In Burma it is Sweet December

Sweet December

I have friends who are native to Burma and they wish each other "Sweet December." The Karen people celebrate on the last night of November to mark the beginning of Christmas, which they celebrate throughout the month of December. It is also a celebration of harvest and family...generally a time of sharing. The Karens, pronounced (Ka-rans), are an indigenous people to the southeast Asian countries of Thailand and Burma. The population numbers around 14 million in that region with the majority of the Karens living inside Burma. Traditionally, most Karens are farmers . Today I read a little about the Chin people who also might wish you a "Sweet December." Many of them live in the Mandalay area.

In a little benefit shop in the California town near where I live, I found a zip lock bag marked $3.00 that contained a Nativity Scene. It is from Italy, plastic and childlike and so I bought it to set out in the garden. I placed it in a little nook in the wall in front of a two foot tall door where many years ago the milk man would deliver bottles of fresh milk.

~ Sweet December ~

If you hunt around on the web you can find news of Burma, but most of it doesn't make the front page even though it should. Not all the world is free. Burma has once again been listed as a Country of Particular Concern in the latest edition of the US State Department’s Annual International Religious Freedom Report. Burma, as Myanmar, has no democracy, and human rights and the rule of law are not guaranteed to her people.

The people of the deltas who survived cyclone Nargis of May 2008 are still in need of help and the government thwarts those who try. Recently, authorities in Rangoon’s Dagon Seikkan Township have arrested several members of a volunteer group helping victims of Cyclone Nargis. It's hard to even transfer money to people in Burma when you want to help. American dollars cannot be received directly...

When you hear of a benefit for the people of Burma, and viable organizations seeking to help perhaps you'll decide to pay some attention and see if there is something you can do.

Last August a handful of my friends responded to an appeal I made to help a village rebuild and have a boat again...the only way they can get needed supplies is with a boat.

I was so touched by my friends' generosity. Everyone loved getting this picture. I won't use any village names or the names of my contacts or how the money gets exchanged because I want them to be safe. Isn't that amazing, getting food or money to people in need, orphaned children, could get those in Burma who help in trouble?
Children at studies

Not everyone who calls Burma home can stay there..."Refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border could come under pressure from rising rice prices and a possible influx of new refugees from Burma in the year ahead. The Democratic Voice of Burma quotes Jack Dunford, head of the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC), which manages the nine camps as saying there were several variables they had no control over; exchange rates, the price of rice and the number of refugees. " Thanks to Shane Abrahams for that link. I just discovered his site today. It has links to many news sources and his banner shares an old Chinese proverb that represents the kind of informative peaceful efforts he is making for the sake of so many who are near voiceless:
“Don’t curse the darkness – light a candle.”

So I've lit this little candle on my blog by touching my candle wick to the flame he has going .

