2011 is here! Thank God!!!

The New Year has arrived!  Thank God!  But, I will get to that later.

First, it's time to hang those 2011 calendars.  In small spaces, finding a spot that is practical, where calendars with handwritten notes and reminders don't look 'messy', can be a challenge.  For me, the best solution is behind cabinet doors in the kitchen.  I use Command hangers to keep the calendars in place.  Reminder notes are written or clipped to calendar pages.  There is a fishing calendar for my husband who loves outdoor sports and a school calendar for my son. 

 

My husband's 'fishing' calendar.  The Command hanger is just visible at the top.

My son's school calendar.  Soon it will be filled with handwritten notes and activity schedules.

I also keep a calendar filled with landscape photos from Tuscany at work near my desk. It's silly, but every month I look forward to seeing the new photo.  I've never been to Tuscany or Italy, but it looks lovely.  The blue sky contrasted with green hills and the shining sun always make me smile.

So why am I thrilled to see 2011 arrive?  Nothing magic or fabulous has happened. My husband continues his job search and the loss of my dear friend Maureen in late April is still painful. But just turning the page on a new year feels as if I am putting distance between the difficult challenges and memories of 2010.  Many of you sent comforting words and encouragement.  Thank you, thank you, thank you! Especially Laney, Judy, Melissa, June, Rue and my sister Kelley, your thoughts and prayers are so appreciated! 

I could not imagine decorating for the holidays this year, so I didn't.  My only decorations were gifts from friends. Jill sent a huge red poinsettia which stood in for our Christmas tree...

 

Christy sent paperwhite flowers in a stunning silver container ....

And Doreen sent a wreath with a big red beautiful bow.

 

What wonderful friends!!! 

For the family Christmas Eve get together, I also made my smoked salmon plate with salmon my brother sent from Alaska. That's my son in the striped shirt.

And I shoveled a path for Buddy to take his usual walks around the house.

That was it for Christmas. Surprisingly, it was refreshing.  I certainly didn't miss the usual pressure to 'do-it-all'.

Which brings me to Jewel Box® Home and this blog.  Amber has been the heart and soul of this blog over the past year.  I could not do this without her.  We both look forward to bringing you Jewel Box® tips for your smaller homes and spaces in 2011. 

Happy New Year to everyone!

Genevieve

Post Title → 2011 is here! Thank God!!!

My Beautiful Friend

Last week my beautiful friend Maureen died.  This has been a heart-wrenching loss.

Today, as I was on the verge of tears, I remembered Maureen when I saw a shower of pink petals falling from my neighbor's crab apple tree.  A wonderful aroma permeated the air and a light wind blew the flowers into a shaft of sunlight before they fell to the newly green grass creating a soft carpet of pale rose.  I thought, Maureen would love this moment.

We became friends over 20 years ago. She stepped into my life just after a bridesmaid in my wedding decided to break-off our friendship. To this day, I don't know why the first friendship came to an end, but thank God it did, because a friendship that would define my life was about to begin.

I marvel that in spite of knowing all my faults and 'sins', Maureen continued our friendship and wanted my company.  This will always be a miracle to me.

Maureen and I raised our children together, lived on the same block, took weekly walks with our dogs and were a four-some on dates with our husbands.  Still, there is no way to capture all the living that went on in our 20+ years together and my love for this remarkable woman. 

Instead, I'd like to share one of our favorite poems. It beautifully echoes Maureen's unerring belief that profound beauty and joy co-exist alongside bitter pain and disappointment.  It is up to us where we choose to focus.

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes, 

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, 

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -- 

over and over announcing your place 

in the family of things.      

Genevieve

Post Title → My Beautiful Friend