51 degrees

It is a warm December.

I sat in the sun and read my book.

Cooper kept an eye on me.

The Tufted Titmouse

came and went.

I am relaxing.

Winter Solstice Eve

Winter Solstice arrives at my house
tomorrow morning, 1:30 am cst.

I am celebrating today and tomorrow!

The sun was warm when I feed the birds.
I sat on the deck with them for a little while.
I said my prayers of gratitude.

My friend made me a white leather journal cover.
She made a Swan for the cover.
She knows the Swan is my teacher, a totem animal for me.
This is now my Swan Tales journal. It is a place for me to write my deepest desires. It is a place for me to dream.
I am very grateful to my friend. I will always treasure my journal.
I will write every day. I will send my friend a daily blessing.
We are kindred spirits. We walk the Red Road together.

My friend is a friend of the Wolf.
She has taught me to love the Wolf.
She has taught me to listen to the Wolf.
She is an artist. She lives the artful life.

Happy Capricorn!
It is my sun sign.
Happy Birthday to all my fellow Capricorns.

These are Capricorn the Unicorn days.
These are magical days.
These are the days of the return of light.

My study of W.W.II continues.
Everyday I am seeking war news. Listening on line to old radio broadcasts. I am reading on line newspapers from the war years.
Everyday I am seeking how the war influenced my parents.
I am understanding them better. I am understanding myself. I am understanding where I came from. I am understanding why I do what I do.
I am looking at propaganda today.
I am studying how different countries influenced their people.
How support was gathered.
The war began in Europe on September 1, 1939.
 December 21, 1941 is day 843.
On December 21, General George S. Patton
 was killed in an auto accident.
 In 1943, December 21st, Bing Crosby's
White Christmas was number one on the charts.
I can still hear my Mother singing this song as she addressed her Christmas cards.

I have asked Eleanor Roosevelt

to help me in my study.

I have her autobiography too.

I am excited.

I think Eleanor Roosevelt influenced a generation of women.

My Mother and Grandmother included. 

There are many ways to know one's self.
Friends and family can mirror to us who we are.
As you gather together this Holiday may you understand a wee bit better the people and events in your life.
If you are staying home, saving fuel for the troops, or just watching your carbon footprint, may you dream
dreams of a lasting world peace. May this peace that passes all understanding carry you into 2012.

We are one with the Birds, the Swans, the Wolf.
We are one with the Butterflies,the bees
and Friends in far away places, far away times.

I am knitting in the evenings.
I am spinning.
I am celebrating
the return of light.
Happy Winter Solstice.

Ember Days

I was so pleased to receive a Christmas card
from my friend in Australia.

Carol is a wonderful artist. Her cards are treasures.

It is summer in Australia.

Today is an Ember Day.

I just learned of these ancient days. There are four sets of three days scattered about the year.

In December, the first Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after St. Lucia's Day are the Ember Days of Advent.
 St. Lucia's Day is always December 13th.

This morning while doing some research on the internet about Ember Days I learned they are fast days as well as

weather predicting days. What ever the weather is today predicts the weather for January.

It is rainy and warm.
I will make a note and see if January is wet and warm.
I found a recipe for an Ember Day tart.

This is a very fun web site! I love the way the recipes are written.
Daniel Myers is a joy to read.
We plan on making a savory pie for supper tonight.
Our pie dough is chilling and we will roll it out soon.
Our filling will be  mushroom, spinach, cheese and egg.
We made this a couple of weeks ago and really liked it.

I have begun a new study.
I am interested in learning all I can about W.W.II
I am journaling and talking with older relatives about the war.
I am learning how full use and waste not were part of the war effort.

These war years have bubbled up in my life.
I do not understand why.
I only know WWII makes me very sad.
It is time for me to let go of this sadness.
It is time for me to find the way of forgiveness.
I am working on making peace.

Sunny Day

A pair of Tufted Titmice come to the deck off and on all day.

I grabbed a few minutes this afternoon and sat with them.

They are very friendly little birds.

Cardinal time begins just before sunset.

We have over 40 Cardinals on the deck and at the feeders.

As the winter progresses we could have more.

I wonder where they all come from?

The Chick-a-dees come and grab a seed.

They also are very darling birds.

I am working on my scherenschnitte.

This is the project I have begun to cut.
I am slow.

I think these little knitted ornaments would be fun to make.
So easy to do and a nice way to use up
 little bits and pieces of yarn.
I shall remember these for next year.

I have lots of knitted gloves.
I think doing a bit of beading on a pair would be lovely.

One of my favorite parts of giving a gift
is the wrapping.

I have been wrapping paper free for many years.
I use silk scarves and wooden boxes.
Planning the wrap is as fun as planning the gift.

This book has inspired me.
I want to try the felted rug as soon as I finish
the yarn that is on my needles.

It is cold outside.

Winter solstice is still a few weeks away
but the north wind doesn't seem to know that!

Hope you are staying cozy.

Cooper's Hawk and the Cottonwood Tree

My husband was outside compositing leaves

when Cooper's Hawk flew in.

He is a gorgeous bird.

Cooper helps to keep the House Sparrow
population in check.

Kathleen Cain's love of the Cottonwood Tree is contagious!
I am enjoying her book and
 falling in love with the Cottonwood.

I found another book about the Cottonwood Tree.

I asked my husband if he would like to do some carving.
He thinks he would.

We could look for Cottonwood bark next time we go hiking.
I really love these carvings.

Carving Cottonwood is an old Native American art.

I enjoy reading craft books for inspiration.
I am still felting,

gathering proverbs,

making cards and knitting.

I picked up two skeins of silk and baby mohair lace weight yarn
at the Fabric Recycles shop.

As I go through my fabric stash I am deciding what I will keep and what I will recycle. The shop keeper gives store credit.
I really like supporting her shop. This yarn is a delight to knit!