In the Stable

December 25, 2010 by Sheila Leave a comment

For a long time I wanted a Nativity scene, and several years ago I suddenly realized I might make one myself from stuffed wool felt. My delusional scheme was to create one figure each Advent until we would eventually have a vast elaborate setup resembling the creches of Italy and Provence and the angel tree at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Except in wool felt.

However, once I had completed the Holy Family, a donkey, a shepherd, and a sheep, and my husband had built a stable from branches and a lovely fragment of bark (thanks, Leah!), the time available for handwork had pretty much evaporated, aside from necessities like sock-mending and the occasional Halloween costume. Perhaps one day…

I wish you all a joyful, loving, and peaceful Christmas.

Ann

Stephanie

Welcome Yule!

December 24, 2010 by Sheila Leave a comment

From my sketchbook, a medieval Revels.

And so the Shortest Day came, and the year died.

And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world

Came people singing, dancing,

To drive the dark away.

They lighted candles in the winter trees;

They hung their homes with evergreen;

They burned beseeching fires all night long

To keep the year alive.

And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake

They shouted, reveling.

Through all the frosty ages you can hear them

Echoing behind us—listen!

All the long echoes, sing the same delight,

This Shortest Day,

As promise wakens in the sleeping land:

They carol, feast, give thanks,

And dearly love their friends,

And hope for peace.

And now so do we, here, now,

This year, and every year.

Welcome Yule!

—Susan Cooper

Heavenly Light

December 23, 2010 by Sheila 1 Comment

After my husband and I had completely given up hoping for another child, along came our wonderful little late-in-life surprise, making us a foursome and our solitary first-born a grateful Big Brother. Who could guess looking at this sweetly sleeping 6-day old babe that she would unfold into our exuberant, passionate, imaginative, joyful twelve-year-old who sings, leaps and dances through life, and who continues to bring wonder and surprise into every single day. Happy Birthday, dear Eileen! We are so glad you danced down the rainbow bridge to us.

Eileen

Rainbow Bridge

December 22, 2010 by Sheila Leave a comment

Twelve years ago today I was in labor. I had been in labor since dawn of the winter solstice the day before. We said: A solstice baby! Uh, no, guess not. Labor would continue for another two days… My daughter was contemplating the looooong journey ahead of her.

Then she was ready. You go girl!

These sketches are from a baby journal I began after our daughter was born. Not the same day though.

This is a verse we say on the eve of a birthday (filling in the appropriate ages):

When I have said my evening prayer,

And clothes are folded on the chair,

And mother switches off the light,

I’ll still be [ ] years old tonight.

But from the very break of day,

Before the children rise and play,

Before the purple turns to gold,

Tomorrow I’ll be [ ] years old.

[ ] kisses when I wake,

[ ] candles on my cake.

—Anonymous

Winter Solstice/Lunar Eclipse

December 21, 2010 by Sheila 1 Comment

So… did you get up to see it this time?

Paint-Your-Own

December 20, 2010 by Sheila Leave a comment

Paint-Your-Own ceramic places do a booming business during the holiday season. My son has a growing collection of dishes imaginatively painted by his sister—if he ever gets married, he and his bride won’t need to buy a single dessert plate. (I hope she will like plenty of color.)

For those without inspiration, there is a large selection of mass-produced figurines. But we always go for the plain white dishes. I’m sorry, but I pity the grandparent who finds the Little Mermaid paperweight under the tree.

This sketch is from another Christmas season, so I’m not spoiling any surprises.