Traveling Chariot

Warmest wishes for a beautiful, joyous, & magical Christmas and holiday season. May family, friends, & good cheer bring light to the dark winter. May a hearth fire burn in the heart of your home all though the dark nights, may stories be told by the young and the old. May traditions be kept like heirlooms & new ones be made, too. A bright New Year to you all.

Yesterday morning was such a gift, a spring morning in the midst of winter. The earth was wet from overnight rains, the air was mild with a gusty breeze. The sky was a dance between purple cloud and golden sun. The usually soft, muted colors of winter became more saturated, the moss like jewels, the clinging oak leaves like amber stained glass.   Winter is not all gray. The cedar trees are heavy with blue fragrant berries and the meadows are peppered with red rosehips, golden grasses, and plum red berries from the Buckbrush (Coralberry). I collected several bunches from these plants to make winter arrangements. The soft red, green, and blue make a subtle statement that’s a little more rustic than Christmas’s traditional red and green, gold and silver.   Yesterday’s wind blew in a cold front and a blanket of cloud cover and has only gotten stronger since. The air has regained its winter chill and the wind howls a solemn tune as the days shorten and winter solstice nears. The mo

This window was painted for Aurora Pet Salon. I hope it brings some holiday cheer to the shop's customers and all those driving by. Stay warm this winter!  

As Winter gears up for cold, I don hat, scarf, gloves, and coat to paint some festive windows in the chill of December air. Here is my first of the season - a winter scene with old world charm.  

  December is upon us. It should not surprise us, but always it does. And the New Year is equally sneaky to arrive before our stunned eyes. So, I am trying to slow December down, a difficult task to be sure. We recently equipped our hearth to burn fires safely and efficiently so this is the beginning of my efforts: warm fires, low lights, soft music (Celtic holiday tunes now). For many, this season is full of hustle bustle, a race to the finish, and an inevitable crash after all is said and done. In the past years I have slowed my pace and tried to create my own traditions, ones that allow me enjoy the season, not survive it. I have tried to replace bought gifts with something handmade, or a deed, or time spent with those I love. This doesn't always free up more time, but time is better spent, more enjoyable, memorable, and fulfilling. Along with gifts I am making for my family, I have projects to finish for others who are less crafty yet still want a touch of handmade and one