Showing posts with label winter solstice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label winter solstice. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Fast Away the Old Year Passes...

Am I just getting old, or are the years flying by far too quickly?!

As challenging as 2010 has been in many respects, it's also been a year of marvels and wonders and incredible blessings, not the least of which is that we're still here, still kicking, and I'm still painting and doing what I love most - spending my days with paintbrush in hand, tea within reach, and furkids at my feet. I can't begin to describe what that means to me, and how truly blessed I feel.

One of the true marvels of 2010 came very near to the end of the year - the total lunar eclipse which fell on the Winter Solstice. Although I stayed up until the wee hours hoping to get a glimpse, we were sadly cloud covered all night. But I saw it quite clearly in my imagination, and was inspired to paint a large commemorative piece to mark the occasion...

This large ornament chest sold within seconds of posting it to eBay, but I'm toying with the idea of making it available at some point as a limited edition print, so stay tuned. ;)

I also have six small, commemorative trinket boxes in progress to mark the occasion, which barring any computer glitches, will be available on eBay tonight (Dec 29th), beginning at 9PM eastern at five minute intervals...

For now, the plan is two cats, two rabbits and two witches, lots of twinkling stars and a few snowflakes, but we'll see. ;)

*Update*, hehe!! Here they are...


They're dated 12~21~10, and hopefully infused with a little solstice magic. ;)

New Year's Eve will be quiet here, but we're expecting a few friends over on New Year's Day. No pork and sauerkraut (a Pennsylvania tradition), as a) it's icky, lol, and b) I believe we make our own luck - and definitely no football, hehe...Just good friends, good food, good wine (well, OK, cheapish wine, but after the first couple of glasses, who cares?) and probably a couple of guitars. :)

That's it for 2010, except to say I'm sooooooo grateful for your visits and friendship, and I'll see you all in the New Year...May it be one of health, happiness, love, light and abundance!

Artful Blessings and Much Love,
♥ Carolee
PS - if you scroll down on the right, you'll find the purple playlist updated with some January tunes. No particular theme, just a few tunes I enjoy while painting. :)

Monday, December 20, 2010

Winter Moon Magic ...

....And a blessed yule!!

It's quite late as I write this, and I'm looking forward to ushering in the Solstice by viewing the lunar eclipse (the first eclipse on the Solstice since 1638)!!

I'm neither astronomer nor astrologer, but I'm sensing a shift in energy tonight - the longest night of the year and the moon in complete shadow. It's enchanting in a sort of dark, mysterious way, don't you think?

It feels very much like a new beginning, and beginnings are always good. :)

It's also crying for commemoration of some sort, something conceived and painted on this day, something with a Moon Goddess, or Mother Moon. An heirloom piece to celebrate the season, and mark the day for future generations to remember. More on this after I begin the piece...

(I expect the day will also be marked with a small nap, hehe - I'm getting too old to pull all-nighters.) ;)

In addition to painting - or at least beginning - a special Solstice piece, I'll also be honoring Mother Nature by feeding our feathered friends, keeping a candle burning throughout the day, baking cookies for gift-giving later in the week, and making a large kettle of homemade soup.

Do you have any special traditions or plans on this day? Please share!

In the meantime, I'm off to see if those big fluffy clouds are still obscuring the moon! Fingers crossed the eclipse will be visible...

♥ Carolee