The Colors of Winter

I used to think that winter was long because there was so little color in it. I realize now that it might have been because I was living in a city, where winter can be wearying because it seems to be characterized by slumping snow, dirty black or brown from sand, gravel, traffic. Little brown clumps of dog poop on sidewalks. Pavement where the snow has been cleared--all seems to be gray and brown on dirty white.

It's different living in the north. The sunrises and sunsets are often spectacular....here's one from an early morning this weekend, looking out over the big lake.

But when you start to pay attention, there is color everywhere--it's just subtle. These rocks are part of a cliff from a hike up Kimball Creek--about a mile away from us. I love how they echo the colors of the sky over Superior.

And then when I collect twigs for my crafting of frames and baskets, the colors are lovely--red osier dogwood, willow of various colors, birch.

Why didn't I see the colors of winter before?

It helps to be able to see so much sky, and to be able to hike through river canyons, to have twig shrubs growing everywhere.

I guess I must have been blind to these colors before--I find myself wondering whether I perhaps was so busy looking at the piles of dirty snow that I couldn't see the colors around me.

No longer! I'm loving all the colors of winter, though they are often softer than the colors of

summer. And I'm bringing them in--for frames and here for a room divider we've been needing.

All the colors of the rainbow...blessings in the winter months.

Great fun for a great cause!

A number of wonderful musicians donated their time and talents last night for our Haiti Party....here they are playing and singing! Lots of great eating, conversation and dancing.

I loved the way the children danced and played in the middle of the scene...made me think "how great to raise kids in the middle of this kind of community!"

Dancing and a wood burning stove kept us toasty throughout the evening. Young and old, differently abled--with a wheel chair and crutches out on the floor--agile and less so....a great time was had by all!

We don't know yet how much money we took in for Haiti, but we're thinking this kind of evening may become a regular part of our "ministry" here--bringing the community together to kick up their heels for a good cause.

Dancing in the north woods!

Next Monday our little chuch is hosting a party to raise funds for Haitian relief. Funds will go to Episcopal Relief and Development and Habitat for Humanity.

A number of local musicians have dontated their time and talents to play and sing. Just the time of year to kick up our heels!

This party will be different from some......we're inviting folks to dig out those fancy clothes they have tucked away from times when they were mother of the bride or bridesmaid, the tux they never get to wear in the north woods. Plus mukluks of course--the latest in formal footwear...

Great music and hotdishes shared, for a good cause. A true northwoods occasion!

Color inside and out

Last weekend we had a "Peace Fibres" retreat
here at WindCradle. It was wonderful to work together--creating fiber art like needle felting and string work as we shared our lives. Bright colors--of fabrics crafted all over the world; hunks of roving and yarn and spirals of embroidery thread:These spread out on the banisters, the floor, the table.















We ate and chatted and danced and shared--all the while going deeper. Some participants were old friends, others we'd never met before. But by the end of the weekend we knew each other well, and could see that no matter what our exteriors, we each sported bright inner colors.

Color throughout the house. Colorful lives shared.

Like the sky outside, bright pinks and reds, reflected on the lake....color everywhere if we stop to see it.