Winter Indulgences

 

As the year winds down, the December days are long on dreary and short on light. 

 I am not someone who gets excited at the first snowfall or who anticipates long winter walks followed up by hot chocolate.  Its a beautiful image but just give me warmth and comfort through till Spring.

To that end I have been surrounding myself with the items that help me to get through the season.

 luxury sheets and a heavenly duvet

small kindnesses

bedside reading to comfort and inspire

wooly socks - naturally!

steaming cups of tea

my favourite dark chocolate

These little indulgences will not negate chilly dog walks, scraping ice off the windshield, cold fingers, icy walkways and layers and layers of clothing but they will make my winter more comfortable.  Can you keep a few items tucked away for the coldest, darkest days of winter?

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle life today.  May you indulge yourself with a few luxuries this season.

Warm wishes,

Sandra

Life's Storms

 

Listless and tired I boil the kettle yet again and hold the steaming mug between my hands and stare outside.  The December wind protests loudly, sweeping the snow off the roof into eddies that vanish as quickly as they appeared.  It is easy to get swept along with the winds, whipped this way and that.

 I'm sensitive to getting swept away, realizing this about myself I do not own a television, or listen to the news, or engage more than I have to with negative, emotionally exhausting people.  This has taken me decades to accept about myself.  During this globally challenging season, more than ever I try to be aware and respectful of my needs and hold to my healthy habits and boundaries.

Sometimes the world is overwhelming 

 

 I look around and wonder if anyone else
feels the same way I do

 

Sometimes I just want to hide away

and close my eyes and dream instead.  
There's nothing wrong with dreaming.

Once I'm rested I can accept that
even in life's challenges there is a certain beauty to be
found and a particular wisdom
that comes with having weathered life's storms.

May you be comforted and find strength to weather any storms you may be experiencing.  

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a day of gentle strength,

Sandra

 

Seeking Joy

We stood on the sidewalk chatting, it was evening and rain clouds were gathering.  Her life had not been easy in recent years.  "I used to be a joyful person."she confessed.  The sentence was brief but filled with a weight that seemed to land heavily on the sidewalk between us.  We were both quiet for a moment, this woman from my neighbourhood and I.  I spoke very quietly, "You've got to get your joy back." 
"I'm trying", she answered sincerely, "I'm trying".

I confided a painful situation from childhood, "Therapy helped finally" I said.  "How long?" she asked.  "Well it was rather like an onion" I explained, "I would have relief for a while, then realize there was another layer to deal with.  So, about twenty years in all."  She nodded, thoughtfully.

This left me thinking about happiness and joy. The roots of joy run deeper than happiness.  Happiness skims the surface of life ebbing and flowing with circumstances and mood. A small chirping bird that alights on the rooftop of my life, easily startled by a slight breeze, a fluttering leaf, a sudden movement and it may take flight.

Joy is the stray cat who sits in the garden waiting and watching, who finally trusts enough to rub against my ankle.  The soft and quiet one whose motor purrs at my arrival, who captures my heart and eventually moves in for good, curling up near me in the dark nights, whose meows greet me mornings to announce, "I'm here, you are here too."  This is joy.

My neighbour and I chatted a while longer but eventually the wind picked up, the sky darkened and we said goodbye.  Later, watching the rain drizzle down the windows, with a small cat perched on the back of the sofa beside me,  I whispered a prayer for her, that she would find the path to her joy - may we all.

Thank  you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a day of joy,

Sandra

These February Blahs

Its still early morning as I sit at my desk writing.  I've meditated, prayed, drank my share of tea and dropped off my grandchildren at school. Life is good, and yet... lately I've had that nagging, blah, mid-February sense that something is off.  Yes but what? And why can't I put a label on it and just fix it?

In this office where I pray and write I'm "wintering" my geraniums.  I'm a total novice at keeping plants over the winter but I read up a bit on the how-to's and figured I had nothing to lose and a few colourful plants to gain if I had any success.

So far I've managed to keep them alive.  This room is gloriously sunny in the afternoons (winter willing) and I water them weekly.

What I noticed this morning is that while they appear to be thriving, they are not without their own winter struggles.

See how she reaches toward the light?  All her energy seemingly poured into one stem that strains toward the warm and life-giving sun. 

Closer to her roots some of her stems and leaves are dried, withered and brown.  This is where I began to relate to Madame Geranium.  This is exactly how I'm feeling: surviving, reaching out and maintaining those good and healthy practices that keep me well; enough sleep, good food, good friends, my morning practices (yoga, prayer etc) but the hidden inner workings are a little dry and crumpled, dull, tired, blah. 

