New England Snow and Creativity

I woke this morning with the strongest urge to go on a road trip - anywhere would be nice. I love to drive and spent much of the day imagining where I could go. But alas, I returned home and went walking with my dog instead. It was snow showering all afternoon. My dog, Sachi, decided it was a good snow to taste as she walked along. This was the first snow she decided was good enough to taste. I was curious... So I leaned over the snow bank to have a taste myself. It was sweet! I never thought of snow as tasting sweet, but it was! Well, I'd rather be joyfully tasting the snow with Sachi than shoveling!

This winter in New England has left us with snow everywhere! This is the first week since Christmas that I've been able to work an entire week.

My walk earlier this morning was listening to the songs of early spring birds returning. I imagine they are surprised at how much snow there is here and so little food. Tomorrow morning, I will shovel a path to my birdfeeders to be sure there is enough for them to eat.

Every week has had a day or two of significant snow of a foot or more that involved hours (did I say hours??) of shoveling and clearing snow from walkways, the driveway and off my roof. Missed days at work are nice until it is every week. This week, I've been very happy that I've been able to work every day.

So what does this have to do with the photo I posted? It has been so cold and there is even too much snow and not enough time to go snowshoeing, which I love. So, what do I do? I come home from work and knit, crochet or make things to while away my time. I love making things! I am using up my boxes and boxes of yarn and fabrics to make space for more!

In the process of making booties, wash cloths, blankets, quilts, salves and lotions, I finally created my Etsy store ~ something I've wanted to do for a long time. My first listing is a PDF of my directions for the booties that I make for my granddaughter and for gifts, hence, the photo above! Next, will be some of the booties I've already made. They are so luxurious! I may have to make myself a new pair since winter doesn't seem to going anywhere soon...

Posting all of this here is my commitment to myself to list more over the next few days. I would love to see my Etsy store become a place where I can sell the things I make. Which gives me even more inspiration to keep creating! I can only use so many wash cloths myself!

I am making a list of the things I love to make or have already made. Next is to list them. Please check out my Etsy store. My "seller" name is '1wisewoman'. Go to etsy.com and look for me! I would love to know what you think and then tell your friends.

I'm signing off for now. I've got a knitting project to return to!

Ice melt is such a delightful thing in New England after a long winter. Today is March 1st and I feel a sense of hope that Spring is indeed on its way even though more snow is in the forecast tonight. Season changes are always a time to re-evaluate life. Moving from winter to spring is a time of leaving the internal, quiet experience of the cold, dark days into a time of new growth and emerging renewed. Spring heralds a sense of excitement, growth, shedding layers of winter. May this photo be a reminder of the melting of whatever is held to keep us warm through the winter and the hope of new growth as spring emerges new and fresh!

It is New Years Day and I am happy! The holidays are over and life can return to normal. Just outside, Orion is rising in the sky. Seeing Orion always makes me smile. Like seeing a deer in the woods or a fox walking down the road in the early morning, seeing Orion always leaves me feeling that all is well.

My prayer and hope for this new year is that it will be a year of possibility and fulfilled dreams for everyone. I don't write resolutions, I write intentions. What are your intentions for this new year? I write my intentions on prayer flags and hang them outside. When I walk outside I am reminded of my intentions ~ I like that.

I've named my blog "Shiba's Nest". You might wonder what is that? I love dogs and my dogs are Shiba Inu's ~ a Japanese breed full of energy, life, devotion and love. They are my companions and my home is their nest that they allow me to share with them. For that, I am grateful! At the beginning of this post are photos of my lovely girl, Sachiko.

Enjoy & Happy New Year!