Better late than never?

Okay, I actually did this on Thursday, but I have been house sitting all week in a house with no internet. Today I ventured home for more than 15 minutes, and finally am catching up on long overdue on-line errands.

If you're local (assuming anyone reads this at all :), you'll remember the nasty snowstorm that came Saturday and Sunday. How blessed are we this Sunday with blue skies? Anyway, Glenwood is a winter wonderland, and I was frosty and bitter about the cold. It's wearing on me, this lack of spring. But enough grump! I decided some color was in order.

Gerber daises are bright, beautiful and can seem like sunshine where there is none. So I bought two bunches, and split them into five smaller bouquets. Early Thursday morning (5:30 a.m.), I was out the door with fistfulls of color. I planted them in yards at random in the snow.

I don't know if anyone brought them in from the cold, but this small act brightened my day and warmed my soul.

I didn't forget.

Thursday passed and no kind act was committed. At least not the one I have planned. It's in the works.

Lately, I have been hearing birds--singing as if they new spring was coming. Singing as if they were creating the very existence of spring. And I was thinking how joyful the sound, how beautiful they are---small and happy even in this relentless winter. I got to thinking about those little pine cone bird feeders. And about how my grandma has about 5 bird feeders around her house. Watching them makes her happy this time of year. So I decided that I'd make 5 or so of the pine cone bird feeders and hang them from people's trees (late Thursday night, lest I be seen--or caught even!).

At lunch I went to Petco, and found this Organic mix for finches. It took longer than I had expected, and I didn't have time to gather pine cones after work. There is a tree next to our building that drops the perfect kind. Only the weather turned bad, and they were blanketed in snow. So...I thought maybe a craft store might have them. But look as I may, there were no pine cones to be found.

Looks like I will have to make do with what I can find. Sweet Thursday is in the works today---just running a little behind. Will blog later about finished products :)

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Never did find the "right" kind of pine cone. But ventured out in torrential blizzard to the falls, and found these by the fish hatchery. I made 10, and used an empty egg carton as a carrying case:
Then! The fun. Saturday night, I drove around the snowy neighborhoods looking for houses that had trees in the front yard. Looking for houses that looked like people were home, but not close to the front window. I parked a few houses down, and ran across the lawns to hang these feeders from their trees. I hope that the birds found them, and they were blessed Sunday morning and in the weeks to come with song.

Cheers!

These Are the Days of Wonder and Beauty

These are the hard days. The dark days. The days it just isn't yet spring, but you want it to be. These are days we are gaining light, but when you work long hours, you really have to pay attention and make an effort to get up and open your blinds. To let the light in and hold it within you no matter what happens through out the day. So as a reminder, I found a beautiful card with the quote by Paul Simon " These are the Days of Wonder and Beauty". And they are, when we stop to notice it. But sometimes we need a little reminder. So, after work, I kidnapped my boyfriend and forced him to take a really long route to the grocery store. We drove through neighborhoods until we found the right house to leave the card and a candle and votive on someone's porch. I lit the candle, and ran to the get away car. I hope their evening held a small glow from the kindness. And I hope we are all illuminated with love this Valentines Day weekend.

Re-Connecting

A few days after Christmas, I checked my mail after the comings and goings of the busy holiday season and was surprised to find cards from two dear friends I have (regrettably) not talked to in years.

One card was a family picture of one of my best girlfriends from high school. She looked as beautiful as ever, and happy with a huge family!

Another was from my college roomate, who I lost touch with because of my own selfishness and self consciousness. After college, we didn't keep in touch like we once did because of life--relationships, careers, etc. When I received an invitation to her wedding, I went, but didn't stay for the reception because I only knew one other person, and I felt self conscious and a little hurt that I wasn't as close with her as our other roomate. How selfish and foolish am I? So I went home, and this upset her--rightfully so. I was too ashamed to contact her again. And the last couple years, I have tried unsuccessfully to track down an address or phone number. So I was shocked with the realization of what a blessing it was to receive a Christmas card from her.

Getting back in touch with these two beautiful and amazing women has given me such simple and pure joy. So this Thursday, I decided to try to create this same magic in other's lives. On my lunch break, I walked to a local art store and bought beautiful cards made by a local artist. I also bought stamps. After work, I affixed stamps to the envelopes, and put the blank cards inside the plastic wrap they came in. Then, I attached a pretty piece of paper that said: "Someone you know would love to hear from you right now. Use this card and stamp as an opportunity to get in touch with them." I left them on random windshields across town.

My hope is that those cards make the days of both the senders and receivers, that both realize the love that is in their life.

Blessings,

-keri