Hello there, you wild pack of beauties! I’m just down from a leisurely stroll on the mountain with Penelope Pie. It’s delicious out there, delicious as a pack of wolves. When the sun set below the mountains to the West the most marrow biting nip filled the air in every direction and I could feel the earth settle beneath my feet — settle for night and the swoop of owls and the flight of moonbeams. It was soul expanding and brilliant. I’m so glad I took the time to go walking.
I’ve spent the past couple of weeks contemplating the passing of another year. I’m not going to spin a lie for you, I’m rather glad to see 2011 go, it was a rough haul at times and there were days when I didn’t think my heart and soul would mend…but they did, and I survived, and it is with wide open eyes and a helium heart (always rising, always rising) that I greet the new year. I have entered it strongly. I’m a different person this year, than I was last year, last month, last week…last minute — isn’t that the glory of constant change? Something in me feels brawny and bonny. I like it.
The greatest lessons I learned in 2011:
-Sleeping with a kitten from an Idaho cattle ranch will probably put fleas in your bed and those fleas will nip at you and they will disrupt your sleep which will annoy you greatly. So don’t sleep with the kitten.
-There’s nothing half so delicious as a freshly laid egg, laid by a happy, free range hen.
-In this world, all you really can do is your very best. Your very best will vary in caliber according to what you are processing as a human being in your heart and your mind at any given moment, according to your personal life experiences. For this reason, grace for all is essential, and when you receive grace when you are ill behaved, you will understand why this is true, time and time again. Everyone is fighting a fight that you can’t see or know. Cut them some slack.
-Living away from my spouse, from the person I love more than anyone on the earth, for six months of every year, is a royal pain in the arse of my heart. I won’t do it again.
-If you see an Airstream for $500, buy it. Do not pause to ponder on practicality, just buy.
-When hate mail lands in your email inbox (and people always find a reason to hate or be unkind) don’t read it. Just delete it and never think about it ever again.
-About myself: I refuse to be a snob about anything, anything at all. It causes silence in others and I think that’s sad.
-To deeply and honestly love the souls of others is the greatest calling of all. To love the eternal portion, the most unique and holy part of another is the greatest calling of all. For me, today, there is almost nothing else than this.
-A hot bath at the end of every day is as curing as chicken soup (in my case, it is a sort of chicken soup).
How about you? What were your greatest life lessons of 2011?
_______________________________________________________________________________
Moving on, there are a handful of things I have to share with you. First of all, I gave myself an automatic milk steamer and foamer. It’s utterly magical and now I have tea lattes and cafe au lait constantly with the most beautiful mountainous frothy milk puff on top. If you don’t have one, you must have one. Do not delay. I finished reading this, which one of you suggested to me, and really quite liked it. What I especially liked (besides the exquisite writing style of the author and mystique of the main character) is that the story depicts the Frank Slide which is still disastrously visible when you drive the Crows Nest Highway across Southern Alberta. Pick up a copy when you have a moment. You won’t regret it. I’ve been listening to this fairly often and it’s just as beautiful as only Feist can be. My sister is working at this shop in Saskatoon so I was gifted mainly tea products from her at Christmas which has been a scrumptious gift indeed! Go forth and tea yourselves!
Now, I am very hungry and am going to go gather a lovely dinner together. I hope you’re all well!
Kisses. xx
This is what I know: In her striving to love the divine spark in all, Jillianess is far better a spirit than am I. XO!
People get on my last nerve more often than I care to admit. But I am subjected to bullies all day in “guest services.” Ooo lord. It is hard. I take deep breaths. I get faint. 🙂
I highly doubt that I am a better spirit than thou.
Well. Bullies are tough. I’ve dealt with my share. Stand up for yourself when you must. Rebuke with love. You’re wonderful. xx
I love you soul.
I truly love your soul.
So grateful to have found you,
You bring a tear to my eye
and a puffiness to my heart, thank you.
AH! You beauty! Thank you for being in my world. I receive that love. 🙂 xx
wise words, particularly giving grace for all.
what’s your favourite tea so far?
x
Jessie’s Tea!!! Mmmmmmmmm!
Oh. I also like the alpine tea….it’s in the rooibos category. We drank vats of it after dinner over the Christmas holiday.
Ordered! So difficult to choose..
I know! And everything is wonderful. David’s Tea is an adventure for the taste buds. I hope you love it.
