Posts Tagged ‘winter’
getting ready for Christmas #2 – a Christmas village
I’m in a crafty mood today. My inspiration came from Pinterest.
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First I made some paper houses. I copied a charming design from Pinterest and did a quick rendition with Paint. Then I printed the house parts on cardstock, cut them out and glued them together. The original design is shown at www.behance.net/gallery/Christmas-House/6431227 .
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Then, using wire and rope, I made three ‘bottle-brush’ trees to go with the houses. The method of making various versions of these trees is found at http://www.fynesdesigns.com/handmade-bottle-brush-trees-yarn-twine-garland-rope/ . Mine are rather rustic-looking.
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Then I added some Epsom salts for snow and I have my little Christmas village.
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work station – I made a terrible mess and had to vacuum afterward
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Christmas village – two of the houses and three trees – I’d like to add a little church and some sparkles on the trees
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If you have never gone on Pinterest before, have a look at some of the Christmas decorations I have found in my explorations www.pinterest.com/jane4757/noel-2013/
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Jane Tims 2013
a moment of beautiful – an ice lantern
the space: our living room on a winter evening
the beautiful: an ice lantern with cranberries and periwinkle vine
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As Christmas approaches, candles are among my favorite decorations. For the past few years, I have made ice lanterns (also called ice candles).
I use a square plastic container that freezes well. In the center, I place a paper cup weighed down with rocks. Then I fill the outer ring with cranberries and greenery (this year I used the green vines of Periwinkle, Vinca minor, from our garden). Then I fill the ring with water.
This goes in the freezer, or in colder weather, out on the porch. Once the water has frozen, I put hot water in the paper cup, to free it from the ice. Then I run cold water over the outside of the bigger container to free the ice lantern. I light a tealight or flat candle and put it in the center space.
The shimmering ice lantern will last several hours. These lanterns will also last a long time outside in cold weather.
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Jane Tims 2013
getting ready for Christmas #1
For me, November began with a hurried Halloween and a week-long trip to California. Once I returned, I promised myself full attention to getting ready for Christmas. At the risk of behaving like the stores who run Christmas music in November, I am going to share some of my Christmas projects.
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This activity is fueled somewhat by Pinterest. I discovered it quite recently and find so many creative ideas there!
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My first project was a paper garland for our entry. Cardinals and white ribbon.
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Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
the colour of November #2 – wood for the winter
November in New Brunswick can be bleak. Before the snow is on the ground, the colours are dominated by browns and greys. Like the browns and greys in our woodpiles.
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We have several woodpiles. These include ranks of large round wood, cut and split into stove lengths, and stored in our shed. We also have spruce and fir kindling, chopped fine to start the fire. In the garage is a pile of smaller round wood, mostly the limbs trimmed from our maple trees. This smaller wood will be the base for our fires, a way for the flames to step from the kindling to the bigger wood.
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Nov. 14, 2013 ‘wood for winter’ Jane Tims
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Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
winter water-scape
On our drive to Black’s Harbour this past Monday, we took the cross-country highway #785. It travels directly to the southern part of the province through the woods.
Many streams cross the roadway. All are lined in snow, but the center channel is just a sheet of ice away in most streams and rivers. In some cases, the water is moving so swiftly, the ice has been breached by the flow. The result is a carved ice-world of frozen water. At these openings in the frozen river, you can catch a glimpse of the winter water-scape: the layers of ice, the icicles and frosted caverns beneath the smooth upper layer of ice and snow.
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winter water-scape
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under the ice
the river registers
its sinew
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carves a crystal path
between layers
of frost
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transparent panes
of polished glass,
lofted by pillars of ice
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ice caverns, edged by froth
a mingling of winter breath
and river tears
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Copyright Jane Tims 2013
messages on a still winter day
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intentions
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snow, crystal-quiet
a sluggish breeze
riffles the woodland
sunrise lost in a rose sky
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listen to the rustle
of paper on wood
the mutter of unwritten lines
birch-bark, deckle-edged
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tatters and shreds
sorted by a sluggish wind
words I meant to write
letters ready for the mail
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misplaced
behind parcels
wait for postage
brown paper and string
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Copyright Jane Tims 2013
dear deer
This year, I moved our feeders to our front yard.
They are not so easy to see from the house, although I have a good view from the window of our library.
The deer have liked the new feeding station. We see them almost every day. They empty the feeder too quickly and also visit the compost pile. We don’t deliberately feed the deer, but they visit the feeders anyway.
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deep and delicate, hoof print
evidence, this space is shared
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deer, eat peelings by moonlight
one floor up, we sleep, unaware
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lulled by winter carbs
carrots and potatoes in the supper stew
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Copyright Jane Tims 2013
the case of the missing…
My Mom always loved her belongings and kept excellent care of them. She also tried to keep track of them, but with four children (especially me), occasionally items went missing.
Once she called me in great distress. She had been all over her property and could not locate the second wheel from a pair of wagon wheels she knew she had.
I said she didn’t have to worry. I had taken the wheel as a decoration for my yard.
Today, I can look out at my winter garden, and see Mom’s missing wagon wheel.
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Copyright Jane Tims 2013
a moment of beautiful – icicles
the space: drip line of a house on a winter day
the beautiful: icicles
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On the day after an increase in temperature, when the snow from the roof is melting, the front of our house, on the south side and in full sun, is always dripping and making icicles.
They glitter and sparkle, sculptural wonders of frozen water.
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ice storm
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for three days
freezing rain and willow
have hung uncertain magic
along the river
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ice in layers
laid on the bones
of the tree tops, branches break
candy-coats crack in the sun
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I refuse the sparkle
resist the awe
worry
the bones will not recover
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© Jane Tims 2009
snowfall and summer
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envy
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in the hammock
the snow rocks
gently, enthralled by
whispers
of fireflies
owl calls
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wind harasses
the pines
mutters them miserable
snow fall ceases
stars punctuate
indigo sky
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snow dwindles
shrinks and sublimates
the hammock cradles
a frail cadaver, swings
in obedience to
winter storm
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Copyright Jane Tims 2013
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