Fuzzy Black Dogs: The Elusive Windshield Scraper

Fuzzy Black Dogs: The Elusive Windshield Scraper

A New Year Begins

I am always wondering if everyone else does the same thing this time year?  Do you find yourself thinking random thoughts of things you have always wanted to do?  You know the stuff you think about right before you fall asleep... wishes, dreams, you know, all the things you want to happen.  It’s like the new year gives you permission to reflect on your world and where you are in it.  I think it is cool that every year there is this opportunity to feel fresh and new.  Not that you couldn’t do this anytime of the year, but New Year’s is like a signal that allows you to ponder further.  

Do you want to start something new, read more, write letters, reacquaint with the past, organize something, fulfill a dream?  The new year is the time to get it underway.  To me, nothing is more exciting than the possibilities that a new year brings.

I usually do make some sort of goal for the new year. For example, last year’s New Year’s promise was to begin a blog. Well... It only took me 11 months to fulfill that goal and I did make it happen in 2008!  That’s progress!  The blog was about doing something for me and forcing myself to write more. I like myself better when I write, yet the crazy in me keeps me from actually doing it.  

This year’s promise is to be more creative.  I thought I would begin by starting a new journal. Not one that you just write in, but one that I can doodle in and create. I love paper art!  According to my sister, I have a fetish for all things paper.

Today I began in my journal... I started with the most basic form of artistic expression... scribbling. It was a great form of emotional release and relaxation. It's fun too! Try it yourself and you will see what I mean!  My new year’s journal may become a random mix of tear sheets, pictures, quotes and visions, but it is mine and about me being creative!

Decorating for Christmas -- Mission Accomplished!

After only twelve days of the house in total upheaval, we are officially decorated!  Every year as the decorations emerge from the basement I am amazed at the multitude of bins/buckets full of decorations.  Where do they all come from?  Do they mate throughout the year?

This year I said I would not purchase anything new to decorate with and I almost made it!  I have only purchased the cutest little snowman, one wire and grapevine angel and the always inevitable purchase of Christmas lights.  Only about five strands went bad.  Now if we can make it through the entire season without them going out we will be set.

I will never forget three years ago when we put the lights on the tree, decorated and then the lights went out!  We undecorated and took lights off purchased new ones and redecorated the tree.  Only this time the lights worked for a couple of days and went out again!  We repeated just the way the instructions on the shampoo bottle said.  When half the lights on the tree went out after the third frocking of the tree we said to forget it.  We simply remained embarrassed as we embraced the uniqueness of the tree that year.  Can you blame us?

During this time of year, things move so quickly, and I have to remind myself to slow down.   Perhaps I need to program “Slow Down” on my phone as an actual reminder for myself to go off at three o'clock each day.  I really should add a reminder while I’m at it that says “Please go to bed. Your body needs rest.”

I struggle this time of year.  I have such blessings and yet I feel I have no time for the meaning.  I am reminded of a sign I saw the other day…Happiness is not having all you want – It is wanting all you’ve got!

Lotions and Potions

Mom and I traveled almost to the mountains today to purchase beeswax for our apothecary products we are currently producing in the kitchen.  It seems that my love for making "potions" when I was a child has not left my mind.  When I was a child, it seems that one of my favorite past times was to mix up all the bath products and call them potions.  It normally resulted in me in tears and my mother very angry.  But today she was in full support of my potion creating. In fact, she has come round to my side and is embarking as my partner in crime.

I have stumbled on a crafty notion that perhaps making such things as laundry detergent and dishwasher soap would be healthier and better on the green scale.  Wilson, my "ever-green" son, is always helping keep check of the heavy footprints we are making on this earth.  

While I am always looking for new and interesting ways to make a difference, as usual I have taken it to the extreme.  (This is why several years ago I gave up crafting for Lent.) I should know to go at these things with extreme caution.  I take things to extremes.  My trunk is full of lotion and potion making materials and my pocket book is light.  Hey, if this works, I will have lots of Christmas gifts, right?  On schedule to make are lip balms, hand lotions, soap, and bath fizzies tomorrow.

We have successfully made our own laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, all purpose cleaner and stain remover.  These products are all natural and easier on the environment.  I am quite proud of our current products and look forward to sharing these with my friends and family this holiday season.