…and this is why I learned in 2011 to always stop by this corner of the internet. To find beauty in photos.words.spirit.life. We all need to learn to love more, judge less, give more grace, hold less grudge… amen, amen!
Speaking of ‘hate mail’… hope you got my ‘love mail’.. I wanted to describe it better to you when you do! heh! ;o)
xo
Mel
needle and nest design
It might be in my PO Box right NOW!!! I’ll try to check it in the next few days (that will mean leaving my house….which will mean combing my hair………). Fear thee not. I get A LOT of love mail, far more love mail than hate mail. The hate mail is a tiny molecule of water in the broad and beautiful ocean of my life. That’s the glad truth.
oh I love The Outlander, I’ve read it thrice. In fact I might so read some in the bath.
Capital idea!
I can’t make sense of 2011, yet. I hope I will someday. But as I sit here trying to figure out what I learned, all I can’t think is — what the ___ was *that* about? I guess I do know that I did my best. I guess I do feel proud of that. And so I guess: I learned that if you do your best, and it doesn’t work out, then you really can feel good about giving it your all. And I did.
I love your lessons. Taking your words to heart here.
HA!
Alicia. I’m sure, very sure, that our 2011s had some similarities! And you’re right — when we turn these things over in our hands, once the storms have passed, to be able to say that we did our best is sometimes the only shard of closure we’ll ever have. Be courageous and bold of heart. This is a new year.
Well done, you.
xx
these lessons are beautiful and practical all rolled up into one
i like that
life is an amazing road full of warmth and coolness
such a blessing
love and light
I agree. My saying for this year is that life is a sum of dark and light. And it’s all beautiful.
so powerful when we embrace it all isn’t it? so much less to be afraid or worried about then 🙂
so today I say to you…I love your wisdom
love and light
There’s much I could say about last year…so much that there are no words, really. You know??
But what did jump out as I read your question is a saying on an old t-shirt of mine (back when I thought wearing t-shirts with sayings was cool.) Okay. That was only last week…but I digress…
“Don’t take life so seriously. It isn’t permanent.”
I was wearing this tee when taking a flight to Portland and the ticket agent burst out laughing when she read it and said to the other agent they should all wear one. I laughed but then politely pointed out that I wasn’t sure passengers would want to be reminded of their mortality when they’re about to jump on a plane!
And then there’s Ash, always bringing levity. You ALWAYS put a smile on my face. xx
Just as long as I’m not becoming predictable!
Another favorite tee:
“My therapist thinks I’m a scream.” (A heavily-accented Chinese man came up to me and asked what ‘scream’ meant, and after a few minutes of red-faced charades, I just did the classic loopty-loop sign signifying lost marbles and he ended up doubled over laughing, mimicking me…)
What the heck? Where do you GET these shirts from? HA HA HA!!!
I recall having one that said something about ‘mullets being cool,’ something I found mildly amusing at the time. Until, that is, while trying to grow my hair out, my hairdresser actually gave me one…right before flying home to visit my family! (Good times.)
You can find a few amusing tees here: http://www.snorgtees.com/t-shirts
(I love the Pluto one.)
I sent my brother (Captain Awesomeness, himself) the “I can’t hear you over the sound of how epic I am” tee. I’m pretty sure he sleeps in it.
Ebb and flow, some years are better than others and taking it in stride all we ask ourselves sometimes. It’s been a while since I posted on here since my life has been crazy, but I can be thankful for meeting my best friend and soul mate in 2011 who I will be marrying in 2012! Wish you the best in 2012 and I hope you can be as close as you can to your boy! 🙂
That’s the truth. There were wonderful parts of 2011, I shouldn’t be so doom and gloom about it, but it took a lot of heart to make it through. You know what I mean? Congrats on the upcoming marriage!!! Being married is one of the best things ever. You’re going to love it. x
Hello lovely, I´m still here 😀
Life has been keeping me busy but I still have managed to make time to stop by your blog once in a while (but unfortunately haven´t had time to comment on your azome makings):)
Thanks for being so sweet!
<3
xx
Your beauty, your truth, bring tears to my eyes and warmth to my heart.
xx
And you, dear girl, were one of the highlights of 2011. Thank you for being part of my life.
I’ve learned much too much this year…I hope to use what I’ve ‘already got’ {learned…and other} this year!
I installed a wee espresso machine in my kitchen before Christmas and it has transformed my mornings! I feel rich…So rich. It is good to be good to oneself.
