Saturday, November 30, 2013

November Ends


November ends today.  Many folks that I know look at this time with some trepidation.  A time of more darkness that may lead to dark thoughts and sadness.  But, for me it is a time of more reflection....I seem to "see" better in the dark.  It is a time to gaze at stars and wonder.   This last day of November coincides with the end of deer hunting season here in Maine.  So it also means I can wear cute hats again and Runa can be free of her super hero vest! 



The woods are safe to enter once more.  So I enter the forest of winter contemplation with these 2 poems.  Robert Lax & Thomas Merton; best friends, wise men, prophets in our time...



The Regret


When cold November sits among the reeds like an unlucky fisher

And ducks drum up as sudden as the wind
Out of the rushy river,
We slowly come, robbed of our rod and gun,
Walking amid the stricken cages of the trees.

The stormy weeks have all gone home like drunken hunters,
Leaving the gates of the grey world wide open to December.

But now there is no speech of branches in these broken jails.
Acorn lie over the earth, no less neglected
Than our unrecognizable regret:
And here we stand as senseless as the oaks
As dumb as elms.

And though we seem as grave as jailers, yet we did not come to wonder
Who picked the lock of the past days, and stole our summer.
(We are no longer listeners for curious saws, and secret keys!)

We are indifferent to seasons,
And stand like hills, deaf.
And never hear the last of the escaping year
Go ducking through the bended branches like a leaf.



Thomas Merton ~Selected Poems of Thomas Merton pg 8





darkness
oh the darkness
oh the darkness
of the wood

no light
no light at all
comes through
the trees

when will the light
come stealing,
when will the light
come stealing,
when will the light
come stealing,
through the forest?

darkness
the the darkness
of the woods

no light
no light at all
comes through
the trees.




Robert Lax ~Robert Lax Poems (1962-1997) pg 6


Robert Lax

11-30-1915 ~ 9-26-2000

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Lax


Happy Birthday! Bob!!! 




Friday, November 29, 2013

---Shop News---Plaid Friday & Small Business Saturday




Today is Plaid Friday!

 "The name Plaid Friday was conceived from the idea of weaving the individual threads of small businesses together to create a strong fabric that celebrates the diversity and creativity of independent businesses. Plaid Friday is the relaxing and enjoyable alternative to the big box store “Black Friday,” and is designed promote both local and independently owned businesses during the holidays" 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Plaid-Friday-Shop-Local-and-Independent/147245538642349

You won't find me at the mall of the big box store today!  I pledge to make all my holiday purchases from small businesses ONLY!  It is so easy too!  You can shop online and support small as well as local businesses.  If you want to get out of the house, head to your local small town or the local Main Street and have an enjoyable experience with plenty of savings and holiday atmosphere.  

Here is a "breaking" the rules Etsy Treasury (one is not supposed to do a treasury with anything from your own shop or more than one shop...it is all about spreading the love on Etsy!)  But I say break the rules TODAY and skip Black Friday and shop small...and plaid!  So plaid stuff from all my shops!(mostly...plaid)


https://www.etsy.com/treasury/MjYwNzk4NjF8MjcyMjc4MDkzMw/in-joy-plaid


Here is a "legal" Treasury I made earlier this week to celebrate the small online MaineTeam businesses!  Make Holiday Shopping Happy and Relaxing for all!  Happy Happiness!


https://www.etsy.com/treasury/MjYwNzk4NjF8MjcyNTMyNjU1Mg/maineteam-mad-about-plaid?ref=pr_treasury





