winter solstice

It's already afternoon as I finish colour correcting, fine tuning and editing this latest batch of

pictures.

Muji during his morning nap beside me

Babu woke from his as I went to take his picture and wouldn't look at me in his, well, catness

Finally, he turned and talked to me as I talked to him and he rolled on his towel for a cuddle

Considering it started out raining this morning, then furiously snowing, this is what the day turned into within an hour of all that! I suppose I should be grateful that the burning that is going on for a second day, probably over at the Agricultural Centre, never blows our way but, boy, I hate to see the pollution.

Two evenings ago, Muji turned my large twist tie rolling session into a game as he sneaked up on my chair behind me as I stood at the kitchen counter.

Somewhat far-sighted, Muji has trouble focussing

But Babu doesn't

Not to be outdone, Muji takes a swipe

Babu wants a piece of the action

He's gotta have it!

From any which angle!

Muji has to put up with this stuff

As crazed little Babu goes for the kill

a cat on a mission

Finally Muji gets another shot.

Yes, you've probably noticed by now that Muji doesn't move too much.

Even on the floor he does a couple of surprisingly fierce bats at a dangly toy, then loses interest.

Even when he runs, he runs like a toy bunny. I marvel at what a poor predator he'd make out on his own. Oh, geez, now he's looking over my head as I write this. I look but there's nothing there. Or so I think.

 At least I don't get freaked out by this like I used to 😱 well, maybe just a little....

Taking advantage of his suddenly playful mood, I continued to tease him

holding his attention much longer than usual

Til he made one last lunge: Muji the Mighty Hunter

Seizing his Quarry from his armchair

Then he decided to turn around and try the game backwards

How I indulge my generally sober Muji

who rarely shows a sense of humour

Babu takes one last fling before I carry on making supper

Before bed I chanced on Jack Frost playing on the windows of our covered porch

his own game with the Christmas lights outside.

and now for lunch as the day quickly marches on

the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere!

a good time to reflect on what we have learned and

 set some positive intentions as the natural year winds down

Oh, you want to hear yourself



It is Tuesday morning, 4 weeks since my last entry and 9 weeks since I put my etsy shop into holiday mode.   As the weeks have unfolded I have become more accepting of the fact that this electronic world that I have entered into has been somewhat other than I expected it to be.   Most of my visitors to this blog come from Google Images where they almost all land on my entry from last year: " This Very World is Paradise".   While I had hoped to create an audience for my creative work,  I am resigned to the fact that it is not going to happen unless I make a more commercial product, something I cannot bring myself to do after over 30 years in business as a potter and all the pretzelling I did to support myself.

So my little voice must continue to speak to myself.   As a friend once commented when I told her I was writing a short story, " Oh, you want to hear yourself."   And isn't that what our creative efforts are ultimately about though we assert we are trying to reach others?   Ultimately self-revelation, as my entry  (linked above)  illustrated,  is what it's all about despite our best efforts to connect with others.   Ultimately we are alone.  But do not despair.  While the scramble to be otherwise is illusion, we can and must learn from others.  Still,  these lessons must  pass through the filter of our own minds.  How often do we hear or see something new in what we have heard and seen many times before!  This is the relationship I feel compelled to work on and use this blog to share with you.  I hope you find merit in this and the few creative efforts that are worth recording here.

 

a frosty morning 4 days ago

 

a frosted begonia blossom

 

I took a teddy bear workshop on the last Saturday of October

and worked on my little bear through the week,  finally finishing him  the following Friday.

 

He's a wistful little fellow,  and a good listener.

I'm exploring little bears in other materials that are more readily available to me.

Let's see what comes of this week.

I have a tentative announcement to make, tentative because I realize how rarely I can follow through on commitments that are calendar-oriented.  But I have a special feeling for this date as it seems to be a magical number :

20 11 2011

 

On that day I will reopen my etsy shop for another experiment in selling.

There will be some new work there that I hope you will enjoy.

Till then, all best wishes for fulfillment of your hopes and dreams.