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Monday, December 12, 2016

Catching Up In Year's End



       I'm slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community today. It's always a pleasure to read what everyone writes about their lives.
         

        It has been quite a chaotic time this fall in politics, no surprise to any of you I know. Among all my other activities I've continued to read as widely as possible, and tried to find ways to challenge our president elect's way of being. Never will I accept that his behavior toward people and toward America is acceptable. I am tired and still will not stop, but I also am going to take the next couple of weeks away from blogging (after this week), to try to get my holiday life in order so I can be with myself, with my family and friends, catch up on some writing goals, and other needed things, like bake and wrap gifts. I love blogging and connecting with all of you, but need a break. I know that all of you do not celebrate Christmas, but do wish everyone a safe and joyous final days of 2016. 

         I'm sharing a book I shared yesterday because it is a book just discovered, and includes many of the holidays that bless us in this season of light. If you don't know it, find it. It is lovely. It also is about poetry and quilting!

My Review
        Anna Grossnickle Hines not only wrote the poems and illustrated them but created the quilts that became part of the beautiful pages. In the backmatter, she writes about the importance of light in the deep winter months, including the holidays that are celebrated with some kind of light and ending with the light we all share, the moon. And she gives detailed instructions for creating the quilts. The quilts are exceptionally gorgeous, glowing brightly in a sea of dark, just like the candles of Chanukah and Kwanza, or the lights on the Christmas tree. There are poems for each special time and they glow too, like the one about farolitos, lines of paper bag lanterns symbolically lighting the way for Mary and Joseph. The book will delight everyone in this season where light is needed and celebrated, and might inspire quilters too.

        I have a favorite quote from Charles Dickens that gives me a smile every time I read it.

        There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast. 

        At the school where I worked, each classroom created some kind of artistic light production, and one morning before winter break, we all traveled the school viewing everyone's art, light and memorable words. One year, we used Confucius' It is better to light one little candle than to curse the darkness, and created small lit memorials to people all over the world that had lit that candle.  

Enjoy your celebrations with your families!

22 comments:

  1. Enjoy your time "away" with family and friends! Thanks for the book recommendation too.

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    1. Thank you. I hope you find and enjoy this lovely book!

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  2. I love the Dicken's quote and the emphasis on light, so important always! The book looks absolutely beautiful--a great gift for a quilter! I hope your time away from blogging is filled with the blessings of the season and with much light. Happy Holidays to you and yours.

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    1. Thanks very much, Molly. I'm happy you enjoyed the quote and hope you can find the book!

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  3. Linda, I'm so grateful for your voice in the world! I'll miss reading your blog, but I'm glad you are taking time to care for yourself and your family. It's a tough time right now. That quote from Dickens is perfect. I'm going to add it to my notebook. Thank you for being a light in my world!

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    1. You are welcome, Michelle. I am grateful for your consistent positive messages too.

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  4. I hope you have a lovely holiday, my friend. I know you will continue to light candles ... and I am grateful for them.

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    1. Thanks, Tara. I am looking forward to these next few weeks!

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  5. Linda, sometime we just have to take time to recharge our batteries so the light doesn't go out. These days more than ever we need to be fully charges to combat the darkness. Enjoy this holiday season with your loved ones. Thanks for the book suggestion. With Kathy being a quilter I know this is something she would live. Merry Christmas.

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    1. Thank you! I shared the book again because it encompasses many kinds of light celebrations, and because I thought of you and Kathy, Bob. I hope you find and enjoy it. It is a gorgeous approach to quilting! Merry Christmas!

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  6. Thank you for your intro in this post. I feel the same way. We will just have to keep pushing, keep fighting, keep believing. <3

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    1. Yep! I will continue on, Ricki. Thanks for coming by!

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  7. I'll miss your words. I understand the value of disconnecting from the virtual world to be fully present in here and now. Hugs to you!

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    1. Thanks, Terje, and hugs right back. Merry Christmas across the water!

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  8. Linda, I totally understand your attempt to find solace and peace with your family and yourself. Being unplugged is a good move. I have been pondering how to move back during this holiday time, too. Thanks for this quote: "There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast." It rings a bell!

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    1. I'll still write my haiku, but just have a lot to do, including bookstore things, too. I need time! Thanks Carol. I'm glad you like the quote! Have a very merry holiday!

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  9. Lights in the darkness are my favorite thing about this season, and they have certainly taken on a more important meaning this year! It's good that you are taking a break to enjoy what really matters!

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    1. Thanks,Jennier.This might be a nice book to share with your students. Merry Christmas to you and your family. I know it will be so exciting with sweet Marisol.

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  10. Just requested Winter Lights and I'm #1 in line. I'm a great celebrator of light during this season and even more so this year. Enjoy your family time. Will see you back in the new year! I'm loving the haikus for healing. Thanks for this gift of writing.

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    1. I may need to buy it. I really have enjoyed it, and wish I'd discovered it when I was teaching. Thanks, Ramona. I will continue the haiku. They have become a nice part of the day. Merry Holidays to you!

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  11. Just getting back to this today. Alligence was wonderful; do see it if you have a chance! As I mentioned to you, I love this book and am in awe of Anna Grossnickle Hines's talent. Thank you for sharing the Dickens and Confucius quotes. I will hold them close in the coming days.

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