Thursday, November 28, 2013

~~~Gratitude~~~


Thanksgiving~~~What a wonderful holiday at least for my family....a...
gathering of three
abundance, laughter, quiet
bountiful thanks
We had our celebration yesterday, it is better for my DH's work Schedule.  It is just the 3 of us sharing good food and time together.  It is wonderful to have our son home from college for a few days (even though he is mostly sleeping).  Just nice to be with his presence.
I our meal is pretty simple and wonderful.  A turkey & stuffing, smashed potatoes (homegrown potatoes & 3 heads of Garlic~boiled, save the cooking water for the soup~ mashed with plain yogurt), & szechuan green beans (homegrown Green Beans, 3 heads of Garlic Sliced, Tossed into hot sesame oil & pepper flakes then salt).  We had 2 pies~ pumpkin for he & me and a raspberry for the boyo...all for him! (he eats most of the beans too...I always tell him he is full of beans...eye roll, please!)

So here is a wonderful poem for today!
Ode to Thanks
by Pablo Neruda
Thanks to the word that says thanks!
Thanks to thanks,
word
that melts
iron and snow!
The world is a threatening place
until
thanks
makes the rounds
from one pair of lips to another,
soft as a bright
feather
and sweet as a petal of sugar,
filling the mouth with its sound
or else a mumbled
whisper.
Life becomes human again:
it’s no longer an open window.
A bit of brightness
strikes into the forest,
and we can sing again beneath the leaves.
Thanks, you’re the medicine we take
to save us from
the bite of scorn.
Your light brightens the altar of harshness.
Or maybe
a tapestry
known
to far distant peoples.
Travelers
fan out
into the wilds,
and in the jungle
of strangers,
merci
rings out
while the hustling train
changes countries,
sweeping away borders,
then spasibo
clinging to pointy
volcanoes, to fire and freezing cold,
or danke, yes! and gracias, and
the world turns into a table:
a single word has wiped it clean,
plates and glasses gleam,
silverware tinkles,
and the tablecloth is as broad as a plain.
Thank you, thanks,
for going out and returning,
for rising up
and settling down.
We know, thanks,
that you don’t fill every space-
you’re only a word-
but
where your little petal
appears
the daggers of pride take cover,
and there’s a penny’s worth of smiles.

It is my intention, each Sunday, to share something that fills me with Gratitude. 
I write ~~~Gratitude~~~ with the wavy lines to represent the gratitude ENERGY~~~~~! 
I hope you will join me and share your gratitude moments. 


~~~Amen, Blessed Be, Namaste'~~~

PS~~~We do have a shower~~~ finally!



Friday, November 22, 2013

---Shop News---

https://www.etsy.com/listing/166987730/maine-brown-moose-toy-animal-hand-puppet?ref=shop_home_feat

Well, my Moose is on the Loose!  He is being featured in Down East Magazine, December 2013, pg 78, item #13...want to give you a very clear map to find your way...I am only a little bit excited!  But this isn't my first brush with "fame".  I have been in the newspaper 4 times, on TV 3 times, and Al Gore had his arms around me!  

My first newspaper exposure was a front page photo of me when I work at the Young Adults Conservation Corp in Shelton, Washington.  I was wearing a Smokey the Bear hard hat, steel toe boots and I was peeling a log!  Years later I had a feature piece done in a Maine paper about my hand weaving.  Then I was photgraphed once while in the Coast Guard Reserves during a rescue.  Then finally at another rescue as a paramedic.

My TV debut started with the USCGR...another rescue op.  Then I was one of the folks who said "Good Night" on the evening newscast while working at the Unity Co-op.  Finally, I once was interviewed at a community rally that was fighting to prevent a nuclear waste dump in Unity Plantation, Maine.  Those were exciting times!

And here is me with Al Gore...


Late 1990's ~~~ You can see my son was not too impressed with politicians...



So here is my present 15 minutes of fame...





And in celebration I created a Moose on the Loose ~ All MaineTeam ~ Treasury!

https://www.etsy.com/treasury/MzM1ODA4MTN8MjcyNTMwMzkxNg/moose-on-the-loose?ref=pr_treasury


Wednesday, November 20, 2013

***Tuesday's Tip*** (late...again..better late than never?)


It is 346 steps to my mailbox from my door...round trip.  Those steps are a part of my Etsy process.  Sending mail and getting mail has always been a source of excitement for me.  And now in this day of electronic everything it seems even more exciting and, well, precious.  And here is Etsy, the best of both worlds, the electronic wonderfulness and the simple joy of mailing packages!  


