A Gift

This post is dedicated to Donna...

I had the pure joy recently of meeting the lovely and kind Pam from Red Ticking. We met at her beautiful shop which was beyond my expectations, truly spectacular in all it's vintage, creamy white, sparkling holiday finery. It was a very special whirlwind of a visit where we chatted the whole time trying to learn as much as we possibly could about each other, in the short amount of time we had together. And of course being the sweetheart that she is...not only did she take me across the street to one of my favorite local bakery's (Essential) and treat me to a delicious coffee & muffin...she also spoiled me with this very thoughtful and charming gift...

the enchanting Garland of Peace, which has truly brought peace to my heart and also a smile every time I've looked at it. She couldn't have bestowed a more perfect token of friendship.

Well, I had wanted to somehow put the garland up for Christmas and I thought the fireplace would be the perfect spot. With no mantle yet, and huge gaps between the wall and rocks, it was a bit tricky to get it just right, but perseverance won out and thankfully, it has actually stayed up now for several days! I absolutely love it there, especially alongside our angel.

Soon after putting the garland up, I checked in on A Perfect Gray and saw with amazement Donna's very touching post...my heart swelled, along with my eyes. I remembered that Pam had just done a very cute post with a little nod to Donna, without even knowing of the loss she had just experienced and I started to see and feel these little connections as somehow soft acknowledgements of comfort and "peace"...and just as I was thinking about this, I walked by our guestroom and the sun, which hadn't been out for days, had our 'Peace Lily' all aglow, and it stopped me in my tracks...

I finally realized that this "Peace" was meant to be shared, that it wasn't only for my eyes, and that it hadn't been only a gift for me.

Thank you again dear Pam. I believe that there are so many small and tender ways God will hug our spirits when they are in need...a beautiful note of remembrance tied caringly around a lit candle, a post of mirrored gray with someone special in mind...or a sweet garland of Peace given in friendship...to more than one friend.

(btw - my walls are not yellow, they just choose to be photographed that way)

A Small Touch

I truly thought this would be the year we'd finally be able to have our very own Christmas tree once again, decorated with all of our beloved and cherished ornaments that have been packed away these past four years, along with most of our other holiday decorations...I did say - "most"!

We do have a few storage escapees that have been with us during this period, moving from place to place, offering tiny little bits of holiday cheer...and this little guy is one of them. The problem is, he has such a round base that everywhere I placed him, he would just topple right over....Duke's bowl to the rescue!

The rocks were the perfect foil for his round base and frankly, I think he feels very much at home among the rocks...just as much as he would among the limbs of a fir tree. Maybe I need to find him some friends...yes, I believe that is just what he needs!

*Update - The very wise and lovely Jacqueline of Beauty In The Ordinary commented on how beautiful he looked "in his solitude" and I very much agree...so alone he will stay, in all his singular, sparkling glory.

Pear Trees & Paw Paw

I was thrilled to learn this week that I had won my very first giveaway! It was from the lovely Jane at My Pear Tree House who it seems is even all the more lovelier due to her amazing discovery of a miracle in the form of an ointment made from the Paw Paw...also known as...the Papaya.

You must read Jane's account of how she discovered this amazing potion...it will make you want to bathe in the stuff.

So, needless to say, I'm very excited to try it and I can't wait to see what kind of miraculous gift of beauty it has in store for me!

A big thank you and hug to you Jane...these are for you!

(images - eyefetch, all posters, and plain old google)

Our Special Guest

This past week, we had an unexpected guest arrive prior to Thanksgiving...her name was - La Nina. She was very beautiful but I have to say, she wasn't very helpful when it came to assisting everyone with the holiday meal preparations...somehow though, the feast was pulled off...deliciously I might add, but once it was over...poof, she was gone!

And even though she didn't stay to help with the dishes (or play Domino's)....her hostess gift of a 'White Thanksgiving' was the stuff dreams are made of. I hope she comes back for Christmas.

An Artful Thanksgiving

Every single time, either during or just after one of my art classes, I find myself saying silent prayers of thankfulness because I feel so unbelievably blessed to be able to do what I do for a living. It has been a true gift, one that was handed to me on a silver platter, one that I know came from above.

I had always loved to draw and actually in my teens, was so sure that when I grew up I'd be designing album covers for a living! Well, things didn't turn out that way and the drawing went by the wayside until several years ago...when the gift was given to me, it fell right into my lap...."how would you like to teach drawing to kids?". I had recently quit a job that I truly loved and had worked at for sixteen years (due to health reasons - job related), and had no idea what I was going to do next when that fateful question was proposed to me. I accepted instantly and have never looked back.

To be around these budding little artists everyday, with their natural, uninhibited talent and delightful creativity...not to mention their sweet and funny personalities that keep me constantly smiling and trying to stifle laughter, is more than I could ever have hoped for in a new career.


And let me just say that hanging out with these masterpiece makers is literally one of the best stress relievers - EVER! During class I'm completely oblivious to all things stress related...a little bonus that came with the job, and another reason that thankfulness abounds not only during Thanksgiving, but throughout the year. Big sigh....

Is there something that you know deep in your heart was a miracle that happened just for you...something that you find yourself being thankful for just about every single day of your life...something that blesses you continuously?

