Frosty Bee Turkey Feathers Door

In keeping with the Scattered Life Collective’s tradition of a weekly peek into our lives, here’s what’s been on my radar.

out the window:   Oooh, the sun is shining deliciously.  What is it about really cold days that makes the sun appear brighter?  Maybe it’s just more welcome.  We might hit 30 degrees today which will be a real warmup, but we’re likely in for a bit of a weather rollercoaster ride this weekend.  Strong winds, a little ice and then lots and lots of rain as the temps warm up.  So I’m really taking time to turn my face into this sun and enjoy.

on the menu: Pomegranate Mango Guacamole

good things:

• An envelope from a mailart friend with a Bee stamp.
• Our frigid cold has brought early visits from Jack Frost who has painted some of my windows with his amazing patterns.
• I’m on target with my daily number of words for the NaNoWriMo challenge.  Yay me!
• Lip balm.  Tis the season.  While I don’t particularly like using petroleum products Rosebud Salve which has been on the market since 1892 is a fragrant workhorse I always seem to turn to.  In the past I’ve made my own balms and purchased lots of handmade ones, but I haven’t found any I really love.  I’m open to suggestions though, so if you’ve got a recommendation please let me know.
• A good reminder from the StoryPeople.

reading:

• My children’s book find of the week is Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People by Monica Brown and illustrated by Julie Paschkis.  It’s charming.  I learned a few facts about this beloved poet, and knowing there’s a kid book about him delights my heart.  Using my floriography rating, and given that Neruda always wrote his poems in green ink, I’m giving this little treasure a bouquet of ferns, which stands for sincerity.

• I’m also giving a thumbs up to Animal Teachings: Enhancing our Lives Through the Wisdom of Animals by Dawn Brunke, with illustrations by Ola Liola.  While I would say this is more a beginning level introduction, I think it’s an excellent one.  In addition to helpful observations and thoughts, she also channels a little message from each animal.  Another interesting point is that she’s organized the animals into categories, five animals each per 12 categories, which include things like Balance, Communication, Transformation, Wisdom.  Great idea and I like the choices she’s made.  And the illustrations are charming as well.  Keeping with the animal theme, I’m awarding this one a rating of an arrangement of Bird of Paradise, which means magnificence.

listening: Matthew Perryman Jones ~ Canción de la Noche

favorite word of the week:  Thanks to my friend Corky for bringing this one to my attention where it’s been delighting and inspiring me.

ostranenie: (n) encouraging people to see common things as strange, wild, or unfamiliar; defamilarizing what is known in order to know it differently or more deeply.  (Russian)

project I’m loving to support:  Healing He(art)s is working on getting journal kits into the hands of women who are struggling.

on the wish list:  I’ve really fallen in love with these gold-flake-embedded earrings from  LaLiLaJewelry‘s etsy shop. Do I want them in turquoise or mint or something else altogether?

out and about:

• I’m a big fan of Mandy Steward.  Anyone who publishes a zine entitled Secret Messages is a kindred spirit.  But this week I’m grooving on her blog post Paper Turkey Feathers.  She keeps it real AND she knows magic when it appears.  And now I’m totally inspired to make my own stash of paper turkey feathers to write on.

• 20 Things Life is Too Short Not to Appreciate from Marc and Angel Hack Life blog.

• I recognize myself as part of the tribe of gatherers in this She Is Three blog post.

• I love this piece by Colour Maisch entitled “A Poem of Ritual Tenderness.“

• I found this article about celestial body halos fascinating.

• I’m gobsmacked by the very idea of this interactive tarot wheel of fortune.  Given that I had a  dream earlier this week about doors, to find this gem has my radar buzzing full alert.

And there you have it – a spin around the wheel of my week.  I’d love to hear about yours.  More likely to be spotting turkey feathers or halos in the sky?  Have a favorite word?  Want something other than gold flakes dancing from your ears?  What’s been capturing your attention?  Do tell – you know I’d  know.