to-day we et ham

There are days when I feel eloquent and intelligent, and then there are days when I say 'ain't' a lot and bungle words to streamline a text.

 Today I certainly wish to be eloquent (it is Easter, after all) but we'll just have to see how this goes...

 Easter means a new Spring dress to debut (and a dreadfully spotted mirror). This little sundress rescued me from the mire of shopping in about 30 seconds flat (I've mentioned before, I think, how I struggle with clothes-buying). There it was on the first rack and it said, "Whatho!" So I said, "Whatho!", tried it on and the rest is history. It is my Easter-SpringConcert-AlbumCover-Graduation-AnySuddenWeddings'-Default dress. :)

 Easter means running to the grocery store to buy eggs (gasp!) because our hens only lay pre-colored eggs. Running into the store late on a Saturday just to stand in line with a dozen eggs could be embarrassing enough, but getting out to the car with the solitary sack and realizing you forgot the color dye and must endure the Single Item Shame again is enough to make anyone cower in the the car while a braver soul (i.e. my mother) pretends we're not related.

(If you do not understand this fear, you do not live in a small town.)

 My Easter began at 6:30am when I awoke to a sore stomach. An evil trick for one such as me who anticipates the Easter Basket of Goodness with the excitement of any nine year old. But it wasn't all bad. I returned to bed and curled up with Reichenbach Fall, and though I missed the church breakfast and Sunday school, by nine I was feeling well enough to make it to the Easter service to sing and smile and carry home the lily in honor of Our Savior and my grandparents. 

 Dinner was a giant ham. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon. I was starving. So I ate a green egg. And then laughed at myself, eating green eggs & ham.

 After dinner and after Baby had run out of giggles, I brought out Dydo and practiced my duet (you'll not regret taking a moment to listen. I promise.) and trio pieces until my harmonics would do nothing but squeak. 

Now the day is done. A good day all told, if quiet. So I'll end. I have writing in TLOS to do and you've probably had your fill of Easter posts anyway.

.....

Being in great anguish He was praying fervently; and His sweat came like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

(luke 22)

“But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of God.” And they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.” 

(luke 22)

It was now the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, because the sun was obscured ; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus, crying out said, “Father, into your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this He breathed His last. When the centurion saw what had happened he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.” 

(luke 23)

And a man named Joseph... a good and righteous man... a man from Arimathea, a city of Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God, this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And he took it down and wrapped it in linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock in which no one had ever lain. 

(luke 23)

[The women] came to the tomb bringing spices which they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus... [The angel] asked, “Why do you seek the Living among the dead?” 

(luke 24)

Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.

Happy... yeah, whatever

taken via Photobooth

Happy St. Valentines Day!

 I hope your candy favors to your siblings are nicer than the ones Little Brother and I traded.... 

To Gwyn From LB: Happy Valintines Day! Open for chocolate. You: (drawing of a fat stickman) ...if you eat it all. Triple stapled and plastered with packing tape to prevent entry.

To LB From Gwyn: Happy Valentines Day! (drawing of an olive) Olive you! Stapled in such a way as to only allow for one piece of candy.

 I guess we are both concerned about each other's sugar intake.

Peace, love, and chocolate,

-Gwyn

A day well spent

Here’s hoping you and yours had a grand Thanksgiving giving thanks!!

Mine, although low-key, was quite pleasant. Meaning I got to eat green olives & cranberries & turkey until I was fit to burst and my chair squeaked in protest. Then, while my parental figures and guests talked and reminisced about cattle drives and brandings, or, on the ladies side, music and art, I got to read and sip tea on the sofa until it was time to feed the horses. All in all, a day well spent, I think.

Now I am again waiting to feed the animals and sipping tea, although this time it’s black Charleston brew instead of cinnamon. I was planning to ride today, since the weather was unusually warm but Louisa called me away to an impromptu music practice, and now that I’m back it’s spitting rain. sigh.

Anyhow, now that Thanksgiving is past, I am quite ready for Christmas. I’m actually excited for it like I haven’t been for the last two years or so. The music and the baking especially. Although... my last baking endeavor turned into a bit of a fiasco... Little Brother and I were making Pumpkin Spice bread and well, Mum and Da were gone and... Well, we ended up having a flour fight.
 Hehe. We were quite a sight. As was the kitchen.
Flour has a very satisfying poof! noise :)

Ah! It’s time to go out now.
Till next time....

