Woolly Mutts

What goes up..

Today has been annual purge-the-house-of-Christmas day.  I'm always of mixed feelings on this day.  I hate to see the lights and pretties go, but then again, ready to regroup and get on with a new year.  Amazing Husband and I are lucky enough to have the week between Christmas and the New Year off, so it is time to get out of vacation mode and back to real life. Along with holiday removal, AH has begun cleaning out the basement of years of stash instead of pitch.  Brave man, that one.

I've also cleaned out my email boxes; work and personal, and pared down my blog reader.  I must get more disciplined at dealing with email as it arrives and the getting rid of it.  I've decided that I spend way to much time on minutia and not enough on the things I really want to be doing. (Like knit or read.) So, she who does not generally resolve is taking a few steps in that direction.

The one thing I haven't done yet is venture into the room next door.  It's actually my favorite room of the house, but during all the holiday mania my room has become the place that everything gets thrown.  There is at least a week of non-essential mail, baby pack-n-play, baby bouncy chair, baby play gym, wrapping paper, boxes...every time I open that door I want to scream.  But, it has to be done, right? Right!

Speaking of baby....just in case there are a few of you who don't follow me on facebook, here is a picture of Baby CJ and her Mommy taken on Christmas:

Sweet, huh? :-)

Any Doctor Who fans out there?  If not, may I suggest you run to your Netflix Watch Instantly que and begin with season 1.  Good stuff, this.  Nobody does scifi like the Brits.  Anyway, tonight we bid farewell to the tenth Doctor and get our first look at Doctor eleven.  I have no idea what I did before we discovered BBC America!

Dec 7 and all is well. (It's gonna snow!)

Wise friends gave me warning that this particular holiday season, the first spent without my mother, would be difficult.  I listened, because that is what good friends do, so it came as no shock to find that all the things that I find joy in at this time of year are bittersweet.  No one loved Christmas or snow like my mother and she shared that appreciation with me every Winter of my life.  No snowfall happened without a phone call, and in her later years as her eyesight failed she would call just to check and see if maybe it might be snowing.  She couldn't see the snow, but that didn't stop her from wishing it would. 

As I have said frequently here, I have found the grieving process to be a strange little journey.  Most of the legal loose ends are finally nearing completion and I'm beginning to let go of the anger and frustration many of her choices and how they impacted my life and her death. And now I am beginning to miss her.  I wondered if I ever would.  The best gift that Hospice has given me is the truth that grief has no time table.  We all feel what we feel, when we feel it and there is no shame in that.

Despite the moments of reflection and sadness, it is still the holiday season and I continue to celebrate in my quiet way.  A few Christmas discoveries:

 
First up is Winter Magic - Hayley Westenra.  I first discovered Hayley in a random search for waltz music and found her Dark Waltz. (Still a huge favorite.)  She was, perhaps still is, one of the Celtic Woman.  Her voice is clear and well suited to holiday music.  Song of note: The Little Road to Bethlehem.  It makes me forgive her for a not so wonderful arrangement of River.

The Annie Moses Band was a completely new find for me and what a find.  This family is so talented....I can't even find the words. I chose This Glorious Christmas, but there are a few other Christmas albums that I'm sure are equally wonderful. I expected some Celtic flavor, and there is a bit of that, but this album has an almost Aaron Copeland feel to it.  Song of note: When the Christmas Baby Cries.

This weekend Amazing Husband took me to see A Christmas Carol at the IMAX 3D. It wasn't high up on the movie viewing list, but we both needed a little blast of Christmas spirit and decided to make the annual pilgrimage to Madison for mutt gifts.  Why not take in the IMAX while we were there?  Visually it was beyond belief.  Every single surface was perfectly crafted.  Even the fires in the fireplaces moved and cracked.  I was quite impressed.  A lot of the dialog was taken directly from the original text, which I thought took it up a notch from the usual Disney fair.  I wouldn't say that this was a movie appropriate for very young children, just as the book would not be.  There were places that were just plain scary.  The depiction of when Scrooge first meets Marley's ghost was was creepily suspenseful. I probably wouldn't see it again, but I did enjoy it.  It was the first time I've been to a 3D film where the entire film, including the ending credits, was in 3D.

The local weather people say that snow is coming, perhaps feet of it. I hope they are correct.  Stay warm and safe!

It's all in the attitude. Gratitude.

Another major holiday has come, been consumed, familied, footballed, perhaps capitalized with the masses, and gone.  I have a new friend recently transplanted from Canada and she is more than a little surprised at what a big deal Thanksgiving is here in the lower States.  And, I guess it is.

