The journey into another year begins

Welcome, 2012. I am ready for you. I am ready for all of the joys and surprises, the sorrows and challenges. I am ready for the new friends and the new projects. I am ready for the books I will read, the music I will hear, the photos I will take, and the places I will go. I am ready for all that life has to offer me. I am ready for 2012.

The road of life twists and turns

and no two directions are ever the same.

Yet our lessons come from the journey,

not the destination. ~ Don Williams, Jr.

 Focus on the journey, not the destination.

Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.

~ Greg Anderson

 Too often we are so preoccupied with the destination

that we forget the journey.

 Then we turned, and took our journey

into the wilderness... ~ The Bible

 ...We journey to the day,

And tell each other how we sang

To keep the dark away. ~ Emily Dickinson

 As travellers oft look back at eve

When eastward darkly going,

To gaze upon that light they leave

Still faint behind them glowing —

So, when the close of pleasure’s day

To gloom hath near consign’d us,

We turn to catch one fading ray

Of joy that’s left behind us. ~ T. Moore

  Ithaka

As you set out in search of Ithaka

Pray that your journey be long,

Full of adventures, full of awakenings.

Do not fear the monsters of old …

You will not meet them in your travels

If your thoughts are exalted and remain high,

If authentic passions stir your mind, body, and spirit.

You will not encounter fearful monsters

If you do not carry them within your soul,

If your soul does not set them up

in front of you. ~ Constantine Peter Cavafy

Welcome to 2012! I hope you will decide to take the journey with me. Happy New Year!

   

Merry Christmas 2011!

Sometimes the joys of the season are to be found in the smallest things, such as a Christmas card from a special friend, a homemade gift, a surprise in the mailbox, the lights on the tree, a little baby's smile.

Here are just a few of the small joys of Christmas that I've been enjoying.

 This is a card from the late 50's or early 60's that shows my family's Maine farmhouse. The Hudsons were friends of my grandmother, and she let them stay in her house for the winter.

 The madonna and child was a card my dad created in the 1960's.

It's amazing how that 60's design vibe still seems fresh today.

 My good friend Patty sent me these yummy chocolate-dipped berries as a Christmas surprise.

 My friend Julie gave me this cute little bird candleholder. I have it going on my mantle tonight.

And here's another shot of the mantle with both cards and the bird, plus a handmade angel that was also a gift. The wooden Merry Christmas is from a previous holiday.

Wishing all of my blog visitors a very Merry Christmas!! I hope that yours will be magical and filled with your own happy surprises and small joys of the season.

A round-up of inspirational links

It's that time again! (Here's a picture of my tree from last Christmas. This year, I just have a small table-top one.)

I've never shared blog links before, but today I have to -- there are so many blogs out there that I think will help inspire you for the holidays and beyond. I hope you enjoy them! Cheers!

Pretty holiday decorations

Fun holiday cards. I like the snow globe.

A very cool video on 25 ways to tie a scarf.

More romantic holiday decorations

A British shop filled with beautiful jewelry and Christmas decorations. They are adept at creating eye-catching displays. My favorite is the toy piano.

Chanel held its ParisPalais, and you can take a peek here

A wintery wonderland for vintage lovers, including a spectacular gown handmade of paper

And last but not least,

A mini online Home Companion magazine from MaryEngelbreit

Seaside Saturday: Foggy day at Pemaquid Light, Maine

Earlier this week, I drove up the coast to Thomaston. On the way back, I decided to make the drive out to Pemaquid Point in Bristol, Maine. I hadn't been to Pemaquid Light for a couple of years, and I couldn't be that close without paying it a visit. Although it was a rainy and foggy day, I decided to drive out there, knowing the lighthouse might be socked in with fog. But not so! It was very gray, but luckily the lighthouse was not shrouded in the mists. Below are some of the photos I took. Please click on each one for a better view. And then at the end of the photos is some information about the Pemaquid Peninsula.

