My word for 2011

It seemed to begin almost as a cyber/blog/novelty. It seemed to catch on as a 'thang' people were doing online. Then a wonderful transformation occured. This quasi-novelty-cyber/blog-'thang'  evolved into something real. Something of importance. It grew into a thoughtful, introspective shared journey. Words are being chosen all over cyber-blog-dom. Most fascinating to me are the stories, goals, dreams, passions, worries, hopes, flights of the human heart explanations that encircle the choice of each chosen word. Neat.

Not being one for new year resolutions the 'one word that does (or you want to) mean something for the entire year ' drew me in.  But only ONE word? Nearly impossible for me. Even harder for me than Haiku or Tweeting, lol. That took a bit of pondering. Let me say it again.

                                                   
                                                         Choose one single word. 

(this would be where anyone who know me begins - understandably - to laugh. Heartily.)

But I've done it. I've chose one word.  One single word for 2011.   

Bokeh

(you weren't expecting a normal word from ME, were you?!??)

Oddly this photography term fits my goal for 2011 perfectly.

**I've been immersed in photography as a hobby all my life. But for non-photo-geeks bokeh is the blur & the aesthetic quality of the blur in out- of-focus areas of an image**  A quick google of the term will pull a wealth of beautiful examples till I can place one here on the post.

What bokeh whispers to me is this:  Learn to stop, breathe, listen and look at all the parts of any and everything and appreciate the good aspects of the 'out of focus' (read out of control or unplanned) aspects of each project, goal, event, plan, emotion, success, failure, day, dream.

I am so inclined to line my ducks up in a row.  I even have suggestions on how they should quack. And in what order they should quack. I focus (no photography pun intended) so intensely on the core of whatever I'm doing that much of the surrounding detail, enjoyment, success even, blurs....  I don't appreciate the 'blur' ~ the bokeh ~ for the depth it could and would add if only I'd notice.  Much the same with failures. No unsuccessful event is totally without a plus on the outer edges.  Whatever didn't work out the way I planned or expected is always surrounded in a haze of information, secondary possibility and the (not infrequent) truth that I am/was ultimately happier with the winding ways of fate not giving me what I went after.

I know intellectually there's warm, exciting, fascinating, comforting depth to everything that happens in the surrounding bokeh~haze. Those extra layers may be nearly invisible or blurry but they're there and are worth taking the time, making the effort to appreciate. 

You'll be seeing the word bokeh weave its way thru my writings often this coming year as I try to learn to appreciate all things that are out of focus in 2011. I think these layers surrounding everyday life, every event, are equally - if not more - beautiful and important because of their softened 'made you look' haze.

So that's MY word.

What's yours?

                                                             

 

At last....

At last the gears change & the pace calms a bit
~
The final holiday pieces of jewelry alongside

the last-moment flurry of ornamnents were all

finished and shipped in time for Christmas.
They're now happily in the hands of their new owners!

(& thanks to all those who purchased & emailed me with 'they loved it' updates)
:-)  

Within the next few days the wild disaster that took shape
in both the glass and jewelry studio work areas will be 'tamed' lol. 
New pieces of wearable art
: earrings bracelets & necklaces :
created with lampwork from my bench as well as
pieces created with pearls, gemstones, vintage beads
will be appearing on the website for you to view!

AND there's exciting newness ahead - stay tuned!
          

Merry Happy Contentment

MY WISH FOR EACH OF YOU

WHO SHARES TIME WITH ME HERE

CAN BE CAPTURED IN ONE WORD

CONTENTMENT

I HOPE THAT THIS SEASON BRINGS

EACH OF YOU REASONS LARGE OR SMALL

TO STOP FOR JUST A MOMENT AND KNOW

THE WARMTH OF CONTENTMENT....

IT IS, AS ALL THINGS IN LIFE, 

NOT A CONSTANT
BUT WITH THAT IN MIND

MOMENTS OF CONTENTMENT

ARE ALL THE MORE A GIFT.

AND IF RIGHT NOW, AT THIS TIME

THERE'S NONE IN YOUR LIFE TO BE FOUND

MY WISH IS THAT IT WILL COME
IN THE DAYS THAT STRETCH OUT AHEAD.

MERRY  HAPPY EVERYONE

HAPPY MERRY INDEED....

Done tho a bit late-ish! lol

Just in from the cold and the snow (and a little ice that had to be scraped from the car this morning)!

Food is all done now and Yay! the last tiny (as in baby!) prezzie I had ordered arrived at the post office (a bit behind sched due to weather I guess). I swooped to pick it up from the post office peeps on my rounds so I can get it wrapped/repacked & sent out asap..... Sadly it will be late to arrive as the christmas surprise I had planned (can't say more ~ she reads here & I don't want to ruin the surprise! lol) but I hope it brings just as much happiness as if it had been on time  :-)

In other news it looks like the christmas cookies are going to be new-years cookies if I can't get them done tomorrow. But that may not be bad - what better way to start the year that with cookies?!?? lol
Happy  merry to each and everyone who shares my world here with me - thank you!

