“There comes a moment you have to decide: Do you keep quiet or do you stand up.” – Malala Yousafzai
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
“We must not be silent. We all must act.” – John Lewis
A fitting start for a Monday.
P.S. Anna Maltz has tweaked Kat Coyle’s PussyHat and it is really spectacular! You still have time to knit one or two Kettunøsin – it is the perfect project to practice your colorwork!
This week’s Think Write Thursday is to plan a dinner party, inviting 3 people, living or dead. To guide you, consider some or all of these questions: obviously, who will you invite? How will you invite them? What will you serve? Will it be a fancy dinner or a casual affair? What will the topics of conversation be? Who will go home early and who will stay the longest?
Surprisingly, I really struggled with this post – there are so many possibilities and even more conversations!
So, who would I invite?
First off, I will admit here freely that I would IMMEDIATELY call a cleaning person.
While they are whisking about spiffing things up, I would be working on the list of invitees…
Here is where the challenge comes in – the hardest part of this, who do I really want to invite?
I had entertained thoughts of HRC, or Gloria Steinem, or Winston Churchill… Or perhaps a more historical dinner with Abraham Lincoln, or George Washington, or Alexander Hamilton… Or maybe a knitter’s dinner with EZ, or Franklin Habit, or Kate Davies…
I really was leaning to the Knitter’s dinner and then yesterday happened…
After seeing some of the hearings and watching the debacle that was hilariously called a “press conference” yesterday – I realized exactly who I need to invite:
Senator John Lewis, Carl Bernstein, and Michael Moore
I know, right?
An evening of resistance training and planning is just what I need.
What to eat, well since I would NOT want to miss out on any conversation – I would likely set up a meat and cheese board with appropriate cocktails.
Topics of conversation? Obviously, RESISTANCE!! And, I think Michael Moore has some excellent ideas on that very subject, but I think that the things that John Lewis would add with his rich history in peacefully protesting for the people’s rights are vital. And, Bernstein – I mean really. We will need excellent investigative journalists in the coming days – perhaps more than ever!
I would hope that conversation would continue long after the food had dwindled and that we would all be surprised by the lateness of the hour at the end of the evening. And, perhaps over the course of the evening, I would be left feeling that things won’t be as bad as I fear they will…
This week’s prompt for Think Write Thursday is to write a post called “Hello, January”.
There are two seasonal diversions that can ease the bite of any winter. One is the January thaw. The other is the seed catalogues. – Hal Borland
Winter has been iffy in my corner of the world with temperature swings from the 60’s one day to the 20’s the next. And, the rain – my back yard is one giant spongy mess.
However, I know that there is no avoiding the bitter cold that will soon be upon us. January is good at bring the cold – but, the one thing that January also brings is the slowly lengthening days. Each day there is just a bit more daylight than the day before, which is a very good thing!
I have not completely given up on growing things either, despite my Amaryllis failure – I have orchids that are blooming and then there are those Paperwhites… I am completely smitten with their ethereal blossoms balanced precariously on a slender stalk. There is hope blooming during the winter and it makes my mind turn to gardening!
That is right – garden planning will be happening this month. Where will we expand this year? What will we work on? What will we grow? It is perhaps the best time of all – the time when you can dream big! Mr. Borland is right seed catalogues simply are the best diversion for January and I am hoping my Baker Heirloom Seed Catalogue will be here sooner than later!
I am sorry Dear January if it feels like I am cheating on you by wishing it was May but garden planning is the best way to get through you!
If you would like to join Carole and I on this writing journey, we would love to have you! You can sign up here!
“It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” – David Steindl-Rast, Benedictine Monk
I worked through 2016 with a focus on gratitude – and though it took some effort, I really feel like I am ending the year with a better understanding of gratitude. This includes gratitude in my everyday life. From the simplest things to the most complex – I feel like gratitude is part of my being now.
Which brings me to 2017 – where do I go from here. I have been contemplating several words to focus on in 2017 and my mind kept circling around joy and then when I got an email on Saturday from Churchmouse Yarn and Tea with the above quote – the word seemed to leap out of the email.
It is so true, gratitude does make me joyful.
It is not complicated, nor does it indicate that I am adopting a Pollyanna-like view of life – but really, a simple joy stemming from gratitude in all things – even the difficult things.
In 2017, I hope you will come along with me as I celebrate finding joy in the journey.
This week’s prompt for Think Write Thursday is to talk about New Year’s Eve. Do you love it or hate it? Do you yearn to go out on the town or would you rather stay home for a cozy night in? Big party? Small gathering of friends? Tell us how you want to spend New Year’s Eve and remember, it’s just words and you aren’t actually committing to anything so the sky is the limit!
Queue the music…
So many questions in here!! Do I love it or hate it? Well, I think the answer is this:
The younger me loved the party aspect of the event, and the now me appreciates the review of the year and anticipation of the year to come. The younger me loved to get dressed up and head out for a night of party, party, party! The now me appreciates staying home in quiet reflection for the evening. And, honestly – staying up until midnight? That hasn’t happened in years.
Somehow the wild days of my youth have been replaced with – well, an old person! LOL
But, if I could have any New Year’s Eve I want – this would be it:
The company will be stellar and the conversation stimulating if all of you are here! There will be games and so much laughter! There might even be some tears as we remember what 2016 was.
And, as we look forward to what 2017 might bring, we can raise our glasses in hopefulness and good cheer.
That would be how I would like to spend New Year’s Eve – with all of you! And, in the perfect world – the transporter would be a thing and I would have one! However, please know that on New Year’s Eve I will be raising my glass to all of you in friendship, love, and good cheer.
Happy New Year my friends – may this coming year bring peace and prosperity to all of us!
If you would like to join Carole and I on this writing journey, we would love to have you! You can sign up here!