the blue muse

Yesterday I spent the day in front of the fire, reading.

Every year, I take the week between Christmas and New Year’s off, and I rest and I read and I rest and I read some more.

Some years I re-read all of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books, some years I re-read Rosamunde Pilcher, this year, I am re-reading Hemingway, all of his books, in chronological order. He is my favorite writer, at least in style–I wouldn’t say that any of his books are my favorite book.

I love the way he says so much using the least possible amount of words.

And so I am here, reading. It is cold outside, blustery and snowy and very much winter.  A perfect day to stay inside in my pajamas and read. I may go for a walk later, I may not. I should, I need to walk off some of those cookies.

But instead, I may just sit here, drinking tea and soaking in the warmth of these flames, reading The Sun Also Rises.

Because it does, you know.

And tomorrow will be another day.

Just now, I plan to savor this one.

wishing you peace,

love,

and happiness.

The cookies are made, the gifts are wrapped, and today is cleaning day.

Tomorrow my daughter arrives. Tomorrow is also pierogie day.

Making pierogies is a labor of love, it takes forever, but I don’t mind as long as everything else is done so I can relax, sing christmas carols and get into the zen of rolling and stuffing and folding and boiling.

I resisted learning how to make them for years, it seemed like so much work. But my husband’s family is Ukranian, so pierogies are almost a requirement. A few years ago I finally caved in, and pierogies have become one of our Christmas Eve traditions.

My husband tells me that mine taste just like his grandmothers.

I took that as the highest of compliments.

So there will be pierogies and a nice dinner with my family, and then my daughter and I will watch A Christmas Story which has also become a Christmas Eve tradition. My son and my husband may watch it as well, or they may hang out outside, doing guy things. And every once in a while they may come to the front door to sing us some Christmas carols. This year, our second son is not able to make it home for Christmas. He will be missed,
it won’t feel quite the same without him.

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I am wishing you all the very merriest of holidays, however you celebrate.

May your heart be filled with wonder and
your house be filled with love.

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Saturday was supposed to be baking day. And then I pushed it back to Sunday. And then I pushed it back to Monday.

I can’t push it back anymore, so today is baking day.

For real.

I’ll be here, baking for the next two days.

Chocolate Chip.
Toasted Walnut. Cranberry.
Gingerbread. Sugar.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Sandwiches.
Snickerdoodles.
Chcocolate Shortbread Snowflakes.
Chinese Chews. Pistachio Shortbread.

I’ll let you know when I’m done so you can
come by for milk and cookies…

What is your favorite holiday cookie?

:;     ::     ::

In the meantime, today I am over at Inspiration Studio
with a tiny holiday message for you.

Yesterday was a good day.

I caught up on a little work, and then a little getting ready for Christmas, and even though I was planning to do a whole lot more getting ready for Christmas, my husband said, “Do you want to go for a walk?”

I might have said no, usually, on a day when so much needs to be done,
I would have.

But for some reason, I said yes. I put on my face mask and my hat and my long underwear and my my purple boots, and I looked ridiculous,
and off we went.

Along the way I took photos and we chattted and my husband offered suggestions for photos, which made me smile.

This is new for him.

Down at the end of the road, in a neighbor’s yard, I found this little scene.
It’s not perfect, the O is falling over. But I’ll take it.

When we got home, my husband and I cooked dinner together
and then we sat in front of the fire and the Christmas tree
with all the other lights off, and it was perfect.

It was a moment.
And somehow, we were both there
at the exact same time.

The sunsets have been amazing lately, this one behind a mist rising up from a field covered in snow.

My husband called me outside to see this mist, knowing I would want to take pictures. It started out all cold and grey and mysterious, and I took photos of that and turned to go back inside, but then it started getting better, changing colors, and I took more photos and turned again to go back inside, (it was cold, after all) and then I turned one last time and I saw this.

I don’t remember ever seeing sunsets like this in December. Maybe I’m just paying more attention these days, maybe it is because my husband is paying attention, as well.

Either way, there we were, my husband, my son, and I, standing outside on a cold not-yet-even-winter day, watching the sun paint the sky with the colors of summer.

Glory days.

I’m making every effort to enjoy them, while they last.

Each year, if I time it just right, I have paperwhite narcissus
blooming indoors for Christmas.

It’s like a tiny little garden in a jar, just when the weather starts to turn cold
and thoughts of the real thing are a long way off.

