Well, 'twas the day before Christmas and all was quiet . . .' - HA! Pizza night, girls sleep over and nail painting (for Christmas, it's tradition!) equals anything BUT quiet! But it was fun, and it is so nice to be surrounded by family and cousins and giggles. This weeks' theme was Garden, and I am going ahead and posting because Linda is visiting on this side of the sea, so I don't expect a photo from her and Claire has a bunch of people over for a fun Christmas herself, and that also equals anything BUT quiet in a pleasant kind of chaos. So, I think it is just Mariette and I this week, and she is first with this beautiful shot:
I love dew drops, and this could have been taken in my own garden after the rain we had last week. Our overseas family keeps wishing it would snow but it is not cold enough yet (although they definitely don't want to hear that it is going to get colder! Maybe no snow is not so bad . . . )
My photo is of some colored bottles hanging in our apple tree. We celebrated Winter Solstice on Friday night, because now we start to gain a little sunlight everyday, inching towards long summer nights again. We also celebrated surviving the end of the world! Personally, I just think the Mayan who was scribing the calendar just got a cramp in his arm and then had a sudden, tragic and fatal accident so couldn't get back to work and since they didn't believe in cross training back then, they couldn't figure out how he crunched his numbers and couldn't pick up where he left off . . . that's my theory anyway! In celebrating Winter Solstice, we all wrote down the things we needed to expel from 2012, things that held us back, things that we needed to make peace with or let go. We burned the pieces of paper with a candle, and then hung the candles in the apple tree facing East to greet the rising sun, the mark of a new day, and a new beginning. It was such a fun evening, much wine, lots of munchies and some good belly laughs!
I wish everybody a truly blessed and peaceful Christmas, and a wonderful, prosperous, healthy 2013!
It was fun to disappear down the rabbit hole and look back on this past year, and my oh my, what a year we have all had. Claire was studying and took on a new and rather challenging job - your drive and ability to get through so much is admirable Claire. I don't know Mariette very well, but I feel like 2012 was the year of self discovery and self love for her. The journey is never done, family is a wonderful terrible complicated beautiful thing and there are never easy answers, if you find them at all. Linda started strong and lost her mojo, which is a shame because she is our founder, instigator and glue. We limped along, but we missed her. Linda, something tells me that it is time to start blogging again, 2013 is sure to give you A LOT of material!! This blog is something special. It is like a journal, you pour out your heart, share your thoughts, shoot the breeze or have a giggle. Only, it is not lonely like a journal. With this blog, I feel heard. Somebody is listening, they are not trying to fix anything, they will not judge, or give advice, or tell you what you should do. They know that just the outpouring is enough, and maybe a quick cyber hug. And it drives home that it doesn't matter where in the world you live, we are more similar than different. And we are not alone. My favorite photo from Mariette's blog:
This is of her daughter Maxine. I love it because she looks so taken with what she is doing. You can see her mind going a million miles a minute, and the light in her eyes. This picture tells a story, it is worth a thousand words and leaves you asking a hundred questions. Maxine is so lovely. My favorite photo of Claire's blog:
It was a tough choice between this and the tea cup photo, but in the end, this one won. I can feel how still the early morning is in that moment just before the sun comes up, the earth goes quiet, like all living things are holding their breath waiting for the golden orb to make her entrance. And then, the big weightless balloon, silently floating until the pilot opens the burner and the flame roars. I can feel the chill of the early winter morning, I cansee my breath in the air and feel frost biting my fingers. But best of all is the anticipation, the excitement for that moment when the ropes are untied and the balloon lifts into the sky and you are airborne. And it is quiet. And it is magic. And then there is a roar and you are up, up and away . . . Linda's photo:
I love this because it is so . . . Linda. Romantic, sweet, lovely, gentle, unassuming. Yet strong. Have you hung these yet my dear???? I found it so hard to pick a favorite post. I think it is because I took a sabbatical and then I felt like I couldn't choose one from a post I didn't participate in, and some of the ones I love are not TUM posts, but Blog Your Heart posts. So I am just going to say instead that I don't love one particular post, I love instead all posts. I love reading about your lives and sharing your journey. I love the connection that we have through this blog, I treasure it.