Right now is the busy season.  Folks are getting a jump on their holiday shopping, I am grateful to included.  I recently heard on NPR (listen a lot while doing Etsy work) about how some big companies treat their shipping warehouse employees...not so good, I guess.  Made me even more grateful to be just me, myself, and I working in all my "departments".  Grateful I can take the care that I enjoy when I send a package.  I don't "pay" my Self for my shipping time at this point.  I consider it one of my delightful hobbies.


Here is my "Shipping Department", my Reiki table, I intend positive energy with each package I ship.  I give care and awareness to each parcel.  Everyone gets a hand written thank-you note and a little something extra.  I do it not because it may be good for business but because I want to connect in a human way to the folks who decide to purchase my wares.


  I suppose this post sounds more like a gratitude than a tip!  Well, there can never be enough gratitude!  But my tip is very simple and it will save you from hours of frustration over your lifetime!  See my roll of tape? I use one of those thingys that hold a plastic bag closed to hold my place on my roll of tape!  I used to use one from a bread bag...this one is from the bag that held the grout powder for the shower! Besides upcycling I love to use objects with meaning.  The board you see here was "made" by my Grandpa for me when I was in my early 20's.  I wanted a board to do various crafts on, so he just cut me out a bit of multi-ply.  I have used it as a cutting board, for gluing, soldering, you name it! I am grateful it has managed to stay with me all these years and I know my Grandpa would like that I am still using it today.

So instead a poem--->
 I will share with you one of my MANY favorite songs...all about tape & LOVE!

Have a GREAT Day!

Flight Of The Conchords - Sellotape (Aka Pencils In The Wind) Lyrics


Lives are like retractable pencils
If you push them too hard they're gonna break
And people are like paper dolls
Paper dolls and people, they're a similar shape
Hmm hmm hm

Love is like a roll of tape
It's real good for making two things one
But just like that roll of tape
Love sometimes breaks off before you were done

Another way that love is similar to tape
That I've noticed
Is sometimes it's hard to see the end
You search on the roll
(search on the roll)
Search on the roll
(searching round the roll)
Search on the roll
(search)
With your fingernail
Again and again
And again and again
And agaaaain.

Brown paper, white paper
Stick it together with the tape
The tape of love
The sticky stuff

Brown paper, white paper
Stick it together with tape
The tape of love
The sticky stuff.

People people 
Brown paper, white paper
Paper paper Stick it together with tape
Paper paper The tape of love
People people
People people
Pencil pencil
Pencil pencil
Paper paper
Put the pencil to the paper
Give the paper to the people
Let the people read about the sello tape
Oh baby baby
Yeah

Bret:
You know, Jemaine, I've been thinking about love. 
And I guess it's the very strongest adhesive.

Jemaine:
Oh sorry, Bret. Were you talking to me? I was humming. 
What did you say?

Bret:
Oh, just... nothing.

Brown paper, white paper
Stick it together with tape
The tape of love
The sticky stuff
Yeah
Ooh brown
Brown paper, white paper
Stick it together with tape
The tape of love
Say it
Sticky
Stick stick
Stick it together
Ye-yeah