I have been reading Rutherfurd this year. I recommend him.
Have you tried the chocolate chilli chai? OMGosh. So, so good. Perfect to carry on a long cold trek…{http://www.davidstea.com/our-teas/black-tea/chocolate-chili-chai}
Much love to you Plume!
xo
Espresso machine! Good girl. Will check up on Rutherford, ASAP. And I have indeed tried the chocolate chilli chai! DELICIOUS. Love back at you, chickadee. x
every word of this posting soaked into me and now i am full. full of love. full of compassion.
[does the grace part apply to the fleas???? tell me. do not lie.]
i just spent too much money at “david’s tea.com” so you have lead me down the path to yet another addiction. shame on you. but: it’s a healthy addiction. so, thank you for that.
you. YOU. you helped me through some very difficult life lessons in 2011. and you’re still at it. my shield and buckler here on this earth.
my greatest lesson [and i’m still learning….] is to allow others to be as they are meant to be. doesn’t mean i have to join in. but i’d want the same, to be allowed to be as i am meant to be.
happy 2012 to all at plume gables, especially my dear friend weenie-pie, even though she does not like me much….
xxxx
This grace does not apply to fleas. I squish them zealously.
Loved knowing you in 2011. Can’t wait to know you in 2011.
xxxxxxxxxx
I was really glad to see 2011 go myself. That photo is stunning…
I wasn’t glad to see it go…I think I was glad to FEEL 2012 arrive….does that make sense?
Coming here is such a beautiful breath of fresh air :). I loved your learning in 2011 list. And if I come across an airstream for $500-heck yes!!!! But what resonated with me the most is loving other souls. When I began to look at people more as souls, all wanting the same as me (to be happy and free), it became so much easier to feel compassion and love (especially on the road in traffic :). I am still fairly new in your space, but truly enjoy coming here (and I will try to be more on time so that I may lay claim on a piece of your art!!).
Cheers Jillian, and happy 2012!
xo
Your comment about traffic made me smile. Thanks for being here and for being such a beauty. xx
Thanks, lovely. It’s all I have the time or emotional energy to say right now, but thanks. You make me want to be better.
At a lot of things.
Hugs to you.
Hugs back at you, babe. xx
Dear Plume, I love your posts, which is why I get irritated that Blogger keep deleting you from my feed, no matter, I follow you on Flickr, so i can always restore you, happy days!!
I’ve not really had a moment to reflect upon 2011, I really should otherwise I shan’t learn any thing or grow in knowledge in any way.
Thinking about it now, I guess I learned that I am capable of much more than I think I am, mainly with regards to my studies, I got a good grade, I didn’t push my self that hard, imagine what I could achieve if I push my self harder.
I can not believe that some one like you with a soul full of light, can receive hate mail, I’m glad to hear that it is a minuscule amount, (although to hear you have even a minuscule amount, saddens my heart), I am happy to hear that you give them the attention they deserve, that is none at all.
Your Jewellery is truly beautiful, one day I will be quick enough off the mark to get to your shop before all the beauties are snapped up 🙂
Hey. Everyone gets a little hate from time to time. Mine just shows up in my online spaces when it comes:) Don’t worry about it. You carry the same burden occasionally, I am sure. We just have to buck it off and rise up! And YES! Imagine what you are capable of! The edge of the universe is the limit (and we all know it doesn’t really have an edge). 🙂 Thanks for being in my world! x
Oh yay, you read it! I’m glad you liked it and hope others pick it up on your recommendation.
As for your hate mail lesson, I’ve also been working at just letting go of the things in life that frustrate/upset/bring negativity into my day-to-day life. My Dad has a saying – “He who angers you controls you” and he calls his method of letting go “parking it.”
I’ve been learning to just park it the last couple months.
YES!
Park it.
I like that.
I also like to run it into the ground. Literally. Up on the mountain. I turn the stone to dust beneath my feet and am made untouchable. 🙂
Woweeeee! Love it all! It’s so beautiful! Something to get teary eyed over + print.
Here we are soon to experience Year of the Dragon.
I guess that means a lot of fire breathing hence purifying of all the movement, shaking up, and soul searching that came from Year of the Rabbit!
Oooof.
Maybe I’ll be roasting marshmallows with my own breath this year? haha.
love your soul xo
Love your soul back.
