makes me happy

Seen on Today’s Walk

We’ve had a dusting of snow a few times this past week (including Xmas day- yay!) and I was delighted to see the trees lightly frosted today.

It’s like icing sugar on a treat.

A photo of trees and long grass lightly covered in snow.
Image description: a photo of evergreen trees and some long, yellowed grass. The trees are dusted with snow and there is snow on the ground with the grass sticking out of it.

Repurposing

Maybe 10 or 12 years ago I bought this hat that I really like.

It’s a black beanie with a quote from Neil Gaiman on it ‘Make Good Art.’* He’s not the only person to ever say that, of course, but it’s part of a longer quote and I bought the hat from his website so it works for me.

Except that it doesn’t work for me.

Well, the quote works for me and the idea of it on a bay works for me but the hat itself?

It’s teeny.

It was supposed to be one size fits all but it doesn’t fit me.

So, I have been moving it around from storage spot to storage spot for years. I don’t want to part with it but I can’t wear it.

Recently, though, I brewed some tea in a smallish teapot and needed to finish something before I could sit down, drink tea, and read.

My other tea cozy is for a much larger pot so I didn’t want to use that. This teeny hat came to mind and suddenly I had solved two problems.

A black beanie with white text that reads ‘Make Good Art’ - Neil Gaiman. It appears to be standing on its own on my wooden table but it is actually serving as a tea cozy for my small teapot.?
A black beanie with white text that reads ‘Make Good Art’ – Neil Gaiman. It appears to be standing on its own on my wooden table but it is actually serving as a tea cozy for my small teapot.

*I also approve of making bad art, or any art at all. The process is way more important to me than the results are.

Not a storm yet

There is a winter storm warning here today.

But so far the snow is just falling gently and it hasn’t even started blowing around.

It’s really perfect weather for walking the dog.

. A dog walking on a snowy path.
Image description: Khalee, my dog, is at the bottom of the photo ahead of her is a snowy path with snow covered evergreens and leafless trees on both sides of it.

New Year Ritual

I lit a fire in my backyard, fire pit and burnt bits of paper with things I want to let go of written on them.

Will it help?

I don’t know. But what I do know is that it felt good and powerful and that is a good enough start for me.

A fire in a backyard fire pit
Image description: a square fire pit, surrounded by snow, the flames inside look warm and vibrant.

Again with the dogberries

I know I’ve mentioned how much I like dogberries.

My camera has all kinds of photos like these:

A close up photo of bright red dogberries on a bare branch. There is grass below and in the background and a white SUV in the far background.
A photo of multiple bunches of bright red dogberries on mostly bare branches with a few yellowed leaves here and there.
A very close-up photo of bright red dogberries on the end of a bare branch just a little bit above some grass.