Narnia

I am beginning to wonder if Maine is under the spell of the White Witch of Narnia, never ending winter?  We received another 3 inches of snow last night...ho hum.  A grey day with a chill in the air.  I, optimistically, put my winter scarves in the laundry pile thinking they wouldn't be needed anymore.  I swore I won't put my snowshoes on again until next fall.  But after a walk the other day on old snow without snowshoes I "post-holed" and hurt my hip.  Runa & I needed our walk so snowshoe we did.  Once I got going I did enjoy my time outside.

The duck pond is open.  I haven't been able to get a photo of the girls in the water.  They are taking very quick dips.  The water must be pretty cold still.  Even with the fresh snow there are signs of melting. The bench by the pond is looking more like a bench than a slab in the snow.  It was a good day to hang out in the sewing room and work on some new ideas.  Thread was flying and the day passed well.  I have always loved winter and wished it would last longer when it leaves on time.  I must be careful for what a wish for or some magical Witch may grant me my desire! ;)

~~~~~~~~~~~My Lively Life~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fiber Art, Weaving, Hand Spun

http://www.etsy.com/shop/injoyemporium

Hand Made Eco and Upcycled Cutie Buntings, Clothes, & Toys

http://www.etsy.com/shop/InJoyEcoCutie

Vintage Collectibles, Buttons, Clothing & MORE! 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/injoytreasures

Sea Glass & Copper Wire Ornaments with things I have gathered

http://www.etsy.com/shop/InJoyGatherings

My Blog~~Makings, Musings, &  Lifestyle on the Land:  

http://injoyemporium.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/injoyemporium

http://instagram.com/injoyemporium

http://www.pinterest.com/injoyemporium

"Be Joyful because it is humanly possible"~~~Wendell Berry

PAUSE & SEE

winter surrender

let go of expectation

sunflowers return

Orah

 I try to see something new each day. The art of seeing is essential to any creative work in my humble opinion.  My favorites are the ones that stop me in my tracks!  Like so many folks I have a very busy mind that I struggle to quiet.  By creating this practice it has given me many opportunities to pause and be with a new wonder.  I love to wonder about wonders.  These little seeings can be just the jolt my creative process needs to get out of a rut.  But mostly, they provide a pause which is that moment of peace I need to heal from a frustration. These seeings are grounding for me and bring me to the present.  I will admit to laughing out loud with joy over some of my discoveries, they are a moments of childlike wonder!  

"When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky"     ~~~Buddha

~~~~~~~~~~~My Lively Life~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fiber Art, Weaving, Hand Spun

http://www.etsy.com/shop/injoyemporium

Hand Made Eco and Upcycled Cutie Buntings, Clothes, & Toys

http://www.etsy.com/shop/InJoyEcoCutie

Vintage Collectibles, Buttons, Clothing & MORE! 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/injoytreasures

Sea Glass & Copper Wire Ornaments with things I have gathered

http://www.etsy.com/shop/InJoyGatherings

My Blog~~Makings, Musings, &  Lifestyle on the Land:  

http://injoyemporium.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/injoyemporium

http://instagram.com/injoyemporium

http://www.pinterest.com/injoyemporium

"Be Joyful because it is humanly possible"~~~Wendell Berry

~~~Gratitude~~~ Winter Weary...but...still grateful

Today ~ Winter Marches On...

Another day in Winter wondering when it will end land...  This is today.  A little bit of thawing is happening.  A slow thaw is for the best but I do long for the snow to go at this point. 

The ducks are enjoying the first ground they have seen in 6 weeks!

 I snowshoe each day preferring the old gust shoes to the fancy metal ones.  They are quieter on this old spring snow.  I am leaving treats for the resident ravens each day.  Feels like plodding along through winter.  I often for get to look up and just watch the progress of one foot in front of the other.  But when I do look up it is beautiful....

 My favorite tree to hug ((()))

 Nice to see some blue sky today...

 The pond inlet flow is starting to work away at winter's grip.

First pussy willows are a welcomed bit of white! 

&

a perfect poem to describe the Now!

			WINTER'S END Dwayne Leon Rankin The snow still covers all the ground, A chilling wind still blows. Still no green or brown is seen, As winter snows still flows. But on the breeze a change is felt, Blowing now on past. Showing forth a hint of thaw, Upon this winter cast. Every day the sun does shine With just a bit more heat. The air seems just a bit more fresh, With every breath more sweet. And even though the snow still lies, Upon the ground to see. Still a trickl'ng can be heard, Of waters flowing free. Every day the level drops, Of all that snow still seen. Bringing hope the ground will soon Be showing us some green. A robin's song is heard nearby, So faint and sweet the sound. Showing now t'is winters end, To all the land around ~~~~~~~~~~~My Lively Life~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fiber Art, Weaving, Hand Spun http://www.etsy.com/shop/injoyemporium Hand Made Eco and Upcycled Cutie Buntings, Clothes, & Toys http://www.etsy.com/shop/InJoyEcoCutie Vintage Collectibles, Buttons, Clothing & MORE!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/injoytreasures Sea Glass & Copper Wire Ornaments with things I have gathered http://www.etsy.com/shop/InJoyGatherings My Blog~~Makings, Musings, &  Lifestyle on the Land:   http://injoyemporium.blogspot.com www.facebook.com/injoyemporium http://instagram.com/injoyemporium http://www.pinterest.com/injoyemporium "Be Joyful because it is humanly possible"~~~Wendell Berry

~~~Gratitude~~~

Helloooo~~ I am still around...I haven't been lost in a snow bank..... 