I knew a woman once whose mom had to run for a boat that was to be the last ship out of the port towards the end of WW2, she was a nurse, her children (my friend and her big brother) were already on-board but they wouldn't let her leave with them because she was a nurse, they had already lost their dad. At the very last second they told her to just go, and she dashed home to grab a few things and she was the last one to board before the ship set sail. Time is so precious, life is so precious, I find myself looking at something and asking if I had to run like mad for the boat, would I take this with me? I think this blog is worth keeping, I think it encourages us to share our worlds in a way that we wouldn't normally. And I think it encourages us to look at our world too and not just run blindly through it like its a race to the finish. We don't have to run. What are we rushing for? We shouldn't be in such a hurry. This blog makes me slow down, it forces me to make time and all at once, we are connected through it - and actually, we are keeping pretty good company.
How much potential does this theme have? Everything has feet, from desks, chairs and bath tubs to bugs, birds and people. The inspiration is endless, the amount of time I have to give the project? Not so much! Looking back on my blogs I find there is a common thread running through so many of my posts. I speak about how crazy life is, how busy I am, how tired I am, how little time I have. This week was no exception, it feels as though as you move through the year the pace doesn't change, only the theme - either it is back to school, or it is crazy harvest week or it is sick employee week, all the cars break down week, Thanksgiving week and now, Christmas is looming. I feel like we have lost the plot when it comes to this holiday. We are supposed to be slowing things down, sipping cocoa with loved ones while throwing a log on the fire and reading a book or admiring the twinkling Christmas tree. We are supposed to be prioritizing things of importance like family, generosity and spirituality, it should be a humble, peaceful, low key holiday don't you think? In reality what it is, is frenzied and harried and the spirit of giving and generosity is catapulted into 'OMG! I still have to buy presents for the bus driver, teachers, postman, trash collectors . . . . ' all the while retail stores eke every cent out of your wallet with Christmas songs, tinsel and clever product placement. I think it also has something to do with the nearing of the end of the year. All of a sudden in between trips to crowded malls and colorful wrapping paper and shiny bows, there are the end of year social obligations and everybody seems to try and cram as much as they can into the last few days of this year - not sure why that is. But it is. Anyway, speaking of Christmas and back to this week's theme, here we have Mariette's take:
Just lovely isn't it? I think it is very sweet. My 'feet' aren't so heavenly, they are more earth bound for sure. We had a Christmas party at the barn last weekend, April rode a pony called Pixie in a drill team that performed to two carols - it was SO well done, and then the girls all dressed up their ponies in anything Christmas - from reindeer horns and bells to tinsel and bows, we had it all! Decked with boughs of holly, they did a parade down the street and after THAT, the Clydesdale's came to give us hay rides. AND then there was a Santa Gift Swap and cup cakes. The perfect party if you are a little girl who is horse mad! Anyway, so here is my picture of feet this week, it is of they Clydesdale's ENORMOUS hooves:
And just because I can't tell you all about the party and not include some photos, here is April on Pixie for the drill team:
And April in the parade on Mazoe (who has his winter coat now and is fuzzy wuzzy like a bear . . .)
And here are the owners of those very large feet. They are the youngest team she has and are just learning how to be grownups. Honestly, I wanted to bring them home with me, I have a soft spot for these babies!
Did you know that Budweiser beer here in the U.S. uses Clydesdale's in their T.V. adverts? The have become a brand icon and everybody waits for the Superbowl in the fall to see if they will be releasing a new ad, and they always deliver. So I am going to sign off with not one, but TWO of their ads - I simply couldn't choose! Enjoy!
