Christmas Wrap Up 2022

 

WE DID IT!!!

We pulled off a Christmas!

Still not able to gather etc…

Last year we didn’t even put up a tree…

The results were dire

A depressed and empty existential crisis 

That I was determined to avoid the repeat of!

Look! Even the cat had fun…

Doesn’t take much, but y’know what I’m saying…

Lil felty folk 

Snagged the very second they were on sale late in summer.

This wee one holding a star has been here for two years…

Waiting to be in its glory…

He looks so happy.

Luna moth because they hang out here in our woods…

Scarab, because they are witchy and beautiful…

Squirrel, because we didn’t have one yet…

Husband surprised me with this lil beauty.

7 pointed star

Because if you know…

Lil mouse, so cute with glasses and bouquet.

This bee with its jewels 

Love it!

It’s been waiting for over a year as well, just watching through the glass of our kitchen hutch… 

Happy black cat is ready for the holiday party 

With pie in hand 

Hopefully for sharing 

And they have a lil antler headband on 

Precious.

Planning ahead for next year…

Before Christmas eve 

Stuff was on sale!

We snagged this for even cheaper than that $79 label!

$45!

We were struggling 

to get all of our ornaments 

onto this pencil style tree…

I had only brought up a select amount of baubles.

We have a couple of other faux trees…

But they are table top types… 

Still not able 

To hold 

All that we have collected 

Over the years…

Fingers crossed 

that the problem is solved with this new tree…

We loved changing up the lights, sometimes every night…

We finally tried the Empress Gin

And the way it changes color when 

Mixed with tonic!

Very yummy with the lime tonic… 

Perfect sipping moments were had! 

We made a favorite meal!

Baked pasta!

We made it together as well, which made it so much quicker 

And easier! 

We assembled two of these…

And I’m about to go get the other one out of the freezer to thaw

For the new years cozy times!

Planning…

Who would have thought 

It would set us up so well… 

And Mr Kit has his first sweater.

Like most cats, 

wearing clothes doesn’t come automatically…

But 

he did appreciate the warmth 

while he napped.

Then 

he just slinked his way out 

as he got up 

to go about his business… 

lol

All in all 

We planned ahead 

Built our lists of must haves 

     for our idea of a fun Christmas…

I began saving up some cash 

way back 

in prep…

And we both made some wishlists

So there wasn’t a lot of shopping 

Or wondering 

What 

or how much 

the other person was buying etc…

We put a couple of big things 

A couple of medium things 

And

A bunch of small stuff 

As well as stocking stuffers in the list

And 

For approximately $200 each

We had a really successful 

and fun time 

Waiting till Christmas morning 

In our pjs

Looking at the lil pile of gifts…

It’s almost enough to distract me 

from noticing the laundry basket in the background 

Lol

And I’m definitely glad 

that I spent a lot of time 

collecting 

wrapping paper…

Every time I stood in line at tj maxx…

Always gravitating toward 

The black and white 

With bits of metallic…

Well played past self…

Well played…

And even though this holiday was not as originally planned.

Missing our lovely Charli Girl

So much

And our hearts 

felt already bruised 

by the passing of Mr Mars 

Back in August…

It was more important 

than ever 

to have plans.

Something to look forward to 

And curate for ourselves. 

To make sure we had a solid bridge 

To carry us 

From one event in life 

to the next chapter 

Or challenge…

Whatever may come.

Odd how a few lights 

And 

Knick knacks

On a tree

Drinks and snacks 

Can rejuvenate.

We feel renewed.

Now 

we watch the weather 

And 

The birds 

And enjoy 

as the sun starts to fill the sky 

With light 

     Longer and longer…

And start planning plans for next year. 

Happy and healthy times to you all!

x~J 

Simple and Odd ~ She Has Flown

The days have been simple and odd. 

Our dear soft lady has flown. 

Her frailty grew throughout the last 3 years, as did our resolve to retain the undying and loving commitment we had for her. As she left one aspect of living behind her, and then another, and another… we built and rebuilt ourselves around her and her needs. We would not ascend the stairs, we would not be on the couch, the rubs, the tubs, clips, and conversations became fewer, and scarce. 

