On the Sixth Day of Christmas...

Heaton Hearth 2011

This is the hearth of some dear friends of mine. They have lived in a number of places. It got me to thinking about what "Home" means to me. A sense of home gives us a lot. To really help us, it must be portable. If it is tied to a building it becomes tenuous, ephemeral. Once you find a true sense of what "home" is, it goes with you because it comes from you. Have you ever known any of those people who "nest" wherever they go? There is a good possibility that it is because they carry their sense of home with them. A lifetime of frequent transplanting with a loving family gave me a portable sense of home, and I am forever grateful for that. It's like learning that you can love someone and you don't lose them if they are in another room, or even in another country. If it is Truth, it just is. If 2+2=4 in San Jose, it also equals 4 in Paris, and at the same time. If you Love, you Love. For those who must "possess" it's a good bet they are a collector, not a Lover.
Christmas can always be spent at Home, if home is where you are, if Home resides within you.

The Second Day of Christmas:

Redberry Wreath 6X8 watercolor

Boxing day in some areas. A day to reflect. Or ...whatever. I'm just not in that solemn a mood! So I painted! This is using a little plein air pocket sized set of half pans and a block I can carry in my bag. This, however, was done inside.
Christmas was a lovely day for all the family and most of us were together. Today we are all "resting" after the preparations. Especially my sister-in-law, she decorated their house beautifully and together they fixed a scrumptious meal, plus lots of snacks of every kind, cookies and candy to raw veggies and dip. Yum!

 This all means heavenly leftovers of course. I got to bring some home, so I don't have to cook to night. I think I am showing rather a lot of unsuspected self control in not eating all the candy, I also brought home, in one sitting. Do you people have any idea what it is like to have an OPEN box of See's in the house? Time for some carrot sticks!