Sunday, January 6, 2013

Quiet Young Days of A New Year

2013.... I haven't got used to writing it yet. Yesterday I signed two papers 2012. It will take a while, it always does. Normally I have only just got used to writing the new year when it becomes old once again. What is it with this thing called time that a moment can seem forever and a day can seem a moment?  Christmas came and went in a flurry of  birthdays, glitter and merriment. The tree is still fresh and has hardly dropped any needles. Every now and then it shares memories of the forest and the scent of pine is caught. Just for a moment I am in the woods, a cold, crisp snow smell, the  howl of a lone wolf and snoring of sleepy bears.
 It felt sad to have to take it down this afternoon. 

New years day we woke to sun. I wondered what all the brightness was as I had almost forgotten that there was a golden ball of fire up there after the endless days of rain. ;)
There is one addition that arrived on Christmas eve that won't be getting put away in the box with the other decorations. Let me introduce you...
Yes, he will be living inside, though not where he is in this picture. At the time there was nowhere else to put him, but now the tree has gone I shall have a shuffle about of things. I was thinking of stringing some white lights around his antlers, what do you think?
                                                                        ~*~
I haven't got any new artwork or creations that I have made to show you so I thought I'd share these for no other reason than how pretty they look. Bath melts that I was very lucky to receive as Christmas gifts. They look too good to use, maybe that's why I need to record them? 
These ones below are from Lush one of my most favourite shops.  Again they look too good to use and smell quite frankly.......Lush!  ;) 
The hobbits (teens) go back to school on Tuesday so my recharging break has come to an end.  I'm looking forward to getting back into the studio and the new journey of this brand new year. I  hope you will join me here and that yours will be filled with love, fun, health, happiness, peace and magic.
Thank you for all your comments and good wishes that you leave here.
Happy new year! xxx

54 comments:

  1. Need to get more of your cards, Karen. I love the images so much it's hard to mail them out, but sooner or later I do. Also, wondering what the music is playing on your website? Bright blessings!

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  2. Hi Ramona, So glad that you like the cards :) If you click on the music player at the top it will tell you the names of the songs. X

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    1. Sorry, I'm not seeing a player. What does it look like?

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    2. It's a very thin grey strip at the top of the page beneath your bookmarks if you have them? It's called SCM Music player. Or maybe it's only me that can see it?

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    3. Oh, now I see it! I wasn't looking high enough! Thanks for your patience, Karen. I really love the music, perfect for your website.

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  3. Karen,
    Your blog is a treasure, which I visit for the contemplative tone of your writing; for the beauty of the images; and definitely the music is so wonderful!
    I live in Saskatchewan Canada, and love the opportunity to hear about your part of the world, with it's hills, streams, wild flowers, craggy landscapes; castle ruins; and sense of timelessness.
    I shared Moonlight and Hares with my blog's visitors, and one wonderful woman from Maine, said that she would visit you now and then when she needed "grounding".
    I have your book, I am Cat, on my wish list through Amazon...it will be out here in May 2013.
    All the very best in the new year, Karen,
    Hugs,
    Brenda

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    1. Karen, Please accept my apology, here, as I realize that I am Cat is by Jackie Morris, another person I love to follow.
      Everything here I wrote, however applies to how I feel about visiting here.
      Brenda

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    2. That's ok Brenda, thanks for your kind words and I'm glad that you enjoy coming here.
      I love Jackie's work too, she is a very talented lady.:)

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  4. Happy New Year to you and your family. Looking forward to seeing the new things you create this year.

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  5. I love every one of these images and the reindeer is wonderful with lights or without. Happy New Year.

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    1. See, he was easy to fall in love with wasn't he? Happy New Year Cait. x

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  6. I love your deer! Yes, lights from the antlers, definitely!
    Abundant joy and creative inspiration to you this New Year...(I, too, have not yet gotten that it I need to start with that 2013 thing... )

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    1. Still haven't got around to putting lights on him. I realised I'd packed them away in the cupboard with all the decorations, silly me. Can't face the muddle strewn cupboard to get them out again. But I will and I must soon! ;)
      Sending you abundant, joyful and creative days back to you too. xx

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  7. Your tree looks to be out of the past.....brought memories of my childhood Christmases at my Aunt Martha Jane's.

    The wonderful reindeer of the vines would look wonderful with a few tiny white lights. Really, you could change up his decor with the seasons. I love him.

    I have never heard the term bath melts.....but they are lovely.

    Happy New Year.

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    1. Childhood Christmas memories are the best I think. I used to love my Nan telling me the stories of her childhood Christmas's when I was small. :)

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  8. Wow, he is a big decoration! Think he would look super with fairy lights.
    Your bath melts are so pretty. I love Lush too - such wonderful scents.
    Enjoy getting back to work - can't wait to see what delights you come up with next! Happy New Year, Karen :)

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    1. Hehe... he is a bit big isn't he. But he was half price so a bargain. x

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  9. I like your deer - I think I would decorate him with a garland of woodland vines and leaves on his neck and change it with the season - Fairy lights too, I don't want to put my fairy lights away, I have kept the curtains open at night to look at them! Betty

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    1. I like that idea Betty. :) I always keep fairy lights up in the dining room all year too. They are much too pretty to use just for Christmas.

