Author: CWR

I feel like every character in this picture is a possible emotion we experience during the holidays. The stoic soldier, the enthusiastic happy corgi, the gift giving hedghog, the dolly that performs on queue out of obligation, the grumpy but festive cat, the surprise dino, and the irritable llama. Or is that an alpaca? Anyway… I aim for “corgi” but probably run the gamut all month. December is both a magical and stressful time. 

I try to remember the Reason for the Season – which to me is Love for Humankind.

Simplifying and clarifying our needs and wants. 

Enjoying what we have. 

Watching the beautiful snow fall. 

Drinking a warm cup of delicious tea and savoring the sunrise. 

How will you celebrate life during December 2022?

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October ushers in a season of mystery, when the veil between worlds is a little lighter, and we honor our ancestors. We scare ourselves silly with costumes and movies, and stuff ourselves with candy, chocolate and popcorn, bulking up towards winter. 

After two incredible harvests, the grapes grew absolutely nothing this year. I’m thinking it is because of my extreme clipping last year. Gosh, I hope next year they return. Maybe by then I will finally have last year’s oven horror cleaned up. (I overcooked a grape pie, which overflowed into a pile of charred mess.)

What are you looking forward to doing this month? 

As always, if you’d like this resized or made for a different device, please ask!

Check out my Patreon post to download this art, and/or request a wallpaper resize for a different device.

We are headed to Fall here in Western NY, but not quite there yet. It’s still sunny and warm. The children are getting ready to start back to school. Labor day is this coming Monday.

Inevitably, I did not get to spend as much time as I wanted to outside during the summer. I’m making it a priority to do so as much as possible before Fall really arrives. I did start a wonderful knitting blanket for myself, and have another crochet blanket planned to start soon. In efforts to have more physical accessibility for myself, I’ve been learning how to do things in different ways. It is an effort to stand to cook. I learned how to make pasta in the oven! I am also looking forward to grape and apple pies in my future!

As always, if you’d like this resized or made for a different device, please ask!

Check out my Patreon post to download this art, and/or request a wallpaper resize for a different device.

Although I had this created in advance of August, collecting a bunch of my favorite things, I started the month with a bad UTI, and then got covid (my first time, probably omicron) just in time for my birthday. It was all I could do to finish my homework for the month. My apologies to anyone who looks forward to these pictures.

My favorite thing about August was the epic unveiling of The Sandman on Netflix. I have watched the entire thing no less than 6 times so far. I read the series originally in the late 90s and have been waiting patiently for it to come out. And, to be honest, it was worth the wait. I highly recommend it. If you look back at my July art, there are a bunch of “Sandman-esque” allusions.

Because of my UTI and schoolwork, I didn’t get to the craft fair either. But, I am working on a bunch of updates for my Etsy store. There’s always so much to do and so little time.

Covid was not a fun experience. I was solidly out of commission for 3-4 days, just sleeping, with my joints and hand/feet neuropathy throbbing. 0/10, do not recommend. I am thankful that this is a different beast than started in 2020. I think daily of all those who have lost family and friends from covid and things related to covid.

As always, if you’d like this resized or made for a different device, please ask!

Check out my Patreon post to download this art, and/or request a wallpaper resize for a different device.

A lot of the world celebrates Pride during June. In Rochester, we extend our celebrating into July. I didn’t go full out Pride on this one, but I think you’ll recognize the rainbow spirit. I’m curious if anyone will be able to guess some of my inspirations. 

What does July hold for you? Canada Day was July 1. We have Independence Day here in the U.S. There’s Bastille Day in France on July 14. Tell me about your other celebrations! 

I’m taking Discrete Mathematics this month, and it’s been fun so far. That’s what my celebrating is all about. Math!  lol. 

I’m also concentrating on making things for a craft sale near the end of the month. What are you up to?

As always, if you’d like this resized or made for a different device, please ask!

Check out my Patreon post to download this art, and/or request a wallpaper resize for a different device.

This is the 12th month of making these monthly artworks! *High Five to myself* I made a commitment to myself and to YOU to make these every month. I plan to keep going!

What does June hold for you? It holds the beginning of Summer for me. Here in Rochester, we have a Rose Garden full of gorgeous blooms. It means weekly mowing, maybe even twice a week. Garage Sale season. Sitting out on the back deck enjoying the sun.

In many places, it is PRIDE MONTH! We celebrate in July, so we have extra PRIDE in June AND July. As a rainbow fan, I don’t mind one bit.

Also the start of mosquitos. I do not like this. June bugs which turn to grubs. Also not a fan.

As always, if you’d like this resized or made for a different device, please ask!

Check out my Patreon post to download this art, and/or request a wallpaper resize for a different device.

May Day and Beltane is one of my favorite days of all, and Spring is my favorite time of year. I’m so glad to see daffodils out, and buds on trees. The dog comes inside and smells like fresh air. I love it.

Here in Rochester, we have the Lilac Festival in May. Highland Park hosts an amazing festival, and thousands of people come to see the beautiful blooms. There are food trucks, live music, high school choirs and bands performing, and sunshine. A true highlight of life here.

I have been busy with my first class in my new degree program. I am currently putting the finishing touches on my last two projects. I have a special present ready for myself once I’m finished. Getting to this place in my life has been a true project. My first month of 29, and completely lifechanging. More on this soon.

What is your favorite part of Spring where you live?

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I have been working ahead of schedule, so there’s no excuse for this being late. I am sorry! Time simply got away from me. Spring is my favorite time of year, even though my allergies start up. I will endure the sneezing for the beauty that unfolds.

During this particular year, I have been attending a Psalm study group, and we decided to learn about 6 different Lenten characters. I was in charge of finding music for each person, and it has been a riot! I have learned SO MUCH. This week was Mary, Jesus’ bio mom. Let me tell you, there was not a dry eye in the Zoom. We were all so moved. I’m still choked up!

Although I am religious and spiritual, I haven’t always considered myself a Jesus person. After experiencing the Black Lives Matter movement during the pandemic, I have an even better sense of who Jesus was, and what he was all about then, and what he should be about now. The stories are such interesting to consider in historical context, and in today’s world.

I think I find this to be true of any great leader throughout history, to be honest.

My art this month is pretty lighthearted, and all about waiting for those Spring and Summer flowers. And Easter candy. And bunnies. Oh, how I love Reece’s chocolate eggs!!! And dyeing eggs. Carved Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Scandinavian Easter Trees. Oh, how I love this time of year.

What’s your favorite Easter candy?

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March for me means several things. The end of February. The Ides of March. In like a lion, out like a lamb. More snow. St. Patrick’s Day. Irish fiddle tunes. The anniversary of my 12-step recovery. It will be 3 years. The season of Lent. Easter, depending.

This year, Easter is in April. I’m part of a group who is going to study a few people of the Lenten story. I’m researching songs and music that correlate with each person. Mary Magdalene has a lot of songs written about her. Do you have a character in the crucifixion story that you’ve always wondered about?

Back to fiddling and St. Patty’s day, do you have a favorite Irish tune?

Check out my Patreon post to download this art, and/or request a wallpaper resize for a different device.