Making the World a Tidy Place...

Yesterday we were promised snow by tea time - I kept looking up to the sky but it didn't happen.
The BBC forecast heavy snow by 9pm - it didn't come.

We spent the evening watching the first Narnia film (admiring the snow scenes) and eating chocolate coins from the Christmas tree.  I loved this adaptation and James McAvoy has to be my favourite Mr Tumnus!

By the time we went to bed close to 11pm, I was still looking out at a dark landscape every time I passed a window but there was still no SNOW.....

Today we woke up to a quiet world.  I knew it was early and yet light was spilling in around the curtains.  Quiet.... Light.... surely it had snowed?
Yes!  
Snow!
In Abundance!
Lots and lots of fresh snow!

And isn't it just so beautiful that snow makes the world such a TIDY place?  There are no muddles, no clutter, no jarring of colours/forms when the snow has settled because all looks neat, tidy and complete.

There was a flurry of activity as we cleared feeding stations for the birds and found more trays for drinking water.  Macy and Milly, the felines of the Bun household, were most impressed that Mr Bun dug a pathway from the back door to the garden so that they might easily carry out their toilette.

We took a walk with our cameras and had so much fun photographing snow.  Yes, snow! 
Snow on branches..... snow covered fields.... snow on rooftops... photographing snow again and again.   
And I dreamed of wearing a warm balaclava whilst Mr Bun dreamed of appropriate snow attire.  (I'm very grateful to fit into my ski trousers which I bought 5 years ago!).

I love that the snow makes the world SLOW DOWN.  
I love that all we can do is stay home and enjoy the snow.  
I love, most of all, that I am not expected to be anywhere else.... 

I leave you with a photo of my favourite house in the local area, which looks even more beautiful and intriguing set in a snowy landscape...

Dancing in Harmony into 2010

Thank you for all your warm Festive and New Year wishes, I really appreciate them and in return I hope you have a year full of health, joy and a sprinkling of magic.

January has started with hoar-frost, cutting winds and bright, brilliant blue skies.  Very beautiful to look at from the comfort of our cosy home, but keeping me away from my Garden Room in spite of the little heater I have there.  Instead I take time to cuddle the cats, cook wholesome casseroles and play with various writing ideas.

We have conscientiously fed the wild birds with nuts, seeds and fat balls, as well as filling trays of water throughout the day.  Within an hour the water freezes over again, but the blackbirds are very grateful for a little drink. 

January feels good, it feels fresh and welcome.  It brings a sense of promise with a blank page of frosty whiteness ready to be written upon, drawn over, collaged...

We are looking ahead to a year of change, growing and becoming.  A year which comes bright sparkling with the magic of long held dreams now coming true.  This promises a year of learning, of unknown experiences for us.  

Which means we can only take life slowly and steadily.  Anchoring each day and ensuring our minds dwell where our bodies move, waiting patiently.   

This is not a year for resolutions, as there is so much ahead of us which cannot be predicted, so we have chosen a word for 2010 - just like many others have done.

Our word is BALANCE.

Balance in all aspects of life: balancing commitments; keeping a balanced outlook on life's changes; looking for the dewdrop of harmony in the challenges life will bring; finding equilibrium in choices, in decisions.  

I flicked through our dictionary and found this delightful meaning for the word Balance:

"in dancing, to match one's partner's steps to and fro"

I love that definition... the image of balancing steps, movements, feelings, ideas, actions.  

I look forward to dancing in harmony, to and fro, to and fro.....

For You

image from here

Season of Plenty

Lots of fun with family and friends.  

Lots to unwrap and enjoy.  

Lots of festive food. 

Lots of Sunshine.  

Lots of Laughter. 

Lots and Lots of Christmas Magic.

Wishing you a Merry time this New Years Eve - see you in 2010!

Happy Christmas to You !

Aah, it's four o'clock on Christmas Eve and the 'to do' list has been ticked and double ticked! 
Nut roast and onion gravy prepared, stilton and broccoli soup cooling - all to be added to the big family Christmas Dinner tomorrow.  
With just enough wrapping paper, all gifts are packaged and ready to give.  
The candles are lighting the window sill, cats are curled up snoozing, and this evening a new tradition for the Bun household - opening gifts on Christmas Eve.  So exciting!
And so I wish you a Joyful Christmas with many treats, much fun and laughter and an ample sprinkling of Christmas Love.
See you soon!

Giving Gifts at Christmas

How do you feel?
Frazzled?  Tired?  Got a cold?  Amazed at how little your £10 buys?  Irritable?  Wondering how you can possibly squeeze your To Do List into the remaining few days before Christmas?   Overstretched?  Fancy booking a flight to anywhere where you can avoid it all?  Questioning why and what is the point of this seasonal frenzy?

Well you know already, that you are certainly in good company - most women on the planet are feeling just like you at the moment.  I know I am!

This is my usual thinking pattern in December:  I greet the First of December with a "wooopeeee!" because finally the special month has arrived.  Then soon afterwards I adopt an ostrich-with-humbug approach to Christmas when I look at the list of 40 family members who we give presents to (Mr Bun and I are both from large families!).... not to mention gifts for friends, etc. 


I then alternate between studying the intricacies of each grain of sand, Ostrich style, or exclaiming with indignation of "Humbug!" and other unfestive remarks.  In between these snow-bunny-in-the-headlights moments I quietly buy what I can secondhand and craft what I can.... all along knowing that everything I'd like to make simply cannot be made in the time available, yet ever hopeful that the elves will pop in over night and stitch up a shoe or two....

Then as the December days pass by I start to hear voices in my head saying "It doesn't look like much!" or "I haven't a clue what to give Fred!" or "Oh blimey! It will have to do!".  


Yesterday I heard those most festive (!) of words in my head: "It will have to do!"....... and .... I ..... stopped.


Just stopped.  


For an Integrity Check.  


Integrity?  "What has Christmas got to do with Integrity?!", I hear you shout through a sea of wrapping paper, mince pies and card-writing.

Yesterday I had an Epiphany moment.  If I want to live an authentic life then surely that applies to Christmas too, doesn't it?  And if I am going to take the trouble to wrap something up and give it, then surely I want to give the Spirit of Christmas.


Something which shows a glimmer of thought, and a sprinkling of my regard for that person.  Something which typifies the Real Spirit of Christmas.... giving a little time, a little love, a little sparkle.  

And though I may worry that my handcrafted, secondhand Christmas Gift isn't the designer label which I know Fred would choose for himself.... that really doesn't matter.  Really.  

Because I'm not wanting to make such dreams come true.  I'm not wanting to fuel a consumerist society.  But what I am wanting to do is share a little token of my Creative Talents with my family and friends.   To share a little of my own Values.  And, realistically, I know there are some recipients who simply won't "get it", because their outlook on life is different to mine.  And that really is Okay too.

Here's my Version of the Spirit of Christmas: My Creative Talents have been Gifted to me and it is only right and fitting to pass something of that Gift onto the people who are important in my life. 

A little bit of my "Best Self" chosen, created, wrapped and handed over with a smile.  Because giving from myself  is what matters.  Integrity it is, then.   Happy Christmas!


PS:  "Fred" is not a real person!
 

Sunshine and Smiles

Ah, the energy boost of seeing blue sky and sunshine - December sunshine is sheer Joy!
And how happy am I for the talented and lovely Jeska - Congratulations!