Encompassing Designs
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Kits
    • Patterns >
      • Christine Little >
        • Signature Designs
        • New Designs
        • Seasonal Designs
      • Deborah Sweet
      • Susan Leslie
      • Patricia Perry
      • William Morris
    • Supplies >
      • Backings
      • Frames
      • Hooks
      • Books
      • Extra
    • Wool >
      • Abrashed
      • Custom Dyeing
      • Dyed Bundles
      • Dyed Curly Mohair
      • Dyed Spots
      • Dyed Values
      • Dyed Yarn
      • Jacquard Dice Dyes
      • Natural & Colours
      • Plaids & Textures
      • Dye Books & Swatches
  • Ordering
  • Blog
  • Workshops
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us

The winter of my content.....

1/14/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
 
This winter seemed to arrive with guns blazing as if holding a grudge against Autumn, bringing with it killer temperatures and a whole lot of attitude. Except for this short reprieve we are experiencing, its been cold, consistently cold.  Usually this would set a brooding mood for the entire season because saying I've despised winter would be an understatement.  I've hated the cold with a passion.  I've bitched for years the stork dropped me too far north, maybe my head weighed too much to make the flight to Buckingham palace.  If you added up all the whining I do in a year, and prorate it between the seasons, 85% would be owned by winter.  

In previous years I've welcomed winter mornings with the enthusiasm of a pin in the eye, forcing myself out from beneath the warm covers, wishing I could hibernate until spring.   The fire in the wood stove goes out during the night and the temperature  dips, not so much that ice cycles form on the end of nose, but enough to yelp and curl the toes as I dash across the cold floor in search of slippers. 

This year, things have changed.  Not only am I not bitching, I'm feeling an uncharacteristic joy for the season.  Has turning 55, with its senior designation, made me into a tough old bird or is that extra layer of padding I've packed on responsible for the reconditioned  attitude?  I'll admit, with age, the vanity and the foolishness of youth take second seat to the innate desire for comfort so now I wear wool lined boots, gloves, scarves and sensible coats, replacing past attire that served little purpose against the weather.  I no longer shiver like I used to, no longer feel the chill to the very bone.  I no longer complain as I suit up to take the pups outside, or take the garbage to the bin. The morning dash to the car used to be record breaking; the whining and cussing echoing a Sam McGee lament.    

So I wonder what has changed?   Why I’ve grown more resilient?  All the variables of winter have remained constant so it’s reasonable to deduce that something is different about me.  Possibly I’m taking each day less for granted as I soar into the second half of my life. Time has suddenly become precious.  Experiencing the cold means I can feel, proof that I'm alive, and that’s nothing to sneeze at.  Losing my mother when she was only 58 and growing closer to those numbers myself, lends to a sense of vulnerability, humbles the arrogance of infallibility.  Every day I'm here, I'm privileged to experience this gift, so no matter what the conditions are like outside, I'll take it and still my tongue! 

There were times in my life when I didn't care if I died. To me the world wasn’t a warm and fuzzy place,  but now I'm grabbing on to the ledge, holding on for dear life hoping there will be decades ahead of me, filled with wonderful moments that offer me a reason to stay.   They say every cell in the body is regenerated every seven years, so I am a new and improved person than I was a decade ago.  Too bad it wasn't as easy to shed and replace the bad memory cells as well.  It took over a third of my life to get to this good place; it would be a cruel joke to have to pack it in now, just as I’m getting it right. 

Our brief stay on this planet is flawed.  Just as we grow wise and all knowing, our bodies begin to quit on us.  Maybe life should begin in reverse…be young and intelligent, starting out on top of the mountain and then making the steady decline to the bottom.  At the end of the journey there would be no big loss of body and mind to depress over, just a simple fade to black.  In my case, it's unfortunate I had to waste precious time taking detours, having to travel all those extra miles to reach this good place, but I suppose one has to experience the bad to really appreciate the good…without the contrast, life is a rose without its perfume.

Bundled up on the back porch the other morning, watching my babies at their morning pee, my eyes swept over the rolling hills behind the house and the ice laden harbour. Such beauty before me that I never fully appreciated before and I found myself smiling despite the frigid wind on my face. 

A red cardinal flew in to perch at our Sand Cherry tree, a momentary rest on his journey.....a rare and beautiful sight.   He posed for me and minutes passed as I breathed cool air in and steamy breath out, watching him in total awe. I became invigorated, surged with energy from the joy of being.  An urge sparked me to run out and throw myself backward on the snow, make an angel like I did as  a child.  I was suddenly oblivious to the cold, and more alive than I have been for years. I resisted the moment for practical reasons. I was in my jammies, no socks in my boots, all boring, grownup logic,  but now I regret not indulging the child within....maybe when it snows next time, hopefully I get the chance......
 

A reminder about our PATTERN OF THE MONTH CLUB & CONTEST 
click the link to check it out
!

http://www.encompassingdesigns.com/contests.html
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Christine Little has been ranked #5​ out of the 60 top rug hooking bloggers by Rug Hooking Magazine!

    Picture
    Picture
    Max Anderson, Australia, recipient of my Nova Scotia Treasures rug.  An award of excellence for promoting Canada through his writing.  
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    July 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Picture
    Picture
    Gift Certificates are available for that special rug hooker in your life!  Any denomination, no expiry date! 

    Picture

    Categories
    (Click on the categories for past blogs)

    All
    Announcements
    Beginner Class
    Christmas
    Colour Planning
    Contests
    Copyright
    Coupon
    Customer Rugs
    Cutter Servicing
    Dyeing
    Equipment
    Featured Hooker
    Giveaway Draw
    Guest Blogger
    Guest Blogger
    Health & Fitness
    Home & Heart
    Hooked Rugs
    Hooking Groups
    Hook In Talk
    Initially Yours
    Jibber Jabber
    Just A Bit Of Fun!
    Life's Experiences
    Life's Experiences
    New Design
    New Ideas
    Pattern Of The Week
    Patterns Hooked
    Pets
    Rants
    Recipes
    Rememberingfbe7326ff7
    Rug Schools
    Show & Tell
    Show-tell
    The Rant
    Tips Technique
    Tips Techniquef0cd117ab4
    Visitors
    Workshops

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture





















    Picture
    We have a pot to "Fiz" in!

Shop Hours:
Monday - Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM 
Saturdays 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
We are closed during ice and snow storms
​so please call ahead.  If school is cancelled we probably are as well.  

Toll Free: 1-855-624-0370
Local: 1-902-624-0370​
encompassingdesigns@gmail.com

498 Main Street
P.O. Box 437
Mahone Bay, N.S.
Canada B0J 2E0

​Follow us and keep up to date
on our specials, new products
​and events!
Picture
Picture
Picture


Home
Shop
Ordering
Blog
Our Story
Workshops

Contact Us




​​​© Copyright 2023 Encompassing Designs. Website by SKYSAIL