I had put it away as the colours and style weren’t singing to me.                                                           

I’m a primitive gal at heart but my son isn’t a big fan. Scrolling the net for ideas, I decided to use the arts and crafts movement style. Posters from that era depict black outlined graphics and fewer shades of colour.       It seems to be working so far with my design.

 I’ve taken liberties with the colour of the leaves.

Oak leaves turn brown and drop off or hang out until spring. The initials in the leaves are all the places he’s lived. We moved LOTS as young marrieds 

with lots of schooling. 

 The shadow across the acorn is my camera.

I’ve long thought of my son along with that quote. 

He was even born at Fair Oaks hospital! 

Got a roast with loads of veg on for today, and

a walk to challenge my tired muscles and a

call to mom because dad emailed that she’s having a rough mental health/covid day.  

I believe mental health issues will plague us for many 

years due to this damned pandemic. 

Create and do something positive. 

I watered my house plants! 

.

Coping

 

2021

I've taken solace in some rug hooking, house tidying, walks,

 lots of prayer, and reading the likes of Henri Nouwen. 

Shows like "Escape to the Country" and "Great British Bake-Off" 

are also lovely.

Sometimes I feel the anxiety in  body but my mind 

feels at peace.

Other times my mind races but the body feels relaxed.

At the worst moments, both are engaged.

Hubby is back to Keto and I'm back to favoring vegetarian.

What a Clash of Kitchen Titans!

After completing all my commissioned ornaments

I set out to do 5 more dogs for family gifts. 

I feel I've lost my muse.

These 2 I've begun and am stalled on:

What I'd most like to do is re-start one for my son's 30th birthday

 but let my creativity flow with it.

So perhaps I'll do both and...

How are you coping? Or not? 

Boxing Day and Beyond

We had the warmest Christmas on record here in NB Canada! Rains dominated the day and winds howled. We Zoomed two hours with our kids in Montreal and then two more hours with my parents and fam in NC. All are distanced purposefully. 

My hubby and family treated me very well, as I got many cozy mysteries and Mary Berry cookbooks too.

I had made our pie and cranberry sauce Christmas Eve which was good because our power went out from the wind between 5:30 and 9:15 pm, effectively stalling the baking ham.

Hubby loaded it in the truck and drove it to a friends’ to continue cooking whilst I lit candles and tried not to grumble.

But the above gift was wonderful—After a wait of 16 months!! my Bolivar cutter arrived with double 8 cut shear heads. Tis a thing of beauty. The only thing missing was the number 6 cut heads and I despair of ever having them. The Bolivar is a Canadian Cadillac of wool cutters, unfortunately the small production is not well run. 

I liked hearing the Pope’s message and watching a YouTube of four kirks in Scotland sharing Christmas—my father has preached at three of them and it made it really quite special. 

Happy Christmas week!!!

         

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas and a Glad Boxing Day to all!

After a gorgeous champagne brunch with friends and a walk in the woods 

we are ready to settle in with a book and a glass of wine by the tree.

Ramblings in the Dark month

I think the fact that hubby and I will be alone for Christmas is finally setting in. We know we are just some among many and we count ourselves fortunate to be healthy— as is our family.

 If you and yours are not heathy you have my heart. We have two friends in hospital and we are unable to visit.

I finished the last hooked pet ornament! Whew! Who knew I’d be hooking full time in December? Here are a few more pieces:

Fun fun fun.

Our Christmas stuff is in storage but we cut a tiny tree and hung 100 fairy lights from it. I miss my Tasha Tudor Christmas book and video—parts of my traditions. I also miss the box of kids’. Christmas books containing jewels from my hubby and my growing up years as well as our kids’. I saw one of the books at the market yesterday. It’s called The Sweet Smells of Christmas and is a scratch and sniff from Golden books. A bear family welcomes Christmas with holiday scents. Then there is Mr. Willoughby’s Christmas Tree and Tasha Tudor’s Night Before Christmas and on and on....

If you read my last post you’ll know I’ve changed my Christmas expectations. It’s rather a relief. In the past I’ve felt guilty if I don’t experience the feeling of  holy wonder at the Lord’s birth. Now I’m embracing that He embraces where I am. Because He came humbly too. And if the religious stuff isn’t in your wheelhouse well I thank you and welcome you and appreciate your reading this. 

Have a super week

Christmas Thoughts

I know I normally post physical creations and photos,  but today I created my thoughts on my God relationship during this season. Maybe some of you will relate.

My thoughts:

 Christmas 2020

I do not want a pristine Christmas this year. I want Mary, Joseph, and Jesus completely surrounded by the absence of family. I want the scent of blood and afterbirth, and animal sweat and manure ( heavy and dank from a hotelier who had to prepare rooms for an onslaught of  census guests, not to muck out a shed for the birth of the king of kings).I want shepherds with sand and grass clinging to the haste of their sandals, perspiration staining the arms of rough cloaks. And later, I want kings, diminished by an arduous journey, resembling more mendicants than one-percenters. I want the moan of Mary in the cramping  pain of the spent uterus, the dumbness of Joseph, struck by his paternal uselessness, the fumbling mutters of the shepherds still reeling from those loud, blinding angels, and kings, struggling to apologize for gifts not  befitting the scene. I want Jesus, wailing at being dislodged from his throne and embryonic bliss.I want the creator of the world wrapped in ragged strips of cloth, now stained with urine and stool. I do not want a pristine Christmas this year. I want one I know. Come, Emmanuel. l. 

 KKS Moore, December 2020

 

Hooked Birds and Forest Bathing

 Happy December?!

I cannot imagine living in the States right now.There would be tremendous stress and you all have my thoughts and prayers. 

Hubby posted my hooked bird ornaments  on Facebook.

These are Christmas presents for friends mind you.

Well I’ve been inundated with orders, including personal pet ornaments. 

This is keeping me busy as my decluttering for seniors has been on hold (virus threats).

So here are some of my creations:

There are wool strips and glue drips all over 

our tiny apartment.

Walks in the woods continue to feed my soul and keep me on sort of an even keel.

These are my talk to Jesus moments.

Why those pics are dangling at the top and not here is anyone’s guess.

Willie dog is always on those walks though you don’t see him here.

Yesterday we were pretty deep in the brush when Willie got very excited over a scent he picked up.

As this is moose country I decided we needed to head back.

And I tried my hand at dilly carrots.

I wouldn’t parboil them again as the recipe suggested.

They are too soft for my liking. 

And the salt is heavy even for pickles.

Our sad news this week is that we decided against gathering with our kids (26 and 30 year old) for Christmas.

They live 7 hours away in another province and it is too stressful and risky.

I’m making big batches of granola today to put in their gift boxes.

My never-fail recipe is from Tightwad Gazette.

May your weekend be full of fibre scraps and glue drips!