Transitions

Lisa Condon posted a quote that seems fitting today..."eyes forward, heart open." I'm not big on New Year's resolutions but I think this is great advice to take me into 2019.

As I transition into the new year I decided to write about something simple....one of my favorite transition activities....jigsaw puzzles. Like I've said before they're the perfect thing for me between chores and projects, while I'm waiting for something or someone....or just when I need to sit still for a bit.  

I'll be up in Maine quite a bit this month...but I got a good start on one over the last couple of days in Lexington. This one was a gift from Jolee, one of our October houseguests. As I go back and forth I'll be happy it's there waiting for me....helping me with my transitions.

Happy New Year! 
"Eyes forward, hearts open."

Happiness

Brian Andreas, Story People

It pays to clean-up once in a while....I just found the new blades for my slide cutter I bought weeks ago. So of course I paused my clean-up to do something simple.....cutting strips for stars. 

I just gave a jar away...so it's time to fill another one. Making and giving away stars makes me happy.

City Field Trip

Brilliant blue skies and plenty of sunshine made it a perfect day for a field trip into Boston today.

Unfortunately the Winnie the Pooh exhibit was sold out...but we enjoyed wandering through the rest of the Museum of Fine Arts. Or at lease some of it..I'm not sure it's possible to see it all.  I do love going into the city.

Watercolor

I love this holiday wreath by Zoe Ingram. She is a talented artist/illustrator from Australia and designs everything from fabric to greeting cards. 
http://www.zoeingram.com/

I've never been very good at painting....but I'm hoping to play around with watercolors in the coming months. How can I improve unless I start practicing playing.

The Days After

I love the festiveness of Christmas but I also enjoy these days after....the time between the holidays and regular life when it's OK to just do nothing.  Pretty soon organizing and creative projects will be calling me and I look forward to getting back in the studio...but today I'm just still basking in the glow feeling OK about doing nothing.

This sweet little wooden honeybee puzzle was in my stocking.  It's an absolute delight with just 49 pieces and a finished size of 4 x 4 inches. I will pick it up again and again while I pause with a cup of tea....especially now that I'm the new owner of an instant tea kettle.

Two for One

Joy...when your son finds the perfect combo of one of your annoying obsessions and enjoyable pastimes as a Christmas gift....and uses just the right colorful pages of the New YorkTimes for the wrapping.

Sam found this unusual concrete puzzle that doubles as a coaster.  It was made by an artist named Ilka.

I've never seen anything like it...and it's awesome! 

Who makes puzzles out of concrete?  It boggles my mind!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Shupe family!

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve!

I grew up in a big family on a small farm in Wisconsin.  Christmas Day was kind of chaotic....we all got up at different times and immediately opened any presents with our name on it. There was always good food and someone to play with so it was festive and fun.

But Christmas Eve was different.  We generally worked all day stripping tobacco listening to the radio and probably singing along. We always had a goal of being done with tobacco for the season by Christmas....but I'm not sure we ever did.  We were all home from school so Christmas Eve was a work day...but we would quit in time to get cleaned up, load the car, and head to grandma's house on the edge of our small town.

I loved going to Grandma's house.  She had sparkly crystal dishes, a chandelier that looked like an upside-down wedding cake and flowery wallpaper.  It always seemed special.  I can still see the foil cupcake liners sitting by each place setting with nuts and special treats. The toys were in their usual place in the basket behind the chair...and although they were always the same they seemed new every time we visited.

Seven of the nine of us with our grandma and grandpa Funk on Christmas Eve in 1961. 
I was the youngest at this point almost 2 years old. 

A summer picture of all nine of us with Grandma.  Can you pick me out?

We traded names with my siblings and Christmas Eve was when we exchanged those gifts.  I don't have any distinct memories of any one gift....but I have clear memories how that whole day felt. From the anticipation we felt while working in the strip house to being crammed in the car sitting on the laps of my older siblings to the smells and sounds at grandma's house....
Christmas Eve was always my favorite.

I had to adjust as a grown-up.  My husband has always been a minister so Christmas Eve is a work day and he doesn't get to stop mid day like we did.  I was busy with our two boys when they were growing up...but once they left the house it has mostly been a solitary day for me and I've come to love that too.

