The True Spirit of Christmas... Past and Present - Part I

This is a favourite picture of Deb that I treasure for a variety of reasons. She made this Sno Folk quartet for her beloved Regina, Saskatchewan Grand Girls Ava and Ella for their front lawn. At the end of Christmas, Ava... the eldest asked her Dad to allow her to keep it their play room... where she uses it as a backdrop for her doll play! Put BIG smiles on Gramma's face !!!

" Now it's Christmas!... I've got my sock!"

Deb's much anticipated annual sock exchange with son Spencer.

Some of Deb's Funky Girly-Girl Teen Line of jewellery

Deb with some of her new all occasion Krazee Kardz

Toled Wooden Top for wrought iron custom table

"The butterfly upon the road preaches contentment to the toad." - Kipling

Oops!.... A funky tongue -in-cheek window Hanging in a recycled window frame

A Stained Glass enclosed planter

Free standing Stained Glass Goldfinch

Deb and I have been out wandering the malls and shops... as most of you are as well... hoping to find a special gift for those we love. I will declare straight out... that I do so grudgingly... not because I wish not to gift those whom I love... but rather, I despise being drawn in by the pitch that compels one to comply... and that even sets the bar for spending.

I have come from a very simple family background... one in which the tradition of celebrating Christmas was the "high mass" in our family ethos. I vividly remember the very first gift that I gave my mother. It was a clothes sprinkler... an absolute necessity for an ironing mother... in a time when irons were preheated on the top plate of the wood stove... and later on with a regular electric iron (without steam).

My Dad and I gave the empty quart wine bottle a coat of aqua green house paint and allowed it to dry overnight. I then added a wine coloured zig-zig top and bottom around the bottle. Dad took me down to the local hardware store and we purchased an aluminum sprinkler nozzle and a pair of decals bearing an image of a Mexican having his siesta... yellow sombrero down to his bent knees... against a saguaro cactus. These were applied using a transfer method using water on opposing faces of the bottle.

All of this secretive sactivity was carried out away from my Mom's eyes, in the bowels of our home... a dank cellar which served as my Dad's "Inner Sanctum." This space was usually out of bounds to the family. It was here in this "man cave"...where he read... listened to music... transcribed music for his band. Just being allowed down into his private refuge from an active, noisy growing family was in itself, a gift of sorts to "Me"... and I realized it and appreciated it as such!

I could hardly keep the secret until Christmas Day.... and seeing my Mom cry when she opened it, forever etched into my own ethos... the reality that "We" can all be the bearer of gifts... simple gifts that we create... gifts that we can share with the whole world. That simple act of giving a "heart gift" means the world to anyone who receives it.... because it is personal and unique and can never be purchased! She used that gift for a lot of years... even well after she had her GE steam iron!!

One of my own favourite annual gifts at Christmas was one that we were permitted to open before Christmas... a day at a time! In our family... and in my own since... Advent Calendars herald the coming of that special day... one sweet taste at a time. In the spirit of that Christmas ritual... I am going to offer a daily gift to each of you out there... my own version of an Advent Calendar... in my deepest appreciation to each of you for your support and your encouragement over the past year.

I have chosen to offer my first Advent gift to my dear wife Deb... who I know... always has my back and my interests covered. And because of that... "She" has my promise of Unconditional Love... for as long as we both are here! This gift of recognizing "Her" on this blog is to laud her immensely beautiful spirit and creative gifts which she continually offers to the world. I have selected but a few samples of the body of quality work that she produces in many mediums. I think you will readily see... and agree... that "She" is a multi-faceted and gifted Artist... Extraordinaire.... a Child at heart and a Good Soul!!!

"I" am deeply blessed to share my journey... and studio with "Her"....

"I" Love "You" Deb!!!... "A bushel n' a peck... and a hug around the neck!"

Stay tuned for Part II!

Good Painting to ALL!!!