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Sunday, January 31, 2010

Always Winter But Never Christmas






"Always winter but never Christmas" was the way C.S. Lewis described the land of Narnia when it was controlled by the White Witch.  It was cold, hard, and awful.  I know.  I've just come from there!



Last week a winter storm with sub freezing temperatures blew through the state of Oklahoma.  Part of the problem was that the day before the storm it had been 63 degrees.  That created sleet and ice rather than snow.  We received several inches of solid ice covering trees, bushes, and   everything else.  The ground was so hard one could actually walk across blades of grass without bending them.  (see close up above of grass)  This caused great weight on power lines and on tree limbs.  I have seen many trees simply split in half when they could no longer bear the weight.  The tree seen here is only bent over in half.  We are hoping it will recover.  There were also many power lines downed and even many whole poles completely fell to the ground.


About half way through the first day our electricity went out.  That meant no lights, tv, computer, cookstove, and no heat.  We layered our clothes, had cheese and crackers, lit the oil lamps and thought this would not be too much of a problem.  We would be fine and soon it would be back on.  The next morning, my honey had a great idea.  He came up with a creative way to cook and I had fried eggs and hot tea for breakfast.  That day it began to snow.  We got 6 inches of snow on top of the ice.  


Well, 27 hours later as the sun was going down for the second time, the predicted nighttime temperature was 14 degrees F., and the house was no longer retaining its previous heat.  I began to feel a bit whiney.  So, we packed everyone up - Lydia, Kenya, Mattie Rose, and the two of us and went across town to the home of some friends.  They have a lovely and quite large home.  So it was a pleasure to be there, although I'd have rather just been at my home having a normal day.  There was already another family there with their Great Pyrenees/St. Bernard mix dog and another mid sized dog.  Amazingly the dogs got along as if they had been great buds their whole lives both in the yard and in the house.  And our cats enjoyed their stay in our bedroom.  About an hour after arriving Mattie had not come out from under the bed.  I looked under at her asking if she was afraid.  She was stretched out on her back with her tummy up.  She looked at me with her head upside down and yawned.  I think she was so happy to finally be warm, she didn't even want to move.


It was so kind and generous of our friends to share their home, warmth, and food with us during our chilly ordeal.  They are just that kind of people.  It is good to know them.  Thanks John and Judy.

We checked often through the days, and even a few times in the middle of the night to see if our power was back on yet.  You see the voice mail on the land line phone is electric.  So, if it answered, it meant we had power.  When we were able to return home today we found one message on the voice mail.  It was nothing but my hysterical laughter - my response when I finally heard that long awaited voice mail recording.

So, enjoy your heaters, love your electrical lights, and appreciate that cookstove.  Its not so much fun without it.

On another note, we were reminded many times as we whined our way through this ordeal, that the people of Haiti, many people in Africa, and people in many other places are far worse off day after day than we ever were during this winter without Christmas.
Please visit the Hearts for Haiti Shop on Etsy.  100% of the proceeds from everything sold there will go to Doctors Without Borders in Haiti.  See the link in my sidebar.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Hearts For Haiti

The destruction and heartache resulting from the earthquake in Haiti has all of our attention.  Those poor people have experienced more in a few weeks than many of us will in our whole lives.  In response to this a shop has been opened on Etsy named HeartsforHaiti.  This shop is filled with items donated by hundreds of Etsy shop owners.  100% of the profits from every sale will go to Doctors Without Borders in Haiti.  I have offered 8" x 10" giclee prints from each of my shops in the HeartsforHaiti shop.  Please take time to check this shop out and see if there is something you might want to purchase for yourself or for a gift.  You can order with a good feeling knowing your purchase will be helping someone in need in Haiti.

Here are the items I have donated and also some of my favorite items from other sellers in the HeartsforHaiti shop.  See what favorites you can find in the shop.








Monday, January 25, 2010

One World One Heart


I have chosen to take part in One World One Heart this year.  It is an international blogging event and give away intended to bring bloggers together and make new connections.  The means to accomplish this is the fun of a give away.  As a participant I have chosen the above ACEO card for my give away.  This 2.5" x 3.5" aceo card is a giclee print of a portion of an original collage that I created for a friend.  The aceo card is then embellished with vintage lace and a touch of green bling making it unique.  The card is also backed with mat board for stability so you can display it on a tiny easel.

The drawing will take place on February 15 at 10:00 p.m. Central Time.  The theme this year for One World One Heart is Magic Carpet Ride.  The woman in the card has her hat on and is dressed and ready to go.  To participate comment here and tell me where you think she is going and why.  Use your imagination and let's have fun.  Make it interesting.  Be sure and give me a link or email where I can contact you should you be the winner.  I will place all the names in my heart shaped tin bowl, mix them up, and draw the winner's name.


Have fun!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Altered Bottle Challenge

The January challenge for the Etsy Melange Team was to alter a glass jar or bottle. I've been quite busy this month so I am running in here
at the last minute.  But I found this art form to be quite fun and may even be addictive.  As I worked on this bottle I found my mind racing at all the possibilities for more bottles.  Oh no!  I see another junque shopping trip on
the horizon!


Saturday, January 2, 2010

Mary Frances

I found this lovely young lady at a garage sale a few years ago.  She was quietly sitting in a box of unwanted photos just waiting for someone to choose her and offer her a chance to become something besides discarded.  It is sad how many people living real lives outside of photos also feel discarded and are waiting for a chance to become something besides discarded.  I want to begin this new year saying to you that you are a person of value.  You are a part of God's creation and you matter.  My wish for you in this new year is that you will find the peace that passes understanding.  And that you will live your life creatively and in joy.




The photo was signed "Dearest Love, Mary Frances '33".  Please feel free to download Mary Frances as my gift to you in this new year.  Use her in your art and give her a new purpose.  If you download her, I'd love for you to post a comment here about what your artistic thoughts are for her image.  

Wind and Honey Creations
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