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.  

Advent Miracle!

"In the falling of the snow there is hope for today, a promise for tomorrow, and peace for the future. For in the stillness of the snow, all things are possible." Samuel L. Barrett

We had our first light snowfall today with big wet flakes. It didn't accumulate much...but there's something special about the first snow.

The squirrels and deer are enjoying my pumpkins in the woods.

Margie would be so pleased! All the pieces to her Advent puzzle are accounted for...and it's just beautiful all put together.  I had to turn it sideways so it would fit on my table...which is now all decked out with some of my favorite Christmas characters.

I'm already sorting pieces for the next one....but will leave this up for a few days and bask in the glow.  

I made my first little gift envelope out of one of my Trader Joe's Bags.

It even has an liner....which is the inside of another recycled security envelope. I'm going to get even more creative with the next ones....but I need to know what I'm gifting so I can tailor the size. These TJ are bags are another Advent Miracle! (OK...that's a stretch...but they do make me smile!) 

Next time I'll put the back seam along the edge...and not right in the middle of the back. 

On Saturday, December 7th at 2:00 Eastern time our family will host a Zoom Memorial service for the life of Margaret Ann Shupe. Her family and friends are spread out including Hawaii, Colorado, Missouri and Maine....so Zoom was our best option.

I have taken you along on Margie's journey...so wanted you to know that you are welcome to join us. The outpouring of cards and words of condolence have so touched our heart. 

Email me if you would like the Zoom link.

Little Bits and Parts

"I like to envision the whole world as a jigsaw puzzle...if you look at the whole picture, it is overwhelming and terrifying. But if you work on your little part of the jigsaw and know that people all over the world are working on their little bits, that's what will give you hope." Dr. Jane Goodall

Jane's advice is helpful for the really important work needed in the world and in our own communities....we all should do our little part. But it also works for actual jigsaws...little bits and parts at a time. 

ALL the windows views...and the street scene across the bottom of Margie's advent puzzle are complete and not one piece is missing!!!

It makes me hopeful that all the pieces might actually be here! I have 3 more little puzzles that go across the top to finish...and they are taking a little more time.

So many pieces are completely interchangeable making the dark blue sky a bit of a challenge. I remember Margie commenting on that when she was working on this....and I'm thinking of her every step of the way.

One section is done...and the next three are getting there.

The end is in sight!

And my Christmas kitchen window scene is all set up. 

This is one of my favorite little spaces.

Nothing But Potential

"If you only carry one thing throughout your entire life, let it be hope. Let it be hope that better times are always ahead. Let it be hope that you can get through even the toughest of times. Let it be hope that you are stronger than any challenge that comes your way. Let it be hope that you are exactly where you are meant to be right now, and that you are on the path to where you are meant to be. Because during these times, hope will be the very thing that carries you through." Walk the Earth

There's nothing quite as hopeful as an early morning sunrise over the pond. At this moment nothing else mattered...and the day to come held nothing but potential.

I love the way the light reflects off the thin sheets of ice.

I ended up being out and about for a good chunk of the day....but that means the next several days I can be tucked in at home. Home is where I choose to be most of the time.

I generally take my own bags into stores these days. But when I went to Trader Joe's this afternoon I didn't take in bags on purpose. They had great holiday paper bags last year...and I used them to wrap presents and even stitched together my own little gift bags from the heavy brown paper. 

I was hopeful that they would have them again....and they did not disappoint! You can't buy better craft paper for 5 cents anywhere! And there's nothing but potential in what I can do with them.

Tree Day

"It's 100% OK to be a little cautious with your optimism, but not at the expense of feeling any at all! Hope is valid. Allow yourself hope." Adam K. Kurtz

Last year I worked my way through  the season of Advent with what I called Christmas Moments around my home. It was fun for me...and hopefully it was OK for you too. This year....because it's such a different sort of year for us....I'm going to focus on the liturgical themes of Advent: hope, peace, joy and love. So this week I'll continue with the theme of hope.  

Today is official Tree Day in the Shupe household. I did get the tree out of storage a few days ago because artificial trees need a lot of fluffing. And this year I pulled out the bigger tree that we've had for years. 

Over the years the lights that came with the tree slowly started to fail....and at the end of December in 2022 Paul and I painstakingly untwisted and cut out ALL the lights. It was a tedious project...but the dead lights on the tree were sad...but I just couldn't throw away a perfectly good tree.

I wrote a post about it...and ironically enough it was called Optimistically Hopeful! 

https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2022/12/optimistically-hopeful.html

Last year we used our smaller tree with white lights. And being optimistically hopeful....it was time for the big tree again. I really wasn't sure how it faired after our big project. But once it was fluffed....it looked pretty good. I strung up the lights the old fashioned way...and added my felt garland collection and light covers. I'll add the ornaments over the next several days. This old tree...is as good as new!

 Allow yourself hope! 

Micro-Dosing Hope

Happy December! Today marks the official start of the advent season....and in the liturgical world...it's the week of hope.

Brené Brown had good advice about hope after the election:

 

"Right now, the thing that is helping the most is micro-dosing hope. I have no access to big hope right now, however, I am asking myself how I can support the people around me? How can I make sure that, in the maelstrom of my emotions, I stay committed to courage, kindness, and caring for others regardless of the choices made by others? Doing the smallest next right thing is hard....but sometimes it's all we've got." 

Micro-dosing hope and doing the smallest next right thing....I think I can do that!

Paul and I enjoy watching the dusky afternoon sky behind the woods during happy hour. We can see it from the couch.

I've always loved the black silhouettes of the trees in the winter....and when the sun is setting it seems so special.

It was especially pretty tonight.