Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Dining Alone



To some people the very concept of dining alone is intolerable. Meals are meant to be shared events—intimate dinners for two, boisterous family gatherings surrounding major life events or holidays, daily meals carved out of the day-to-day fray in order to catch up with your immediate family, lunch with co-workers just to get out of the office for a bit.

But then there are those of us who eat most of our meals on our own, and we rarely give thought to the fact. Don't get me wrong, I love gathering with family and/or friends to share a meal, but dining alone isn't a tragedy. Most of the time, eating alone will simply mean ingesting a meal for nourishment and then getting back into my day, but occasionally I will make a Meal (with an intentional cap M) for one. I'll spend quantities of time planning, shopping, cooking, savoring the fragrance, tasting and consuming a Meal all by myself. It would be lovely to share it, but I won't deny myself the experience of dining just because I sit down to the table alone.

This morning's breakfast was one of those Meals. I'd stopped by the grocery store yesterday, and discovered the rare but delicious Ranier cherry in stock. There were only four bags, and I greedily snatched one up. I brought them home, decanted them into a bowl and rinsed them carefully—not letting a single one drop out of the bowl when I poured out the water. I positioned the bowl containing the rare treasure in the center of an otherwise empty island in the kitchen and spent the day nibbling now and then.

This morning, I put on a fresh pot of hazelnut coffee, pulled a small plate out of the cabinet and placed the last lemon poppy seed muffin on it with A WHOLE HANDFUL of Ranier cherries. This was a Meal worthy of attention and savor, so instead of catching the morning news on the tv while shoving food in my pie hole, I sat down at the dining room table with the day's paper and lingered over each bite of the Meal.

It was because I'd slowed down time and become very mindful of the moment that I was dazzled by, and inspired to draw, the sunny oak in the front yard.

Thanks for stopping by.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Gearing Up for 2009



This is the opening spread of my 2009 Moly planner. There's nothing quite as wonderful as cracking open a brand new moly and beginning to despoil its pages. This year I committed to a softcover planner, and now I can feel that special crinkly paper feel right through the cover. All the notebook junkies out there will know just what I'm talking about, and to everyone else please just bear with us as we all let out a collective sigh of satisfaction.

I'm ashamed to say, in 2008 my planner ended up with some untouched spreads...I know...the shame of it...the waste...the missed opportunity.

Well, 2009 is a new year, and I'm in the process of pre-modifying every spread of my Moly. I have the best of intentions this year to draw something on every page (which I managed in my 2007 moly). If nothing else, I will have done something to every spread.

Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmas in Front of the Fire



It's a tradition. Dad's house for Christmas. Hang out in front of the fire. Open some gifts, and give some gifts. Eat turkey. Really simple and really wonderful. Highly recommend it.

Merry Christmas!

Monday, December 15, 2008

The Bloggyland Tour Continues...

...with a stop at Nan's!

Please come in and let me take your coat.



It's terribly cold outside. Can I offer you a warm cup of the holiday season? Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate? I think I might even have a little apple cider left from the fall if you'd prefer a warm cider. And you must have a little something sweet too!



Please make yourself comfortable in the living room. Sorry there's no fire at the moment.







But the lights are on the Christmas tree, and that always makes a room feel a little warmer.







Not surprisingly, you're not the first visitor who's stopped by today. Santa was here a short time ago to help me with some of my preparations for Christmas. There's still so much to do, but he did give me a head start on my gift wrapping and my Christmas cards. I don't know how he finds the time—must be the magic of Christmas.







Well, I know you're anxious to be on your way—so many terrific things yet to see. But you haven't made it half way through your hot chocolate yet, so let me offer you a little diversion before you go:

Merry Christmas, Everyone
—Anonymous

In the rush of the merry morning,
When the red burns through the gray,
And the wintry world lies waiting
For the glory of the day.
Then we hear a fitful rushing
Just without, upon the stair,
See two white phantoms coming,
Catch the gleam of sunny hair.

Rosy feet upon the threshold,
Eager faces peeping through,
With the first red ray of sunshine
Chanting cherubs come in view;
Mistletoe and gleaming holly,
Symbols of a blessed day,
In their chubby hands they carry,
Streaming all along the way.

Well we know them, never weary
Of their innocent surprise;
Waiting, watching, listening always
With full hearts and tender eyes,
While our little household angels,
White and golden in the Sun.
Greet us with the sweet old welcome—
"Merry Christmas, everyone!"


Well, I hope you've enjoyed yourself. I know I have—I'm so pleased you stopped by. Enjoy the rest of the tour!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Christmas in Bloggyland!

And you're invited! On Monday, December 15th I'll be participating in a little early holiday spirit—a warm-up to the season.

Click the Christmas in Bloggyland invitation on the right to find out more!

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Finished!



The final results for Yoda's Witch moleskine for Moleskine Exchange 42. I'm pretty happy with the way this turned out. Could be a little darker overall, but futz with a thing too long and it turns to mud.

Thanks for stopping by.