O Happy Day

Well the big day has past and Nathan is most happy with his take on Christmas. He is one that is very easily and happily satisfied with very little. It doesn't take much to please the fella, just some participation and enthusiasm suits him. Jake and his family gave Nate a DVD player which is one gift he had asked for. His weekly trips to the video store had become problematic as there were few VHS tapes available anymore...just more DVD's. Those visits every Wednesday are important to him as it allows him freedom to be on his own in the store, shopping (which he loves to do!) while Mom and Dad go get the groceries. All in Blockbuster and Hollywood Video know the guy and he is in good hands as we watch him until he disappears inside. Speaking of shopping, all his other friends and family gave him some cash to do just that and he is already making plans for the bookstore, new pants, new DVD's and some lunch at his favorite fast food place. All Cecil and I have to do is go along for the ride...

Christmas was quiet and peaceful although I sorely missed having my extended family around, I felt their presence and got some nice presents from them too! Spent the morning and part of the afternoon cooking a small turkey, cornbread stuffing, mashed taters, gravy, roasted carrots, sweet taters and onions, stuffed pimento cheese celery, and pistachio ambrosia. We ate huge for Saturday and Sunday. O yeah, a homemade pumpkin pie for dessert along with the sand tart cookies which I made for Cecil. The menu is strictly Nate's request...he knows what he likes. Turkey sandwiches with mayo make him smile too.


Here are some of the bracelets I made from Cecil's art. They are already sold, snatched up by Jake's family who love both my jewelry and Cec's stuff too"







The first one is from an painting Cec did for our twenty-fifth anniversary called, appropriately, "Twenty-five"

In the middle is snippits from both Lookingglasses with hand made glass beads by friend Karen Cascio

Finally, black and white images from "Crawdaddy Concentration" and "Serpent Time"

They were lots of fun to make and I hope you enjoy seeing them...

A Christmas Story

I write so infrequently anymore on the lit sites that I am feeling rusty (that sounds weird...see what I mean?).

Last year, at this time I was in South Carolina at my Dad's bedside, away from Cecil and Nathan for the first Christmas ever. Dad was not expected to make it and I needed to be there...He beat the odds or had a miracle or something akin to that. He believes in angels, not just believes in angels but believes he has one that personally takes care of him. What do I know? I don't think he lies about her and as far as I can figure, he doesn't lie about anything to me so he must have an angel. I don't believe in angels but I don't disbelieve in angels either so I guess you could say I am on the angel fence, between belief and disbelief. I can state that there were some strange goings on at that time. For instance, a pure white pigeon used to perch above the hospital door that we used for our comings and goings to visit Dad. She was hard to ignore and showed no fear of the humans that frequented the place. The security guards that patrolled the grounds had taken to feeding and watering her and even given her a name, "Noel". Dad was having one crisis after another, in and out of consciousness. Noel was like a signal, a sign of some sort, at least it seemed that way. She was a symbol of peace, a white dove at the doorway, watching over us as we came and went. One day a guard said she had seen a hawk attack her and found some white feathers on the ground. Noel disappeared for a few days...We assumed she was dead but low and behold, she showed up again, feathers intact, at the doorway with her black, beady eyes cast our way as Dad continued to hang on to a thin thread of life.

The doctors were realistic, all along telling our family that the odds were great that Dad was not going to make it through this crisis. Dad talked, when he could, telling tales of his childhood and his experiences in life, he wasn't eating and barely drinking anything but he would create recipes of a great dinner party with many courses starting with oxtail soup and a fine wine. He asked me one time, when we were alone and Mom and my brother had gone home to get some rest..."What would you do if you met a savior?" I was rather taken aback at the question and the insistence in his weak voice. "come on, answer the question, WHAT would you do if you met a savior?!" I replied that I didn't know, fumbling for words of what I deemed an moment of import. "You know what I would do?", he asked smiling. "I would walk up to him, introduce myself and ask him to join me in a beer and Chile rellenos." Hah!

Dad made it, he beat all the odds, he always has. He told me that he was ready for one more round and I know that he will savor every moment, his angel on his shoulder. I am sure that this will be a special Christmas for him and by the way, he now has his own blog so check it out: http://almandbob2.blogspot.com

My Christmas will be merry, I hope yours is too.

SooZen

Pell mell and Pale Male

Man, these posts have been few and far between but those of you that are familiar with my schedule this time of year should understand...crazy busy!

Cecil and I just returned from the Wheatsville Art Festival in Austin, Texas. Show was a success for us, they looove us in Austin. Not much time to visit with the kiddos as we drove, we set up, we showed, we broke down, we drove...kinda like that. Noah did make some killer griller on Saturday nite which we smote with a vengence after a long day. Saturday was beautiful, Sunday rainy, cold and dreary but we still made some flat gravy. The art there is amazing, the potters had stuff I drooled over but the budget prevailed and besides, I have promised myself...NO MORE STUFF!!, 'especially stuff that catches dust (have lots of that!). I did make a few trades for some soy candles (love them) and wild wired women that an artist makes and sells there (I will bead and sell them as pendants.) Nate had a good time visiting with his brother but was glad to come home. Like the lady said, "there's no place like home".

Next and last show of the year is the open house at Hal Marcus Gallery the weekend before Christmas. That is always a fun event and those last minute shoppers make my day. I came home from Austin all fired up creatively with some ideas for making picture pendants from Cecil's art. I have already made two and working on some charms to go with. Happy with the results so far...will see how well they scan when I am finished and will post them here.

Many of you know that I am now a contributing writer for a new mag in Phar Lepht called Natural Living. My area is the environment and so far they have published both the articles I have sent them. NL is a mag about healthy lifestyle and spirit and I am proud to be a part of this new adventure. I have a few extra copies to send out to family and friends.

Speaking of environment...something on the newswire sure chapped me off. Maybe you have heard about the red-tailed hawk that has nested in Manhattan for the last decade in a high rise across from Central Park. There was a documentary made about his efforts to raise young in the big city and books too. Pale Male (his moniker) has had three mates during this time. They mate for life but both previous mates died, one from poisoning and the other disappeared. Anyway, Pale Male has managed to raise 23 fledgelings over the years from this nest. That is phenomonal and has brought a predator to an area that is rife with pigeons and rats. He and his mate Lola raised three young'uns this last season and that is amazing. Seems some of the rich folk that live in the building objected to the occasional rat or pigeon carcass on the sidewalk below, not to mention the bird droppings. Sheesh! These folks are so far removed from mother nature that they don't realize what an amazing and beautiful thing they have (had) happening there. Since red-tailed hawks are not endangered (except in New York City) there seems to be nothing that can be done about the nest removal and resulting eviction of Pale Male and Lola. He is one of the most studied and famous hawks in natural history. People come from all over the US and other countries to watch him and Lola do what comes naturally. Children have school programs where they come to watch the hawks raise their young. This plucky little hawk has beat all the challenges that mother nature has thrown at him but he can't beat human nature. For more information on Pale Male and Lola visit: http://www.palemale.com/