By the time I neared the end I had in mind "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie ..." 😂
Love see those old photos of your family! And thank you for the shout-out. I am indeed slightly obsessed with the light here, maybe related to the fact that I love love love winter. I sympathize with people who struggle with the short days, cold weather, and gray skies, but I am not one of them. Relentless summer days is when I shut down; this is my alive them. :)
I have come to love winter too! Wearing soft, cozy things. Hot tea. It feels like a time to both bundle up and walk around as well as be inside making things. A time to be slower. Gee, maybe I should move further north so I can enjoy more of it.
Fires, cocoa. And being outside! I like all the snow things, and walking around when the sun sparkles on it or later when it's not overcast and the stars are so bright ...
I love American Christmas photo cards. British Christmas cards are all illustrations of impossible Victorian snow scenes or elegant woodcuts of secular wildlife. No photos: we're British! Which has always seemed a shame. I like to see how folk look now.
That is really interesting -- the differences, which I didn't know about. Certainly not every one is devoted to this kind of yearly familial portraiture -- but once it is a thing, it's hard to let go of. Also interesting to think that all the my growing cards were pre-internet (so of course social media), so it was the one opportunity we had to see one another's faces. Now, with images all over the place, I lean toward comics -- though wouldn't mind being good enough at making elegant woodcuts to combine the two!
You have snow! That is a super rare occurrence down here in South Carolina. Because of this, we don't have snow plows and the like. Everything shuts down since nobody seems to know what to do except walk around in wonder at the beautiful, white blanket covering everything.
And what is that lit up, collar thing that Beryl is wearing?? I must get one for my two. And the photographs... gosh, those are precious!
Cards... I've never been big into them. I don't remember my family sending them either. Maybe that's it... you're either a card family or you're not. However, I do like the idea of hand painted cards. I think I may adopt this idea! But not the block printing... I would impale myself on the carving instrument, I just know it!
Otherwise, (and I may be reading into something that isn't there...) it seems a lot of people are having a bit of a tough time getting into the Christmas/holiday spirit. Maybe we're all just collectively tired from all the stuff going on in the world. Yet, there are always creative things to get into, fatigued or not. To my way of thinking, it's a two-fer... one can make something and then gift it, receiving both the joy of making AND giving.
the light up collar is a thing I found at the pet store. My son and daughter-in-law had them and I realized how handy it is --not only so cars can see us, but also other early morning walk/runners. I actually got it after we inadvertently scared someone who hadn't seen or heard us coming. No need for that!
And yes to the helpfulness of leaning toward the handmade in the making/ giving exchange. Nicely put!
Ooh, I got a word for you: Hypnopompic--the waking up state. (The glorious equivalent is hypnogogic--the falling asleep state.) These are two immensely creative states--they are times when the inner editor has been quieted, and you are less likely to dismiss a blissful idea. I get my best book ideas when brushing my teeth in the morning--my creativity likes the hypnopompic state. You too, I'm thinking. Love this post; I'm working on my card today, too--which will not actually include a card this year and only a newsletter! Smooch!
I'm with you on footnote #7! I can find more ways to make a simple project not so fast and not so simple.😣😣 And you remind me, it is time to get going on my cards! I still make my cards via photos and PowerPoint, write on and send with a stamp.... Maybe because of the delight I have when I get a USPS letter?? 😊
Thanks for this reminder about the pleasure of letters. Turns out I accidentally got envelopes with my cards (online ordering can be fraught), so stamps, letters and envelopes it is! And yes to however the cards are made. Pleasurable process adds so much, eh?
Deborah, I know this time of year is hard after losing your husband. I’m still grappling with it, too, but it’s been almost 4 years for me. Lean on family and friends as needed to get you through the bad days. Just know my heart is with yours as you navigate the new life pathway you now have. It will get better, it just takes time. Love to you and your family.
And to both of you -- yes to all of it. It's astonishing what ends up being helpful. Indeed, I think one of the most helpful things has been practicing paying minute attention to the tiny lifts to the heart and lightning of the spirit. And then (if possible) try to pause and "grab it by the tail" for future reference. Thinking of you.
Love this - your photos of your Dad are eerily evocative of mine, right down to the pipe.
How perfect Elisha. That delights me more than I can say. And perhaps not surprising.
Love this so much!
Just lovely to dilute the short days and long nights. Thank you
By the time I neared the end I had in mind "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie ..." 😂
Love see those old photos of your family! And thank you for the shout-out. I am indeed slightly obsessed with the light here, maybe related to the fact that I love love love winter. I sympathize with people who struggle with the short days, cold weather, and gray skies, but I am not one of them. Relentless summer days is when I shut down; this is my alive them. :)
I have come to love winter too! Wearing soft, cozy things. Hot tea. It feels like a time to both bundle up and walk around as well as be inside making things. A time to be slower. Gee, maybe I should move further north so I can enjoy more of it.
