Gray Days to Glimmering Blog Party!

Everyone in the Blogosphere (whose blogs I read, anyway) seems to be in a blogging slump…yours truly not least of all. I think Kellie put it best:

“I think it's got something to do with the January blahs... Christmas is a whole year away, New Year's sparkle and freshness has gone just a bit stale, and yearned-for Spring seems so impossibly far off.”

Amen, sister! I realized this past week that Winter is just too long for this sun-loving lass. I could be perfectly (or nearly perfectly) happy if it snowed after Thanksgiving right through Christmas—just to give the Season that magical, nostalgic feeling associated with a White Christmas—and then have Spring weather from the week after New Year all the way to Summer Solstice. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t happen that way…especially in North Idaho. *Sigh* But enough whining. Now to move on to the purpose of this post….

Kellie has very cleverly brewed up a way to combat the January Blahs we’re all feeling—with a Blog Party! Yay!

 Spread the word and help Kellie bring a little sunshine back into Blogging Land!
Be sure to fill out the fun questions, too! Drop by her blog to find out the other goodies she has in store for her guests!

Gray Days to Glimmering Blog Party

1) What's your favorite thing to do when you've been feeling uninspired? I generally do one of three things: 1.) Visit my Etsy and eBay Favorites (dreaming of the day when I can actually buy something without wiping out my savings), 2.) Read a favorite book (either a bit more of a novel I’m currently trying to get through *coughcoughReturnOfTheKingcough* or something crafty, like my miniatures books), or 3.) Read through my (many, many) in-progress stories, to see if Inspiration will strike with any of them.

2) Tell us about a really great movie/show that you've just discovered. We recently found the old Perry Mason show on NetFlix and have enjoyed this old murder mystery series from the late ’50s. Some of the plots have big holes in them that leave us scratching our heads at the end, but on the whole it’s a fun show…with way cleaner language than, say, Murder, She Wrote or Poirot.

3) What do you like to do to change your mood? *Blush* Actually, when I’m in a bad mood, I generally don’t make much effort to change it, unless we’ll be around other people. I’m afraid I tend to sulk and brood until it gradually wears off. Sometimes, though, I’m able to “spill my guts” to Mom, and I usually feel better fairly soon afterwards. (I know, I’m so immature.)

4) Your favorite drink is currently... Hot: Either cocoa (made with real milk) or hot cranberry juice with a bit of mint tea mixed in. Cold: Cranberry juice with a splash of Fresca (grapefruit soda), mixed with citrus-flavored soda-water (’cos I can’t handle full-strength drinks anymore)…or Root Beer!

5) When you hear the word exuberant, what's the first word that comes to mind? Jumping-up-and-down happiness.

6) What made you smile last? Mister Licorice letting out this cute little teeny mew, then attacking the scratching-post like a wild jungle-cat! Rawr!

7) What five songs would make a playlist to describe your week? Oh dear, I’m drawing a blank here. Guess I just don’t think of my life in musical terms. :-P

8) What's at the top of your creative 'To-Do' list? Mainly sewing projects, with a few needlework ones…all clothing-related.

9) The last thing you crossed off the above list was... My “Highland Kelly” Tartan Skirt and Half-petticoat!

10)  Quickly - the first movie quote from the top of your head, please!

Mrs. Touquet: A corset is a marvelous thing. Invented by the devil, but a marvelous thing.

…

Ella: They feel a little strange.

Mrs. T: Women must endure these hardships.

Ella: Why?

Mrs. T: For fashion. It fascinates men, makes them marvel at a woman—because they know they could never stand it.

~The Glass Slipper

11)  The best thing about January is... For this year, anyway, all the loverly hoar-frost on the trees—every twig and needle is covered in hairy, feathery lace. Mom described it as “Fairyland”!

12) The worst thing about January is... The fact that we have three to five more months of stinkin’ freezing cold weather, icy roads and grey, cloudy days to endure before Lady Spring returns. BAH!

13) What's your #1 resolution for 2013? Two, actually: To control my [expletive deleted] temper and stupid emotions, and to get my wardrobe to the point where I have enough clothes for each day of each season. The former will make me a much better Christian and person, and the latter will enable me to sew for fun, rather than out of necessity.

14)  And lastly, share a quote or verse that you've found especially inspiring lately.

The wolf will live with the lamb,

the leopard will lie down with the goat,

the calf and the lion and the yearling together;

and a little child will lead them.

The cow will feed with the bear,

their young will lie down together,

and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,

and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest.

They will neither harm nor destroy

on all [M]y holy mountain,

for the earth will be full of the knowledge

of the LORD

as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11:6-9

Most people think of Isaiah and the other books of prophecy as foretelling the coming of Messiah—Jesus Christ. But it hit me the other day that this passage is talking about a time beyond His coming to earth and paying the penalty for our sins. It foresees a time after God has made the earth new again after the End, when He sets up His dwelling with Man (see Revelation 21). It gives me hope that one day, Men and animals will live together in peace—Man will no longer hunt and kill the animals, nor will they hunt and kill each other. The violence, fear and enmity between all Creation will be erased, and everything will be perfect. I look forward to that Day!

Until next time, Gentle Readers,

God bless

~“Tom”~

♥