Connecting

Today I found joy in connections....via text...email...blog comments...Christmas cards....and face to face. 

I had a good long phone conversation this morning with Becky....and she's the one who gave me this little JOY on my tree.

And I just got off the phone with my son Sam. We talked...we laughed...we cried....and we connected in just the way a mother and son needed to.

Connections = Joy!

Felt Good

"When you choose joy you feel good & when you feel good you do good & when you do good it reminds others of what joy feels like & it just might inspire them to do the same." Linda Williamson

I dropped off some of Paul's chili on Marita's doorstep today....and that felt good. She's a busy high school English teacher...and deserved dinner tonight. That's what joy feels like sometimes.

We've had some mild temperatures lately making it nice to get outside....and I found some seasonal color in the winter landscape.

The JOY Santa was a gift from Paul...and one of my favorite Christmas decorations. 

Attitude

Today was mostly a chore and errand day....and I was mindful about having a good attitude all day long. I remember hearing one time that rather than thinking I have to do something....your mood will shift if you think I get to do this. Having a good attitude makes joy possible.....even when doing tedious paperwork or standing in line at a store.

I can't write about joy this week without celebrating our regular guests for happy hour. No matter how busy a day is...Paul and I continue to pause at 4:00 and gather for for conversation....a game of cribbage....or just to sit quietly and enjoy the Christmas lights. And recently.....and almost without fail...a flock of doves gather at the birdbath by 4:10....and a doe or two wander through the backyard foraging for food. 

My visual isn't very good...but if I try to get closer to the door the doves fly away. And if you look just behind the trees you can see one doe.

We move the bath near the patio in the winter and add a little heater and we have regular birds including bluebirds all winter long. 

A positive attitude....and regular happy hour guests = Joy!

Extra-Ordinary Joy

I found joy in an ordinary task today. And as a nod to artist Lynn Giunta...I'm going to call it extraordinary joy! It may actually be just extra-ordinary....but that's good too!

Lynn Giunta

Some of you may remember that I am a bit particular about my tissue boxes. When I find one I like...I stock up. I wrote about one of my favorites here:

https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2016/11/its-little-things.html

I keep a box on the kitchen counter....and the colors and design are just perfect. I have yet to find a design I like better.

So on a tip from Martha's mom....I've been refilling the box.

I've refilled this same box for a couple years now. I do have more in the closet...but I'm going to use this one as long as I can. Because it sits near the stove....it does get splattered...but I give it a little wipe down when I refill. It works like a charm.

It's was moment of extra ordinary Joy!

Good as new!

And the new puzzle is done!

And I'm sorting the pieces in my album boxes for the next one. 

I've done this ornament puzzle several times....it's a favorite! 

It was an extra-ordinary joy-filled day!

Basic Needs

Getting out of my own head...and helping out in the community brought me joy today.

Thanks to a tip from Anne, I did my second volunteer shift this morning at Maine Needs, an organization striving to build a community where everyone helps and no one goes without. They partner with the social services community in support of asylum seekers, students, the unhoused population, survivors of domestic violence, and those facing financial adversity.

My task this morning was to fill orders for basic clothing and household needs. I shopped from shelves and bins of donated goods for such things as snow pants and coats...boots and socks....and laundry detergent and toothpaste. It is both humbling...and joyful work....and I was happy to be there. Paul and I donated some of our gently used items and have made a financial contribution that will help fill in a few gaps of desperately needed items this holiday and winter season. Ironically enough...our charitable fund is actually called "The Shupe Joyful Giving Fund."

I just learned today that the Maine Needs logo features the lady slipper. 

Lady slippers are rare and have to go through the cold, harsh season in order for the seeds to germinate and finally bloom. Maine Needs believes that sometimes the most difficult season can lead us to something more beautiful. And hopefully that can lead to joy.

 Spreading joy is a community effort.

JOY!

I clearly remember the day when I walked into Hancock Church several years ago and Joan greeted me and said....this is your day! It was the third Sunday of Advent....the Sunday of JOY! 

That moment made my day! I don't remember anything else about that day...but I remember that line and how it made me feel.  JOY!  Thanks Joan!

I am not joyful all the time....just ask Paul. But I do my best....and I believe that paying attention to and appreciating the simple joys of life can make any day better. No matter how badly the day is going...or how sad I am...or how discouraged I am with the state of things in the world....there is always joy. 

So during this week of JOY....I'm going to pick a few things each day that are right in front of me that brighten...and lighten my day. I hope you do the same! (I'm kind of chuckling....because I think that's what I do almost every day here on the blog....so I'll just carry on.)