I've never had an issue with gratitude.  I have other faults (countless many).  I can occasionally be insensitive, I make things harder than they need to be, and, if we're being honest, I can be a teensy bit b*tchy.  (No, really, I can be.)  Grateful, though, I am in spades and always have been.  The concept of one day where we take some time to consider our own personal blessings has been a mystery to me.  Maybe a month of thankful commemoration, or 6 months, or every darn day of our lives?  My family rarely goes around the table being verbally grateful, which I understand is tradition at many tables.  Now that I think of it, it's probably to avoid the extended play version when it comes around to me, cuz kids, I am grateful for every, every thing.  Every blade of grass or leaf on a tree, every rain drop, or unexpected smile, or nice firm handshake, or hug from a loved one (or even a not so loved one).  When I wake up in the morning and put my feet on the ugly (seriously UGLY) brown carpet on our bedroom floor that is fraying at the door threshold I am grateful because it is so much better than the cold earth to step on.  I know, it's a little ridiculous at times, but I have rarely been in a situation where there hasn't been something to be grateful for.  Perhaps my ability to be in an attitude of gratefulness is my own personal port in the storm of life.  And, perhaps some desperate life storms are required to gain clear site of the blessings of life.  I don't know.  Maybe I'm just a little crazy. :-)

 

This year we have a few extra special things to offer thanks for.  Aren't those just the loveliest people ever?  (I apologize for the fact that our dragonfly looks like it's about to land on Josh's head.  My photography skills can use some work.)  Every time I look at them I choke up with thanks.  Each and every one of them is happy light in my life.  The two on the right, Karl and Santa, will be getting married in 2010 which tickles me no end cuz we love Santa to pieces.  (For the purposes of clarification, and because I know what it's like to have a holiday name during the Holiday season, to correctly pronounce Santa's name think Santa Maria, not Santa Claus.)  Though our numbers decreased with the passing of my mother in April, the two on the left kindly provided us with this little bug.....

 

....Miss Cambria Joy....seen here pondering the complexity of life.  Add to this the constant that is my Amazing Husband and a person could just burst with the bounty of it all.  It's been a tough year for me, but all of the sad just makes the happy more welcome.

So, we close the door on one holiday and open the door to the next. 

Miss Magnolia wants you to know that there are 25 days, 14 hours, and 27 minutes until Christmas.  Am I ready?  Not even close. As previously mentioned, I will make Christmas prep much harder than it needs to be, but I will take time to appreciate the season for the myriad of glories it is.  

Thanks to each of you, who take a few minutes to read my ramblings.  Hugs all around.

Most wonderful time of the year.

Don't you just hate those people that put up the holiday lights (or, egad, the tree) before Thanksgiving? Those crazies that can't wait for the first snowfall?  The very same ones that have the holiday music blaring before the trick or treaters are hardly out of the yard?  Yes, well, that would be me and I'm not going to apologize for it any more.

We put the outside holiday lights up last weekend.  I finally had the good sense to remove the fall wreath from the door yesterday.  It brought to mind that whole "drapes matching the carpet" thing.  It was Christmas on the roof and Thanksgiving on the front door.  Yesterday we put up the Christmas tree and did a bit more decorating of the house.  I start the holiday music in late October.  And do you want to know why I do all those things?  Because it makes me happy.  It's a simple as that.

The season of Winter warms me like none other and I know that there is something a little odd about that.  Here in the Midwest the lovers of snow are a very small minority and complaints about driving and shoveling and melting and slushing are loudly voiced.  Most of the time I keep my opinions to myself, or even, apologize for being the nut case out standing in the cold letting the snow fall on my face.  This year, I'm not going to do that any more.  I'm not going to be obnoxious, but why should I feel apologetic about being happy? 

Winter calms me.  It centers me, slows me, makes me take life at a better pace.  I cannot imagine living in a clime where I did not have a night before the fire to look forward to.  I love the lights, and the decorations, and the music (with a few exceptions like "Holly, Jolly Christmas" or "Deck the Halls".  It's a name thing.) and the glorious, beautiful snow.  Sure it comes with some inconvenience, but doesn't everything? 

So, all you seasonal grinches, I'll see your ba hum bugs and raise you a hallelujah.  I'm not insensitive to your plight, but it's not going to alter my joy because there isn't anything wrong with happy.  No, sir.

 

Btw, Sting has a new Holiday CD out and it's fantastic. 

Can you be patritotic and a global citizen at the same time?

Each year when the 4th of July rolls around I have a little mental dilemma.  Can I consider myself a citizen of the planet and still be all "USA! USA!"? 

I like living here in the US.  I like it even better now that we seem to have a Commander and Chief that has something resembling integrity, and I know lots of precious lives were given to keep this country free. But honestly, I've never lived anywhere else....who am I to judge?  Canada seems nice.  Norway, Scotland, Italy....lovely places to name just a few.  Could be that life there is fabulous.  And here's the thing; if you go around acting like you're better than every one else it ticks folks off.  It's like high school when the cheerleaders and the football players walk down the hall acting like they own the place and all the *normal* people get a little angry. "Here comes *those* people again."  Doesn't do much to contribute to any sort of peaceful atmosphere.  The location of your birth doesn't really make you anything special, does it?  It's simply the place you were born.  Not like you had much choice. 