It’s a simple tradition, but it makes me happy.

I still write my Christmas cards out by hand, even the envelopes.
That makes me happy, too.

I have an ornament on my tree that my first grade teacher gave me.
(That story is here.)

I play Christmas songs and sing really loud while I bake ten
different kinds of cookies. Mitch Miller is one of my favorites.
And I make a really big mess.

Andy Williams’ The Christmas Song is my favorite carol.
Or maybe it’s Let it Snow. Or Winter Wonderland. I can’t decide.

The Chipmunk’s “Me, I want a hula hoop….” always makes me smile.

One night soon, I will have a wrapping marathon on my living room floor,
in front of the fire. And I will make another really big mess.

Some years, I get stressed out by all of these things.

I’m a little behind on everything this year,
but I know it will all get done.

Just like I know that tomorrow, there will be more flowers
joining this one early bloom.

And the house will suddenly smell like Christmas
and just for a moment, it will be spring
in my heart.

Last week I managed to not leave my house from Sunday to Thursday. It was wonderful and restorative and just what I needed to finally kick the cold that had been with me forever, just what I needed to really get into the holiday spirit, just what I needed to make me feel balanced and centered once again.

Of course, this was all made easier by the weather, there was lots of snow and then it got really, really cold – on one of those days it was nine degrees when I woke up. Much too cold for this time of year.

And then this past weekend all that snow melted away when it warmed up into the forties and there was rain and rain and more rain. It was grey outside, but glowing with golden Christmas light inside.

I went for a short walk and I found this tiny nest up in our maple tree. Still intact, despite the weather.

I joke a lot that I am a hermit, but really, deep down, I think I am. I am so happy when I can stay home, when I can nest. If I go too long without having this kind of time, I feel off.

Those five days last week were a gift.

And it wasn’t that I was relaxing, I wasn’t. I worked hard every day. But at the end of the day, all I had to do was light the fire, eat dinner, maybe write a little. I didn’t feel at all like I was being chased by a giant to-do list. Even though there is one on my desk, the holiday to-do list is always long and often overwhelming, but somehow, this year, I can look at it and smile a smile that says, “yes, I see you, and we are friends.”

Maybe I’m just in denial. But I’d like to think that perhaps it’s because I’ve learned a few things this year about stress and about life and about what’s really important.

My life has been much the same as the year before it, except for my blogs. Somewhere within these posts a shift took place, a shift towards appreciating and savoring and cherishing. Even tiny little moments like the one right now as I sit by the fire and the newly-decorated Christmas tree, all by myself, enjoying the peace and the quiet and the pretty white lights.

All tucked into my nest, safe and dry

and grateful, oh so grateful

to be here.

I am finally into to full-on getting ready for the holidays mode,
how about you?

I love this time of year, it is so crazy busy,
but so much fun at the same time.

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One last reminder that our sale goes now through December 24th.

I ship priority mail, so for U.S. shipping, there is still time to order
and receive your packages in time for the big day!

20% OFF

everything in the etsy jewelry shop
plus free shipping on everything!

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:

50% OFF

all prints in the etsy art shop!

Now thru December 24, 2010

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Happy Holiday Season!

It has been a week of snow, outside is a winter wonderland, very cold, and there is no end in sight. Not that I am wishing for winter to end before it has really begun, I love snow in December.

By February, I will be singing a different tune. Feel free to remind me, then, how much I loved this first week of snow. My two outdoor kittens are not quite as amused, they keep going to the door hoping to see green grass and sunshine. They go out for five minutes and come right back in. Five minutes later, they are at the door again, searching for green.

For them it will be a long winter.

Already, I feel myself going into hermit mode. I haven’t left my house since Saturday. And I have loved every minute of it. Four days alone and I am feeling calmer, more balanced. November was rough. The next two weeks will be a frenzy of getting ready for the holidays, but then for a month, I will relax, as much as possible. There will still be graphics work, I can’t not do that, but jewelry show season is a long way off, so there will be evenings in front of the fire, and lots and lots of books. And very little leaving the house.

I am so blessed. I know this.

I know it more right now than I ever have in my life.

This was a whirlwind year for me, a year of exponential growth. I couldn’t have guessed, when I started this blog, how much it would change my life. How much it would become my vehicle of appreciation. How much it would help me see.

Beauty.

Everyday.

I thought that was my tagline.

Now I know it is a way of life.