Skating, Pungling Up and Walnuts

I’m taking a Friday break from Reverb14 and will be back tomorrow with double prompt reflecting.  But today I want to do my weekly peek into my week review ala the Scattered Life Collective.  While it appears our collective is indeed scattering into obscurity, at least for the present, I love this practice as it offers me a chance to organize and reflect on what’s been on my radar during the week.  And so I’m continuing on…

out the window:  Our street is completely filled with all sorts of trucks and heavy equipment, as they’re doing deep tunnel sewer and utilities projects in our neighborhood.  They been at it all week with banging and serious pounding, some of it literally house-shaking.  It’s getting to be too cold to do this kind of work, but at least we haven’t had sticking snow for a while so I’m sure the workers are grateful for that.

on the menu: Cauliflower Steaks with Lemon Herb Sauce

I’m also tempted to make these Woven Gingerbread Cookies

good things:

• We’re heading into one of my favorite times of the year – between Solstice and the turning of calendar year is such a rich, delightful, reflective time for me.  I’m wrapping up work things today, I’m going to do a bit of cleaning tonight, and then I’m ready to kick back, settle in and enjoy the Solstice.
• The mail brings all kinds of good things this time of year.  For instance a friend in the Netherlands sent me this card with the vintage skating illustration.

• This between time is a time I particularly like to putter around with jewelry making – making something to commemorate the closing year and creating a talisman or two to start the new year.  I bought one of Anne Choi’s fabulous “I am here to live out loud” beads and will be incorporating it into a necklace.  The words are excerpted from Emile Zola’s “If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.”  Yep, I want that reminder hanging around my next next year for sure.
• My 2015 edition of We’Moon has arrived.  I’ve used this lunar/astrological datebook for ages.  I always find some featured artists and writers whose work I want to explore more as well.

watching:

• Alfred Hitchcock was known for making cameo appearances in all his films.  I would SO do it if I were a director.  And here’s a delightful clip of all his appearances.  Fun!

And because we shouldn’t always have our eyes to the screen, here’s some encouragement to turn them to the night sky.

listening:

favorite word of the week:  pungle (transitive verb):  to make a payment or contribution — usually used with up

out and about:

• Given the charming skating card from my friend, I thought this was a good share.  This week a new park has been dedicated in downtown Chicago that has an ice skating ribbon.  While I haven’t been there yet, this video of the view of the city’s skyline while skating certainly is wonderful.

• I love this project on so many levels.  Mug Life is “a project that explores the power of community and how it can be created with something as simple as a mug.”

• Poet Shane Koyczan working his magic again with ‘Heaven, or Whatever’

• I am over-the-moon in love with Andy Kehoe’s art.  I’ve order a small print of one of his pieces and I’ll share it when it arrives, but in the meantime go do your own swooning.

•  If this isn’t the best argument for finding funding for music education in our schools, I don’t know what is.  And it’s a tip of the hat to my beautiful friend Irene who is currently learning to play an instrument.

• Cara Barer’s book art is fabulous.  I dare you to disagree.

• Amy Putkonen is rounding up folks for an 8-week online book club where we’ll be working our way through challenges as suggested by the book SoulSpace:  Transform your Home, Transform your Life – Creating a Home that is Free of Clutter, Full of Beauty, and Inspired by You.  Sounds like fun.  We’ll be starting in January and maybe you’ll be inspired to join too.

• I made walnut treasure holders ages ago and had forgotten how delightful they are.  I’m re-inspired thanks to Jennette Nielsen.

And there you have it.  A peek into what’s been holding my attention this week.  What about you?  Making snowmen or going ice skating?  Cracking walnuts or stringing beads?  Plans to celebrate the Solstice?  What’s been happening in your part of the universe?  Do tell – you know I love to hear.