Dia,

-Gwyn

July in pictures

Here July is already half over and not a word from me besides my brief little horse story. Thank you all who commented on it, on the by. It was lovely to hear from each of you - your encouragement, your stories, your wishes, and your complements. You gals are some cool beans. I'm sorry I can't answer you individually at the mo., for the reason you've heard very little from me is because my Da has restricted the Interwebs time to the crack of dawn and after the sun sets for the night. This leaves little time for me, and I usually spend it writing the next part of Bristé {almost ready!} if able to use it at all. So. Now for the pictures....

The Fourth was awesome. Our little town's parade is the best -- read: Almost all horses and carriages and old cars. I got to spend half the day with my dearest-friend-who-I-never-get-to-see-because-she-lives-in-Ukraine. So it was a very happy Independence Day.

The summer skies have been magnificent too. Simply stunning every evening.
All my relatives have gone home now, and life has returned to the norm. Mum did get to travel for five days to visit my sister on the East coast... or would it be more South? I don't know. Anyway, she got to go to the beach and bring me back some shells :) I was sure glad when she got back, though. Living with just boys for five days and fixing them supper most nights is not my idea of a good time. Da said it was good 'bonding time'. I bonded a lot in my room with several new library books. Speaking of....

This is my stack that I'm currently reading. Though now I've finished two today, The Twelfth Prophecy, and The Seamstress. On hot days after spending the morning in the garden{which is starting to produce!} it's the best to come into the air conditioned house, grab a glass of ice tea and a new book.

Some super exciting news is that I got a new violin! For my very own! Never used before; made just last year, and hand made in Romania from wood from the Carpathian mountains. Oh yes, and her name is Dido {You have to say it with an accent}, after the tragedy in which Dido throws herself off a cliff. The drama and melancholy matches my violin's tone. I love sad music.

  As of yet I have not taken any photos of my gorgeous instrument {excuse the bragging. I've waited a long time for a professional violin.} but I assure you that they will be forthcoming.

I must end now; my time is already up. But I will try and post again soon about the other interesting things that are happening -- not the least of which my adventures in picking up oil painting again, and more horse tales. Pun intended. 

-Gwyn

A glimpse of Eternity...

in the dawn of a new day. {And I'm not just talking about the photo :)}

✠ Happy Easter ✠

✠ I apologize if any of you were expecting daily photo-posts like the last one. At first that was my intent, but then other more Easterly things happened; like Good Friday service, painting Easter eggs, playing piano purely for the love of music {something I have not done in forever}, and of course the family traditions crept in as well. So, on the one hand I feel terrible if I let anyone down, but on the other I'm glad I did. And I am aware that sounded mean and callous. Sorry. :)

✠ Prepare for cuteness. 20 adorable little chicks {five of which will have mohawks} are arriving tomorrow. Of course I'll take photos.

✠ Because it's Easter, and because of that I'm extremely happy, here's a list of my favorite Easter things...

the early church service

the new feel everything gets after hearing the Resurrection story

the chocolat. Period.

the egg dyes 

the inside jokes: laughing at a road-killed rabbit on the way home.

watching The Ten Commandments for, what? Four hours? the night before

My little brother's attempts at fooling the Easter Bunny by setting out extra baskets for imaginary 'new' siblings 

Sadly, Easter only gets celebrated one day of the year, which I don't fully understand. But I'm pretty sure it's my favorite holiday {holiday: conjugare of holy and day}
 So make it count, I guess. A very happy Easter to you!

-Gwyn

'Owl be home for Christmas'

I had a rather owl-y day yesterday, and it all started with a hot mug of tea, freezing temperatures, and some idle creativity.

I was done wrapping presents - I only had one. But don't worry and think me a Scrooge. The rest are in the mail. At least, that's what I keep telling people... hehe.

 Sad little snowflakes fell to the frozen earth in tiny wisps; it's too cold here for big, fluffy flakes. I think I've already voiced my opinion on these present pitiful things. Anyway, as I said I had a cup 'o tea and was watching said flakes from the window when a creative bug started to stir within me. Do you ever get that feeling where you just have to make something or you'll explode? A card, some cookies - anything! That was me. Vainly, I searched the interwebs for anything that would appease my sudden artistic spasm. I thought maybe I could make something to give as a present. But just about everything labeled 'homemade Christmas' was a) hokey or b) I didn't have the materials for.
 Until...
 I remembered Mum showing me the cutest little craft ever on her friend's blog, Gumbo Lily. Peeps, I'd like you to meet Meep.

