Merry Christmas!

One of the homes in our area, well…

goes "all out" for Christmas lights… Enjoy!  

Christmas Blessings from our home to yours...

Santa on the Fire Truck!

Ever year, we enjoy (and look forward to) the tradition of

Santa Claus Coming through town, riding on

the well appointed Fire truck of our borough 

fire department: Woodstown Reliance Fire Company.

Here they are, driving by our home
(Santa's on the second truck!)

Snow on Cedars!

Our backyard this afternoon, as a "surprise" snowfall arrived here

in South Jersey… by dusk, the cedar boughs in the back were heavy

and sighing under the weight of this "white-stuff!"

The bird-bath is a good measure of amounts…

And to think that I just mentioned to Katie on Friday afternoon that we

have lilies emerging near the house, it has been so warm!

(sleep tight and rest little lilies…)

Saint Nick… a Thrift Store Find!

Katie and and I just returned from a week away…

up in Vermont with our kids, for Thanksgiving!

One of our favorite "stops" is the local hospital

thrift shop: "Neat Repeats!"

This past Tuesday, I found this hand-carved, primitive wooden

Saint Nick… just sitting on the floor waiting for me;

at the bargain price of $3.00 (he stands 15 inches high)

The "as is" note referring to his missing boot toes!

(click on the pic to enlarge and see the wonderful crackling!)

Nine years ago… I found this original, signed Netty LaCroix

doll at the same store, for around $5.00 a treasure for sure.

They make a handsome couple, don't they!

Life is… Bittersweet!

It is one of the simple pleasures enjoyed here

in Salem County, this time of the year…

tangled and intertwined "bittersweet" growing along the roadside.

I spotted a bunch growing along the roadside today…

after making a home-visit.

Clipping an armful... some of it found the perfect spot

hanging over a grapevine wreath on our six foot "plus"

circa 1910 church shutters from Addison, Vermont.

Angel of the Shadow Children

"Engel der Schatten Kinder"

I attended a three-week workshop with Virginia Fry on grief and loss in the lives of children and their families. In that workshop, she introduced us to the German term: “schatten kinder” which translated into English is: “shadow children.”  Virginia explained that Hospice care in Germany during the past ten years has recognized the often forgotten voice of the siblings of terminally ill children.  These children, young and old alike, often “fall into the shadows” during this time of grief and loss.

With that in mind, I am designing a series of three angels for the “schatten kinder” among us; their guardians, of sorts…   In the following ancient Hebrew text taken from Isaiah 49:15...  I am reminded that we, like they, are not forgotten, nor left in the shadows.  

“Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you."

Inspired by the work of Russian artist Roman Shustrov…  I will be working with traditional paper maché paste, strips of newspaper and brown craft paper applied to this Styrofoam and wire mesh armature.  I have also included in the design of this angel a reliquary space, in which I will hang either a rusted heart, or perhaps a vintage skeleton key.

Good Night… Allegheny Mountains

We just returned from four days in West Virginia with friends…

artisan galleries, small eateries tucked away in rural towns,

and night skies that seem to explode with starlight.