In recent years my son Sam has joined me for the evening and this year was no exception. We had dinner, a nice visit, and went to the 8:00 service together.  It's whatever we want it to be and we reinvent it every year with no pressure or agenda. Even still...Christmas Eve is my favorite.

Childhood Nativity

Last time Paul was at the condo he set up the Nativity from his childhood I wrote about a few weeks ago. It's such a treasure! 

I think the camel is my favorite. 

"For unto us a child is born."

Skinny Santas

I have a modest collection of skinny Santas that just got added to my little display in Maine.  A few are cinnamon sticks, one is a tree twig, and the tall one is a cattail....all handmade.

I've had them for years and found the perfect base to display them so they would stand tall in a group.

I love them all...but I'm especially fond of the one with his stick arms stretched out saying "all are welcome here!"

It would be fun to revisit making these again sometime....skinny Santas are a good thing.

Remembering Alice

Today is the winter solstice....the day with the least amount of light and it seems kind of fitting that it's been gloomy and raining almost all day. But there's something about the lights of a Christmas tree on a dreary day that help make everything seem like it's going to be OK.

A dear friend of Margie's passed away a few days ago.  Alice was in her mid 90's and lived a full life...nevertheless it was a sad surprise. Not that long ago she was playing dominoes, probably dusting, and enjoying her beautiful Christmas trees.

Alice's trees were amazing.  I took these pictures last year when I visited her home a few doors down from Margie in Colorado.  The tree in her living room was all white with touches of red....mostly from sweet little cardinals.  It was magical....and boy did she love showing it off.

Even a little white bunny was peaking out between the branches. If it was white...it got tucked in the tree. Such a delight!

Alice had another tree in her TV room....this one more homespun and decked out in all the colors of the rainbow. 

Remembering Alice and her beautiful trees on this dark and gloomy day has helped me appreciate the beauty and comfort of my own tree and reminded me that for all kinds or reasons the holiday season can be tough and a little blue for some. Wishing you peace and comfort today...and remember...it gets a little brighter every day starting tomorrow.

Splash of Color

You know it's going to be a good day when your husband texts you a picture of the early morning sky.  A subtle but beautiful splash of color. Thanks Paul!

We've had a couple of lovely early winter days.....and today included a walk through my lovely town of Lexington.  I was quite taken with this splash of color in non traditional Christmas colors....it made me pause.

And....I had to chuckle when I saw this photo of another colorful splash because it solved a mystery. I drove to Portland this afternoon for a few days and when I got here I was missing a glove.  Can you spy it in the picture?

It's now a splash of color on the sidewalk in Lexington.  At least it matches the baubles.

Little Event

Today was a mixture of things....chores, shopping, mailing, plugging mouse holes...(you read that right) a walk with friends on a beautiful winter afternoon, and a nice long visit with Paul at the end of the day.  And...while the laundry was tumbling I made a little event out of putting this new puzzle together from 5ftinf. I love her puzzles with just enough pieces for "meditative play when you're having a cup of tea."

All Philippa's puzzles come tied up with baker's twine with a postcard of the image and the pieces in a sweet little hand made bag.

Tree on ✓  Tea steeping ✓ Quiet....other than the sound of the dryer ✓

Celebrating my little event with this delightful little puzzle. ✓

I bought two this time so now I have four....

....so there's more little events in my future. Lucky me!

Christmas Doodle...

...in the Woods

Festive Friends

Paul and I had dinner with good friends a few nights ago while we were in Maine. It's fun to gather....but it's also fun to see people's houses all decked out for Christmas...and Jane's house is always festive and fun.  She has quite a collection of handmade Santas, trees and snowmen....all over the house.

We were all quite taken with the herd of reindeer Jane's husband Andy made which will be passed out to family when they gather.  I absolutely love the variety of things he found in the yard for antlers....totally festive and fun!

I took a little trip down memory lane when Jane pulled out this tiny set of nesting boxes I made for her years and years ago.  The largest one is just a couple of inches.

All the boxes nest together and I made a tiny Santa hat to put in the last one as a little surprise.  Dave, my father-in-law taught me how to make these boxes...you can read the story behind them here in this post.

These are a few of my Santas I took to Maine....Jane made the two largest ones. It's nice having festive friends!