And when you light your advent candles, or drive freely to and fro in your day's tasks, maybe you will think of the people who would gladly wish you a Sweet December.
~~~

I read the morning paper...

~

The reaches of hope extend beyond what we can see
the hard news we hear about,
the tragic happenings that bear down.
Violence prowls and even the tides carry some away,

and yet hope reaches...

~

Coast Walking

Thursday morning flew by in a variety of chores. There is always something that could stand a little attention and dear ones had real needs as well. Rain was forecast in the near future and although there was a nip in the air the day was clear and bright.

The idea of an afternoon walk seemed more and more appealing. Want to come?

Looking south back toward the house. The arches in the rock are inviting...doors to swim through, but not today. Brrr...

I did see an otter dining in the cove...someone who actually belongs in the water. But can't you just see yourself gliding through that little hole in the wall?

My camera can see the house ....

glowing in the afternoon light. What a perch to return to.

A nice picture of Point Lobos wound up on my write purpose blog. I hope you'll come ready to read a bit. And please don't forget, I enjoy your comments and the opportunity to search out your web offerings. Oh my, the underside of the clouds left from this morning's storm are glowing red. I better get out there, these sunset moments don't last long.

The land of sharing...fun in the blogosphere.

During the Fall Quilt Festival I visited many of the festival participants. I am still working my way through the list and enjoying visiting so many creative and generous blogs. Look at the prize I got from visiting and leaving a comment at one friendly blog...

Anne at Film and Thread

The reason that there are two sets of stamps is that this persistent woman sent this gift to me twice. The first time the post office didn't finish delivery but Anne did!

The fabric is really cute. I am sure it will inspire some fun project. Anne also sent bias tape, an iron on airplane and luggage tags. I had a local friend in the car when I received this envelope and she just marveled at the fun , the generosity and friendliness that this little package represents. If you hop on over and take a look at Anne's blog please say hello to her from me.

Thank you Anne.

Great Blue Heron at the Crossroads

Literally at the Crossroads, just out of the corner of my eye, on an empty lot, I saw a Great Blue Heron. I took this photo while still in the car (from the passenger seat, I'm not crazy) and then asked to get out of the car, please. I wanted to get closer...if you click on these photos you can get closer views too. Use your back button to return to the post.

The field is polka dotted with the holes of gophers and still sporting some golden poppies. After we met, I read that although the Great Blue Heron is

"primarily a fish eater, wading (often belly deep) along the shoreline of oceans, marshes, lakes, and rivers, it also stalks upland fields for rodents, especially in winter. "

Learning this about Heron's feeding habits helped me understand the normalcy of the Heron's early November jaunt to the shopping center, which isn't all that far from the marsh at the river's end at the ocean. I did see one diving beak motion down into the ground before I approached. I realize now I may have delayed this bird's dinner procurement and I already had mine in the bag. It's amazing how just a little undeveloped land can provide for wildlife. Directly to the west of where we visited is a gas station and to the north is a motel. Across the street one can bank or buy groceries, flowers, jewels, coffee, or books and there are lots and lots of cars,

but the empty lot is a small paradise. Rightly wary, we both remained respectful in our dance of approach and distance but of course the Great Blue set the rules for boundaries.

~Such a beautiful bird~

all else faded away as this elegant bird captured me.

Standing tall this Great Blue is at least three feet. This may be a younger bird and or female, as the plumage is not too fanciful.

Must you go? I must too. I thank you for the visit, lovely bird. I'm glad your terrain includes many vistas far and beyond the road. Next time I see you, I'll be more polite about your meal times. I was glad to learn you thrive all over the continent, and I am especially glad that we are neighbors. You can visit my garden anytime... we've got gophers aplenty.

~~~~

An Amiable Rearrangment

Phoebe the Cat was ready to come inside and Kitty Bumpkins was ready to go out.

Their gaze at each other as penetrating as a laser... I opened the door

and quickly there was a changing of the guard...It's convenient when you can obey two cats at once, being that meeting the expectations of a cat usually involves getting up to open a door. Not as convenient for photography though; I got no more than a shot of their respective tails it all happened so fast.

"Hm mm...now what shall I do?"

Earlier in the day a red headed woodpecker had visited the bird bath, that is what it's for...the birds...and we have many who safely dare to visit here.

But Bumpkins thinks the bird bath is her auxiliary water dish although it takes quite a straddle to get a drink. I think the birds sit in the trees and laugh at her, but not too loudly, she is quite a tree climber too.

If you click on these photos you can see just how cute and silly a cat she is. And her little story and photos just had to be posted for someone who might be, nay must be missing her quite a little bit. But not to worry, she knows whose kitty she is.

Home again, home again Jiggety Jig.

Not that you missed me, but I have been away from home and the computer and consequently this web log. We walked out

the garden gate and drove on up the road.

Sunday afternoon we visited with many old friends and my brother, Steve, before we headed to check on our house "up there" that is currently rented out. Report of leak on a deck that is also a roof over a special room that looks out into the garden mandated that Mark see what was needed. With the rains coming, it was basically he that was needed. It was not the kind of job one can hire out...improvisation is one of his many skills. Next season we hope to revisit the repair in a much larger way, but for now, all should stay dry.

But first he had to take me east to stay with his momma, the original heart of our journey, that old leak just being a minor but demanding complication. While Mark was busy driving back and forth and repairing the deck I accompanied Miss B. through some special needs and I must say she is a very brave lady indeed.

One night I worked

a bit on this vintage quilt top.

The blocks were made by hand, but by whose hand I do not know. The fabrics truly seem like "her aprons or blouses" and "his shirts." I joined them together and found a backing I like. I was able to pin baste and then sew baste the sandwich together, but that is as far as I got for now. I also sat and did a little hand sewing in the hospital waiting room and during one night of television. It was calming to have needle and thread in my hands. We had nice dinners together. I roasted vegetables, cooked sauce for pasta, made soup and some guacamole for which I tried to make tortillas...but corn grits doesn't quite work...they tasted good though.

Up and back on different roads, we drove through beautiful lands...I didn't take a single picture except in my mind's eye, of the tumble down barns and black cows, new grass pushing through the golden straws of last summer and leaves and berries in bright reds and oranges sprinkled amongst the tree greens. Every corner of the land has its own colors...

and now we are back to the blue Pacific on the granite cliffs.