One Part Inspiration...

The year that was to become, is now, the year that was.  And what a year it was!  I don't believe that any other year that I will live, will comprise so many big events.  2013 seemed to have had one of everything: births, death, (no resurrections - unless you count some of the meals I rescued), weddings, anniversaries, visits from far and near, retirements, big birthdays, additions, subtractions..and everything else in between.  As I look back, I realize that even though there were a lot of big events,  the 'in-between's' actually comprised most of the days, and this is what I share with you now: Days of Mercy At the beginning of the year, I saw this sunrise and made a picture of it - wondering if this was a sign about how the year would turn out.  I hoped it was because I had just come through a season of darkness. Rainbow Days  More harbingers appeared.  Each time I saw a rainbow, I was reminded again, that no matter what wa...

Every Christmas season, I choose carols to present at the special events.    One of the songs, which isn't sung much anymore, is " Good King Wenceslas ".   Truth be told, I have always found it sort of hum-drum. The melody is repetitious and I have never heard a version of it that captured my imagination. The story of Good King Wenceslas is about rich king who saw a poor man at The Feast of Stephen and decided to give him help. He enlists the help of his page-boy to go and bring him tangible help. Although I have sung it many times, it was always without much spirit. However, last year, I was struck by a vivid picture within the carol and it became a game-changer for me. Wenceslas and the page are about to go out into a raging storm.  I imagine it was the kind of blizzard in which you cannot see anything.  The kind of blizzard threatening the very life of the person who ventures out in it. The page says [voice trembling - my interpretation]: ...

Looks like another festive occasion, you say?  That's correct!  It was a big birthday for my mother-in-law and a great opportunity to celebrate together.  And even better, I got to use my good dishes! In case you lost the significance of that last statement, it was the first time since we left the farm four years ago, that I have been able to use them.  They have been in storage ever since then, until the week before the big wedding. I had a lot of fun laying out the flatware, and placing the plates in just the right place. I went online and re-learned how to fold the napkins into standing fans (epic fail at the elf's hat version....and this one: I added roses in a line of vases along the table for decoration.  The table isn't that big, so I decided that the guests could serve their plates in the kitchen.  I bought sparkling apple juice and filled the glasses for a toast to the birthday girl. The dinner was a great success.  The best part w...