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December, it’s about the waiting…

December's a time of waiting...
December, it’s a time of waiting…

 

It’s December, Christmas-time here at my house, and the waiting’s begun…

For Christmas, but that’s a given.It is Advent. In the meantime, I’m trying to get decorations up and cards written. Then there are the cookies to bake and a party to prepare for. But again, this is usual stuff at this time of year. And I’m behind just as I am most years…

A phone call to go through. I just got back from Albuquerque’s Biopark where I was doing rug hooking demos with the guild and walked into the husband and the kid both manning phones that were on hold. If I have to listen to the disembodied voice repeating “all our agents are busy” for much longer… The kid needs new healthcare, and it’s not been an easy process. How many of you can relate?

 

No waiting in line.
No waiting in traffic during the day! Bossy is one of the new exhibits at the BioPark’s River of Lights. See it through the New Year. Sure, it’ll look better at night, but you get the general drift. It’s a beautiful show and a great fundraiser for the park.

A brandy, new rheumatoid arthritis med to work. I started it about a month ago. I hear I’ll know within six to eight weeks if this one will do the trick. At least my own insurance finally agreed to cover it. 🙂

—  A rug design idea. The Albuquerque Fiber Arts Council is sponsoring a show in April. The theme is “Earth, Wind, and Fiber.” The call for entries opens January 1 and closes February 25. Despite mulling on it for longer than I’d like after I get into bed, I’ve not yet come up with a design idea for a rug to enter. Think, think, think…

Waiting for a design idea.
The lovely lady behind those Foster Grants purchased “The First Boucherouite” last month at the Santa Fe Fall Fiber Fiesta. It’s still one of my favorite rugs, and I called it the “First” for a reason. Hm, do I really need a brand new idea this week to start working on a rug?

A secondary rug design idea so I have a rug to work on while I wait for the above idea to come through.

High on Hooking’s Christmas party. Okay, that’s just what Tom and I call it, but every year we plan an evening nice out at a good restaurant. No ordering at a counter!

What Tom and I will do for our 25th anniversary next month. We’re thinking a BIG trip, but not in January. We haven’t decided where or when yet, but more on that to come…

The Old Pueblo Rug Hookers Hook-In on January 27. I’m even more excited for the trip this year because last January I won a great door prize: free admission in 2018! Woohoo! And it’s always warmer in Tucson than it is here in ABQ.

Waiting for the Patriots.
We’re just waiting for the Patriots to continue their magic.

 

 

— For the Patriots to clinch their division next week in Miami.

Tynan to finally get a little brother! It probably won’t happen till the spring or so, but Tom finally agreed that we’ll get a puppy this coming year. Woohoo! I love having two dogs, and Tynan benefitted from the “wisdom” of his predecessor Murphy. Albuquerque is a great city for rescues, so we’ll probably go that way. There’s gonna be a baby in the house again! (Beth Miller of Parris Hill Wool Works knows just what I’m talking about. Check out Wyeth these days!)

What are you waiting for this holiday season? Whatever it is, remember these wise words from Grumpy Cat:

Patience:

What you have when there are

too many witnesses.

 

Tynan’s back with “What’s on the frame this week.” He’s not showing you a lot of the rug as it’s one of nine “friendship rugs” that some of us in the guild are working on. More about them on 2018. And, yes, that is my completely undecorated Christmas tree in the background.
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A season of waiting. Even to hook.

High on Hooking wishes you all a productive Advent. What are you waiting for?
High on Hooking wishes you all a productive Advent. What are you waiting for?

It’s Advent in our house, the season of waiting. Of course, we’re waiting for Christmas. First and foremost, around here we do that by getting a tree and decorating the house. This year there’s a learning curve involved. One simply does not throw up window candles and a blow-up snowman in a southwest pueblo-style house as one did in their New England colonial. For one thing, there’s no front yard for Frosty. So, he’s history. Instead, his little, light-up, burlap buddy is gracing the front door. Glass balls gussy up some landscaping. Fortunately for us, the previous owner had strung our big, backyard pine tree (maybe it’s a ponderosa?) with lights long ago. (We pray to God that the lights continue to function.) Festive red and completely-appropriate-for-New-Mexico chili lights hang on the pergola.

 

Tree's up New Mexican style!
Tree’s up New Mexican style!

I decorated the indoor tree last night. Despite our 12 or so-foot ceilings, we’ve been trending to shorter trees in the past few years. In Massachusetts, the family room had a cathedral ceiling. We spent decades practically needing a crane to dress the tree. It was plenty fun, but I’m done with the holiday bombast and have been moving to a quieter Christmas. That includes focusing on smaller things. Like the tree.

Because we’re new to Albuquerque, we’ve been anxious to experience some of the city’s traditions. The River of Lights is on the docket. I’ve hit up two big arts festivals. Trips to the fairs are also intended to gather intel, to determine the feasibility of High on Hooking setting up shop next year. We’ve got some possibilities…

The charm of Old Town Albuquerque.
The holiday charm of Old Town Albuquerque.

Friday night we headed out to Old Town to see the city’s Christmas tree being lit. Us and a couple thousand other people it seemed. Parking was a bitch! But it was a pleasant evening. Streets were closed and lined with hundreds of luminarias. Shops and galleries were open; carolers and school kids sang. Flamenco dancers in street clothes clicked their castenets. A good time was had by all. Till we tried to leave and sat waiting in traffic for some time. Yeah, now that we’ve experienced this venue, we’ll move on to something less parking-challenged in 2016.

Waiting’s not just a part of the Christmas holiday for me this year; it’s factoring into my hooking too. First and foremost, I’ve come down with a case of shingles. Damn rheumatoid arthirtis meds lowered my immunity that much. The ironic thing is that my guild members and I were discussing shingles – and the priority of avoiding them – when we did our monthly Botanic Garden demo a week ago! Little did I know what was percolating just under my skin at that moment… Hence, not much hooking’s going on.

But I am able to plan which is another big thing to do in December. Albuquerque’s Fiber Arts Council has scheduled its 2016 spring show. Members of all guilds are encouraged to submit pieces as are non-affiliated artists. The theme is “Colors of the Southwest.” Now I’m in the midst of planning a new rug that has to be finished by early March. Call me indecisive, but I can’t for the life of me choose from the various designs I’ve sketched. It’s back to the drawing board with help from the likes of Deanne Fitzpatrick‘s Simply Modern book. Unfortunately, Susan Feller‘s Design Basics for Rug Hookers is still buried in my unpacked boxes of books. But we’re making progress on that front! Bookshelves are being painted as I type. (Tom’s turn; we only have one paintbrush at the moment.) We will have an office again by Christmas.

 

Two little mats wait to be finished.
Two little mats wait to be finished. Hope they’re done in time for the Adobe Wool Arts Guild Christmas party!

Waiting is a December tradition: for a baby to be born; for Santa; for family, friends, and festivities; for the new year and all it’s to bring. Being in a new place and home adds a wrinkle to it all. Not to mention the freaking shingles. But I’m praying that I’m able to gracefully and productively anticipate the results of all preparations, for Christmas and for rug hooking.

 

 

 

Our willingness to wait reveals the value we place on what we’re waiting for…
Charles Stanley

What specifically are you waiting for this December?

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