The Longest Months

January 21, 2013 / still a dreamer

It’s about now, towards the end of January and all through February … and OK, through much of March … that seem to be the longest months. Despite the fact that the days are getting longer, the sun rising earlier and there now being light at 5 p.m., it feels like the darkest part of the year. Some call it the Winter blues or the Winter blahs.

The holidays are over, and for those of us who don’t care about football there’s not much exciting going on … just a wait until Spring. So I remind myself, that even though it’s cold there, too, there is still phenomenal beauty around us. Somewhere, (in this case, Canada), the aurora borealis is dancing ….

And somewhere, here Hawaii, the sun is bright and the water is calling.

And somewhere, right in our own hearts and homes, there is still warmth and love and creativity and reason to celebrate the winter. Whether it’s curled up by a fire or in front of the TV, making a pot of soup or doing a jigsaw with the family, each day is new and holds the promise of some small wonder. We’re called upon, as always, to be in the present, and not spend our time waiting for something to come. It’s already here.

Open the door and welcome it in.

Food-ish Thoughts for the New Year

December 26, 2012December 26, 2012 / still a dreamer / 2 Comments

I am not really one for New Year’s resolutions, but Christmas baking has me thinking of more than one thing I’d like to commit to in the upcoming year. For one, I really would like to cook and/or bake on a more regular basis. I love good, home-cooked food or from-scratch breads, cookies or desserts.

Take one of the items I baked for Christmas – quite simple – old-fashioned baking powder biscuits. With the addition of a good quality, extra-sharp cheddar, they became even better. This was not a major investment in time, and just reminded me that simple or more complex dishes of all kinds are not always that time-consuming. Good food is a gift we can give ourselves, (and others.) Why not make/find a little more time? Seems like something worth giving a try …

p.s. As I was lightly kneading the dough I started wondering what I’d use to cut the biscuits, and then remembered what I had … the biscuit cutter my Mom used to use when I was growing up. Perfect!

Light in the Dark

December 16, 2012December 16, 2012 / still a dreamer / 6 Comments

“Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” ~Chinese Proverb

There is something about candlelight … it soothes the soul and gentles the world. Many years ago I was given a pair of Boda crystal ice balls as a gift. To this day, they are one of my favorite ways to enjoy candlelight. They sit on an oak washstand, not far from where I work, and the other afternoon, I turned and noticed the late day sun angling in the open door, lighting them brilliantly. I thought to photograph them in this daytime crystalline sparkle. But then, of course, I had to photograph one later with a lit tealight glowing from within the “ice.”

It’s amazing at times how something so utterly simple – yet beautiful – can catch not just the eye, but something of the spirit. The Boda people really had quite the idea when they designed and created these. They are captivating, truly looking like balls of melting ice.

“There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” ~Edith Wharton

And then there’s the soft glow of a pillar. Most mornings, early, I do my best to journal and/or read something of an inspirational nature before “starting” the day. It doesn’t always work out that way, but I give it my best shot. It’s still dark at that hour, and lately, I’ve taken to lighting a pillar candle on the coffee table/toy chest. It glows softly from within and is ever so calming.

“Keep your flame lit, and you will never feel darkness.” ~J. Parker

As Christmas approaches and as Hannukah, the Festival of Lights, comes to a close … as the Solstice draws near … it is all about light … the light from without and the light within. All celebrate the miracle and wonder of light, in all cultures and religions, throughout time.

“Never fear shadows. They simply mean there’s a light shining somewhere nearby.” ~Ruth E. Renkel

Enjoy the light, wheresoever you may find it. And be sure to glow your most wonderful, glorious self.

“We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.” ~Evelyn Dunbar

A Sense of Wonder

December 7, 2012 / still a dreamer / 2 Comments

Some might also call this a sense of awe. Today, as I’m sure you’re aware, one of the most commonly used word to describe what someone really likes is awesome. I use it myself. But nowadays everything is awesome. When everything is awesome, then really, nothing is awesome.

But semantics aside, how wonderful is it to find that sense of awe, of true wonder, much like a child. It’s a gift. I stumbled across it just the other morning. I was sitting by the front windows journaling and I happened to look up to see a flutter of chickadees and a male cardinal hopping about the porch railing and in and out of an adjacent yew. The chickadees were puffed up to keep warm and quite busy with whatever they were doing.

Without moving, I just watched them, yes, in awe, of their singular beauty. I became aware that I was smiling and just sending that reverential feeling to them. And then they stopped, cardinal included, and looked directly at me. I don’t know quite what a bird can perceive through glass, but I have no doubt that it was my energy that spoke to them. And for brief moments we all seemed as one, just being, time suspended. Now that … was truly awesome. Then time and motion resumed, them hopping, me watching.

I believe we have far too few moments like this in our lives. We are too busy, too fractured, too distracted, but the moments are there, waiting. Ask any child. And all it takes is being still, stopping and looking. Really looking.

It Starts with A Mug and A Plate

December 1, 2012 / still a dreamer

Or, in reality, 4 mugs and 4 plates. Christmas creeps into my home, ever so slowly, drawing from this cabinet, that closet, this box, that drawer. But it always seems to start with my dollar store Christmas plates and German made Christmas mugs. I feel like a child who has glimpsed a stack of unfamiliar boxes tucked way on top of mommy and daddy’s closet. Something exciting is coming.

These simple items that I’ve had for quite a few years put a smile on my face, and though I see beautiful Christmas dishes everywhere that I’d love to have, I pretty much know I’ll also be happy with these for years to come. They’re enough. And oftentimes, enough is good.

As I watched the TV commercials for Black Friday insanity, my newspapers packed with shiny paper catalogs filled with sales, I wondered how we got to this place of endless need for so much “stuff.” It’s not that I don’t treasure a new addition to my kitchen, book shelf, or whatever … I really do, but there’s also an enjoyment of things that have been around a while, and which have meaning. Especially at this time of year.

So the plates and mugs have now been joined by some festive place mats, candles and accessories. Slowly, the house will really start to feel like Christmas, warm and glow-y … well, like Home.