13...five~

at the end of each day

i am left wondering

where has the time gone

i remember all to often when i was little

hearing the repetitive words from older ones

how time goes by so quickly the older you get

and i would sit there and think

why would it be any different

we are all living within the same time frame

yet

it seems with each passing day

those ticks

seem to be tocking

at a much faster speed

13

trying to accomplish as much as i can

being wiser with my minutes at hand

productivity flourishing

creativity manifesting

finishing and completing things that have sat far to long

packages sent

anxiously awaiting to see what comes forth in the mail

an anticipated box of chocolates today

a trip to the city

glimpses of sun

 a much needed bounce to my step

garden seeds sprouting

hopes for spring

Harvey MacKay once said:  

"Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back."

loved stitched...

because sometimes

just sometimes

you need a little one to love

one wee little stitching with ♥

his heart complete

now for his feet

one foot

two feet

look at me now

i am almost complete

one wee little

carefully adds

his final touches of ♥

and the last of his stitches are all sewn up 

hey wait

i need my eyes

phew

i thought you forgot

now

i can see you

looking back at me

one wee little chose

to leave him without his nose

i am sure he won't mind 

just as long as

he is l♥ved

Morrie Schwartz once said:

"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love and to let it come in."

for one who loves just as i...

there is one who shares a love of these

just as much as

my love...littles...and i

years ago

when a loved one passed

 a heart rock lay waiting

minutes later

on the porch of my parents house

for us

these are touchstones found

left waiting to be discovered

a sign

a gift

a reminder

that though she is no longer here with us 

her presence remains

Rose Kennedy once said:

“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.”

sweet saturday...

dutch babies

a glimpse while it was cooking

noted as a weekend favorite

i found a different version here

 made a few changes

coconut oil instead of butter

and mine wanted theirs without the blueberries

once out of the oven

it sinks down in the middle

reminds me of a huge style popover

served family style

just a dusting of powder sugar was all that was need

to make saturday morning ever so sweet

Laura Ingalls Wilder once said:

“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.”

13...four~

i realized long ago

you can plan your life

down to the finest detail

but the reality of living is

life has its own plans

regardless of our wants and needs

it is going to take us where we are meant to be

13

unexpected events arising

yet all dealing as if there were no change

life shifting

moving with ease

a welcomed stay

humble little littles

steam rising

glimpses of sun shining

winter purging

layers and layers of clothes

chilly fingers and toes

early nights

 warm down comforters

Joseph Campbell once said:

"We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us."

hearts forever breaking...

our hearts will break

 at least once in our life

inevitable 

its a connection

regardless of who

a sense of pain

something we will all feel

yet through such grief

no matter how rough the time may seem

our heart 

remains forever

strong

John J Murphy once said

"There is no limit to the heart. It's energy is universal. Time and time again, it empowers us to manifest purpose and vision into extraordinary results."

something right...

when you wake up

and find something sweet had been made

while you were sound asleep

a moment

when you realize

you've done something right

wise words...

i stumbled upon this

while re~visiting my ~likes~ on pinterest

a forgotten one

that holds a tremendous amount power

within those words written

something to  remember 

and 

carry with us throughout our days

i think it had been my sister who shared something along the lines of

it takes a person seven years to erase a negative comment from their mind

imagine

13...three~

driving along a road i have driven for almost nine years

and never once seeing this old truck and tree

its a road i travel down

most often when in a hurry

my mind is usually consumed by getting or accomplishing the task at hand

yet for some strange reason

this time around

it stood out ever so clear

13

opening my eyes

clearing my mind

regardless of head pounding

stuffiness

sneezing like mad

going through tissue at an excessive rate

completed a task at hand

success on behalf of my photographic way

{who ever you are...where ever you are...my deepest of deep gratitude}

fingers entangled in wool and tweeds

rice pudding piping hot 

fresh lemon tea

kindness and compassion

thankful for the time to rest

there is a saying:

"Slow down...Rushing means you miss what's right here."

sunday's snow...