The greatest gifts and trials came from my knowing her. 

The tangible context that had run through the fabric of our lives in this period, like a thread. Not holding it together, but adorning it, like a fine embroidery. Telling us for the rest of our days of the sweet stories long passed. 

It may feel like a disconnection out of sync with its full concept.  Maybe spelling out only a phrase, that once acted as a daily mantra. Edges frayed, and bits lost to wear and time. The original message obscured to you. 

I squint now at this muddled joy, gaps left by the integrity, or lack there of… 

Having leapt through this passage so quick, I now dream of the cherished freckles that gathered on that muzzle, through a lifetime of chewing on sticks while basking in the sun. Covered in leaves and pine needles, only taking a break to drink in the breeze and all of the data that could fit in a contented whiff. 

~Charli Girl~

Willful beastie 

And compulsive cuddler 

Sweet like chocolate 

Playful and smart

You will always know 

That we miss you 

By the hole you’ve left 

In our hearts

Christmas is Coming!!! 2022!!!

 

The plan is to  B E    F E S T I V E  !!!!!!!!!!

I am much more of a Solstice Celebration person myself…

Yuletide and all that… BUT! I will take my festive days where I can dammit! Lol! 

The outdoor color changing spotlights are out, as well as the bulbs inside… it’s hard to stick with one scheme… every night a different shade then… sure, why not. No rules, just fun. And our blue spots shining up into the flanking trees, with the café light golden glow… now do we put the energy into putting the light up deer out… they are needing a fix up… glow up…? Makeover…? Could we make them look fancier…??? 

Charli Girl gets her stitches out today!!! So excited for her! And after her pain issues from last week… I took some time yesterday and built her an extension platform from our old fairy bench. Worried that a regular dog ramp might not go over well with her… one is on order, it folds and works to help get her into the car, again fingers crossed that she doesn’t mind it… 

Borrowed all of the bits of concrete bricks that we had laying around for the platform situation… that path deserves the goshen stone exclusivity treatment… 

Anyway, the new back step situation has a whimsical quality that kinda hits the spot, and oddly looks like it’s always been there. 

And the race to tie up all the loose ends outside before the snow comes and the ground freezes is still ongoing. We made a huge amount of headway last weekend. Taking advantage of the good weather and getting some items checked off the list, like the huge string of globe café lights… 

We finally had enough shepherds hooks, and I had lopped enough of the bittersweet and raspberries to extend the back yard enough to make them the perfect length! 

The yard out back was all of 10 feet long when we moved here almost 7yrs ago. With its saplings and random bits of shrubbery… no grass, just weeds and pine needles. Now we have gained about 4 and a half feet each year to add up to 38 feet! As exhausting as it seems to have to keep lopping at invasive vines and saplings year after year… knowing that we are making progress, was so worth the time it took to do it. 

Now I am starting to dig out the Christmas trees from the upstairs storage & make an intro for the VLOGMAS videos! 

End of the year! And the excitement I feel when the solstice marks the last day of the darkest days! More light will start coming our way! 

Ooooh! And the favorite food shopping that happens!!!!

Those soft pretzel bites from Whole Foods that we had last year, are definitely on the must have list! 

Mmmmmmmm….

x-J

Ghosts ~ 4: Old Haunts

 

4: Old Haunts

Hallway 

Windows old

Squeaks

Flats

A roof you could sit on

And

A driveway 

Hardest type

Of rubble 

Hot under foot

In the summer

Ghosts~ 3: Plummet

 

3: Plummet 

There isn’t a chair 

There isn’t anywhere 

Mist

Enjoyment 

Light

So dim

You could stub 

Your toe

On this cloud

After the trouble 

You never suffered or’t

Throw in my years

Of tumbling through 

Without 

A line

Without a design 

Plan

Or hint

That anyone could see

The re-run

Re-peats

A plummet

From 

Grace

Ghosts ~ 2: The Snapper

 