I used to work at an ad agency in Manhattan, and the first client assigned to me was G.H. Bass & Co. At the time, they were headquartered in South Portland, Maine, and they had just opened 3 Spirit of Maine retail shops. Lucky for me, I've got Maine in my genes and have never loved any place more than I love Maine so it was easy for me to create concepts and copy for Bass. I'm going to include below an article I wrote for their newsletter on Pemaquid Light and the Pemaquid Peninsula.

Pemaquid Point Light Captures the Spirit of Maine

Imagine a picturesque lighthouse sitting high atop a rocky point, the surf crashing ceaselessly below, a vast expanse of ocean stretching beyond. This breathtaking scene can be found on the coast of Maine at Pemaquid Point, located at the end of Route 130 on the western side of Muscongus Bay.

Pemaquid Point Light, a favorite of photographers and artists, sits 79 feet above the water, perched on a ledge of striated volcanic rock. The exceptionally pretty lighthouse looks most impressive when viewed from the rocks below. Stop by on a summer’s day, and you’ll find adults and children alike climbing the rocks for hours on end, enjoying the views of the spectacular lighthouse and the pounding sea.

Rocky Cliffs Contain Unexpected Beauty

One of the joys of exploring Pemaquid Point is the chance to investigate the multicolored tidal pools found within the crevices of rock. Any visitor who takes a moment for a closer look at a tidal pool will be fascinated by all manner of marine life, from seaweed to tiny snails and sea urchins.

Next to Pemaquid Point Light is the keeper’s house, now converted to the Fishermen’s Museum. Individuals interested in Maine’s maritime history will enjoy viewing the fine photographs, ship models, and other artifacts on Maine lighthouses and the fishing industry on display here. Nearby is the Pemaquid Art Gallery, where local artists exhibit their works from June through mid-September. Picnic tables and the Sea Gull Shop and Restaurant are next door.

Step Back in Time

Another interesting spot on the Pemaquid peninsula is the Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site. The Pemaquid area has a long history, and a visit to this archaeological site gives one the opportunity to step back in time. In the early 1800s, farmers filled in the cellar holes of the 17^th-century settlement that once stood on this spot. Led by a Rutgers professor, excavations were begun in recent years to uncover the village’s remains. Today, the foundations of homes, a custom house, a tavern, and a jail are visible.

An archaeological museum now holds the many artifacts unearthed from Maine’s “lost city,” such as tools, jugs, pottery, and wampum. It is one of the few in-the-field archaeological museums open to the public anywhere. Here, dioramas depict an earlier village, giving visitors an idea of how the original 1620s settlement looked.

Next to the archaeological museum stands Fort William Henry, a replica of a structure built in 1689 to fend off pirates and the French, which contains exhibits on the early explorations of Maine. A nearby burial ground dates back to 1695. Visitors often wander through the cemetery, looking at the headstones that bear messages both amusing and poignant, wondering about the people who populated the peninsula in bygone days. One thing is certain: Pemaquid’s rugged beauty is as evident today as it was 300 years ago.

Wordless Wednesday: the gray & lovely Coast of Maine

[please click on images for a better view]



Stop back on December 10th for Seaside Saturday & more photos of Pemaquid Light.

Fiction Friday: an ultra-short story called Late for Dinner

I'm back with another Fiction Friday post. This is the time and place where I post my short fiction. Today's story falls into the realm of flash fiction, also known as short short stories and sudden fiction. This type of story is typically less than 1,000 words and often much shorter.  And if you've ever thought about writing fiction, consider this format. It's not nearly as overwhelming as writing a "regular" short story or, God forbid, a novel. Short fiction is the ideal format for a copwriter like me, since I'm used to writing very concise pieces that need to fit a certain space.

I hope you enjoy today's Fiction Friday post!

Late for Dinner

It’s time to go, Ned said.

I’m almost ready, Anne replied, straightening her skirt. I just have to grab my purse.

Anne knew that Ned was annoyed. They were due at his boss’s house for dinner in 35 minutes, and the ride to Evanston took at least half an hour. Ned hated tardiness, and the idea of arriving late to Theodore Gregson’s home for this important business dinner was unthinkable.

Oh, here it is, Anne said, spotting her black suede purse on the chair. As she reached for it, she felt a run in her pantyhose creep up the back of her leg.

Damn! she thought. I should have worn pants.