winter moon

Thanksgiving is over. The flood gates are open people.

Christmas music will fill my house until December 26th.  My husband doesn't understand it. I can't say I really understand why I love Christmas music so much.

I guess if I really think about it, I'd have to say that music has a huge impact on my life. It sets the tone. It can cure a nasty mood. It can make me cry. It can lift me out of myself into higher realms.

It makes it feel like Christmas.

And here I am with a good friend like Mindy Gledhill who just released an entire Christmas album.

Well shucks. That just makes the whole season more merry.

Do you know much about Mindy? She's lovely.

Mindy and I have done projects together here and there. I did illustrations on her Anchor music video. She has sung at Spark the last two years. She came to my house and did a concert in my backyard for a benefit party. And then there is Morocco next year. That's going to be, well, a dream.

I have a Winter Moon album to give away to kick off the giving season!  Leave a comment, and your favorite Christmas song (I'm building this year's play list and I'd like new songs). I'll pick a random number on Friday and ship it out to you!

one finger cannot lift a pebble

Our family is back in Sedona, Arizona. It feels good to be here. The leaves in Oak Creek Canyon are ablaze with Fall color.  The air is crisp but not too cold. We are happy to finally get to wear sweaters and boots and drink hot cider in the morning.

The Native American jewelry is spectacular as always. I have procured a few choice pieces that make my heart sing.

I love to come here and be reminded of all the customs that the very first Americans have.  I love their beliefs and wisdom.  I love that so many Native Americans hold fast to the religion of their ancestors.

It seems like in the world today we like to conform religion to fit our lifestyle instead of the other way around.  

I love that Native Americans honor their ancestors in so many ways. That they honor every living thing in life and in death.  That they acknowledge the strength of the family.

What a place to have Thanksgiving!  

I know it is cliche', but again, this year I am thankful for my family.  They are my harbor in stormy seas.  They are my everything.  Alone, I am nothing.

One finger cannot lift a pebble.  -Hopi Proverb

make a joyful noise

I gotta tell ya.  Sometimes I am reminded why I don't sell ad space here on Suaviloquy. There are several reasons, but first and foremost it has to do with my crazy unpredictable life.

Quite frankly, I don't want to be beholden to a bunch of sponsors.  Sometimes I have to disappear for a bit. Sometimes my kids need me more than others.  Sometimes my work over takes everything. Sometimes I'm just lazy. You know how it is.

This week we are on vacation.  I might post. I might not. 

Can't say for sure.

But I will be sharing the projects I'm working on this week.  Fun fun holiday crafts.

And I will be grateful this Thanksgiving for you, the people who read my thoughts here on Suaviloquy and sometimes leave comments that make me believe that, maybe, just maybe, I'm not as wacko as I think I am.

busy busy

Oh life just gets so busy this time of year.

The Sugar Daddy thought he had another week before our Thanksgiving trip. He blinked his eyes in disbelief when I told him that in fact we are leaving this Saturday.

But, you know, busy is good. I think busy people are generally happy people.  Having things to do beats having nothing to do anyday.

There are lots of things I have to do and a long list of things I want to do. I just need to find a way to merge the two.

Balance. It's the Holy Grail for all mothers.

Here's a little something fun that has kept me busy this past week:

I finally got our final itinerary brochure together for Marrakesh. If you are interested in coming, here are the details!

my mayflower

Okay so maybe my Mayflower isn't architecturally accurate or structurally sound or even historically correct, but it will make a dang cute centerpiece for my Thanksgiving table!

If you'd like to make your own Mayflower, you will need a cereal box, tape, scrap paper, modge podge, paint, hot glue, X-acto blade, an old bedsheet or some other fabric, some twine and dowels and a few notions like buttons and wooden beads.

Directions:

Cut the silhouette of the hull of the ship from the cereal box. I just free handed my shape. Look at ships online to get ideas. Cut another to match.  Tape the ends together. Bow the sides out to make the ship as wide as you want and trace the bottom onto more cereal box cardboard. Cut a second bottom shape.  Tape one of these to the bottom. Cut some rectangles from the cardboard and tape them vertically inside the hull of the ship to create "ribs" for stability.  Lay the second bottom shape on top of the ribs and tape into place creating a "deck".  Tape over any places on the ship that are open that you want closed. Masking tape or scotch tape both work for this project.

Modge Podge pieces of scrap paper all over the entire ship.  Do one layer, let dry, and do a second layer. Let it dry over night.

Paint the hull of the ship as you desire.

Use an X-acto blade to cut crosses into the deck of the ship to fit the dowels down into.  Pump hot glue down into these holes before you place your dowels. This will help secure the bottom of the dowel to the bottom of the ship.  Use smaller dowels to create the cross beams that will hold your masts.

Look on the internet at the different masts found on ships and decide how many you want. Decide if you want to add decorative elements to the masts. Cut your masts and sew a hem on the top to case the cross beams.  Use twine to secure the masts to the tall dowels.

Glue wooden balls onto the top end of each tall dowel. Run twine through the corners of the masts and around the ship in various places.  Use buttons to secure twine ends.

Fill the hull of your ship with treats! I used root beer barrels.

Remember, this is just for fun! You don't need to worry about making your ship perfect. Improvise and make it up as you go along. Handmade is what it's all about!

For place names, I sewed little linen flour sacks and stamped them with Staz-on ink.  I filled them with nuts and goodies.

a study of the natural world

I am a girl, like many girls, that loves all things beautiful. I try to make beautiful things to fill my life. 

The master teacher, yogi and offical authority on beauty is, of course, Mother Nature.

For my most recent art project, I tried to copy the vast and alluring diversity of one small part of Mother Nature's grand work.

Animalia Arthropoda Insecta Lepidoptera

Spark #3

I've wondered what exactly to write about Spark #3. It has loomed so large in my life I didn't know where to start.

I could go on for days, simply days, about the people, the inspiration, the music, the magic. But it occured to me I really don't need to say a single thing.

I'm going to let the pictures tell the story.

And no I'm not pregnant. I just look that way because I ate a ton of naughty stuff at Spark and I puffed up like a balloon person.

Serves me right.

All photos were taken by the adorable Maggie Holmes.

good news

You know what I like?

Good news.

In elementary school we would have the good news moment over the intercom right before the pledge of allegiance.  "Mrs. Egbert is going to have a baby boy! And Karen McDougal from Mr. Reese's third grade class is going to the regional spelling bee championships!"

What a way to start the day.  And I didn't even like Karen McDougal.

Sometimes I wish that as I eat my breakfast an intercom would crackle on and give me the good news moment.

"Thomas scored 95% on his book report! Michael Chabon has a new book out! Frankie Valentine didn't bite anyone yesterday! Now please stand for the pledge of allegiance..."

And I would, because I'm patriotic like that.

But, it seems, good news is a little scarce these days.  This depression we are in, well, it's a little depressing.

But I know a secret. A little good news, if you will. You don't really need someone to tell you what is good about life.  Look around.

I am.

Everyday I'm looking around me at all the goodness that I have to be grateful for. I'm practicing daily gratitude.  If I had an intercom to speak into, I'd broadcast my good news to all my friends every morning.

Alas, no one has seen it fit to hand me an intercom.

But I have social media.  Join me this month in practicing daily gratitude. Everyday find something that is good in your life. Post it to Instagram, facebook or Twitter. Use the hashtag #dailygratitude.

Come on. Join in.  I wanna hear your good news.

植物誌

She is thousands of miles away in a different land, in a different culture, and yet, I feel as if we ever met words would be superfluous.

Our hearts speak the same language.

all photos found here 植物誌