16 years ago I learned about a 134-year-old tradition. The giant husband and I were dining with friends over the Christmas holiday when someone produced a small satchel. From the pouch fell a little hard candy, pink pig. It was explained that the candy pig was broken into sharable pieces for good luck in the new year. She told me breaking a Peppermint Pig was a longtime tradition. I was quite amazed that a Christmas enthusiast such as myself had never heard of a Peppermint Pig. The following year I learned about the Christmas Pickle…
Here’s a link to The New York Times article, if you’d like to read about the Peppermint Pig’s sweet history.
Now there’s another reason for this post. A few weeks back I promised a wonderful friend I’d show her how to draw a pig. So Deb, as promised, please see sketch below. It’s all about seeing the basic shapes and once you can see the shapes you will become a pig master 🙂
Tag Archives: friends
2 new poems published in the Avocet
Turquoise Eyes
howling through the blackest part of night
damp nostrils inhales the moon
silver molding the shape of their song
turquoise eyes cry out for harmony
as voices peal across the earth
a universal language floating on the wind
beckoning to the deepest part of light
and to the humble sleeping spirit
of all living things
Fake Smells
behind these walls
annoying lights flicker
a singular flame
attempts escape
desk
tick tocks
tick tocks
white noise is suffocating
beneath night’s cape
foxes hunt
coyotes beckon
stars breathe
should go out and play
with the ‘rousing moonlight
where the autumn dogs
don’t give a damn
about work deadlines
or silly jar candles
laced with fake scents
Published in, ‘Avocet Magazine,’ a marvelous print journal paying homage to nature and its beauty
wolf created a few years ago using prisma pencil and dabs of acrylic
The Magical Slumber
Dear Friends,
A sleeping baby is magical. His flawless face bestows peace. His satin skin softens hearts. His bowed lips know only love…
Thank you. May you sleep in the arms of sweet peace.
Baby Elf sketched in pencil last night and charcoal detailed today
Crossing More Than Fingers
Dear Friends,
Over the last few days, I’ve seen two excellent conscience-bearing movies. Into the Wild, directed by Sean Penn is based on a true story. It’s a convincing cinematic portrayal of a young college-educated man who forgoes the trappings of society and our manmade shackles. His search for a ‘purer’ existence ultimately brings him to Alaska where he must attempt survival. The other film, The Eleventh Hour, directed by Leonardo DiCaprio lays out mankind’s future if global warming isn’t taken seriously. Both films left me thinking about how I live my life. They left me pondering my children’s futures if we can’t reign in our want, and stop treating nature as a thing to be bartered and sold.
Yesterday my post included a silly Christmas tree. For reference I’d snapped a photo of the delicate daughter crossing her arms. While on a sub break today, I was perusing my photos and stopped at my daughter’s image. I drew her sweet face during lunch. I pray the bright future reflected in her caramel eyes, is the bright future she will have on a beautiful healthy planet…
Thank you. May you dream of pure air and crystal water.
Delicate Daughter sketched today. Little Miss Green Apple below done with Prisma pencils several months ago.
Miss Green Apple
Faith Enough to Hug Rudolph
Dear Friends,
“…Faith is believing when commonsense tells you not to…”
Thank you. May you dream of flying on a reindeer…
Reindeer Hug inspired yesterday morning while watching, Miracle on 34th Street. The art turned out a bit differently than originally imagined. I was going to make the elf younger and chubby-cheeked, give her wavy curls and wrap her arms around Rudolph’s muzzle. I decided or rather my pencil did to go a different way. My pencil desired a more bizarre face. It said “let the Christmas hat’s white trim ‘act’ as hair and let Rudolph’s head have a clearer presence.” So pencil and hand skipped down a different candy cane path. Hope this was okay, I was only allowed one vote…
The Big Heart of A Little Sister
Dear Friends,
I’m the proud owner of a little sister. Those of you that own little sisters know full well that as much as we age, our little sisters remain little in our hearts forever. They often keep us young. Mine keeps me laughing. She has a wry, wicked sense of humor. Whenever she tells a joke – which is often – her blue eyes sparkle and she wears the impish grin of her pig-tail days.
