"I started photographing my domestic world and writing not just about what I had made,
but why I made it, examining the thoughts that accompany creativity and the act of making."
Jane Brocket from The Gentle Art of Domesticity p. 189 UK edition

Saturday, February 27, 2021

February 2021 Crafting!




Last month in my post I confessed I hoped we would get a little snow and I posted a photo of the pretty little snow we got.  I had resigned myself to being satisfied with that...until THIS HAPPENED!  SURPRISE!
In the upper right corner of this photo you can see a little hummingbird perched on a metalic star mobile.  During the snowstorm days I had to defrost the hummingbird feeder several times.  Poor hummers.  It was so cold.  Two of them dive bombed my head when I put the feeder back up one time...not sure whether they were mad at me for taking the feeder away or glad they finally had food again!


When it was snowing the wind  formed big drifts of snow in our neighborhood.  In my first two years here I was able to brush the snow away with a broom after snowstorms. This year I wished I had a snow shovel! A young friend came over and cleared my front step and a path to the mailbox out in the street.  A plucky 80+ year old neighbor across the parking lot from me used her shovel to make a path to my gate, and I used my dust pan as a little shovel on the inside of the of my patio to clear a path to the gate.


While I did not make a snowman, my neighbor's teenage granddaughter and her dad did while they were visiting!  I also saw some snowballs flying back and forth.  There were some fun moments during the stormy days, although there were many life changing problems as well. Some folks lost power for days, some lost property and some lost their lives here and across the country as the storms raged. The difficulties of such times highlight for me how precious life is and how I want to grow in having an attitude of gratitude.


One neighbor has a property away from our community here.  She had a Pussy Willow tree that was broken by the storms.  While cleaning it up her daughter gathered a bouquet of Pussy Willows for me to enjoy...so kind and generous of her.


For the last month I have been ordering groceries online and then driving to the store to pick them up.  I ordered Cheerios and was surprised to receive a limited edition box of heart shaped Cheerios!  Fun...and cheery!
 

This month of February I also learned about Comfort Birds, carved wooden shaped birds meant to fit in the palm of one's hand and be stroked. A friend in New York got together with another friend back East and carved a little flock of Comfort Birds this past summer. My friend very kindly flew one out to me this month and my hand instinctively held the little bird and stroked it before I knew that was meant to happen. I read online several interesting articles about Comfort Birds should you want to search to know more about them.  In the  month of February I had my 70th birthday and I am so grateful for the comfort I received through the lovely gifts and cards and texts, emails and calls I received to help me celebrate...

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.  When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT

Have you known storms and celebrations in February?

Gracie ((hugs))❤️




 

16 comments:

  1. Belated birthday wishes Gracie xx. My goodness that is a lot of snow! Beautiful snow pictures though...it looks so magical! I am so very glad for you that you have such nice neighbours who helped you clear it away. Those comfort birds are lovely. I have been browsing on the internet and see they are quite popular.I see Etsy sells packs to carve your own comfort bird. Very soothing and perfect during these stressful times. keep well Amanda x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Places that rarely have a lot of snow have certainly had their fair share this year haven't they? I'm glad it's better now and I'm most grateful to neighbors who helped shovel you out.
    I like your bouquet of pussy willow branches but sorry the tree was damaged. We have a pussy willow tree right outside our RV door and almost every time I go outside I stop and stroke one of those sweet, soft branches.
    I have never heard of comfort birds but I'm going to go online and look for them. Yours is beautiful. I can just imagine stroking one.
    I hope you have a wonderful Sunday sweet Gracie, worshipping our Lord and Saviour, Jesus. Dennis and I both wish you many blessings and some warm hugs.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  3. Belated Birthday wishes. You are blessed with such good neighbours who were a comfort during the storms. It saddened me to read about the deaths and problems of so many, we do indeed have a lot to be thankful for. Loved the comfort bird, I have not come across one before. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Belated birthday wishes to you. My NY boy is tired of snow and the endless days of clouds when there is no snow. :) My CO boy had a snow day mid-week and was very happy to stay home. Some parts of the states certainly were affected more adversely than others. It was very sweet of your friend's daughter to rescue some of the pussy willows for you. Have heard of many different types of comfort objects, but comfort birds is new to me and certainly looks and sounds lovely. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Happy Birthday dear Gracie. So glad you were relatively safe from the storm, so many people had horrible conditions. I love the idea of a comfort bird, I want to reachout and grab yours. Stay safe.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello Gracie. What a lot of snow. We too had some but not that much! Our son took me for my first vaccine as his vehicle is better suited to the snow and icy conditions that were present that day. We live on a hill, on an unmade road.
    Happy 70th birthday. I tool will be 70 in April. The plans that had been made will have to altered It looks as though we will only be able to meet outside and only 6 at a time. So will be able to meet each son and family, separately . Hope the weather will be kind. My birthday falls on Maundy Thursday.
    DH and I have only been out for walks since before Christmas. Have shopping delivered. Not allowed visitors at moment. Restrictions lifting a little next week.
    Love the idea of the comfort birds, I must find out more. Anyway take care and stay safe. Anne x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Happy Birthday Gracie, good to hear from you. Your little bird is beautiful. Glad you are safe and in the company of nice neighbours. Jo xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Comfort birds how beautiful ❤❤ Gracie 70!!!! Oh wow belated happy to you. Oh my all that snow and those humming birds were relieved you were feeding them. Take care and always great to see you here Wendy xoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  9. I was looking at the Cheerios photo and thought how long it must have taken you to find all these heart shaped Cheerios in a big family box! I should have read on. I love the idea of a comfort bird, such a lovely idea. Happy Birthday Gracie! Lovely to catch up with you xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. You got lots more snow than we did! Love that comfort bird; what a nice gift. Glad, too, that you had a nice birthday! Belated goo wishes from me, too.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a great post! Judy Shaw of Stitch Along with Me blog recommended your blog b/c of the comfort bird! I turn wood on a lathe but she thought the wood project would appeal to me! It does--I was given a little comfort bird by my grand daughter--I had never heard of them!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Happy birthday late, Gracie. I too had my 70th birthday in February, the 13th to be exact. We didn't have snow here just lots of rain. I had a wonderful birthday. My kids were so sweet to me. I hope your day was as special.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I can't believe the amount of snow you have! We are deep into spring already. Stay warm, my friend.
    Amalia
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh the comfort bird is wonderful. I wonder who imagined it first. I'm glad you had a good birthday . I love that you quoted, "God is the source of all comfort" I love that. Comfort is a commodity here during COVID. I pray that we can continue to do our part to get to herd immunity

    ReplyDelete
  15. Happy belated birthday, Gracie!

    Wow, you did get a pile of snow. Those poor little hummingbirds - I'm so glad you were able to keep feeding them.

    The Comfort Bird looks just right for the job. What a lovely idea and gift.

    ReplyDelete
  16. That's a lot of snow! Hope the weather has changed by now, stay warm and safe. Belated birthday wishes to you:)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting me today! I welcome your comments!