Well, my dear blogging friends...you also were a very special gift to me, another miracle that came at a time when I desperately needed one, and one that I'm also so thankful for, every single day, and with all of my heart...I wish each and every one of you an extremely Happy and Joy Filled Thanksgiving!

Champignons Galore

Several years ago, right before we started building our house, I had fallen in love with and purchased this 'vintage' French scientific study of mushrooms at Anthropologie, and immediately had to pack it up and send it away to our storage unit, along with all of our other belongings until the completion of our home would allow me to finally enjoy it properly in all it's colorful and curious glory.

Also around that time, I purchased another mushroom laden treasure at Anthropologie, this one being a ceramic pot painted with beautiful fungi specimens...it too was packed away and taken off to storage.

Well due to extenuating home building circumstances, we ended up moving out of the place we had been living for two years where we had only taken the bare essentials with us, to a much more spacious abode that allowed us to get a few things out of storage to make the place feel more like 'home'. Needless to say...the mushroom treasures were one of the first items brought to our new, temporary cottage and since then (another two years) we've been happily able to enjoy them.

Once the house was finished, I immediately knew that I wanted the picture to go above the fireplace on the dining room side where it would be visible from the kitchen and be at home amongst the rocks and reclaimed wood that will *one day* be our mantel. For now though...it's just propped up in the general vicinity along with some other items, pot included, that are still awaiting their proper placement.

I never really had a thing for mushrooms, I had just loved the artwork and detail on both items, but since having them to look at everyday...I've really come to admire these delectable, unusual beauties and would love to see more varieties, if they still exist, in our grocery stores.

Can you imagine coming across these lovelies in the produce aisle...would you eat them or just pile them up in a bowl and display them on the dining room table, or even on a window sill?

Last week...our local grocery store decided to display several varieties of the glorious little morsels in a few very stunning and thoughtful displays that quite impressed me.

They brought in rocks, moss, branches, bark....

and of course, the ever popular, mushroom loving - Fungisaurus!!

All enhancing the mushrooms strange and earthy natural beauty.

These are Lobster mushrooms...they definitely have the color, I wonder if they also taste like lobster...I'll have to give them a try sometime.

These next two images I'm dedicating to my mother...who's love of the sweet Chanterelle, or Pfifferlinger as she like to call them (their German name), is legendary. Here in the Pacific Northwest they are quite abundant and we are fortunate to be able to purchase them frequently, and at a very low price I might add.

Cooking with mushrooms adds such a meatiness and wonderful depth of flavor to so many dishes and it's applications are endless. When I saw this tart in the last October issue of Martha Stewart Living...I thought it was one of the most beautiful and creative uses of mushrooms I had ever seen and I am determined to make it very soon. I'll let you all know how it comes out.

I wonder...is the delicious mushroom going to play a part in your Thanksgiving feast?? I hope so!

A Lingering Bit Of Summer

During the summer, Miss. Ginger and I will find wild orange poppies along a particular path we like to take and the bright flowers always make me smile. Well now that it's "sweater weather", I didn't expect there would be any at all along the path but lo and behold, there were...one little patch was left...

and I was so happy to see that I wasn't the only one appreciating the sweet surprise.

My little companion was actually stopping to "smell the poppies"...I know, poppies usually don't have a scent...but maybe, just maybe, they do...if you're of a canine persuasion.

So this weekend, while you're out and about...may you find a beautiful, bright, and possibly sweetly smelling...unexpected surprise!

One Of These Things....

As I was innocently walking towards the silverware drawer in the hopes of retrieving a spoon so that I could enjoy a delicious little snack of pomegranate Greek yogurt...

little did I know that I would find...

in such an inconspicuous place...

proof that over the last two weeks, yes...I actually had been *losing it* a little!

Do you see it??

There it is, in all of it's shiny, out of place glory...sticking out like a fancy sore thumb as it mingles away with the 'big boys'...the working crew, completely unaware that it was put there by accident and won't be able to stay. No, this is not your new home pretty butter knife...

you must return to where you belong...your family awaits you.

Over the past few weeks my writing, spelling, knife putting away skills, tea making (strong black tea is not meant to be drunk at 11:00 pm, especially when one thought they were making sleepy tea) and all sorts of other daily habits and cares have been put to the test due to LIFE happening (illness, lack of sleep, family stuff, house stuff, even fun stuff)...and it had me seriously wondering about my poor mind and where it had gone.

It also had me thinking even more about what our dear Visual Vamp has been going through and what her silverware drawer might be experiencing...as my last few weeks can't even begin to compare to hers and Alberto's.

May balance, sanity, and a bit of humor bless all who are experiencing the ups as well as the downs of this wonderful yet crazy thing called life, be they blogger, family or friend! ♥

So Grateful...

A very deep and heartfelt thank you to all of the self sacrificing men and women who have courageously served the cause of peace and freedom in honor and patriotism...we salute your bravery!

In my art classes this week, for the first time ever, many of my students were requesting that we draw a picture for Veteran's Day. I thought it so wonderful that they were learning about this very special holiday in their home rooms. Usually during this time of year we are easing our way into Thanksgiving with Native American artwork, Cornucopia's and the like, and I wasn't prepared for this...next year will be different. I'm so proud of them for wanting to honor the Veteran's with their artwork, and of our schools for teaching them so clearly what this holiday truly means. It touched my heart.