2: The Snapper

Snapper 

Was the whip

The denial

Was the crème 

Hiding under ladders 

Were the children 

Rarely seen

Holy nights 

And spies at bay

I hold the ever present hand

That lay

Or lied

Any other 

Time 

I died

Ghosts~ 1: In Vain

 

1: In Vain

Must need

Maps

And naps

After meals

Of deals

And puffs

Of mist

Over hills

And oceans 

To breathe 

The dew 

Next to you 

As rocks 

Hold 

The cradle 

In vain

Final Flights~ 83: On The Eclipse

 

83: On The Eclipse 

There is

No

Rejection 

Protection 

Asking for a friend 

Which way

Does this

Storm blow

Stats

Graphics 

Only visible on the eclipse 

While moon dust 

Gets in your eye

And asking 

Hurricane 

How’s the weather 

With you 

Flights ~ 82: Glide

 

82: Glide

There won’t be a warning 

I will slide into the room 

Glide 

Along

The edges 

Through shadow 

And behind the couch 

I will do this

Enough 

That

Eventually 

You will forget 

What I once

Looked like

Flights ~ 81:Rabbit

 

81:Rabbit 

Flopsy 

Mopsy

And 

Holy Hell

Impress each other 

At a cocktail party 

It’s a party

On wheels 

In the rain

In Spain

What a pain

To have a sprain 

It’s over

For now…

I did an illustration for this one, see above… I got carried away with the cross hatching… very relaxing! 

x~J

Flights ~ 80: Masquerade

 

80: Masquerade 

Sat 

So idle

By the side

Of your apocalypse 

Never

Truly 

Feeling 

Like comfort 

Was to 

Creep back in

Awaken

Shake

Out

Out of this 

Hideous 

Hellscape 

Masquerading 

As a dream

Flights ~ 79: Finish To Finale

 

79: Finish To Finale 

I know

I’ve left my heart

Here 

Somewhere 

I thought 

I’d just 

Take it 

Out 

For a minute 

Finish 

To 

Finale

Yours

Knowing 

While things

Got 

Rough

For safe keeping 

Now 

It is

Gone

Couching it!

All of the rearranging 

Master Kit approves…

But!

I’m  Taking the day off!

And there’s nothing like a crippling 

Back spasm 

To ensure that you stay put.

I made it so far 

In the final stages 

Of the studio set up

But

I guess running myself ragged 

For two weeks in a row 

Wasn’t exactly smart

Considering 

Of course 

That my back was already 

Compromised…

And, instead of continuing on my quest

I am 

Adjusting pillows 

Heat pads

Ice pack at 2pm

And

Actually feeling lucky 

Because husband had a flat tire 

This morning 

And had to turn back home…

His quest to get a fix will be explored more tomorrow 

Fingers crossed 

Must’ve been the full moon 

At least all of our color changing bulbs work

Speaking of bulbs!

I ordered some!

Ack! 

Got to get better quick!

I have bulbs to plant!!!

I always forget how loopy I get

The endorphins 

The pain

The lack of a Goodnights sleep 

Makes me so tired and hungry!!!

And I can’t wait to get to the new can of paint 

… Antique Ruby…

I should get back to my YouTube as well…

Omg I almost sneezed!

So painful!!!

Must go get that ice pack…

x~ J

Epic Flail!

 

Let me just start

By saying 

There were factors 

Revolving around 

Grief…

And I spent time with it

Even though 

As the time passed

I was not enthused 

Feeling safe 

In the knowledge 

That if this really didn’t 

Hit the spot

I could 

Just paint it over…

And this chandelier wasn’t helping…

And then I remembered 

We had some trim like scraps

In the cellar…

Hmmmm… 

I like … 

But…

What do you think I did next? 

… 

…

…

Next up is performing a bit of resurrection of sorts~

Having found a bucket of word cakes from the ancient times.

And more…

Haff to go for now because digging stirred up enough dust to blind even the healthiest of eyes. 

X~ J aka Painter Le Fay 

P.S.

I’m needing a good paint sesh this week~ look for it on my YouTube channel…