When my father died in 1998, my mother and I went to an amazing grief counselor at Hopsice — her name was Ruby. While she passed away a few years ago, her wisdom lives in on in all the folks she counseled. Ruby referred to this time of year as the “Mean Season.” It is an especially difficult time for those who have lost loved ones. The sting of my father’s death has dulled, but I still miss him terribly around the holidays. Christmas was always his favorite and he would go all out. He would always take my mother and I to Gatlinburg, Tennessee afterward because he believed we needed something to look forward to after the holidays — sort of like a consolation prize.

I know that Chuck is thinking about his parents as well. Even in the best of times, this time of year can be sad. There is so much pressure to be jolly and full of Christmas spirit, that it can be quite tiresome. Life in the Gibson-Rice Household is going well, but my work has been exhausting. I’ve had four residents die since Thanksgiving and my dear co-worker Grace has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Every day it’s something else and I feel like there’s a big black cloud over our building. I can sense the other residents are restless and it must be devastating to lose all your friends. The men and women I work for are resilient and amazing. They have taught me so much and I hope that I am as gracious as they are when I am older.

On a happier note, I participated in a holiday ornament swap courtesy of Deb over at Say It With Letters.

I took an idea from the latest Somerset and came up with these whimsical little gals.

I took bottle brush trees and glammed them up.  They were super fun to make and I wish I had made one for myself.

Another project I’ve been busy working on is a scarf for Somerset’s latest publication — “All Things String.”  We’ll see if they like it.

It’s a fairy catcher!  😀

Finally, these next pictures are of the project I did in Julie Haymaker’s class in September — yeah, I know that I am way behind in my posts.

I love the little snail that sits at the top.  This piece now hangs in my kitchen and it makes me smile every time I see it.

Oh, incidentally, my blog banner is from the amazing Tiffany Jane.  I love her work.  Chucklebutt wanted to make my blog banner, but he is so busy with his own extracurricular activities, he didn’t have time.

Speaking of Chucklebutt, check out what he’s been up to:

He is the resident sound designer and photographer for New Carpa Theatre.  The show was pretty critical of Sheriff Joe Arpaio (the Maricopa County Sheriff) and the theatre even had protesters.  Too cool!  Nothing like controversy.  Chuck just found out this evening that his photos accompany an article in The New Times.  Check out the review.  He also got a great gig doing all the head shots for members of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.  I am so proud of him!

I hope that everyone is healthy and happy out in cyberspace!  Take good care of each other.

Lastly, I want to acknowledge my dear friend JanShine’s (Janice Caroline Moretz Lowry) 37th birthday.  It was on the 13th and I am so sorry to have missed it.  The following is for you sweet friend!