I told a friend about what you had to say about the year of the dragon….she quite liked it. 🙂 xx
I wouldn’t say I’m sad to see 2011 go as much to say that I appreciate it for its tumultous nature and for having given me the opportunity to see that there is much left in me that I have yet to discover and so much more capability in me than I ever knew was possible. That and the realization that other people’s responses, thoughts, words to whatever you share with them really has nothing to do with YOU. It has EVERYTHING to do with their own experiences, thoughts, insecurities, their own stuff. It’s hardly ever got anything to do with me, really. Those two lessons, no limits and it’s not about me, are ones I shall be carrying around in the pocket of my heart for many many years to come.
xo xo
Those are excellent lessons and totally true. Thanks for sharing them! You’re growing beautifully. x
I can’t imagine anyone wanting to send you hate mail! I honestly can’t!
I bet even Mr. Dressup received hate mail! He was one seriously nice guy. Hate, unkindness and unlove are bizarre phenomenons. Best not to dwell on it.
Hmm, kind of a Canadian Mr. Rogers, no? I’d never heard of him, but now have checked him out via YouTube. Endearing & wholesome.
Yes! Those words perfectly describe him! 🙂
I loved your summary and found myself nodding in agreement with probably all..I just could not express it that beautifully. Review of last year has been gnawing at me for some time this year and I promise to myself to sit down to do it in two weeks, after this heavenly deadly weight of the proposal is off MOI. You reminded me of my first flee covered kitty…it became a love affair! I will consider the latte machine because I am really into it these days. I will not buy an airstream—ha ha….I just had to say that ! Love you as you are!
Mona! I know! Reflection gnawed at me too….until I forced myself to just sit down and write about it. It felt good to give it a good once over and then move fully, with all my mind and heart into the new year.
LOVE you as you are, too. Always. x
a great collection of lessons learned from 2011. here’s hoping 2012 finds you stronger and happier. i wasn’t sad to see 2011 go but this new year has already kicked my ass a bit. i figure it can only go up from here right?
YES. It surely can. Onward. UPWARD. xx
Loved “The Outlander” and her last words: “Find me.”
…those last two words may have been the very best moment of the entire book!
…i love *your* soul, and your words.
xxxxx
Heavens High Priestess,
this makes me feel so good,
your words are a balm for my wounded heart
&
i believe, again.
XO
Love you girl.
xx
I’ve taken over a year sabbatical both from blogging and reading blogs, much less time online in general…what a treat to be given the link to your blog by a dear long distant friend who believes the 3 of us would be fast, kindred friends…I perused your beautiful musings and gorgeous photos and felt a resounding “YES!” pounding in my heart at finding someone else who needs to drink deep draughts of nature on a daily basis…I have no such friends here, other than my husband and four boys we’re raising, so it was a lovely reminder of why internet time isn’t always a waste of precious time…thank you!
What a beautiful comment! Thank you for finding me and for spending some of your precious time here. xx
OH, that sounded snotty, didn’t it? I just meant that in order to raise the boys well & get all my own goals accomplished (and to be honest, because I was in a hard season where comparison and self-defeat was omni-present) I had to severely curtail my internet time…not to say that other folks who are much better time managers than I are wasting their days…and certainly not by visiting thenoisyplume! And loved the book recommendations…long time Annie Dillard fan but The Holy Firm had somehow escaped my radar…
I didn’t think it sounded snotty at all! I have greatly decreased the amount of time I spend on the computer here for the same reasons. Your time is precious and I’m thankful that you choose to spend some of it here. 🙂
Oh my what a jounrey you have been on! Thank you for sharing your lessons from 2011. They were just what I needed to read today.
Best wishes for a healthy, peaceful and joyous 2012.
Thanks for being here, Tammy!
This is my first visit to your blog (from a link on Posie Gets Cozy blot) and it was just delicious. I say that word as I’m typing in and exaggerated happy way that we do with our 3-year old when he eats something he likes. Ah! I say it again…DELICIOUS! Thank you.
Well heck!
You’re welcome!
Hello wonderful! I just came across your blog and I love it. I really want to live more like you one day, but right now it is not an option for me. I can’t understand that someone would ever send you a hate mail? Really – I’ve been going through every one of your posts and I can’t find a single thing about you to hate – just love! Are you on pintrest? I would love to follow you there as well. I totally know I’m not entitled to make requests on my second day in following you.. but if I may, it would be wonderful if you could label the photos with where they were taken. 🙂
Veronica from Svalbard, and Pauline – the husky