I Wish I May, I Wish I Might...

...Have the wish I wish tonight. ♥

Outside, gazing up at the sky this New Year's Eve, Eve, I couldn't help but remember the childhood stargazing rhyme. But perhaps "wish" is too vague a word?

And "resolution" is so demanding and inflexible.

Maybe "intentions" are what need to make as we welcome the New Year - - and "reflections" as we look back on 2011.

There were challenges to be sure, both personal and professional, and there was uncertainty and insecurity in the face of a shaky economy and sometimes scary health issues.

But there were blessings too, and it's important to remember they far outweigh the challenges; a life shared with a loving family and dear friends old and new, a "job" I dearly love, five fabulous furkids and one fabulous real kid, the ability to connect with a community of artists and collectors right at my fingertips....And if you want to break it down to its most basic - four walls, a roof, warmth in the winter, and food in the pantry. So much for which to be thankful...more than most on this planet of ours.

Looking ahead to 2012, my vision is a year filled with art and experience, with travel and friendship. My intention for the year is improvement. To be a better wife, a better Mother, a better friend, a better artist and a better person. To let go of the negative, and embrace the positive.

I realize the difference between an intention and a resolution may seem like semantics, but to me, it's a mindset. An intention is about possibilities; it's the manifestation of our hopes and dreams. It looks forward.

And that's what New Years Eve is all about - looking forward.

So as we prepare to greet another New Year, I wish you appreciation for all the blessings life has to offer. I wish you a world of possibilities, and a year of new adventures. And I send much love from our home to yours. ♥

See you next year!

¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`• ~ Carolee

A Wintry Work in Progress

Just popping in to share a few in-progress pics on a wooden tea tray. It began with a good base coat of ivory acrylic paint, then a checkerboard border, blocking in the figures, and doing a bit of detail on the trees...

By this time, I was feeling the need for color, so began with some vibrant reds, then dressed the gnome, and gave the polar bear a face...

Finally, after lots more detail, and a bit of varnish, the finished piece...

If there's such a thing as a "zen" kind of piece, this was surely it. Such a blessing to paint, so relaxing, and took me back to childhood folk and fairy tales.

Look for it on Etsy very soon. :)

Until next time,
♥ Carolee

Of Christmas and Dragons

It's been a bit of a whirlwind around here this year...

Oh, who am I kidding, the holidays are a whirlwind pretty much every year, right? But still magical, still joyous, still a delight.

The festivities began here with serious scarf knitting and cookie baking. You can take a peek at some of the cookies a couple of posts back, but I can't show you the knitting, as it hasn't been gifted yet. ;)

Christmas Eve found us visiting dear friends Jen and Kevin, where we girls indulged in gingerbread cookie martinis (photo courtesy Jen)...

I don't have a recipe, but basically one part vodka to a half part kahlua, a half part Baileys, some milk or melted ice cream and some gingerbread syrup. Unable to find said syrup, we improvised and used gingerbread coffee creamer instead. Oh - and if you want to get fancy, you can do crushed gingerbread cookies around the rim of the glass. Delicious, but not something you want to consume in mass quantities - a little rich, as we both discovered with tummy upset the next morning, lol.

Courtney arrived at the Lancaster train station Christmas Day morning, bearing cinnamon rolls from Philadelphia's Reading Terminal Market - soooooo good (and saved me cooking breakfast, hehe). Next was the gift opening, and everyone really hit the mark this year - a new bass guitar for John, a working stereo for me (thanks, Courtney!) and a highly anticipated trip to my *happy place*, Barnes and Noble (couldn't you just go CRAZY in there?!)

We also presented Courtney with an in-person astrological reading by one of her favorite musical artists, singer/songwriter Francis Dunnery (of "Too Much Saturn and Not Enough Moon" fame).

In the Christmas Dinner department, it was great to have help in the kitchen this year, and Courtney completely nailed her first-ever Yorkshire pudding...

I forgot to take a photo of the roast, but it was your basic Dickensian feast - prime rib with all the trimmings, our annual nod to John's heritage. ;)

A friend of Courtney's drove up from DC to join us for dinner, and we had a wonderful time - great conversation, great food and great company. Doesn't get much better than that. Later, we settled in to watch one of my all time favorite Christmas movies "The Bell of St Mary's"...



An altogether wonderful Christmas - but the festivities aren't over yet! We're having a few friends over on New Year's Day too - no clue what we'll be making yet, probably a pot luck of sorts, and doubtful it will be anything traditional (to say we're not fans of pork or sauerkraut would be an understatement, hehe)...Maybe lasagna - that has to be good luck too, yes?

In the studio, I'm finishing a couple of winter pieces and very much looking forward to painting a Water Dragon - in honor of Chinese New Year!

And speaking of dragons, have you seen the trailer for next December's Hobbit movie? You don't actually see Smaug here, but one can imagine...



