As the New Year starts something happened today which made me want to record all the small joyful things of 2013.
More later of the joyful thing that happened today. First a think back at the risk of sounding like Pollyanna ..all the things that have made me glad so far.
The first joyful thing was to be in the company of good friends as the New Year came in.
The next morning I felt a little worse for wear and took Hetty for a walk in the mist. Great lungsful of fresh winter air rejuvenated me and made me feel fantastic and glad to be alive.
Later in the week I treated myself to a new watch with my christmas money. A small joy, choosing, selecting, trying and deciding, having had a very cheap one with a broken strap for quite some time.
The joy of Friday was being able to help my Mum sort out her tripped out electricity circuit...she was so relieved.
Of course Hetty always makes me glad especially when she sits with her legs out like this.
I was in church at the Epiphany mass.
We had just had communion and were all sitting quietly for a few moments meditation when little Annie-Rose Perkins the almost 3 year old daughter of a couple started to sing. No one had put her up to it. She just began.
Her little piping voice went through two verses of 'Away in a manger' almost perfectly.
Its a very small church and everyone was listening with bated breath (including the priest) and when she finished there was a collective almost audible smile of joy.
Its something I'll remember for a long time.
Christmas is over, and the tree comes down tonight. Its been a nice tree and I'm sad to take it out.
Would you like two the same?
I got them from Homecrafts direct who asked me to review the product in return for a pair of my own and a pair to giveaway. Do click the link and have a look at their website, there's tons of useful stuff there, its amazing. They are papier mache and are meant to be decorated but I didn't have time to do anything with them before christmas so they just stood in the window in their birthday suits and I think they look lovely from inside...
You might have better ideas. There's a whole twelve months to get them ready for next Christmas!
Over to you.
I loved your little story. It's the small things that mean the most. As for the deer, They are lovely. I would be inclined to either paint them white or black - as a silhouette. Or perhaps silver.
ReplyDeleteLittle Annie-Rose sounds adorable, bless her heart! What a perfect moment. :)
ReplyDeleteI think I'd decoupage maps over those deer. It would give them an organic look, especially if the maps were tea-dyed first.
Oh i just LOVE them! I too would paint them black and probably leave up year round. Maybe even in a window like you! Hugs! deb
ReplyDeletenuleaf at comcast dot net
That must have been a magical moment in Church - it almost brought a tear to my eye just reading about it.
ReplyDeleteAs for the deer, I love them as they are. The shape is perfect and decoration might detract from that.
Your watch is very handsome and makes me think I should replace mine which is showing it's years.
What a lovely story - Annie Rose sounds delightful!
ReplyDeleteI too would leave the deer as they are and enjoy them all year round!
What a lovely story - Annie Rose sounds delightful!
ReplyDeleteI too would leave the deer as they are and enjoy them all year round!
Happy New Year from me, and from Keswick Embroiderers Guild! The reindeer look lovely as they are, but I'd maybe do something with a print out of sheet music.... a carol.........or maybe I'd leave them as they are!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely start to 2013 :) I saw an idea the other day which I'm thinking of starting once we are better again. You basically have a jar and when something nice happens to you/family members, you write it down on a slip of paper and add it to the jar. Then on 31st December, have a look through the jar and see what nice things have happened to you throughout the year! I would add Liberty fabric to the deer and then I could have them up all year round!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the link to your blog. I had not seen it! Your writing is as lovely as your felt work. Feel free to send me any new pieces that you do in 2013. I will be happy to post them on Fiber Art Now Facebook page and link them to your blog too! By the way... your photos of your sweet dog made me smile! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteCami
I would finish them with paint effects for my husbands birthday in February as a reminder of our holiday in Gairloch last year.....
ReplyDeleteOf course Annie Rose sounds very much like the Annie Rose in the famous children's stories which by granddaughter loves.
ReplyDeleteI would like to crochet some very fine, in weight,colourful, body warmers for the deers.
Love the watch
Take care
Jude
Of course Annie Rose sounds very much like the Annie Rose in the famous children's stories which by granddaughter loves.
ReplyDeleteI would like to crochet some very fine, in weight,colourful, body warmers for the deers.
Love the watch
Take care
Jude
Sweet story about the wee singer, those little snippets of humanity are what make life worth living! Have a wonderful New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy new year Jackie!!!The deer would just go with a similiar pair I had given this year - they're lovely!!
