Monday, December 23, 2019

A Rainy Winter Night and a Cup of Tea

A Cup of Tea
When the world is all at odds
And the mind is all at sea
Then cease the useless tedium
And brew a cup of tea.
There is magic in its' fragrance,
There is solace in its' taste;
And then laden moments vanish
Somehow into space.
And the world becomes a lovely thing!
There's beauty as you'll see;
All because you briefly stopped
To brew a cup of tea.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

What I have been up to.

It's been weeks since I have posted between the problem with my knee and sitting at my desk too long aggravating it I spend as little time as necessary at the computer which is usually just to print labels for the days shipping commitments.  Knowing that sitting in my desk chair irritates my knee and sciatic nerve I decided I need to buy a laptop so that I can sit more comfortably while being productive and keep the healing of my knee going.

Yesterday was the first time in nearly a week I had some free time so I spent some time putting up the Yule tree, prepared the little goddesses for hanging on the branches with some nifty spiral hooks.
These little goddesses are actually pendants I have purchased over the years from this wonderful Etsy shop. Brigid's Grove here is the link https://www.etsy.com/shop/BrigidsGrove   

I have quite  a few of Molly's other goddesses and after the holidays plan to add a few more as the shop is closed until January 10th.  Brigid's Grove also has an informative website where you can join the free Creative Spirit Circle  http://www.brigidsgrove.com/

If you follow a Goddess path or are interested in Goddess Spirituality this site is for you to check out. 

The Yule tree is decorated with snowflakes, animals, goddesses and pendulum crystals.  At the top of the tree is a small goddess and a stag head.
You may have trouble making it out the goddess at the top with those blinding white lights, but she is there atop the stags head.

I finished the hand embroidery on the latest Greenman piece he needs to be pressed once the holidays

have passed and I have more time I will finish him along with the Greenwoman piece, I think matching frames.
I am slowly working on the Celtic Cross embroidery but again with business taking priority over everything I have made very little progress.
I bought this sweet goddess clock for my office area and once it arrived order a few more for some friends. The clock was purchased from Society 6.
A brief garden update, the lavender is doing very well and I added an olive tree and a rosemary in a tree shape.
olive tree
rosemary "tree"
lavender
Tonight the plants are all covered up as the temps are dropping to 34 tonight and frost is possible, here in Florida I take no chances and cover them because too often I have left plants uncovered and have had the temps dropped below freezing which resulted in a loss of plants. This is the second time I have covered the plants this month.
On my bookshelf to read pile I am finishing up a few books when I get the chance to read, usually in the evening before bed.
I also added a few card decks to my collection, the Herbcrafter's Tarot is just a lovely deck of cards I had used them through the month of October to deepen my practice. 
I haven't had time to really look at either of these sets but once the hew year arrives and I have more time I will give them a closer look.   Well the hour is getting late and I have a few things to do before the Winter Solstice.  I will leave you with this little blessing.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Where I have been and what I'm doing

It has been months since I wrote a proper blog post, many things have gone on during those months including illness, a move, recovery from an injury, another nuisance illness and a few good days when the sun was shining, birds were singing I was able to get past the dreaded ennui and do some stitching.

Have you ever been hit with a sense of ennui? I experience it from time to time, not necessarily am I bored I am just weary and lacking satisfaction in what I am currently doing which effected not only my creative flow it also had me considering giving up this blog which I am sure is evident by the lack of posting any thing creative.

Not to say I haven't worked on anything, I just haven't had the energy to write about it until now, I will start with my move.  The house closing was on the 30th of May, my son and I spent the month of June moving in to the new house which is a block and a half from the old house.  During the move I strained my back and twisted my knee which interfered with some of the moving, despite my injured knee we did move everything out.  Note to self if I ever move again I will hire people to move I am getting too old to be lifting furniture and boxes though you would never hear me say this out loud.

On July 1st I celebrated my 64th birthday at the beach, my son knows I love the beach and decided that is where he wanted to take me for the day, so I agreed but honestly I just wanted to stay home and rest. I was limping around for days and fell on my butt in the soft sand trying to set up my chair.

I brought along the hand embroidery piece in the photo above and here is the piece after the stitching was completed.
She is the 4th piece of my drum and dance series I began in January here the other pieces in the series.
the first piece
second piece
third piece
None of the pieces have been completed just the stitching, they all need a good pressing with the iron, I lightly ironed each once out of the hoop, I will need to go over the deep creases with the fabric folding pen.  I am also making slow progress on the newest Greenman piece. When the eye infection hit I had to put it aside.
I haven't done anymore stitching on the Celtic Cross piece since June 30th but I plan to pick it up soon.
The Celtic cross is from a free coloring page offered by Dover Publication which I decided to color using thread. 

This stag piece was done in March and is my design, I'm going to make another one and use a different color floss for the spirals the yellow gets lost on this paisley tonal fabric. I haven't done much crocheting either until the eye infection cleared up and I needed something to do while I was still under the weather so I pulled out the afghan throw I was working on before the move.
I didn't snap a new photo but its about double in size now, I should try to get it finished before summer ends.
Some of the books  and magazines I have read during the past few weeks when I was either too tired or my fingers were too sore to stitch.
Steeped in Murder is a first in a new series one of my guilty pleasures cozy mysteries. 
I enjoyed Summer of '69 quite a bit.
Look Alive Twenty-Five because I read the entire series, but lately I find the Plum series has lost its appeal for me.
A Walk on the Beach because I read A Year by the Sea and I liked them both. Quick reads.
Well that's what I have been up to over the last few weeks, I'm still unpacking the last of my boxes from the moved and hope to get them done before I even think of starting a new project because if I don't I know so other malady will strike and it will be 2020 before I get those boxes done.

Thursday, July 4, 2019

Happy 4th of July!

Wishing you all a safe and Happy 4th of July
Enjoy your day, have fun and stay safe.

Friday, June 21, 2019

Happy Summer Solstice

Living in an area where we often lose power during some of the summer rain storms there is always candles on hand, packing them with a few candle holders was a great idea during the move and makes a quick summer altar.
Taking a break from unpacking boxes to welcome the Summer Solstice.

May the longest day of the year light your way to wonderful moments this summer.

Monday, May 6, 2019

Beltane Days




 May I make my fond excuses for the lateness of the hour,
but we accept your invitation, and we bring you Beltane's flower.
For the May Day is the great day, sung along the old straight track.
And those who ancient lines did ley will heed the song that calls them back.

Pass the word and pass the lady, pass the plate to all who hunger.
Pass the wit of ancient wisdom, pass the cup of crimson wonder.
Ask the green man where he comes from, ask the cup that fills with red.
Ask the old grey standing stones that show the sun its way to bed.
Question all as to their ways, and learn the secrets that they hold.
Walk the lines of nature's palm crossed with silver and with gold.
Join in black December's sadness, lie in August's welcome corn.
Stir the cup that's ever-filling with the blood of all that's born.
But the May Day is the great day, sung along the old straight track.
And those who ancient lines did ley will heed this song that calls them back.
~ Ian Anderson