My pocket-sized, hand-stitched, new friend :) 

 I had my doubts as I printed out the pattern: I have never gotten on well with needles of any kind. I faint at the thought of vaccines, grumble at my attempts at knitting, and sigh with boredom over embroidery. I haven't even picked up a needle in a year or more, pretty much because I need something more to do besides just pulling thread through cloth, even when I know the outcome will be an adorable little owl. Music, a movie, I even thought of reading while stitching, but that wouldn't work out too well. I usually lose interest after a while without these things to help me along. But this little guy only took me forty-five minutes to hour to make; clipping, cutting, stitching and all.

Everyone who's seen Meep now want me to make them one. "He's just so cute!"

 I will defiantly make more during the blizzardy months ahead, of all different sizes and colors.

 I need to craft more often, I think. Lately writing and music have completely blocked out any time or energy I used to use for drawing or card making and it's starting to burn me out on both subjects. Like now I don't even want to look at a sheet of music for at least a week. So maybe my owl is a wise owl, in a way, he kinda told me to quit focussing on just writing and playing and return to my other talents too. Yeah, I'm pretty happy with my little owl :)

Merry Christmas,

-Gwyn

What makes it Christmas?

Ah.

Just, ah.

That's what I feel like at this moment as I sit typing to you with my bandaged fingers {pinky - argument with a 5lb metal pole and solid ice. Index finger - broken Christmas light.} after a long day of Christmas decorating.
 From the time I awoke till sunset I was effectively bringing Christmas cheer into our home. Mum worked all day and had a nice surprise on her return :)
 But as I was risking my neck to put up lights above the stove and candles near the clock, a thought occurred to me; simply

what makes it Christmas?

Now the obvious answer to a similar question would be, "Well, Christ's birth, of course!" But that's not what I was asking. You can have a Christmas without the tinsel and all that, but it doesn't feel like Christmas, does it? There are certain things - traditions, foods, decorations - that you just need in order for you to feel the full effect of Christmas, aren't there? I realized that as I unpacked all our décor, each with its own special meaning. After putting every one of them in there proper places {and heavens, do we have a lot of 'every ones'!}, I decided to go on a hunt, camera in hand, to find the pieces that make my Christmas puzzle complete.

Christmas tree hunting. Tramping about in the wilderness, tracking rabbits and some kind of weasel, watching a herd of elk, and finely finding our Tree. What could be a better to start the season? The long drive up into the Hills is very much worth it.

Christmas lights... that shine so brightly and warmly. Gives one a cozy feeling just glancing their way.

Decorating the tree. Is there any more to be said?

Music. The Christmas season wouldn't be whole without it. Besides making everything more acutely beautiful, I believe music has a deep affect on our spirits; something that words alone cannot encompass.

Carmel-apple-spices and decorated coffee shops. That delicio hot drink to see before you now is the holiday spirit in beverage form. The little coffee shop where my mum works makes it exclusively. What is it? Oh, I thought I said already! Well, apple cider is a big part of it, cream too. Lots of carmel and spice. Yup, that's all I can tell you ;)

Our little glow-church. The warm lights from this little church has always greeted us merrily when we  return from Advent services in the dark of night for as long as I can remember. I love it.

The Nativity scene. One of my favorite pieces by far, my mum's Italian Fontanini figures. The stable is extra special too. Da, my older brother, and I made it as a Christmas present for Mum when I was about four or five. My job? Gathering the rocks to make the walls.

When setting these up, I try and give each character a story; like this one where the frightened lamb in the shepherd boy's arms is crying for its mother. The ewe, also bleating, I always imagined butted the boy eventually to reach her baby. :)

A portrait of Jesus. This statue isn't really part of the Christmas decor, we keep it all year round, but I think it is an important, if not vital part of Christmas, a reminder. It is after all why He was born. This statue has always fascinated me, especially when I was small. Whoever the artist is, they did beautiful work portraying the pain and sadness our Savior went through for us.

Those are all most of the things that put me in the holiday spirit. What are yours?

Ah! And concerning the giveaway I promised, I hope you all won't be upset if I delay it for awhile. With the funeral arrangements for my Grandpa and all my music gigs in the next two weeks, I'm afraid I won't be able to host until maybe the week of the nineteenth... maybe. Well, I'll get it figured out, don't despair.

