2" x 3" tree

Trees

BY JOYCE KILMER

I think that I shall never see 

A poem lovely as a tree. 

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest 

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast; 

A tree that looks at God all day, 

And lifts her leafy arms to pray; 

A tree that may in Summer wear 

A nest of robins in her hair; 

Upon whose bosom snow has lain; 

Who intimately lives with rain. 

Poems are made by fools like me, 

But only God can make a tree.

Babies, babies, babies!!

It's been a fun season as my daughter and her two friends who are like sisters have each given birth to healthy baby girls within the last 6 months, making me at once a grandmother (MumZ) for the first time and a fairy godmother for my two little girls who are like grand-nieces.

These little girls are each wonderfully precious and unique. I'm so grateful that God saw fit to send them all within months of each other.

So what does a first time grandmother and fairy godmother do to express my love to these little babydolls?

I have knit, crocheted, made an origami mobile, given teas and hosted little get together for the new group of little sisters/friends/cousins/ fairy godchildren!  I don't know how many projects I've had the pleasure of completing, but this post is dedicated to sharing the photos that I have taken!

Art, in it's various forms is a wonderful way to convey the love!

Above you see the Origami Mobile, and the giant granny square baby blanket and window swag.  You can kind of see the crib skirt.

Here is a closer view of mobile:

Below is a close up, note our dear daughter and granddaughter in the photo!

Here is the crib skirt I crocheted for Wilow's crib.  It took forever, but was so worth the result!

 Finding and redoing this crib for her nursery at our house was a labor of love, and I am very gratified by the results.

Note the blanket on this one and especially note my adorable granddaughter, Willow!

I made two of this blanket, one for my granddaughter, and one for her little bestie, my fairy goddaughter, Avra.

And now for the baby Hats!!

I'll post more hat pictures as soon as I gather them together.

 Here is a dimly lit photo of sweet, little Avra with her dear Mommy, Emily.  Lt. blue is a great color for Avra!  This hat is a ribbed cap, trimmed in white, embellished by a bold white flower.

This hat, I made for a fairy goddaughter, born  in Israel.  I just completed it, it's a ribbed bucket hat topped with crocheted curls and delicately, subtly trimmed with a feminine edging.

I learned a lot making each hat.  I also discovered again that I learn best while doing!

You've already seen this image, it was designed for my granddaughter, Willow, and used as the invitation to the baby shower we threw for our daughter on the occasion of her first child, Willow.

Thank you friends who joined my writing challenge via Facebook! We did it'

Writing Challenge/Comrades needed!

 

 

Who would like to join me in a 5 day commitment to writing.  I am getting back in the saddle and would love your company as I go.   To my writing friends:  if you'd like  accountability and camaraderie, just let me know below or on facebook that you'll be with me in the next 5 days, and at the end of your writing session, post your achievement here or on the Facebook link.

 

1. Say you're in

2. Set a goal     

3. Post that you have achieved your daily goal i.e. 1500 words

4.encourage each other/celebrate/feel good about it!

 

I got this idea from my excellent friend, Kim Avery, but I was too late to join her writer's challenge.

Let me know if you are in.

Love you!

 

This.

I feel myself inspired.  Don't you just love a kaleidoscope?

Same stuff.  Same essential elements turned on their sides and seen afresh.

What might have been hideous, horrid defeat,  when seen through the correct lens, can be a thing of true beauty?  Remarkable!

I may very well have just found my writer's/painter's voice.

This new outlook, this wonderful sense of freedom I am enjoying at the moment..well, it may not last.

But it's so beautiful now. So encouraging.  How do I keep the view?

When seen without the proper lens, some things can be soul wrenching, shaming, terrifying.

Some things actually are.

But to me, kaleidoscopes are a reminder that God can exchange ashes for beauty.

The seemingly unremarkable, into the intricate, masterfully woven, and awe-inspiring.

Sometimes I wish life weren't so painful. But...consider the alternative.  The lack of contrast between sorrow and joy, shame and acceptance, bondage and freedom. Pain and pleasure.  Well.. In a way, these opposites sort of inform each other.  I wonder if the truest beauty requires contrast.  I think, maybe.

Can it be that we serve a God so creative, magnificent, loving and wise that as we spend time on his lap, crying it out, receiving his comfort, stutter-breathing, that he at some point hands us his kaleidoscope that we can somehow understand a greater reality... A beauty made of shards and fragments.. An actual masterpiece made from broken, shattered little pieces? 

There will be more on this subject.  This takes my breath.  I need some time to sit in this.  Love you.