So here I am, little Miss Keep the Peace and I'm thinking that maybe if we all considered ourselves to be living together on the same blue planet and not separated by borders that we might have a better chance at living on this planet without trying to kill each other.  Maybe there ought to be a day when we open our windows and shout "EARTH! EARTH!" and then set about taking better care of her and each other. 

It's a rainy 4th of July this year and in the city I live it is quite literally raining on the parade.  Maybe one day a year to show some USA pride isn't such a bad thing and I hope not to many people are waving soggy flags.  I only wish that while we are celebrating the freedom of our great country we remember that we are just one number in the equation of this world and while it's a big number, we are only as grand as our hearts and hands make us. 

Valentine's Day 2009 Retrospective

Happy Monday!  Hope everyone had a love filled weekend, or, whatever sort of weekend made you happy.  I'm a fan of V-day, but we keep expectations pretty low.  In general we avoid going out for dinner since neither of us loves crowds, but plan something for another day.  This year we bought tickets to see Cirque du Soleil when it comes here to Rockford.  A very nice delivery man began my Valentine's Day at 8:00 am with the delivery of some gorgeous roses from AH.  Glad we were up, if not dressed.  Later that morning we went out and delivered some tulips to my mother and then shopped for a new rug for the yarn room, finally deciding on this one.  I include this picture because nothing says love like a man with a vacuum.  As always, you may click on the picture to view larger. It was a nice day, made more so by my wonderful valentine. :-)

We actually began the Valentine celebrating on Wednesday night during family dinner.
  

 Every one in attendance got a little Valentine treat, including the baby-to-be.  I quickly knit up the Angora Booties from the Last Minute Knitted Gifts book.  Ravlery page here.  Quick and very innovative technique to knit.  The foot part is knitted flat using K1, Sl1for two inches and then separating the stitches to create an envelope.  Lots of fun to knit.  Heart shaped pizza was on the menu and 8:00 pm found us around the TV for LOST.  (Good one this week!)

I am so blessed by the love in my life and hope those I love feel the same way.  Now, on to Spring!  (After one more good snow fall.) Oh! Happy Presidents Day!                                                         

Merry Christmas from Muttville.

Christmas morning, 2008, and all members of the Muttville pack were present and accounted for, however impossible to get to sit still for a group shot.  Cooper, Sadira (our grand dog) and Samten had spiffy new holiday neckwear to mark the occasion. 

Karl's Chocolate Goes to Your Ribs hat turned out exactly right.  (Cascade 220 and Noro Silk Garden)

Quant  was somewhat misinterpreted (it's supposed to go over the ears), but was later used as intended.  (Noro Kochoran)

And Lady Eleanor was delivered to her new home.  (Noro Silk Garden)

Another successful year of holiday knitting comes to a close.  We had a lovely day and hope you had the same.

Tomorrow is my birthday.  Fifty one.  We are marking the occasion with beloved family, beloved friends, Japanese food, and Portillo's chocolate cake.  Life is good.

"If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another."

The title quote was by Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama.  Providing peace is a big order.  As I have stated here countless times, peace is much more than the absence of war, but personal choices of action and word that are made over and over every single day we live.  The holidays are a good time to consider how we might be able to give a gift to the world and not just our loved ones.  To achieve peace we must learn to love the world and to do that I choose, each year, a couple of places to send my love out there in a tangible form.  I hope you will consider doing the same. 

Below you will find links to a few places that I especially like, but there are so many out there that I encourage you to Google the cause that speaks to your heart.  At the very end are the places I'm choosing to support this year.

Hunger/poverty:
Heifer
one
CARE

Conservation/Save the planet
we
Clean Air-Cool Planet
Rainforest Action Network
Sierra Club

Animals
Humane Society
ASPCA

Jane Goodall Institute

Other ways to do good
Just Give
Donors Choose
Good Shop

I know it sounds cheesy, but every little bit helps.  Even five dollars can make a positive difference in the world.

So, now to me.  Each and every year I donate to Heifer.  This year I gave an Earth Basket.  In other years I've done bees, bunnies, ducks, even a llama.  I believe in their work and their philosophy of lending help in a way that benefits the community.  Last year I began giving to Kiva. My original loan of $25 has been loaned and paid back twice.  Today I loaned it to a third person.  That's a lot of benefit from just $25.  Check them out.