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  10. A beautiful post, Karen. I love the magic in your beautiful blog..
    Mr deer is wonderful, light him up during this dark season....
    Happy new year to you and those you hold dearest.
    Love Maria x

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  11. Happy New Year . . how quickly we are into January! I do not think I have ever heard so many say how sad they are to see the Christmas decorations come down; my own sweet cottage is so dreary this morning! Your new guest is magnificent, and I agree a string of tiny lights and maybe some greenery for his antlers!

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    1. I was sad, but now I'm used to it again. Now is the time of fires and candles to light the evenings and spring bulbs to bring inside. Spring is on it's way and soon your cottage will be bright again. :)

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  12. Oh my goodness what a beautiful deer! It could become your alternative christmas tree each year. ;) We were in your neck of the woods yesterday and saw the pretty christmas trees in the Abbey and noticed the snowdrops are out already. Time is a little topsy turvy this time of year!
    Wishing you a magical new year Karen!xx

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    1. That would be a good idea, although I think I would miss having a tree? I didn't get around to seeing the trees in the abbey this year, how idle of me! I hope you had a good day. I have seen the snowdrops though. ;) Happy New Year! xx

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  13. I always have troubles writing new years correctly also. It takes time to use to it. Your christmasdecorations look lovely. It's a shame to put them away. Gladly there is always next christmas to put them back on.
    I wish you inspiring and magical new year!
    -Niina

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    1. Hello Niina I am finally writing it correctly now so it didn't take as long as I thought it would. :D x

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  14. I am new to your blog but I am so very pleased I came across it. Your deer is beautiful, I think he would look lovely adorned with fairy lights. Your bath melts look divine, I hope you enjoy them. Wishing you a Happy New Year x

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    1. Hello and welcome Swirly Girl I'm pleased that you have found me too! :)

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  15. Funnily enough I was looking at one of those deers in my favourite shop in our town today and was seriously tempted but couldn't think where to put him in our cottage. Hope you and your family have a lovely 2013. Karen x

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    1. Ha! You were sensible! They are big and I wish my room was ever so slightly bigger to accommodate him. I did have my eye on him last year though, that's why this year I gave into temptation, plus he was half price in the sale. ;)

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  16. Happy New year! And what a beautiful home.

    Zoe
    http://gypsiesister.blogspot.co.uk

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  17. Happy New Year! And I love your work<3

    Isn't that Lush bar with the cherries delicious?! I bought one earlier this year and fell in love with it (don't have a bath though, so it's for vacations only).

    blueeyednightowl.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you I'm glad that you like my work. :)
      I haven't used the cherry one yet, am working my way through the others. They all smell so divine. Happy New Year!

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  18. Hi Karen,

    That deer is amazing!! I can't wait to see how you make him work in your home.

    N.
    http://nicolescoffeeshop.blogspot.com

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    1. He is isn't he! One of my Cats has taken a liking to sitting on him. :)

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  19. New year greetings, look forward to seeing your new ventures. Love the deer but it definitely would not fit in my little place. I have a small china one that fits on my fireplace instead!

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    1. Happy New Year Ash. I look forward to you sharing my ventures. :)

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  20. Just popped over from this enchanted pixie. I'll be following your blog and your work from now on. Your work is beautiful and I really want one of those deer now. He is fantastic!

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    1. Hi Lydia and welcome! I'm glad that you like my work and are following. I got the deer at my local garden centre, he was half price in the sale. Yes he is a bit fantastic isn't he. ;)

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  21. Best of the New Year to you!!! Adore the friendly deer, what is his name? Looking forward to all of your delightful posts in the year to come!! Hugs from Robin.

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    1. Do you know, I haven't even named him yet. I'm waiting until the right name comes to me. Happy New Year Robin! xx

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  22. stopping by from this enchanted pixie! <3
    beautiful art!!

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  23. Ohh Karen I love the occasional waft of pine that drifts from the christmas tree, it does magic you out into the deep wooded places doesn't it, hate taking it down. I love your new addition, he is very grand, looks like he stepped out of one of your magical paintings! Happy New Year to you & yours, may it be filled with treasures x

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    1. Wouldn't it be nice to bottle the smell. I know you can buy pine oils etc but they never seem to smell the same or maybe I just haven't bought the right ones? Happy New Year to you and yours too Ruthie xx

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  24. Hi Karen just come over from This Enchanted Pixie your art is amazingly beautiful :) New follower too :)

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  25. Just stopping by from This Enchanted Pixie. Really glad I found your Etsy shop. I love your art :)

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It's great to hear from you! :-)