Goodbye 2010

Another year is quickly coming to an end.  I have no reason to  complain about what the past 12 months  have brought me, and only hope the next 12 are equally as generous.

We were fortunate to have crisp, clear skies the night of the Solstice total lunar eclipse.  It was a magickal thing to witness as slowly but steadily the shadow overtook the moon, until just a fingernail sliver of gleaming white remained.  Once the shadow was complete, the moon appeared as a faint, muddy red orb, constantly undergoing subtle shifts of hue and dimness.  My intent was to watch until the light began to return, but earth sure casts a huge shadow - the darkness must have lasted an hour, if not more, and by 2:15am, I was so cold and sleepy, I took myself indoors to bed.

I designed this heron as a gift for my client who lives near the wildlife area where Tony and I kayak.  Patterns aren't my favorite thing to work with, but now and then I enjoy drawing one up and turning it into a completed work of glass and wire.

Christmas was a treat, as it always is.  Low key, stressless time with family, as well as calling on friends to deliver cookies. 

Here is a small portion of some of the charmingly thoughtful gifts I received.

This morning, I took myself to the Red Cup for a brunch of gringo salad and Columbian supreme coffee.  And a little read of Little Edie's charming diary.

Some Reading, and A Dress

Finished This:

Now working on this:

Springy days mean I finally got the opportunity to wear this lovely, 1930s (possibly early 40s, I'm no expert) dress purchased early in the year from a fellow member of Fedora Lounge.  The cotton is heavy duty, the print is bright and festive, and the sleeves and pocket tops are adorned with colorful buttons.  Unfortunately, early in the wearing, the metal zipper slide gave out and disappeared, so dress will have to go back into the closet until I find a suitable replacement zipper. 

A hint of spring

It's been a long, gray, cold, wet, dreary winter. Typical for some places, but hardly acceptable conditions for the sunny plains. If the birds know what they're about (and I suspect they do, at least as much as the weathermen and most likely tons more), spring is about to properly descend upon us. There has been endless twittering and trilling and scolding and all manner of frisky avian activity in the trees. Beneath the sheltering straw, I've spotted seedlings of fennel and anise hyssop looking for the sun, and tulips are pushing through the soil.
Still, most days are more suited to, oh, a little reading perhaps? Good thing the annual library book sale just happened, and good thing I (as usual) gave in to that visceral reaction I have to books.
Take a look at my haul!








Of course, grrl does not live by books alone, so I have just treated myself to my very first steel-boned corset. If I don't break it (or myself) whilst learning how to properly wear and care for it, I look forward to a spring and fall of tailored fashions. Summer? Oh I don't think so. Far too hot for any extra layers at all.

Jazz Books

I don't have too many books, just haven't arranged the ideal storage system yet. Nothing quite equals the feeling of getting fresh books in the mail.