First Snow!

Our first snow happened on November 19.  It didn't last long, it never does this early, and I think that's one of the reasons I love the first snow of the season!   It's so nice to still have some leaves on the trees so we can enjoy the oranges and greens peaking out.  

 The arbutus tree really shows off it's lobed leaves with a dusting of snow.

 This plant with the "finger" type leaves is a Choisya, or Mexican mock orange, native to Mexico and the American southwest.  I bet it's wondering what the heck!!!

 As always, one on my favorite views is round the bend of the driveway, when the snow is fresh and unbroken.  Once we drive up and down a few times it loses it's appeal!

Snow makes whiteness where it falls,

The bushes look like popcorn balls.

The places where I always play,

Look like somewhere else today

~Mary Louise Allen

Holed Up ~ making Christmas cards

I've been "holed up" in my craft room making Christmas cards. At least that's what Sweetie calls it. I moved my laptop out of the way, then piled paper, pens, glues, stamps, inks and so many other things I can't see the table top. For a highly organized individual (read: anal retentive) this mess I find oddly comforting.

A wonderful youtube video I stumbled across lead to the two 3D cards above.  It was very easy and I really enjoy the results.  If you are interested check out this link: Origami Christmas Trees

The three cards above are the result of cutting up some old cards I've had laying around for years.  This was fun, and what a great way to recycle!

I had to do something with this lucious paper I found at The Papery in Victoria..  I doodled on it with one of my many gold pens.  I think I have a pen addiction....

I'm not sure about this one... so I haven't glued it down yet. I think it needs more pizzazz.

The cardinal is from a stamp set I purchased at Michaels last week.  The snowflakes too!  LOVE IT!  And it looks particularily pretty in person as it's highlighted by a Jelly Roll pen... "copper star"

This is one of my many attempts at wire words.  So cute... but I need to wrap my pliers as they removed some of the lovely color from the wire.

Talisman ~ the Hummingbird?

Have you ever noticed that certain things...like an animal or say a bird... will appear to you as you go through the daily rituals that make up your life?  Well this summer when we were doing a little driving tour of BC I noticed that everywhere I looked I saw hummingbirds.  Not live ones mind you... those had migrated by the time I really noticed what was going on.   What I saw was depictions of hummingbirds. It started with the sun catcher that sweetie bought for me in Merritt. 

I just had to bring home the temporary tattoo & matching rubber stamp I found in a little hardware/gift store in Lillooet, BC. Both are by the same BC native artist Maynard Johnny Jr.

A few weeks later at the Filberg Festival in Comox I stopped to admire the most beautiful rubber stamp collection by Lisa Yang.  She immediately hooked me by demonstrating her beautifully designed original stamps.  She picked out of quite a pile .... if you look on her website, well over 200 different sets .... the hummingbird.

So I decided a little research was in order.  I found many sites that explained the symbolism of the hummingbird as a Totem animal or Talisman as it were.  Here is an excerpt of one I quite enjoyed.

"The hummingbird symbolizes many different concepts. Because of its speed, the hummingbird is known as a messenger and stopper of time.

It is also a symbol of love, joy, and beauty. The hummingbird is also able to fly backwards, teaching us that we can look back on our past. But, this bird also teaches that we must not dwell on our past; we need to move forward. When the hummingbird hovers over flowers while drinking nectar, we learn that we should savor each moment, and appreciate the things we love.

It is not commonly known that the fluttering wings of the hummingbird move in the pattern of an infinity symbol - further solidifying their symbolism of eternity, continuity, and infinity."

So as far as symbols go this is one I can embrace.  It seems as if we are bombarded with the idea that we must live in the moment, don't get caught in the past with "what if's" and "if I had only ..." or maybe worse yet, always thinking the future holds whatever it is to make us happier, more sucessfull, thinner :) ... you know the "one day soon" that we like to tell ourselves.  I think that we should savour the moment, learn from our past, and look forward to the future all at the same time. How hard can that be?