Now off to do some unpacking/repacking/putting away of things AND have a cuppa to warm up!

Outside lights Yum!

      Is there anything quite as beautiful and inspiring as all the outside lights and decorations?!
Aside from a bit of gas for the drive it's an almost free joy of Christmas....

I've taken so many pictures of outside decorations that I like (and may try next year) that
I've had to create a separate folder for them, lol

Toy Soldiers

There are so many beautiful images of the holiday to be found online! Each beautiful, each singing in its own way.... So I thought I'd share a handful of images that I'm drawn to with you over the coming days....

Here is todays picture that I love!
Look at these Toy Soldiers standing guard in the glowing tree lights.
Side by side they stand at attention until Santa Arrives :-)

The simple joys of Chrismas

There are so many beautiful images of the holiday to be found online! Varied use of color, degree of detail. Simple, complex. Contemporary & old world. Monochromatic & colorful. Each beautiful, each singing in its own way....

So I thought I'd share a handful of images that I'm drawn to with you over the coming days.... 

And if, in the last minute rush you aren't able to stop by again my warmest wishes for a Merry Happy Christmas. Not necessarily filled with presents, or vast tables of eatery, or grand events.

What I wish for you is the warmth of happiness in the simple joys of the season -

From my mum via email today lol

How cute is this?!!!!!   
Love it!  (and truth be told it's a bit how I feel trying to tie up all loose ends)

How about you? Are you ready?
*if you have to lie to me to say you're not ready yet either I think that would be ok lol*

Whaaaaat???!!!!

Paper Hopes

Today, amid an unexpected snowstorm,  slippery roads, a cranky waitress and other day to day detritus I noted I was beginning to feel just the slightest bit cranky. Nothing intense or overt. Emotional diaper rash would best describe the pathway my mood was taking. The grapes at my first grocery stop were moldy, the bank computer was sluggish. The diaper rash-ness intensified. Sigh. Several stops later, I was at the last errand of my day, Walmart. Entering the store, wobbly wheeled snow cover cart (two additional annoyances) in hand  it caught my eye. It was sad. It was forlorn. Just shy of forsaken. A tiny little artificial tree. It's branches were filled with less-than-perfectly-cut pieces of paper. Intended to be rectangles, many were versions of rectangles. Hung by ribbons. 

Cranky or not there was something about that tree. Those clumsily cut pieces of paper. It was a vision of imperfection. It struck me as I viewed that quasi tragic little tree that the heartfelt honest imperfectness - the humanity it proudly (even defiantly) exuded is what I've missed most about christmas for a long time. I couldn't walk by it....  It wouldn't let me.

I turned over the first beribboned paper to read the request.
In printed hand it said, simply, soap.
I turned over another tag and found, again, one word.  Deodorant.
I turned over another.
In beautiful scripted handwriting, just one word filled the space - toothpaste.
I turned over the next. A child had printed - a shirt. Any color. Any kind.
I couldn't stop turning and reading tags....
The next asked for a toothbrush. Underneath in smaller letters it said toothpaste too? 
I turned over the next revealing this wish - a comb.

 I think I stopped breathing for a moment.
I think my heart stopped for a second. Or two.
I know I felt embarrassed at my irritation over the falling snow
(snow falling on my heated home)
I know I felt absurdly foolish to have been annoyed with the waitress
(while eating my lunch out)
Like a shock of electric current it occurred to me how fortunate I am.
I hardly think about having all the things on those tags.
I hardly think of many other comforts in my life
I have never been cold, hungry, dirty, unclothed.
I have never longed for a comb, deodorant, toothbrush, or toothpaste too?
(as tho asking for a toothbrush AND toothpasste was an excessive request)
I have never had to contemplate how hard it would be to ask for those things, if needed

I'm a fairly no-nonsense, non-weepy person by nature.
But I found it growing difficult to read those little pieces of paper hope bleary eyed
I gathered as many of those beribboned odd shaped tags as my budget could cover
Next week I'm heading back to that tree again to gather and fill more wishes

I found a whole new meaning in the holidays today.
In a Walmart.
Hanging on the branches of a bent up fake tree.

Life is full of surprises.
And lessons.
And Paper Hopes

FDFerris copyright 2010

What can I say?

LOL I try really really I try NOT to let things follow me home (that's another post in and of itself)! 

But look, just look at this face.....

Could you have left him behind?!????
(assuming of course you have a fondness for frogs sitting on orbs like I do, roflmao)

Ribbbitttttttt

Now I have to resist the urge to put a tiny little christmas hat and/or bow on him.... Help me.....

HEY! Actually you can help me! In comments tell me your opinion - vote 'yes or no' on
a christmas outfit for frog!

PS don't forget to swing by yesterdays post to see remaining beads supersale link (at Flickr)

Ribbittttttttt