But now I must bid you, all 100(!) of you, good night!

-Gwyn

A Thanksgiving prayer request

Last night my Grandpa passed away. It did not come as a surprise: he's been fading ever since Grandmum went ahead in May. Now together they will celebrate the true Thanksgiving feast with the Giver Himself. And that make me happy.
 But prayers for those of us still waiting behind would be much appreciated.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone

 Be truly thankful for your family this year!

(c)Gwyn

"The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord" -Job

Find a happy place, find a happy place!!

*deeeeep breath*

Well. It's day two of NaNo how is everyone else coping? I myself am off to a rather rocky start. Friday my grandpa had to be taken to the ER, and it turns out he had pneumonia really bad. The doctors were amazed he was doing as well as he was with the amount of fluid in his lungs. He's still at the hospital receiving antibiotics and meds for nerve damage{something he's had for a long time}, so thank heaven he's doing better now. Even a cold at his age is worrying and could go either way, let alone pneumonia.

My writing nook by my bed.

That was all very concerning but what hit my planning/writing hard was on Sunday I woke up feeling positively awful. I didn't even go to church{I hate missing church}. I missed all the Halloween parties too. I guess it's a good thing then that I don't care much for All Hallows Eve.

L-H My pumpkin, My older brother's, and my younger brother's

A horseshoe. For me, a little predictable but me none the less :)

Not because of all the voodoo about how it's supposedly the devil's birthday or whatever {sorry if I'm being insensitive}, but more because I really don't see the point of the whole deal. I mean, what are we celebrating anyway? Cheap latex? Free candy? The basic urge to scare the dickens out of a fellow human being? It's worth a thought. :)

Anyway, where was I? Ah yes...
 Monday I was still feeling peakéd but was able to scrape out about a thousand words by midnight. Today I typed it out and wrote some more, and, as you can see above, reached 2,470. I'm still behind a bit, but I'm not going to worry about it too much because I have two music recitals this week (!!). Violin next Sunday and piano on Friday. I'm slightly apprehensive about both of them.

 The violin recital I'm playing in two separate groups. In the elite group we play Orinoco Flow by Enya, great song but a very difficult arrangement. It must have been a nightmare to compose!
 In piano I'm playing Brahms Lullaby duet with my teacher. I am ashamed to say I haven't practiced -- I hope my teacher isn't reading this *smiles winningly*

Okay this post is just sad so I'm going to stop trying to write with what's left of my fried brain and add some pictures.

-Gwyn

My 4th of July in pictures

-The Parade- 

{I only took photos of the horses and buggies... :P}

I like this horse a lot. He's very big, and just look how strong his neck and shoulders are! I'm guessing he's a roping horse.

These cute minis pulling the little wagon :) Not to mention the appy pony.

Little cowpoke on his trusty steed

I like the set up of this picture very much.

-The Fireworks-

{Well... the good ones anyway. Dumb camera has a 5 sec. exposure in the dark. And the fireworks were a mile away.}

This one turned out weird. And kinda cool. :D

The grande finale!

It's late now - it took me a looonnngg time to upload and add "w.s. photography" to all the pics - so good night. :)

~Gwyn

There's nothing like a good rodeo

Last night I got to go to the ranch rodeo! By far the best kind of rodeo because all the events are ones that happen everyday for the average ranch hand. Things like, branding, bronc riding, stray gathering, wild cow milking{you never know, right?}, and lots of hard work like that. It's also a chance for the hands to get off the ranch and join in a little competition with the other big ranches out there. Most every big ranch in the area has a team.
 I won't post much more on the subj. because I asked my friend CorgiChic{from now on CC} to send me some of the pictures we both took with her camera. Its kind of a cheap one and the lighting was bad for it, but I'll try and fix them up as best I can. She also go a video of the wild cow milking so I'll have to post that too :D

I saw a massive toad out on the drive this morning so I'm gonna grab the camera and go find him again.

~Gwyn

This Memorial Day....

Thank a soldier for the everyday freedom we here at home get to enjoy. It's no lie when people call them heroes, no exaggeration.

 So thank you Grandpapa M., Grandpa K., Cousin Monte, my great-uncles, both my neighbors, new recruit Brian, from my church, and recently deployed in Iraq, all the army chaplains, and all those have served and those continuing to serve.

 Freedom doesn't come free.