It's a year away and my head is already spinning with Middle Earth imagery and possibilities! I adore the shot of Gandalf smoking his pipe, of the Elves and Dwarves gathering and singing...First resolution of 2012: Must, must, MUST make time for Hobbit art! (More on Middle Earth and the Brothers Hildebrandt's inspiration in an upcoming post)....

Until then, it's back to work for me. As usual, too many irons in the fire and not enough time. It was glorious to have two days off, but now it's nose to the grindstone time. ;)

Wishing you all a very happy Third Day of Christmas, and will be back soon!

¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`• ~ Carolee

Christmas Blessings

I write this as the First Day of Christmas winds down and all seems right with the world. It's just John and I this evening, Courtney and her friend having left a couple of hours ago. Dinner dishes are washed and dried, candles extinguished, gifts put away, and we're just about to settle in to an evening of watching Ingrid Bergman and Bing Crosby in "The Bells of St Mary's".

Like many of you, I've been preparing for weeks; making and wrapping gifts, addressing cards, baking cookies, tidying the house, shipping parcels far and wide - all the time wishing I had a few elves (many hands make light work, and all that). For all the preparation, the day sure speeds by, doesn't it?

It was a wonderful Christmas here, filled with family, friends, and a fabulous feast (how's that for alliteration, hehe?!) I'll post a few photos tomorrow, but in the meantime I'm putting my feet up, grabbing my knitting, and enjoying a quiet cup of tea.

I am truly blessed.

Wishing you and yours a holiday filled with magic and joy!

Until next time,
~ Carolee

A Happy and Blessed Midwinter's Eve!

Can you feel a little magic in the air tonight?

Yes, I know - the astronomical Solstice is actually in the wee hours tomorrow morning...But that still makes this Midwinter's Eve, and whatever our faith tradition, the perfect time to slow down and take time to honor our connection to the earth, to our ancestors, and to each other.

Although my own tradition has been more... well, I guess conventional would be as good a word as any to describe it, in recent years I've grown to appreciate the ancient festivals which celebrate the earth and her seasons. And while I'm sure there are those whose traditions are solidly one or the other who would disagree, I find there is more in these celebrations and observances that brings Christians and Pagans together than there is which divides us.

So after a bit of a kitchen disaster this morning (long story, and I'm over it, hehe) I decided to spend the day immersed in things which honored the day. The first order of business was to spend a bit of time outdoors, gathering holly and ivy for the table. After shaking off a touch of unseasonably warm winter rain, I placed a large bunch of it in a pottery crock our daughter made when she was in high school...

Sometimes the simplest things are the most beautiful, don't you think?

Next, I began a new painting - a midwinter painting of an arctic wolf and snowshoe rabbit, set against a background of evergreen trees, with the northern lights in the distance. I'll hold off on showing a photo until the painting progresses a bit further, but I'm so pleased with the concept, with its progress, and with the notion that it's infused with a little solstice energy. (Patience, patience - pics soon, I promise!)

But the sweetest task of the day (literally and figuratively) was making my Grandma Cline's Star Cookies. The recipe is actually published on page 141 of the Gooseberry Patch "Old Fashioned Country Cookies" cookbook, having been contributed by my Mom many years ago. The story is in there too, which goes like this: When we were very little, my Grandfather had my siblings and me convinced that he went out each night and hung the moon up in the sky, and that my Grandmother made the stars. These cookies are a remembrance of that, and of her. They taste like my childhood, and I can't let the season pass without making them.
They're wonderful cookies to make with children too - bowls of different colored icing, and assorted sugars and sprinkles covering the dining room table. They were a part of my childhood, my daughter's childhood, and I hope someday her children's as well.

As always, candles burned and music played as these tasks were accomplished, punctuated by phone calls from dear friends who always make me smile. Altogether a perfect Midwinter's Day - or Midwinter's Eve Day.

As I write this, there's only an hour or so to go until astronomical Midwinter, and I have much to accomplish tomorrow (including that painting)...So I'll say goodnight, but not before sharing a favorite tune to mark the day. Give it a listen, I think you'll like it...



Wishing you a Happy and Blessed Midwinter's Eve!
♥ Carolee

La Befana Revisited

Popping in quickly between batches of cookies, to share the latest piece - another homage to La Befana...

She's just so fun to paint, and I so love the legend, I had to revisit her. This one (a very close companion to the recently painted plate) is on a birch wood box, and I think would be perfect for either treats or treasures. The Christmas star shines inside too...

She's listed on Etsy now, up for grabs on a first-come basis.

Thanks for taking a peek, and I promise I'll be back soon with pics of new work - and possibly cookies too!

♥ Carolee

"Bless All Creatures, Great and Small"

Just popping in to share the latest winter piece, one of two with a similar theme...


It was such a blessing to paint this one. It actually sold before completion, and will be on it's way to a new home tomorrow.

The second piece, now in progress, features an arctic wolf and snowshoe rabbit. I hope to share pics by mid week.

In the meantime, there's another La Befana piece on the work table, scads of Christmas cookies to bake, and our own creatures to tend to. ;)

Wishing you a joyous season!

Back very soon...
♥ Carolee