ReplyDeleteA lovely post and your magical moment in church was perfect. I love the dears but I like them just as they are in your window! x Jo
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely end to the Epiphany mass! We have a two year old in our congregation who decided to demonstrate his counting skills just as people started moving to the communion rail - the clergy just about managed not to crack up. The reindeer look lovely as they are - though perhaps could receive a red nose? x
ReplyDeleteAs you say, they look charming in their birthday suits, but I think I'd be inclined to paint them gold for the Winter Decoration Corner I keep saying I will create!
ReplyDeletelovely post - it is the little things that give great joy isn't it - especially when unexpected - saw you had a new wattch on Facebook - guess what - snap!1 - you and Jeff have good taste!!! - love mine - so easy to read
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful moment, I kept thinking about it all day and trying to remember all the verses, thank you so much for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely story about the little girl. I'm so glad no-one shushed her. I like the deer as they are, but as I'd give them to my daughter, I don't know what she'd do to them!
ReplyDeleteHetty is wonderful, as usual.
What a moment that was in church. One to keep for a long time. Love those Christmas deer.
ReplyDeleteJackie, that is such a magnificent story - how I wish I could have been there as well. I am sure you will never forget it.
ReplyDeleteThe deer are lovely I think I would
paint them a cheery red.
Hope you are keeping perfect time in this spanking brand NEW YEAR!
Small joys are Big! My vow this new year is to pay attention and it is those joys I sm talking about. Happy new year to you and dear H. Xxoo sus
ReplyDelete"And a little child shall lead them"... What a lovely, lovely story. I can picture it perfectly and it truly warms my heart. What a wonderful moment that must have been!
ReplyDeleteOOOO ooo ooo decopatch! xx Nik So cute about the singing, are children so simply sweet and uncomplicated.
ReplyDeleteThese moments are little treasures that you never forget!
ReplyDeleteMaybe these deers can make some unforgetable moments in someones home. Maybe in mine? I would be very pleased with them. hugzzz....peebee
HAPPY new year to you! I am liking all your joyful things- how nice! I would paint some deer gold an add tiny roses and curly emerald leaves, making them all medieval-ish. (but I would leave them nude until they were dusty first- they look good in the buff.)xxxxx
ReplyDeleteThe deer are beautiful and I would be inclined to leave them as they are... perhaps adding a little "snow" on their antlers!
ReplyDeleteIts the simple things in life that make it worth while, this is my resolution to take note of what is going on around me and treasure it. As for the deer I would leave them alone and you never know you could get baby deer too xx
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to count blessings like that, and what a lovely story, so pleased she wasn't hushed up and was allowed to sing.
ReplyDeleteThe deer look beautiful where you have the standing & I suspect I would leave them just like that, standing on a window ledge with trees in the background so that they look like part of the landscape. Or perhaps if I wanted them to be Christmas Deer then simply painted with with a light touch of glitter, frosting their antlers an along their backs. They are very lovely simple shapes.
Thank you for the gentle reminder that it really isn't the things that cost money or things you may may spend a long time planning and preparing for which hold the most poignant memories. No, it's the unplanned and unexpected little things that often bring us most joy.
ReplyDeleteThe reindeers look beautiful in your window. I'm not sure how I would decorate them. I think I would give them to my seven year old with some decoupage paper and let he creat something that I can treasure.
Becky x
Oh my - what a sweet story! I'll bet everybody who was there will remember that moment for the rest of their lives. Definitely magic!
ReplyDeleteIts important to count blessings in this flat time after Christmas isn't it? I do the same. I LOVED your story about the little one singing in church - a "sent by God" moment if ever there was one!
ReplyDeleteWhat a magical moment the singing must have been. I love the deer!
ReplyDeleteI think it's good to be in touch with your Pollyanna side every now and again!! Maybe we should all do it just a little bit more often. How wonderful to witness the sweet singing of the little girl in Church! That's a memory maker.
ReplyDeleteI nearly cried reading the story of Away in a Manger...and I am not a church goer! We were brought up steeped in the church but I was nine when my Dad died...he was only 45...and I never could understand why he was taken away fom us leaving five other people so very sad
ReplyDelete