MOGGIT

I broke a promise to myself. When the first wave of magazines hit the stands during the holidays, I swore that I would NOT buy any this year. For pete's sake, I still have last year's Christmas mags that I haven't read yet! I held strong until Dec. 30, when one that I've not seen before caught my eye -- Romantic Country ("Country Decorating Ideas #98," yet). They snagged me with the cover tag line "America's Prettiest Houseboat." Alllll righty then! I bought it.


The houseboat, like most of the rooms in the magazine, is beautiful but way too filled with fluff for my plebeian taste. But I hit pay-dirt on page 16 -- an article about a woman named Joy Zacsyk who sells altered vintage items online. I love that stuff, but I love blogs even more, and she has a good one -- www.thejoyof.blogspot.com -- which blog led me to moggit.

If, like me, you are decorating-challenged, you must check out Ms. Zacsyk's website: www.moggit.com. Be sure to click on "Oh No You Didn't" -- You will leave the site assured that your decorating taste is impeccable, I promise you. What fun!

As the new year approaches, wishes for safe passage and happy days come your way from everyone at Slipper Moon:

Himself, #1 main man, supporter-extraordinaire-of-craft-addicted-wife, my hubby (who would not be happy if I posted his photo);

and Buster, protector of his domain;



and Maggie, just happy to be alive;








and Fanny, she of the
mercurial temperament;













and Pepper, who really runs the show;












and me.

Happy 2009, everyone.

Reflections on a Cold Day

This colder-than-average December finds me nesting, unwilling to face the chilly damp which awaits outside,
or the hordes of shoppers in the mall and grocery stores.

A warm fire and soft candlelight beckon me to stay home, and pot pie with turkey and veggies from the fridge sounds like a fine dinner. The gift of days like this -- gray, gloomy, and cold -- is leisure time to rediscover volumes of poetry, forgotten when brighter days tempt me outside.

Here's a perfect poem for cold weather, from an author I wouldn't have thought of as a poet:

LET IT SNOW

Snow in the sky,
Earth turning white --
A tree like a ghost
In the gathering night;
Low clouds above,
White world below --
Barn roofs and houses
Covered with snow.

Deep in his burrow
The 'possum is huddled,
Far in the bushes
Snowbirds are cuddled,
The creek in the morning
Coldly will gleam,

But I've got a fire,
A book and a dream.

Louis L'Amour, from "Smoke from This Altar" (Bantam Books, 1990)


Merry Christmas, all.
May your celebration be serene,
and sweetly filled with love.

Are those sleighbells I hear?

Now, those of you north of the Mason-Dixon line will wonder what the fuss is about. But here in sunny and humid Southeast Texas, snowfall in any amount is a major event! I didn't really believe the local weather forecasters last night when they said we might have snow. Still, I peeked outside around midnight. In the deep quiet of night, snow was falling.


Early this morning, nature's gift waited to be appreciated.


Peace on earth, my friends. Have a blessed day.