Fires, cocoa. And being outside! I like all the snow things, and walking around when the sun sparkles on it or later when it's not overcast and the stars are so bright ...
Just this -- exactly.
Very cool post about your cards thru time! Love your drawings.
I love American Christmas photo cards. British Christmas cards are all illustrations of impossible Victorian snow scenes or elegant woodcuts of secular wildlife. No photos: we're British! Which has always seemed a shame. I like to see how folk look now.
That is really interesting -- the differences, which I didn't know about. Certainly not every one is devoted to this kind of yearly familial portraiture -- but once it is a thing, it's hard to let go of. Also interesting to think that all the my growing cards were pre-internet (so of course social media), so it was the one opportunity we had to see one another's faces. Now, with images all over the place, I lean toward comics -- though wouldn't mind being good enough at making elegant woodcuts to combine the two!
You have snow! That is a super rare occurrence down here in South Carolina. Because of this, we don't have snow plows and the like. Everything shuts down since nobody seems to know what to do except walk around in wonder at the beautiful, white blanket covering everything.
And what is that lit up, collar thing that Beryl is wearing?? I must get one for my two. And the photographs... gosh, those are precious!
Cards... I've never been big into them. I don't remember my family sending them either. Maybe that's it... you're either a card family or you're not. However, I do like the idea of hand painted cards. I think I may adopt this idea! But not the block printing... I would impale myself on the carving instrument, I just know it!
Otherwise, (and I may be reading into something that isn't there...) it seems a lot of people are having a bit of a tough time getting into the Christmas/holiday spirit. Maybe we're all just collectively tired from all the stuff going on in the world. Yet, there are always creative things to get into, fatigued or not. To my way of thinking, it's a two-fer... one can make something and then gift it, receiving both the joy of making AND giving.
the light up collar is a thing I found at the pet store. My son and daughter-in-law had them and I realized how handy it is --not only so cars can see us, but also other early morning walk/runners. I actually got it after we inadvertently scared someone who hadn't seen or heard us coming. No need for that!
And yes to the helpfulness of leaning toward the handmade in the making/ giving exchange. Nicely put!
Here’s one with 4+ stars on Amazon but I have no idea if it’s the same as Beryl’s https://a.co/d/43qH1fA
How considerate of you, Kelly. Thank you!! And Happiest of Holidays to you!
Ooh, I got a word for you: Hypnopompic--the waking up state. (The glorious equivalent is hypnogogic--the falling asleep state.) These are two immensely creative states--they are times when the inner editor has been quieted, and you are less likely to dismiss a blissful idea. I get my best book ideas when brushing my teeth in the morning--my creativity likes the hypnopompic state. You too, I'm thinking. Love this post; I'm working on my card today, too--which will not actually include a card this year and only a newsletter! Smooch!
Oooh, thanks for that. Hypnopomic!
And your teeth must be extra lovely (and happy) since you are fairly bursting with excellent book ideas.
Looking forward to your newsletter -- more words from you are ALWAYS a plus. xoxo
I love your family pictures and you all look so happy and fun. Have a lovely winter.
Thank you Judy. And you too. Happy almost Solstice!
A fabulous missive Sarah :)
I positively love the meanderings of or should that be in The Gusset. Your chain of thoughts is engrossing. Keep up writing and sketching.
Gosh thanks Ruth. It is my hope and wish indeed, that I can continue. And your words help!
I'm with you on footnote #7! I can find more ways to make a simple project not so fast and not so simple.😣😣 And you remind me, it is time to get going on my cards! I still make my cards via photos and PowerPoint, write on and send with a stamp.... Maybe because of the delight I have when I get a USPS letter?? 😊
Thanks for this reminder about the pleasure of letters. Turns out I accidentally got envelopes with my cards (online ordering can be fraught), so stamps, letters and envelopes it is! And yes to however the cards are made. Pleasurable process adds so much, eh?
Good luck!!
I just love going along for the ride through your thinking process with all the added visuals of art and photos.
The pictures of young Sarah are priceless. Thank you for sharing.
You always manage to touch my heart--I'm also a new widow and somedays, The Gusset is all that keeps me going...
Deborah, I know this time of year is hard after losing your husband. I’m still grappling with it, too, but it’s been almost 4 years for me. Lean on family and friends as needed to get you through the bad days. Just know my heart is with yours as you navigate the new life pathway you now have. It will get better, it just takes time. Love to you and your family.
And to both of you -- yes to all of it. It's astonishing what ends up being helpful. Indeed, I think one of the most helpful things has been practicing paying minute attention to the tiny lifts to the heart and lightning of the spirit. And then (if possible) try to pause and "grab it by the tail" for future reference. Thinking of you.