This one was way more challenging than I imagined - and again, I have myself to thank. But I had all these grand ideas about reflections and flames and maybe I will still do that - but with the biggest holiday on the harvest calendar this week I had no chance to even THINK about it, let alone do anything to act on it. HA! So here is my pic, taken with my trusty iPhone in the grocery store last night:
It still makes me smile. Nando's is a South African brand, and you can't usually get South African stuff at local supermarkets. I am not sure if we have a pushy salesperson to thank, or if the buying manager at Hannafords just brought these in on a whim, but thankful I am! And it is not because I like Extra HOT Peri-Peri Sauce, but because I stood in the aisle of the supermarket staring into space for ages and ages thinking of Nando's back home, and how my mom would buy a whole lemon herb Nando's chicken for our dinner with some delicious Nando's bread rolls and a home made salad. Um . . . YUM! So, this pertains to flame because it is SO frikkin' hot, and because we refer to 'exes' in South Africa as 'old flames' and so, the country herself has become my old flame now that I am married to America. Sigh. I do miss her, pity she was such a drama queen! Claire next:
I was on a hot air ballooning team when I was younger so I would recognize this site anywhere - and this is the crack of dawn no doubt! This is something I recommend, no, make that HIGHLY recommend every person does at least once in their life. Claire - did you go up? Mariette:
A candle through cracked glass. Isn't it lovely? So this week I thought I would play out with a song, since I am officially up to date - a celebration is called for, don't you think? Here is a song from The Flames, an underground South African group from, I am guessing, the late 70's. The song is Restless and it is from their Soul Fire album.
Two more and I am up to date - well, for the moment anyway. Claire's photo first this time:
Again, poignant, beautiful, sweet. Nice job Claire! Next up, Mariette:
My neighbor woke up early one morning and took a bunch of frosty photos too. Both Mariette's photo and her beautiful takes made me want to get up early the next morning and go play. However, since I am not a morning person, it didn't last very long ;-) Here is my take:
I love the warm golds and cold blues in this photo - and I did nothing to play with or alter the color, it was just dusk and the sky was a cold blue and as somebody who paints often, it made me think of my art teacher (blues push things away Pam, they are in far off mountains and receding shadows. Warm colors bring things forward and draw your eye . . .) SO! Instead of getting up early to take frosty photos, maybe I will stay inside, put some hot cocoa on and paint a picture instead ;-)
YAY! I am FINALLY posting in the same month I am taking photographs in. It's pretty cool, I like it, I may even keep it! First up Mariette:
I just LOVE this photo. It rocks. You did a terrific job Mariette! Prizewinner for sure. Next up Claire:
This is what is interesting about Claire - she is so likeable and easy to talk to when you meet her, and she has this energy about her. If I asked you after spending the first five minutes with Claire to give me three words to describe her, I don't think 'romantic' would be on your list. But her photos are all so beautiful, poignant and sweet. She is most definitely a romantic (although not a hopeless one). There are layers to Claire, and I love seeing the world through her eyes. Me next:
Trick or treat, give me something good to eat, if you don't, I don't care, I'll pull down your underwear . . .
This was taken just before Halloween, we took all the kids to a spooky corn maze at midnight! One of my farmers plants this massive corn maze each year - you can't see over the tall stalks, he uses obstacles like bridges and you get a treasure map and need to find things - it is wicked cool. This year he opened it at night time, and by torch light it is a whole other experience! The kids LOVED it! I think Halloween has to be one of our favorite holidays' - it is up there with Christmas!
This theme, chosen by Claire had to lead to some very human moments for sure. Mariette is first with a photo of her husband:
Interesting how much we as woman love our husbands hands, the hands that hold ours, and make us feel safe and cared for. Claire's photo:
Little Mia had a 'trash the cake' photo shoot - touch is everything to babies, they are so tactile and learn so much about their unexplored worlds. I always wonder what they are thinking, and what smooshy cake must feel like for the first time. Mine:
I often wish I spent more time taking beautiful photos with my beautiful camera instead of just iPhone snaps on the fly. Oh well. Hopefully I add value to the TUM team in other ways (although I am never on time with my photos, my posts are always late, I never 'blog my heart' . . . I guess I am just lucky they love me anyway).