I am nearly done with a new Christmas puzzle I started right after I finished Margie's Advent puzzle. I don't know if you've noticed...but I haven't blogged about it even once until now. 

It's called Merry Market.

As you know...I always have a puzzle going....and every day for a few minutes here and there I search for shapes and little bits of color. And on this one....I get to search for bits of metallic gold too.

I know I'm a broken record...but sitting at my puzzle table grounds me. It's one of the simple joys of life.

And sometimes during the early evening I walk by and the light is just right and the Market glows. It's like someone has turned the lights on.

 

And that's a little bonus joy.

And I will say I was pretty tickled with myself when I wrapped this little handmade gift for young Max in a woven strips from a Trader Joe's Bag. 

I had a lot of fun making the gift....and I'll share it after Christmas if I remember. Coming up with fun little gifts...and interesting ways to wrap them brings me joy.

I hope you found some joy today.

Ambient Lighting

International Rainbow PEACE

I have always loved ambient lighting...candles and holiday lights help make things seems so peaceful and calm. These little lights highlight a special Nativity that came full circle back to us.

We hired my sister Angie to make a set for Margie and Dave many years ago. They had it for all this time....and now we get to enjoy it.

Dave was a craftsman...so very much appreciated the intricate cuts...and Margie loved it too. All the sections in the figures were cut...stained or painted different colors...then put back together. It's an amazing work of art.

I had a tiny set and had them set up before I found the larger set in Margie's things. 

I've relocated the smaller set...and have added the lights to the bookshelf since I took this photo. But it shows the difference between the two sizes. 

Thinking of Angie...and Dave and Margie this evening.  

Infusion of Festive

The Peace of Wild Things

Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought 
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Last night Paul, Sam, Kelly and I went to the Gardens Aglow at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, Maine....it was just a delight.

It was fun to spend time with Kelly and Sam....and the acres of color and lights were a welcome infusion of festive into the holiday season.

The larger than life trolls were more interesting than I expected.

The tall tree trunks wrapped in lights and 

trees that were uplit with color were my favorites.

Peace At All Costs

Peace At All Costs.....that was a slogan Paul and I used with the boys when we traveled. We always lived away from family...so spent a fair amount of time on planes and trains...and in automobiles. And it was all just easier for everyone if we would keep the peace at all cost.....especially for the people sitting in the row in front and back of us on airplanes.

Our boys were actually great travelers....so it really didn't cost that much....but it was fun to use these trips as a chance to indulge them just a bit. 

This afternoon/evening....Paul and I are taking Sam and Kelly on a little road trip....and I'll be excited to report in tomorrow. My guess is that  peace will be at no extra cost this time....but it will be fun to indulge them just a bit.

We invited Nate...but this particular outing was not his thing.

Human Rights

"True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice."  Martin Luther King, Jr.

Every morning I read "Letters From An American" by Heather Cox Richardson....a newsletter helping me make sense of our sometimes mixed up world. In this morning's newsletter Heather reminded us that yesterday was International Human Rights Day celebrating the 76th anniversary of the the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Doing what Heather does best...she provided the historical context and outlined the details of this document that promotes peace, justice, and fundamental human rights for everyone. Rights that our own governments should not be able to take away from us.

The UDHR, she writes, was necessary because "recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world."

You can read Heather's article here.

In Margie's hope for peace....she was well informed about what was going on all over the world...both the good and the bad. She supported many charities that did humanitarian work promoting fundamental human rights. Although she didn't do a lot of traveling, she had family who did and cherished her momentos that were gifted to her from around the globe.

These little hand carved figures were from her brother Bob while he worked in Africa. 

She had other gifts from China, Germany, India, and Mexico.

The African carvings always had a prominent spot in her homes.

As I go through her things...I am photographing and offering her things to family members who might want them. 

The hunter with the bow and arrow was broken...and I could tell that it had been glued several times. So I was compelled to settle in this morning and do a repair of this handcrafted figure out of respect for Margie...her brother Bob...and the artist who carved it.

Channeling the people who taught me a little bit about woodworking....I knew I needed to make a peg...rather than just trying to glue the arm back on.

And I had the right tool for the job...a tiny manual drill.

I drilled a tiny hole in shoulder and arm of the figure.

I filled the holes with glue and inserted a tiny piece of a toothpick and connected the two pieces.

I think it's pretty strong now and these international carvings are ready for the next owners.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." 

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Peace Pins....

....and a sense of humor.

One of my Advent projects is to continue to go through Margie's things. It's a tedious task....but it's also interesting and important. 

It does make me wonder who's going to go through my things after I'm gone. What little secrets might they find? 😳 So it's never too early to start letting some my things go. I'm not very good at that...but after the holidays...I'm going to try.

