the blue muse

I hope you had the most wonderful of holidays! I have to say, we had one of the best in years, lots of family time, plenty of good food and much laughter. Our two out-of-town children just left this morning, and now the house seems quiet and a little bit empty.

Today, finally, the snow has arrived. It is blustery and very cold, and I plan to make a fire and grab a book and enjoy a little down time. I always look forward to this week between Christmas and New Year’s, one of the only times I am able to take a full week off from work and simply relax.

I am looking forward to a new year, not that 2011 was a bad year, but for some reason, it felt like an off year. I felt slightly out of step right from the beginning, and I am ready to clear my dance card and start again, fresh.

I don’t really believe in resolutions, it always feels like setting myself up for failure. But I did choose a word, and that was “words.” I want to write more. To focus on that more. To devote more time to it.

And I want to stop running out of time and start running into it.

Yes.

That’s it, exactly.

With arms wide open.

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What are your plans for the New Year?

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xoxo

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cotton-ball snowflakes falling gently on a night with no wind.

tree branches like lace against a lavender sky.

a fresh expanse of snow unmarred by footprints.

glittering.

the fresh smell of winter’s morning.

birds calling.

cardinals dotting a hedgerow like oversized berries.

a fire that roars while the wind howls outside.

kittens curled up and basking in the glow.

time to read and hibernate, a little.

forced to slow down.

a little.

dreams of spring and green and gardens.

wrapped in quilts that feel like love.

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my footsteps crunch their way through this season.

leading me from endings to beginnings.

i catch a snowflake on my tongue.

hold it there.

savoring the flavor.

another solstice.

rising.

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this poem first appeared over at Stephanie Guimond’s place:
Creative Living Experiment

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for winding down and gearing up,
cleaning and wrapping, baking and singing,
a heart filled with gratitude and anticipation,
children arriving and gifts departing,
snowflakes floating and fairy lights twinkling,
joy and reflection, glitter and bows,
family and friends, love and hugs,
cookies and candy canes, movies and stockings,
and the silly smile that stays plastered
to my face.

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this post is linked to kim klassens’ 12 days of texture!

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dance.

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And just a little reminder, everything in our etsy shop is 25% OFF,
now through December 31st!

Just use coupon code HOLIDAYS25 at checkout!

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this post is linked to kim klassens’ 12 days of texture!

to…

stop this morning and stare out the window.

walk outside and feel the sun on my face.

hug someone i love.

smile at a stranger.

do something kind and unexpected.

listen.

inhale.

have patience.

sit in the dark and enjoy the christmas tree.

wrap presents with love instead of stress.

give.

give more.

not presents, love.

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I was just looking at photos from last December, and I can’t believe how much snow we had last year at this time. This year, there has been next to nothing. Yesterday was a beautiful day, sunny and in the high 40s. Okay, I guess I should say it was beautiful for Upstate New York in December.

But, every year is different, isn’t it?

Yesterday I had a lazy Sunday. I can’t remember last time I did that.
My agenda consisted of running (for the first time in about six weeks!)
knitting on a Christmas stocking for the daughter of a friend,
signing Christmas cards, and sitting by the fire.

I have to say, it was wonderful and soothing and calming.
I thought about how much I need to do this more often.

Perhaps 2012 will be the year of lazy Sundays, we will see… at least
it sounds like an admirable goal, don’t you think?

I know that at some point I will feel the crunch of all the things
still yet to be done before Christmas gets here, but so far,
I am just floating along through this month,
enjoying the sights and the smells and the spirit.

I hope you have been able to do the same.

May your week be merry and bright….

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And just a little reminder, everything in our etsy shop is 25% OFF,
now through December 31st!

Just use coupon code HOLIDAYS25 at checkout!

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I woke up to a winter wonderland this morning. It won’t stick, already half of it is melted, but it was a magical scene while it lasted.

I love the sparkle that snowlight adds to the world. Covering up all the mud and gray and drab with a pretty party dress. I’ll probably regret saying this, but I’m ready for snow. Real snow, 6 or 8 inches of fluffy cotton ball softly falling snow. Yes, come February, feel free to remind me that I said that.

But I feel myself getting cozied in for winter, ready to hibernate like a bear, snuggled up in front of the fire. Already I am lining up books to read, knitting to be knitted, lazy Sundays being the norm rather than the exception. Winter is my time to rest. To recharge. To regenerate.

There will be oatmeal made for breakfast, the old-fashioned kind that you have to cook, and soups for dinner every week. There will be a bored, naughty kitten just waiting for spring. There will be a fire made every night, and shoveling to be done every afternoon. The birds will wait to be fed, scrambling to eat enough to stay warm.

And my garden will hide beneath its winter coat, whispering promises of new growth and fresh beauty. Whispering, resting, reflecting.

Each year, the seasons tumble through life, as backdrop for habits that adjust to them without question.

It’s the kind of change you can count on.

The framework of life.

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Wishing you a weekend filled with sparkling light.

December feels like a time for winding down, even as the holidays gear up. I sit for a few minutes longer over my morning tea, reflecting. I walk outside and breathe in the air on a day that reaches 59 degrees, knowing that soon I will only want to huddle inside by the fire, warming my toes.

I hum Christmas carols as I flit about the house, decorating and cleaning and prettifying, and I don’t grumble about how much I hate to clean or how much time I don’t have or how much more I have to do.

I am enjoying this moment.

I’m not at all sure how I got to this place. Perhaps it’s because November was so crazy, or because there is a new phase of the moon, or because I’m another year older and I’ve learned, just a little bit more, to enjoy what I have.

Whatever the reason, I feel calm and centered and as if I am basking in the glow of something wonderful.

I think I’ll wrap a bit of this glow up in a big old box, tie it with a very old, very pretty ribbon, and send it out to the world.

When it comes your way, I hope you’ll open it, take a big deep breath, and then send it back out with a smile.

Someone else might need a little light in their life.

And besides, smiles are free.

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p.s. this post first appeared over at vision & verb, but i thought it was worth sharing here, as well.
you know, more smiles.

joy, joy…

so much to celebrate at this time of year.

love. life. friends. family.

being here.

and funny little birds that make me grin.

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wishing you joy and smiles today.

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this post is part of texture tuesday over at kim klassen’s place