My little sister is an avid dog-lover. She keeps two dogs as friends. I used one of her pet portraits as inspiration for my artwork below. The eccentric pooch – Shamus – was adopted many years ago. Shamus has many issues and enjoys dressing in my sister’s lingerie. The other one, Jamie – adopted a year ago – is black as night and as crazy as a bat in daylight. Jamie is a ninety pound pooch who believes his work office is on the nearest person’s lap.
So, to you my dear, little sister Dolores – I wish you the happiest of Birthday’s today!
Love, AnnMarie xo
Praying for Holiday Magic
Dear Friends,
When I was a little kid, I used to sneak down to the small créche my mom set up every Christmas. I’d kneel before the nativity scene and pretend I was a humble shepherd. Swaddled in midnight darkness, I’d whisper to Baby Jesus that even if I didn’t get the rabbit and the banjo that I asked for every year, I’d still be kind and good to others.
Today I’m thankful for so much in my life, but maybe I’ve become complacent in my gratitude. Perhaps this year I need to be a humble shepherd. I will kneel and pray that the magic of this holiday season touches those in need of magic…
Sometimes even wizards hope for real magic…
Thank you. May your dreams be fills with the magic of slumber…
Thinking Wizard created yesterday for a good friend. He will be auctioned along with many other items to help raise money for the Washingtonville Wizards Senior Class’s Graduation Celebration.
Peace and Homemade Applesauce
Dear Friends,
For the last six days, my home was filled with family and friends. My pantry, garage and fridge were packed with food. Twenty-six people shared Thanksgiving at my table(s). Including my immediate family, nineteen people slept under my roof until saturday. It was – as promised – our annual Thanksgivingpalooza. But, the past few days of insanity, loudness and laughter were wrapped up warmly in homemade applesauce, 3 turkeys and a ham.
I sit here now alone in my studio tapping keys to speak. The dishwasher is the only thing chattering. My mom and dad left about an hour ago. The giant husband and delicate daughter are both at work. The big son is at a friend’s house. I’m here with Rocky the Shepherd and Mojo the Dachshund wishing they’d kept up with their ESL lessons. Rocky is a bit sad like me. Mojo is happy because he’s no longer being carried like a strapless handbag.
Every year as much as I wish for peace and quiet by day four of Thanksgivingpalooza, I realize it’s only the quiet that returns. Peace can be loud, insane and crazy wrapped up warmly in homemade applesauce, 3 turkeys and a ham.
Thank you. May you dream of a life filled with friends, family and warm applesauce.
Sad Clown created a month ago, waiting for the right moment to share…
Drumsticks Are For Making Music
Dear Friends,
Turkeys across America would appreciate if all US citizens would be so kind as to take up drum playing – preferably before the fourth thursday this November. Delicious music fills the heart and soul…
Happiest of Thanksgivings to those of you who’ll be celebrating. To all else, have a wonderful few days. As for me, I’ll be hosting Thanksgivingpalooza – which includes entertaining and feeding a houseful of 20+ crazy people for several days!
Drumsticks inspired after writing Thanksgiving Day grocery list
Snowdown
Dear Friends,
Spring, summer, fall and winter pull each other along on their wayward journey. The Seasons ride their own express train. This locomotive’s spinning wheels are unaffected by barometric change. Rainbow boxcars screech as they hustle along the sparking track. Chuckling snowmen have begun jumping off the sidecars, holding balls of ice in their soft red mittens. Winter has arrived in North America.
I wish Season’s express train would ‘snowdown’ once in awhile and let life catch up…
Thank you. Dream beneath warm blankets of joy this night…
Galeen atop Snowman’s Head, rolled out several days ago with warm markers in hand.
anntogether 