was one of which had been waiting

a long overdue jaunt needed to be taken

it is not too often that i am the one being captured

but thanks to one of my littles

and a gift from his nana

i think there may be more moments that arise

she who is rarely without a pair of needles and tea

as the years have gone by

a sign we've come to know

when we see a dusting of snow across the land

there most definitely will be

good times to be had

as one hopped out to lock the hubs

i savored a quick moment to capture the trees

the road we chose

a treasure of ours

it looked quite promising

some years it just isn't so

and we end up having to travel farther down

but today was our day

there was not a doubt in our minds

the only problem to be forsaken 

is

with adventures comes patience

being a husband and little of mine

is surely no small task

and it may not always be fun

it requires each to dig down deep

and pull from the very depths of their core

a tremendous amount of patience to behold

this is the something they have come to know and accept

so while i am snapping away

they sit with grace and ease

and the only words that are spoken

are

"did you happen to look left"

or

"hey mama...did you see"

one wee littlest yells from the back

"just around the corner...right"

and sure enough a few feet away

our truck comes to a stop

and within a matter of seconds

the boards and toys come flying out

up we three go

climbing the hill

at the top

one wee little has a brilliant thought

"hey mama...lets all three go down"

i take the back with one wee littlest in the middle and one wee little takes the front

error on our behalf

really i should have known this was trouble

if only you could have seen him fly

we hit a bump and off he flew

laughing all the way

now that did not frighten one wee littlest

he turns to me and says

"mama...i want to fly like baba did"

and fly he did

over and over 

they came flying down

then one wee little switched to a board

which sparked a thought'

"hey papa...why don't you go down"

so up he climbed and down he went

hence going a wee bit to fast

another not so wise moment at hand

going down on one wee littles board

truly not meant for a grown man

amist all their fun

he and i

we sat quietly together

savoring a few spare moments

and watched the vivaciousness of our littles

oh the spirit of life and living children bring forth

a blessing that never seems to stop

and all to soon

our time was calling

as the sun slowly starting sinking

down into the horizon

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said:

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead, where there is no path and leave a trail"

a morning freeze...

presents a delicate white

frosted kisses 

a reminder that winter is the season

though there has been no flakes to fall

a gift that glistens is there to be seen

a brightness that shines within the morning light

scattering a soft hazy glow

that lingers through the dawn of day

J.R.R. Tolkien once said: 

"Deep roots are not reached by frost"

remember woods of winter

she is done

you can find her here in my Etsy store

she offers the gift of warmth

and may help

keep the frost from reaching your roots

13...two~

i had spoke with one yesterday

exclaiming i would much rather enjoy a wee bit of sun or sparkling white snow

13...two

rains that seem like torrential yet are merely a pour

winds that howls

pine cones dropping as if the sky was falling

trees dancing about as they sway to and fro

chimes by which echo all through the night

fires crackling

warmth arising

a bounty of blankets

a continual cup of tea

writing of letters

revisiting pictures from the past

old forgotten memories

happiness abounds through the dismal winter days

Bob Dylan once said:

"Some people feel the rain

Others just get wet."

quite frankly

i have moved past feeling the rain

and am down right just getting wet!

with dinner comes paint...

one wee little: mama

me: ya

one wee little: you know what

me: what

one wee little: it feels like a painting kind of day

me: does it now

one wee little: yep, what do you say

me: well, i guess painting it will be

me: but first can i finish making dinner and then we can paint

one wee little: can't you do both

me: well i guess i can

one wee little walks over to the fridge and grabs himself a huge handful of cranberries

me: what are you going to do with those, might i ask

one wee little: {looking at me as if i had no brain} paint mama, i'm gonna paint

me: oh, i see...what colors would you like

one wee little: how's about green, gold, you know, the shiny kind and black

me: green, black and the shiny kind of gold, huh?

one wee little: yep, oh and mama, can i have a a piece of the carrot your cutting?

me: a piece of carrot...for eating or painting

one wee little: painting, remember we're painting

one wee little: oh and i need a piece of that celery too

me: one piece of celery and carrot coming up

one wee little: thanks mama

me: no problem

i sat for a moment and watched the creator at hand

fascinated always i am 

to watch my wee little at work

one wee little: look mama...abstract

me: lookin good buddy, lookin good

though i thought to myself...it was turning out quite cute at first

but tis not my process

nor my art

one wee little: mama...aren't you going to paint

me: well dinner is done, so i most definitely can

one lesson this wee little has given me

is...it's not  so much about the finished piece 

as it is the process

it is within those moments

that teaches us to be impertinent  

just as a child

their mind allotting the freedom to play

one wee little: are you painting the sky

me: honestly buddy, i am not quite sure...but i  guess the sky it could be

one wee little: could you imagine a gold filled sky

me: wouldn't that be a dream

one wee little: you are painting trees...will you teach me how to paint a tree like that

me: most definitely so

so on this day

i say awaken your mind

rekindle with the child of what once was 

seek it out

go knockin on it's door

dust off the cobwebs that have collect over time

shake off the fears that came to be

restrained by an adult like mind 

hold no reservations

have no hesitation

don't waste away time

forgetting what it means to play

as my littles forever are teaching me

life is  found in the process of doing

not in the finished piece

perseverance...

