New Year Collage

In Yesterday's blog, I shared about an Intention Stick.

Another way to focus on the new year ahead is to create a collage. The collage can be made alone or with a group of friends. This year I spent an afternoon by myself contemplating the new year.

I have learned that sometimes images in these collages come to fruition or symbolize a life experience or insight. One time I made a dream collage with images of the Alps in Switzerland. After finally traveling to Switzerland, I skied the Klein Matterhorn in Zermatt, the Kleine Schcidegg Mannlichca, and the Schilthorn in the area of Interlaken. Upon return, I gazed at my collage to find that all the images were of the ski area around the Matterhorn in Zermatt where I went on the spur of the moment - I KNEW ALL THE IMAGES FIRST HAND FROM MY BEING THERE!

How to create a collage:

FIRST, find a bunch of magazines.

SECOND, cut out images and/or words.

THIRD, use a glue stick to paste images anyway you want to a large piece of paper.

TA DA!

New Year Collage 2012


Who knows what meaning this collage has for me in this new year?

Intention Stick

At the start of the new year, friends gathered for a potluck and to create intention sticks.

What is an intention stick?

These sticks are also known as prayer sticks or talking sticks, but the focus of an intention stick is to create a visual reminder, or fetish piece to bind to you, and the intention that you set, for your life or your future. What a great way to provide focus for the New Year.

All over the world, people make objects to hold and send their prayers. There are special ceremonies found in ancient cultures and practiced today, that involve the construction of ‘holders and senders’ of prayers from natural materials.

It is fun to create intention sticks with friends. Especially sharing food and materials as well as conversation.

How to make an intention stick:

1. Find a stick that you feel is special.

2. Write intentions for the year on a pieces of paper.

3. Wrap the paper intentions face down around the stick and cover the intentions with colorful yarn, ribbon, thread or other materials.

4. Embellish with beads, stones, other objects.

Here is my intention stick from different angles.....

New Year's Day

Another glorious, but cold, day in Olympia, Washington. I could NOT stay indoors. But unlike yesterday, Today I put on sunscreen.

Imagine, sunscreen in January in Washington!

Our early morning walk was on the Chehalis Western Trail, where my friend, Linda, and I came upon a ruby-crowned kinglet feeding on the side of the trail. The bird was frantically looking for food in the frozen foliage and did not care that we were so close to it. I tried to get photos, but the little guy was moving too fast.


This is what he looks like when not on the hunt.


At the ponds today, the hole in the ice was much smaller. I gather the Bufflehead ducks must have moved elsewhere to swim and dive.

A great view of the Olympics from the Trail.


When I returned home from walking the Chehalis Western Trail, another friend, Maxine, called wanting to go for a walk. Why not? It was such a beautiful day! Lunch was outside sitting in the sunshine soaking up some vitamin D. A picnic in January!

We decided on a beach walk from Burfoot Park. Check out the Olympics this time!


A blue heron was fishing along the shore.


We met Kitty out in her handmade kayak. Kayaking in January, another winter time miracle!



What a fabulous start to the New Year and an incredible January winter day in Olympia, Washington!

All You Need Is Love

A lovely (pun intended) New Year's Message.

156 Countries Sing Together for the Starbucks Love Project.

ENJOY!