Its reassuring to remember that life is seasonal.  I look at nature and remember that this is a season of slowing down a little, allowing the rest and pockets of "hibernation" that winter calls for.
I cannot necessarily be in "full bloom" 12 months of the year.  Its ok to miss the warmth, the sun, the long days, its ok to feel a little blah and not panic, there's nothing wrong with me*.  Its just February.  I will continue to practice self-care and nurturing, I will continue to reach out to those whom I love, we will comfort and encourage one another.  Eventually the days will be longer, the huge banks of snow will melt into the sewers, the earth will smell pungent and with any luck Madame Geranium may even bloom again.

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

May you be warmed right down to your roots today,

Sandra

* please know that in some instances winter blahs may be a more serious condition that requires the help of health care professionals.  If you suspect that you are suffering from a deeper form of anxiety and/or depression, reach out today to someone you trust to discuss your concerns.

Redeemable

I spend a lot of time on my knees.

 Yes, I am a woman who prays (on my knees) but my retail job also involves a lot of bending, climbing up and down ladders, kneeling to cut lengths of carpet runners and crawling under shelving to retrieve products that have toppled over the back side of the displays.
Its not glamorous but it does keep me active and flexible.

The work means that my clothing gets put to the test.  Recently my favourite jeans developed a hole on the knee.  Hmmm... annoying, do I  get rid of them?  I debated cutting them into shorts, using the scraps for some future project or maybe salvaging them by way of getting a bit creative.  I decided to redeem them, to embroider a flower and some leaves over the tear.  I liked the results and continued the vines, flowers, eventually little hearts up the leg of the jeans.

I'm happy with the results.  I'm also reminded that when I have personally felt worn out and torn apart by some circumstance which is beyond my control, over extending myself or at times the result of my own lack of wisdom;  God never sees me as a lost cause.  He knows my limits, when I come unraveled and when I want to give up.  But He never puts me in the throw away pile.  He comes along, picks me up and gently stitches my life circumstances together one more time... in the process creating something unique and beautiful.  We are all always redeemable... no matter what.

I hope that you sense how much you are cherished and how worthy you are of being loved regardless of whether your life seems to be intact today or tattered, tired and unraveling.  Seek out the support of those who love you unconditionally, who are gentle and supportive, pray, or feel free to  connect with me in the comments section.

Thank you for stopping by my turquoise kettle life today,
Wishing you a day of love and support

Sandra

Of Sparrows and Synchronicity

I just love the synchronicity of life, the unseen web that weaves us all together.  It leaves me in awe when my very thoughts and inward questions are answered in surprising and amazing ways.

For the past two blustery and freezing days I've refilled the bird feeder that hangs on my front balcony several times.  I've watched with amusement, from the warmth of my kitchen, as dozens of sparrows flit back and forth from shrub to feeder over and over again.  Food for birds is scare in January in Canada.

I was moved by their community dining, the way they braved the plunging temperatures and fierce winds, huddling together, taking turns at the feeder and hopping on the snow covered balcony floor looking for seeds that had fallen.

Yesterday I tried taking some photos of the sparrows (an exercise in futility) and then of the patterns their feet had made in the snow (equally unsuccessful).  I had really wanted to write a post about them, but wasn't sure what.  All I knew was that I had spent a lot of time watching them, appreciating them.

Earlier today I received an e-mail from a real estate agent I'd connected with over a year ago from Prince Edward County, Ontario.  We chatted back and forth a bit, I updated her on why I was no longer looking to relocate at this time (divorced, doing work I love now...) and I mentioned my blog which would give her an idea of what had been going on.  She wrote back saying that the last blog entry reminded her of a hymn "His Eye is on the Sparrow".  "That's weird", I thought, "sparrow?".  I wasn't familiar with the hymn so I listened to it on my phone as I watched the sparrows from the window; tears welled up as the words assured of how we are known, protected and provided for.  If you're not familiar with the reference, there is a line in the Bible that goes something like this, Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet God feeds them...Fear not therefore you are of more value than many sparrows.

We can all relate to the "winter seasons" of our lives, when the winds blow and we fear that what we need may be scarce.  How reassuring it is to be reminded that we are all connected and that what we require will be provided, sometimes in the most unusual and surprising ways!