perseverance

[pur-suh-veer-uh ns]

noun

steady, persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state

especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles or discouragement

theology

continuance in a state of grace to the end

fall

is a season of the past

as winter has came

and taken her place

all have fallen

except this one

it has hung

 intertwined

 between the branches

unwilling to let go

John Quincy once said:

"Patience and Perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish"

woods of winter...

as i knit

i imagine walking the woods...

shades of browns and grays and soft subtle sweets hues of pink filling my eyes... bleakness...starkness...the land surrounding...tis a silent hush...sleeping ones tending their spirit at best...resting quietly...calmly...no stirring found...desolate scenes left  standing from the winds and rain...the frigid ice and snow...yet the river rages...dancing upon the rocks below...

Ruth Stout once said:

"There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you. In Spring, Summer and Fall people sort of have an open season on each other  Only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quieter stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself."

12+4...

one questioned asked at the start of each new year

12 cards drawn

with the intention of adding 1 more

 13

representing this year that has come to be

the most fascinating thing

at the start of each new year

i face all the cards back to the same position

a newness kind of feel...per say

my first two cards drawn

were reversed as reversed could lay

when reaching for the 13th card 

4 came stumbling out

i truly believe there is no willing the cards you draw

its plain and simple

they.will.have.their.own.way

Karl Von Clausewitz once said:

"If the mind is to emerge unscathed from the relentless struggle with the unforeseen, two qualities are indispensable: first, an intellect that, even in the darkest hour, retains some glimmerings of the inner light which leads to the truth; and second, the courage to follow this light wherever it may lead."

13...

there is no snow surrounding us...just a chill that lingers

cool crisp clean...a winters morn...dusty white...sparkling as dawn turns her hands to day

13

darkness...yet knowing light will come

warmth from a fire still faintly burning

the smell of coffee

the taste of licorice root tea

warm cozy maryjanes

the feel of wool wrapped around my fingers

wooden needles clicking

slowness sinking in

words from old friends near and far

spirits lifted 

comfort in the unknown

solace 

solitude slipping slowly away

William Powell once said:

"Cultivate solitude and quiet and a few sincere friends, rather than a mob merriment, noise and thousands of nodding acquaintances."

forgiveness...fault...freedom...

over and over these words have came forth in my mind.

as 2013 has come to be

forgiveness

fault

freedom

three little words i wish to help guide me gracefully through this new year.

for·give·ness

  /fərˈgivnis/

Noun

The action or process of forgiving or being forgiven.

fault  

/fôlt/

Noun

An unattractive or unsatisfactory feature,

esp. in a piece of work or in a person's character.

Verb

Criticize for inadequacy or mistakes.

Synonyms

noun

defect - flaw - mistake - error - shortcoming - failing

verb 

criticize

free·dom

  /ˈfrēdəm/

Noun

The power or right to act, speak,

or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

i am at

fault 

for not always releasing the negative...keeping it tucked deeply within...releasing it in moments of anger...healthy for any relationship...i think NOT.

these past 360 days 

forgiveness

is a word i have shared a multitude of times not only with myself but for many who surround me.

 it has become crystal clear that until we fully grasp

forgiveness

in our heart and in our mind we can not forget the past mistakes or moments that lay festering...life is in and with each moment...it comes...it goes...and i am now giving myself the

freedom

to unchain myself from feeling at

fault

for the actions and choices of others...i am giving myself a chance to attain

forgiveness

each and every day that i wake...i am allowing myself the

freedom

to not feel as if i was the cause or blame for the

faults

of others...the

freedom

to walk away from the negativity...there is no one or nothing in this world that can bring true happiness within... it comes from our own core...tis something we are all at 

fault

 for...trying ever so hard to find things that create happiness...we have choices that flourish with each tick of the clock and i will walk through the days of 2013 with

forgiveness...fault...freedom

felt deep down and no one can take away such. 

Ivern Ball once said:

“Most of us can forgive and forget; we just don't want the other person to forget that we forgave”

where the road shall rise to meet us...

today...tomorrow...and all those that shall come forth

 this is the place where you will find me

to a new beginning...journey...voyage

Erich Fromm once said:

“Let your mind start a journey through a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be...Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before.”