Category Archive:Moose Nuggets

Awhile back Vintage Books & Anchor Books posted a photo of their Book-tree.

I determined that I have nearly enough books to do one as wel. Mine has been constructed, deconstructed, and reconstructed more than I care to count. And, while I am not 100% happy with it, I am happy enough to stop at this point.
🙂

So, I give you the Moosie’s family tree for 2011. Merry Christmas, everyone. May we all remember the One who came because His Father loved us in more ways than we can ever count.

One of the first versions:

Final – Christmas Eve version:

Today was the shortest day of the year. Alaskans may now rejoice to see a sliver more of the sun each day.

As I was buttoning up the computer for the night one of my past flickr posted pictures popped up – winter frost on late summer’s grass. It’s a shot taken some years ago. Suddenly I realized what I have not done for the last several weeks: I have NOT gone out at lunch time or before or after work just to take pictures. It really is unlike me.

I can only suppose that I have been in a doldrums of some sort – most likely caused by the lack of sunlight – and aided and abetted by a great deal of workplace stress. I need to see the SUN!!! I need for the winds to quit blowing and for the clouds to part and for the SUN to shine down on me.

Lots of Alaskans cut for warmer climes about this time of the year. I know of a number of people who are spending the winter schoolbreak in Hawaii. Sadly most Alaskans cannot afford either the time away from work – or – the money it would take to do such a thing.

Last night’s Anchorage news talked about SAD lights and vitamin B and such. I never think I need either, but looking back at the past week I might want to rethink that. My body is telling me something. For one thing, I fell coming out of the courthouse last week – on the workday so covered by workman’s comp, but that doesn’t lessen the embarrassment of falling on my keister in front of the young assistant district attorney or the equally young public defender. They were both so sweet and kind in making sure I got up and into my car okay. Nothing broken – according to the xrays – only a sprain. Of course, sprains can take longer to heal and I’m not getting any younger here.
🙂
Then I discovered that falls on keisters are often followed by colds in the head. Yeah, I have no clue how they’re connected, but there you have it. I actually missed more time from work with the cold than with the sprain.
🙂 People aren’t afraid of catching your sprains, you see.

So, maybe my body is telling me something. Maybe I need to slow down a bit and take some time for myself. Maybe I need to get the camera out and take a lunchtime cruise along some back roads to get some wintertime shots. I just need to make sure I have my cane with me and to be wary of icy spots.

It might as well have been a scarlet letter
Branded on her forehead for all to see

If it were the colonial days it would have been
And she would have borne it in grief

Scarlet letters for hussies, for
Sellers of bodies at night

Scarlet letters for the ones who took
Another’s husband – sent him home fulfilled

Scarlet letters cause shame and regret
But for only one of the guilty parties

It’s not a scarlet letter she wears
In this day and age but it burns even still

It’s in the way she lowers her head
In shame when his wife befriends her

It’s in the way she goes about alone
And gives up all her joys for him

It’s in the way she waits for calls
That don’t come often enough

She says it doesn’t matter but
She doesn’t believe it in her heart

It might as well be a scarlet letter
This love she feels for your husband

The love she carries within her womb
The love you cannot share

She thinks she will name his daughter Scarlett
and Scarlett will be loved – never ashamed
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written for Trifecta – Week 5 challenge. Write from 33 to 333 words using the THIRD definition of the word challenge. This week was SHAME – used as a verb. This piece may or may not qualify, but it is what came out as I sat to type.

I know, I know . . . you ALL have done your Christmas shopping right?

Well, just in case you have a couple of folks still on your list and no idea of what to get, let me introduce you to a couple of crafty folks I know.

Dawn Hay used to live in Kenai – she currently lives in Simi Valley, CA. Dawn crafts some of the coolest, quirkiest jewelry you could ever hope to own. And, her pieces do NOT cost an arm, a leg, and your firstborn, either.

Check out Dawn at Creative Touches Too.

Cottage Monsters is a truly Alaskan enterprise. I have a couple of Cottage Monsters living with me . . . One, Chandler Moose, is a PurpleMoose of my design which Brandi crafted quite nicely.

Both of these crafty ladies are on facebook as well. Be sure to check them out. You will be taken care of in extremely great fashion.

The first thing Jason noticed was the echo of his footsteps.

Lindy had been at the hospice center for months, but Jason hadn’t noticed the echoes before now.

He walked to the bed and sank to his knees. He shakily opened the box she’d said was there; her tiny gold key fitting perfectly into the lock.

Cedar scent greeted his nose as he reached inside and drew out a tattered bundle of letters. On top was her loopy handwriting: Jason, I will always love you.

His shoulders shook and his sobs came in waves. Oh, Lindy, I already miss you.
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Velvet Verbosity’s 100 Word Challenge for the week is BUNDLE. These are my 100 words about that.