Photo courtesy of Garden Safari

Thank you for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

May you experience the joy of synchronicity,
Sandra

DIY Christmas Tree

It isn't that I don't like a real Christmas tree, the look, the scent and all those decorations but this year I wanted to do something a little different.  I looked on line for ideas for alternatives to Christmas trees but nothing inspired me.  I stood in the middle of my painting studio and figured that there had to be something on hand that would serve as my tree this year.  Leaning in a corner were four simple wooden easels.  I took three and fashioned them together into a cone shape.  I love when an idea starts sparking....

Christmas Tree using 3 wooden artist easels
My Turquoise Kettle Life

I tied the easels together using twine, then strung the mini light around and wrapped several meters of white tulle over the lights.  The finishing touch was a star which I suspended from the ceiling to hang over the top of the tree.  Yes, its a little off beat but it might just be the perfect Christmas tree for an artist.

I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas; a time of laughter and love; and may the spirit of Christmas reside in our hearts all year long.

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life.

Merry Christmas,
Sandra

Out of Hibernation

It's nearly mid-March.  How long have I been hibernating for?  Months in fact.  Months and months of pulling inward away from the world, away from the darkness, the cold and life's winter storms.  Weather patterns can be so unpredictable.  So when life's storms arrive on your door step I hope that you have your survival kit in order.  Mine contains: kindred spirits, a quiet corner, prayer (if you can manage it, and on the worst days you may not be able to), a dog to curl up with and mugs of tea.

With the arrival of March the sun is stronger, the sound of melting snow trickles to the sewers and the smell of mud reminds me that it is time to come out and play again.  That is how I found myself back in my painting studio after months of inactivity.  I tried to paint intuitively choosing colours and shapes that pleased me without giving myself any restrictions.  My goal was to play, to be happy again.

Title: Happy Flowers
40" x 40" Acrylic Mixed Media on Canvas

Detail from Happy Flowers

Today is sunny and the mercury has climbed all the way to 5 degrees Celsius; and tomorrow?  Fifteen to twenty centimeters of snow.  Oh well, today is lovely and I have decided not to let tomorrow's flurries dampen my happiness today.  I'm on my way out the door for a sunny walk with our dog.

Thank you for stopping by at My Turquoise Kettle Life today.
Wishing you a most happy day,
Sandra

Home as Haven - Part IV

Maybe you are still reeling from the thought of sorting through that part of your home that has become the dumping ground for all  matter of things that you don't want to deal with or that do not have a designated storage place.  Part - III

Because that task may actually take you days (weeks?) to complete, let's not forget to keep our spirits up.  Indulge your senses as you move from room to room looking for little touches that you can incorporate to bring warmth, light, scent, sound and texture to your winter nest, your refuge from the dark and blustery days and nights of January.

Yesterday I made of candle for our dining room using pure bees wax, the scent is sweet and reminiscent of honey, the colour is beautifully rich.  There is something special about candles that you make yourself.  As far as DIY projects go, it doesn't get much easier.

DIY Bees wax candle
Sandra King-Allikas




Pure bees wax, candle wicks, a mold,
and a double boiler for melting the wax.
S.King-Allikas

There are plenty of on-line tutorials that will guide you through the process of candle making if you are unsure.  I used an empty coffee cream container as my candle mold.

Another super easy, scent-pleasing, idea is to stick whole cloves into oranges.  You can insert them randomly or create a design.  Arrange the decorated oranges on a beautiful saucer or bowl.  The cloves pierce the orange peel releasing a delicate, natural spicy-citrus scent. 

While you have the spices out, place a cup of water in a small saucepan, sprinkle in some cinnamon, ground cloves and nutmeg.  Simmer this mixture, uncovered, over low heat (checking that it doesn't evaporate) for several hours and your home will be deliciously scented for the day.

To freshen your linen closet, place a few bars of lavender soap among your towels and sheets.  Your closet will smell lovely when you open the door and your linens will have a delicate scent .

While we're on the subject of scents, may I mention a personal pet peeve?  Yes? Thank you.  Air fresheners; in my opinion, if you are not able to create a wholesome air freshener from ingredients in your kitchen, just forget it and carry on your merry way.  Those chemical filled plug-ins, sprays, waxy twist opens, time release swooshes are unnatural, over bearing and potentially dangerous (I know, I know... what isn't potentially dangerous to our health?...but still!)  Even strongly chemically scented candles should be done away with, in my humble opinion.

Phew, I feel much better now.  Where were we?  Ah yes, keeping your spirits up and your home beautiful while you do the "heavy-lifting" of  decluttering: filing, shredding, donating, organizing, down-sizing and generally getting your junk to the curb.  If you find your determination waning, try tacking up a photo of a room that has the feel you would like to achieve in your own home.  Let this be your inspiration as you continue to liberate your home and yourself.