This year I gave a great deal of thought to what I would include in my yearly giving.  Being a pacifist, the war, any war, is painful for me. When I was in high school I had a POW bracelet and now have  KIA bracelet. It's important to me that we always honor those that have served for our country. Over the last couple of months I have read a few books about our troops overseas and the sacrifice they make.  Whether or not I support the war I do support our troops, so, I decided to adopt a soldier.  The group I went with is soldiersangels. Google "adopt a soldier" and you'll see there are many to choose from. In doing so I am committing to sending my soldier (when I am assigned one) a letter each week and 2 care packages a month.  I'm hoping that in doing so, one soldier will know that they are appreciated at home, by me.

If you are making a gift of peace this year, I would be so pleased to hear of it.  Thank you for looking outside your little world and contributing to make our world a better, and more peaceful place. 

Some days it's hard to ho-ho-ho.

I'm tired today.  Not tired because I've been racing around preparing for the holiday, but more tired in the heart.  Some days it's hard to keep the jolly going when life dishes up sad things to good people.  Last week there were two funerals; one for a 5 week old baby and one for my friend Nancy's elderly father.  Dear friend Trina's mother has an ugly and confusing cancer, youngest daughters furnace is about to die and those things seem to be just the tip of the blue iceberg.   While I am profoundly aware of all the blessings in my life, others are not so lucky and I guess it's just human to feel a little compassion for those in difficult times.

Back when I worked a customer service job I always tried to remember that each person I dealt with that day had a story and some of those stories were less than happy.  The holiday season is a good time for us all to remember that sometimes the people that are rude or unfriendly might be, at the heart of things, just plain sad and the holidays are a really hard time to be sad. 

So today my tired self is sending out some cyber hugs to all those who are struggling this holiday season.  May the new year bring new hope for happier times. 

Holiday meme

In the absence of anything profound (or even coherent) to post today, I'm going with the annual holiday meme.  It's been all over the blogisphere, but I snagged this one at Knitorious.  (Thanks, Vicki.)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? In general, wrapping paper, but his year we are using mostly recyclable boxes.

2. Real tree or artificial?  This year, fake.  We've done both.

3. When do you put up the tree?  Day after Thanksgiving, or that general weekend.

4. When do you take the tree down?  Once upon a time I used to leave it up until Epiphany which also happens to be my sister's birthday, but now we usually dismantle around the new year.

5. Do you like eggnog?  The polite answer is,"no thank you".  (bleck)

6. Favorite gift received as a child?  Ice skates.  We generally spent my birthday (the 26th) up north and I lived to ice skate on the frozen lake.  Not that I'm any good, it was just fun.

7. Hardest person to buy for?  Amazing Husband, no question.  Thank goodness for Amazon Wish List.

8. Easiest person to buy for?  Youngest daughter, Kysa.  She's pretty diverse in her tastes and always makes a very specific list.  Always has. :-)

9. Do you have a nativity scene?  Nope.  We did when I was a child.  I remember we had one cat that would push all the cast of characters out and sleep in the manger. Poor baby Jesus, still no room for a bed. 

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?  Cards.  Love them.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?  I don't remember a specific thing, but I had a beloved aunt (she passed this year) who consistently sent me the worst gifts ever, bless her heart.  It become a sort of celebratory moment for the family when I opened her gifts, each one worst than it's predecessor.  She really did try.

12. Favorite Christmas movie? Wow.  Maybe "Elf".  "Love Actually" is a good one. 

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?  I try to have a plan before Thanksgiving, but we draw names for two families and we don't find out who our person is until Thanksgiving. 

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?  Oh gosh no.  Never.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?  My ex-husband's mother used to make pepparkakor that were to die for.  I miss them much more than I miss my ex. (whom I do not miss at all.)

16. Lights on the tree?  Color, color, color, color and more color.  LOVE the colored lights.  They make me happy, happy.  I have them in every room and outside. 

17. Favorite Christmas song?  Oh goodness, there are so many.  I adore "In the Bleak Midwinter".  I'm particularly drawn to the more melodic songs that make you feel calm and blessed.  Not so much love for "Jingle Bells" or "Frosty".  Anything Windham Hill has produced is high on my list and Shawn Colvins Holiday Songs and Lullabies is my all time favorite holiday album.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?  Home and happy to be there.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?  Nope.  I can sing the Preamble, though.

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?  Morning.  We do breakfast at our house so the kids can get off to visit other family members.

21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?  Nothing of any import.  

22. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have these little porcelain birds and bunnies that clip on to a tree branch over a light.  My mother passed them down to me and I will do the same for my children if they want them.

23. What do you want for Christmas this year?  A Blackberry, a new Ipod, WORLD PEACE.  The usual stuff.  Mostly I just want everyone to have a good, memory making day.

24. Angel on the tree top or a star?  Star.  A smultzy white star with multi color lights. 

25. Favorite Christmas dinner?  We always do breakfast and in general, it's Swedish pancakes.  This year we are teaching the kids how to make them.  By noon everyone is gone and the party is over.  Honestly, my favorite dinner is always anything I don't have to clean up after.