Happy Solstice, and on to a New Year

Tuesday, December 21st, is the Winter Solstice. The shortest day and the longest night of the year.

The good news is that starting on the 22nd the days start getting longer again. Whee! For me this is a thought-filled day. I like to consider the year past, to appreciate the good aspects and also consider the not so good things. Think about the losses and the successes. 2021 has been a very full year. And I can honestly say this year is ending very different than anything I imagined at the beginning of it. Yes, I have wanted to change locations for a couple of years now, however, I had expectation that that would happen anytime soon. The opportunity arose, and I just jumped on it. I had no idea what to expect or how it would be here in Oregon, and there is still much to happen yet to make this permanent. But the pieces are fitting together and I am doing everything I can to accomplish the plan.

Everyday, I learn something new about myself, my surroundings, and just life itself. I feel very blessed to be here in this place, at this time in my life. To be meeting the people, exploring the environment, enjoying an entirely new way of living in a place that is exceptionally inspiring to me.

Today is a day off for me from work and I am starting it off writing to you, working on paperwork, doing some drawing, and making lists for the shopping I need to do today and for things I need to do to move forward in my life. I often wake up around 3AM with new ideas and moments of clarity about what I need to do next. I used to hate these times, until I realized that fighting it trying to go back to sleep would not work, so why not just write it all down and then sometimes I can get back to sleep, but sometimes not. Morning is my most productive time of day so I just need to go with it! With any luck there is a nap in my future.

Speaking of something new. I am playing with a new way of creating. I am using wool roving and a very pointy needle to create 3 dimensional sculptures. I am learning to do needle felting. It is a fascinating process and I am really excited about it! I followed a YouTube video of a woman creating a sleeping bunny so I could learn the process and I was very pleased with what I came up with. Now I am working on a dragon that is completely out of my head and just allowing creativity to flow. I have not had that happen in a while. Sometimes a change in medium can be exactly the thing a creative needs to get out of a rut. It’s working and I am excited. This is purely creative no end-game in site. Making gifts for grandkids is as far as I can see at this moment, if it turns out, that is. If not it’s okay, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

So, I hope you are finding time to create this winter season. Don’t let the holidays take over your life, enjoy them. I hope you have warm friends to be with, a comfortable bed to sleep in, and a safe place to be. Let there be peace, and joy, and light in the darkness.
Stay safe and be well, and have a happy day!

Cheryl