Thank you for stopping in at My Turquoise Kettle life today.

Wishing you a scent-uous day,

Sandra

Home as Haven - Part II

It's the beginning of January and that means that we are all spending a lot more time indoors. Our task this month as we move out of festivity mode and begin to feather our winter nest is to create harmony and authenticity in our homes. We are looking for a way to express our genuine selves and to create an environment that not only catches us, but embraces us as we cross the threshold whether after a workday or a day spent building snow forts and ice skating.

Close your eyes for a moment and picture a home that is a truly comforting winter retreat.

What do you see as you enter?

·  What aromas, colours, textures, furnishings fill the rooms?

·  Is there a special chair or window seat that you can curl up in?

·  Is the table set with floral china or rugged pottery?

·  Are there candles, rugs, or simmering potpourri?

·  Are the curtains open to appreciate the winter view or closed to create a cozy nest?

·  Is there music?

 

 

If you live in a truly four season climate your home needs to change her wardrobe as much as you do. Warning: before you dash off to Crate and Barrel or Ikea or (yikes!) the mall, stop and think for a moment; what do you already have that could be dusted off and repurposed?

·  A long woven scarf becomes a colourful table runner

·  A wooly sweater that you no longer love is cut to recover decorative pillows

·  Group together mismatched pillar candles onto a silver tray that reflects their glow as you dine

·  Relocate your favourite serving plate to your entranceway table to catch keys, sunglasses and loose change

·  Could you hang your antique quilt on the wall or leave it draped near your favourite chair?

·  Do you love your china dishes yet save them for entertaining only? Really?

C'mon you know better than that, this is all about comfort and surrounding yourself with items that you love. We've all been practical for far too long.

Let yourself imagine and dream a little. Scout out those items you love and yet never use. Incorporate fragrance, sound and beauty into your home as you set about to feather your winter nest.

Thank you for stopping by My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a warm and cozy day,

Sandra

A Puddle of Peace in a Sea of Chaos

For most people, mid-December to the beginning of January is a really busy time of year.  There are a lot of good things going on as we prepare for the holidays and the new year.  But by December 26th many of us have already had too  much of a good thing: too much food, drink, entertaining, shopping, spending, cooking, cleaning, driving, visiting.  And it isn't over yet; new year's celebrations are less than a week away which may necessitate another round of the "good things" listed above.

While I have whittled away my holiday obligations and preparations to the point that I really only do what I enjoy doing, not everyone has that luxury or freedom.  Yet even I feel ready for a little time-out by this point in the festivities.

If you can manage it, this is the perfect time for a little holiday escape.  My own will involve a mini-retreat to a luxury hotel, just one night, just me.  It isn't for long, it isn't far away.  But it is a private space with a locked door, no cell phone, no lap top, no obligations.  A time to think, pray, write, plan, reflect. 

Sometimes when actually leaving hasn't been an option, I let my family know that I'm doing an in-home retreat;(usually when my husband is travelling) and that I won't be taking calls, or e-mailing.  I make sure I have everything I need on hand and try to ensure that the house is tidy and clean.  The benefit of this type of mini-retreat is that everything is here.  If I decide to paint or putz around in the garden I can; the downside is I am still in my regular home/work environment.

Whether you can retreat away from home or even just carve out a solitary afternoon to pamper yourself, the benefits will be worth the effort to arrange it. I always come back refreshed and filled with gratitude for all of the truly good things in my life.





Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today.

Wishing you a peaceful day,

Sandra

The Winter Season



I was out taking some photos this  morning; the brittle lifelessness of the landscape  and some recent visiting to seniors' residences inspired this poem.

The Winter Season

Broken brittle branches stretch their boney arms out, reaching, longing.

She is strapped to her chair. Frozen in place, arms cast upward grasping at nothing.

 

Snow covered hydrangeas their withered heads swaying at the end of spindly branches.

He is hunched low in a wheelchair.  His grey head bobs rhythmically as he stares at a silent television.

 

Snow laden conifer branches rise and fall in the biting wind

Stooped and swaying she creeps along the corridor.

The wind blows and reveals a bit of withered grass.

I find my friend sleeping beneath a thick white blanket.

I bend to touch a frozen leaf

I reach for her hand, veined and frail.

 Ice on the ground

A tear on my cheek.

The End

Thank you for visiting My Turquoise Kettle Life today,

May you have a day that is filled with warmth and love,

Sandra