I said a few days ago that Margie was the Peace Lady....and she had the buttons to prove it. 

She didn't have much jewelry...but in a small cardboard box with a few miscellaneous costume jewelry pieces....I found several peace pins.

But the item in the box that really tickled me was a heart locket. It took me a while to get it open....all the while wondering what cute little photo or treasure I might find inside.

What I found made me laugh out loud.....Margie always did have a good sense of humor!

            DON'T BE SNOOPY 💛

Repurposed

There is still a layer of snow on the ground....and as the snow melted off the tree branches it came down in big drops creating snow confetti on the lawn.

How fun is this!

I wonder if anyone else feels like the days just fly by during the holiday season. I have felt a little behind...but I'm trying to remain in the moment finding joy with whatever task or opportunity is right in front of me. 

I'm channeling calm...especially this week when I'm thinking about peace.

Back in 2019 I repurposed a peace t-shirt that Margie got from her her daughter Liz into a little art piece....I wrote about it here:

 https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2019/03/t-shirt-art.html

"If we are to reach real peace in the world we shall have to begin with the children." Gandhi

It hung on the wall in all of Margie's apartments...and now I'll see if Liz wants it back. 

Speaking of repurposing....I needed to get a box packed today with some simple birthday gifts for my sister.....and I wrapped everything in Trader Joe's bags.

I didn't have time to get as creative as I wanted to....but I did do some quick stitching this time. 

The aqua bag is left over from last year and I made it into a little pouch by stitching up the sides. I punched a couple holes in the top to thread the ribbon through for the closure. I actually found 3 or 4 bags from last year....so I can mix and match!

I stitched the sides of this little pouch too. 

I do love repurposing things!

Peace Week

"Here's to finding peace in the act of redefining success. Here's to finding true, fulfilling joy in simply being present to what is good and beautiful in this life." Morgan Harper Nichols

We had our first accumulated snow overnight. 

Just a few inches...but enough to coat the surfaces and branches and I couldn't wait to get out in it. I love fresh snow!   

I especially love see where and how it settles.

Today is the beginning of the second week of Advent...the week of peace. And there's nothing more peaceful than the softly falling snow. 

Margie was the peace lady....so she will probably show up here again this week. I think I'm just going to call this whole season....the season of Margie! 

Several weeks ago I made this peace ornament during the Fabulous Free Motion class in honor of Margie...and it was one of the first ornaments I put on the tree.

I'm looking forward to a peace-filled week!

Space for Both

"It's okay to feel both grief and gratefulness. To feel both sadness and joy. To feel both loss and hope. The emotion makes us real. And this holiday there is truly space for both." Rachel Marie Martin

Feeling all of those emotions today....and it's been a very good day.

Cards and notes are still trickling in...here's the next batch. We feel completely surrounded with love! 

Margie's memorial service was wonderful and gave us some much needed closure.

A Good Laugh

"Here's to seeking out joy in the waiting, beauty in the ordinary, and hope in unexpected places." Morgan Harper Nichols

You're probably getting tired of my puzzle stories...but I have to share a couple more. You can't make this stuff up....and sometimes a good laugh is just what you need. 

I spent a good long while carefully taking apart the Advent puzzle and bagging up the individual puzzles in the pretty little envelopes they came in.

It was all going well....until I found one lone piece sitting on the table. NOOOOO! Which envelope did it go in? I dumped out the last three or four one by one counting the pieces to find the one that had just 49 pieces rather than 50. But before I found it...I accidently scooped up the extra piece and put it in one of the envelopes. NOOOOO! So I had to dump them out again and find the one that had 51. 

Then I had to put that puzzle together to find the extra corner piece and get back to counting the pieces in the other envelopes.

I refused to leave the table until it was resolved....and I finally got there. And I had a good laugh....and amused Paul who was reading in the corner.

Do you remember my last floral puzzle where I was missing a piece at the end? 

After searching everywhere....I said in my post that I remained HOPEFUL! I really was hopeful at the time. But THIS is the week I'm celebrating HOPE. So this is the week that hope would become a reality.

https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2024/11/would-you.html

As I was adding some of Margie's gently worn shoes into a bag for donation this morning...I laughed out loud when I found a puzzle piece in one of her shoes. It's THE piece!!!  

It was the last puzzle that Margie put together at her apartment....and as I was taking it apart the piece must have slipped off the board and into her shoe. They were always right there by the table! And maybe she even wore them with the piece inside. And I can't believe the shoes got thrown into a bag...transported to the condo....and the piece never fell out. What are the chances! 

Seeking out joy in the waiting...and hope in unexpected places. Margie would have loved this story....and we would have had a good laugh.