I have been taking a bit of a computer break.  This winter is sort of dragging on.  Usually, by this time in February, I am getting nervous the winter will be over too soon.  Well, this winter has got me wondering if it will ever end!  Besides copious  amounts of snow it has been bone chilling cold!  For 3 days in a row I skipped my daily snowshoe and I admit to getting a bit cranky.  But, Sunday we finally had a respite with temps in the low 30's.  I got in a snowshoe, a walk on the road with a good friend, and best of all, my duckies got a bath!  I have much more to tell you about this long month...including BEing here for 20 days in a row!!  But for now I will be content with sharing (and revisiting) this balmy Sunday!  Yesterday and today are frigid again....but at least the sun is shining and no snow is falling!!

GRATEFUL for Duckie JOY!!!!

It is my intention, each week, 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 moments of Gratitude. 

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

~~~Gratitude~~~ Health

As of today, I have been home for 15 day without leaving!  My record is 16 days and it looks like I will beat that this week.  I try to go to town once a week to swim at the Y, do errands, and be with other people.  But everyday that I could leave lately, I have either been bound here by a snow storm or by the lack of a plowed driveway.  I am not complaining, just sharing an interesting fact about my existence.  I do not feel cabin fever at all.  I have been quite busy. I also, I maintain my sanity by getting outside each and everyday.  

My chosen fun activity is snowshoeing, as you know if you follow this blog.  You will also be aware of the fact that we have quite a bit of snow.  A few days ago I blogged about my snowshoes here: http://injoyemporium.blogspot.com/2015/01/snow-snow-snowshoes-x3.html  I talked about our old gut snowshoes that have been on the wall for years.  Well, folks they are off the wall!  The snow is too deep for my lightweight modern shorties.  So I have been packing trails with the old gut ones.  I have been packing down a bit every other day and using the light ones on the off days.  It is a pretty good workout!  These snowshoes are 60 inches long...yes 5 feet!  I am 5 feet 8 inches.  Each step includes a bit of snow lifting.  I have to say it is fun to be using them again!  They are quiet and beautiful.  I feel connected with days gone by~~~

We purchased these snowshoes December 1979 at Ed's Surplus, Lynnwood, Washington for $39.99 each.  At the time it was a pretty good chunk of change for us.  We had just returned from a hitch hiking trip around Alaska and the Yukon.  We had made vows of relationship commitment while we were there and these were "wedding" gifts to our Selves.  

Here are some scenes from todays snowshoe....

Unbroken Trail

Turning Around with these Shoes is an Interesting Side Step Dance!

After Turning I Go back and Re-Pack

A Nice bit of Trail....Until the Next Storm!

I Am GRATEFUL for my Healthy Body that Allows me to Snowshoe!
Today I know my heart is healthy...
I nearly stepped on a Ruffed Grouse that exploded into the air out of the snow!!!

It is my intention, each week, 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 moments of Gratitude. 

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

Shoveling through the Books!

Hope you are not tired of seeing snow blogs...but if I'm not tired of it you shouldn't be either!

Monday night brought nearly another foot of snow!  DH had to ram his way out to get to work...good thing we have a 4-wheel drive truck!  But, that left me snowed in the next day.  Which was fine I had no intention of going out, anyways.  I am not super comfortable on the tractor so I would rather be snowed in than plow!  After shoveling I forced my Self to get down to doing my year end bookkeeping.  I will admit that I was a half a year behind with these tedious tasks.  After a day of crunching numbers, making spreadsheets, & setting up a system to (I VOW) to keep up with this year I was pretty bushed. I'd take shoveling any day to bookkeeping!  Up to date now so next week I will do the taxes!

Tuesday Morning

Path to the water faucet for getting duck water 

Guardians of the Duck House

Upper Deck Shoveled

Enjoying the view!

Now below the below deck shoveling....

Bookkeeping at the Table

Stretch break with some help from Runa!

Tea bags getting a bit more use... then back to the books!

and Now a Poem...of Course! This one is perfect!

Poem of Bookkeepers Lament

Stress from bookkeeping mess

All the hassle, all the stress,
And oh my, I’ve made a mess,

Why did I even try?
Was it time I was trying to buy?

All the rules and regulations,
And did I meet my obligations?

You see, I’ve been shoveling uphill,
Now where did I put the dreaded bill?

With dread I fear the tax man,
Oh, but next time I have a plan,

You see, I won’t be doing it anymore,
Because I know the score,

Why should I feel so low,
When I can give it to BIZGRO.

Got to say I love a company that uses a poem as an ad!

~~~~~~~~~~~My Lively Life~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fiber Art, Weaving, Hand Spun

http://www.etsy.com/shop/injoyemporium

Hand Made Eco and Upcycled Cutie Buntings, Clothes, & Toys

http://www.etsy.com/shop/InJoyEcoCutie

Vintage Collectibles, Buttons, Clothing & MORE! 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/injoytreasures

Sea Glass & Copper Wire Ornaments with things I have gathered

http://www.etsy.com/shop/InJoyGatherings

My Blog~~Makings, Musings, &  Lifestyle on the Land:  

http://injoyemporium.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/injoyemporium

http://instagram.com/injoyemporium

http://www.pinterest.com/injoyemporium

"Be Joyful because it is humanly possible"~~~Wendell Berry