Here is a YouTube if you would

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNUIDkCNjJA

Monday, November 18, 2013

~~~GRATITUDE~~~




DONE!

Well, sort of...We need to get some white caulk to finish around the glass blocks..but that should only take about 20 minutes.  Have to wait for a bit more than a week so the grout can cure before I can have my first shower in 69 days!  "Done" only relates to the shower.  There is still a bunch more to do before we are done, done, with the bathroom.  Such as build a new vanity and install a new toilet.  Yes folks, our toilet is being held together with duct tape!  But we need to lay the new floor before the toilet is installed (we own the new throne...and we have a plan B is the duct tape doesn't hold).


But before we do the floor we need to skirt the tub and put the tile around the tub...but first we have to trim out the windows and the walls....you get the picture.  But first, first, we need to take a bit of a break.  


This tub is not new.  We installed it back in 1992 when we started building this house.  We used the very last of our building funds to buy this tub.  Good thing too, it has saved us from many aches and pains primarily brought on by building!  We moved into this house the fall of 1992.  There were plywood floors and pink panther wallpaper <---that means just insulation and no sheet rock.  We have been finishing it ever since.  

Most of the construction has been done just by my DH and I.  We did hire a super guy, Mike, for 5 weeks to help with the heavy framing.  We had an electrician do the service entrance but we did the rest of the wiring and all our plumbing that didn't require heavy equipment (like the well & septic).  I am the one who designed this house.  In the town where we live one is not required to have blueprint...good thing too because I went to an architect back in the day and he wanted to design something completely different!  So I got out the old graph paper and a big fat book on carpentry (pre-internet...we used books then!) and drew up the plans, made the lumber and supply lists, and was the general carpenters helper.  I am able to see things in 3-D, my DH does not but, he is gifted at the mechanics of things like how to raise a gigantic scary walls (not the one pictured...still have dreams!).  Funny thing was every time a wall would go up he would say, "Oh so that is how it is going to look."  We make a very good team, our talents complement each other well.  And over the years we have learned to work better and better together. We have had our moments, building together is probably one of the most challenging things for a couple to do.  So I am Grateful the shower is done and I feel even closer to the one I am building my life with!!


Here is Our First Wall Going UP on the Garage


We framed and boarded the garage with lumber from the trees that were standing on our house site.  I love the energy of those trees still being here! 


Smiling back in 1992 ~ Still Smiling Today!


It is my intention, each Sunday, to share something that fills me with Gratitude. 
I write ~~~Gratitude~~~ with the wavy lines to represent the gratitude ENERGY~~~~~! 
I hope you will join me and share your gratitude moments. 


~~~Amen, Blessed Be, Namaste'~~~

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

***Tuesday's Tip***


I have a little craft project for today's blog.  This is SUPER easy.  

Several years ago I was given all 3 of these William Wegman Holiday Cards.  I just loved them!! I wanted a way to enjoy them as a decoration.  So I came up with this little idea.


I recently aquired a bunch of vintage flashcards that I am selling at my Etsy Shop www.injoytreasures.etsy.com Which inspired me to to try this project again with some of these cool words!  All you need is some 1/8 th inches ribbon, 7 or 8 pony beads, and a hole punch.  I used glass pony beads for this project but plastic for the Wegman Cards.


Measure the ribbon by just looping it around the cards you have chosen to find the length you would like.

Punch a hole in each corner of the cards.


Then thread the ribbon through the card holes and use the pony bead as a spacer.



Continue right around...



Thread both ribbon tails into one pony bead.  Adjust the hanging until it suits you.  
If the ribbon in the final pony bead is loose you can tie a little knot after the bead.



Then Ta-Da!


Here are a few more photos of the holiday cards.  This would be a fun way to display those extra school photos or postcards from a trip...Use your IMAGINATION!




Sunday, November 10, 2013

~~~Gratitude~~~


The end of our Autumn chores usually culminates with a big burn.   All year long we collect brush from clearings, old rotten pallets that once held firewood, and garden waste that might be too buggy to compost.  There is something exciting about the burn, beyond the big flames.  There is definitely a feeling of ~ purge!  Burning is so primal...I can feel the connection to my ancestors who may have burned for more ceremonial reasons.  I have to admit, I do mentally toss "things" into the flames that I would rather not have in my life anymore. Letting go into the fire all that no longer serves me.  The flames of the south with the sun heading towards a lower asmuth each day with lengthening nights until the Solstice.  It feels good to be done with Autumn and ready for winter!  

~~~I am Grateful~~~

Burning Brush
burning brush out back,
sticks and twigs and limbs...
when the pile got low
i started throwing in,
memories, feelings, and dreams.

the fire blazed high,
but just for a moment...
then died to embers,
steady and pulsing...
and so does time to the heart!

the flame that gasps for air,
strangled by its own ardor...
till the outer body burns,
what's left is pure fuel...
warming the feet of God!