"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."
Marcel Proust
If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant:
if we did not sometimes taste of adversity,
prosperity would not be so welcome.
Anne Bradstreet
What kind of projects do you work on during a cold, winter day? We've recently experienced some weeks of ice and snow. Such weather changes normal routines and alternative activities take their place. Sometimes these activities include cleaning out cupboards and drawers. At my house that resulted in candle tapers of all colors being melted down into a kettle of "latte" colored wax which was poured into odds-and-ends cups and containers to create candles for the cabin and home. There's something relaxing about working on a project out of the daily norm, and rewarding too, as one looks at all the candles lined up on the counter top! It's also fun to learn a new craft. I found a box of yarn, crochet hooks, and instruction books that had been my mothers. My skills are basic at best, but I am learning and growing in my abilities with the crochet hook. Some of my blogging friends post inspiring projects that feature their crochet skills and I visit and revisit their posts and am inspired to continue upon this venture. What kinds of things are you doing during the chilly days of winter?
A chilly morning. No sunshine and the weatherman says none for a week. But winter provides its own charm and beauty. A walk about the ponds at the park provide many interesting things to see. There's a beaver trail and fresh chew marks on the beavers chosen tree. A great blue heron flies away because he doesn't like being disturbed. And a pheasant creates lots of noise as Lucy, the dog, flushes it out of the woods. A robin looks puffed up in a tree as he tries to keep warm while a blackbird sings its unique song as we walk by. There's ice on the some parts of the pond and ducks in another. Dried grasses and weeds, rushes, and twigs. There's not much color but monochromatic has an interest all its own. Isn't it fun to find objects of interest all around, even on a winter day?
Most bloggers have digital files filled with their favorite photographs. There's something about blogging and photography that go hand in hand. But, if you are like me, you have many more pictures than blog posts! Occasionally it is fun to create something with the pictures one has taken. This year I decided to create my own desktop tea calendar. I chose some of my favorite photos from tea parties, china cabinets, tea picnics, and more. There are many companies online that make a project like this simple. It's easy to set up an account and then add your photos to it. They give you the tools to move things around, crop, and edit. Before long a personalized calendar is ready. Print "send" (along with payment, of course) and within a week you'll have your own personalized calendar in your mailbox. My calender this year was tea themed. Last year I used pictures of our son's wedding for a wedding themed calendar. What kind of pictures do you have in your digital files that would work nicely for a calendar?
*Click on the photo to enlarge.
It feels so good to have a friend on whom you can depend.
A friend can help to mend a heart, boost you toward a brand-new start,
clown with carefree schoolgirl glee,
share a quiet cup of tea.
~ Jan Miller ~
