Holidays: 2. Figure It Out

"Next to a circus

there ain't nothing that packs up and tears out faster

than the Christmas spirit."

Kin Hubbard

 

For some of us, it might be a difficult thing to figure out just what a holiday means to us and how we can best celebrate. Some would say this is easy, because - perhaps - they come from stable, functional families, already have time-honored traditions, and/or have well-established "modes of operation" for preparing for the big celebration. If things have always been done a certain way, and one is comfortable with that, all may seem well. Why make changes? Indeed, none may be needed and my premises worthless.

 

On the other hand, not all of us may be as fortunate. Life has a way of throwing us a curve every now and again; times, situations, and people do indeed change. I believe we know innately, deep down in our gut, whether or not holiday preparations and celebrations ring true for us. And if, for whatever reason, they do not, then what can/should we do about it?

What is your general feeling - do you love the preparations just as they are and can't wait to delve into the fray? If so, GO FOR IT! But if not, then take some time to figure out what needs to change. Perhaps you feel over-extended - too much of the good (and sometimes not-so-good...) things can wreak havoc. Maybe you feel like you're just going through the motions, doing the "same ol', same ol'" as you've always done, and your heart just isn't in it. If you've suffered loss of any kind - a job, home, relationship, loved one - could be you're depressed and really feel no joy in the season. Whatever you're feeling, acknowledge it, and then try to move on.

This is such an individual thing that each person needs to figure it out for themselves. This is why I think it's important to try to do so independently, without undue outside influences such as the vast commercialism that is rampant these days. Consider the following...

Treat yourself kindly: Take care of yourself so that you have enough of yourself left to give to the tasks you've set out to do. That means, as we all know, eating healthy food in moderation, getting enough sleep, getting some daily exercise in whatever way you can. I also like the idea of practicing positive thoughts and looking for the small, everyday things that I'm thankful for. Find time each day to be still - treat yourself to a cup of tea, listen to your favorite music, read a bit, or just rest. Consider the magnificent gift of life itself.

Choose your priorities: No one can do it all, so don't even try. Decide what matters most to you and yours - choosing one to three things is a good start - to concentrate on. Church services and programs are a must for us, as is connecting in meaningful ways with friends and family. My husband and I enjoy our home and creating things, so we concentrate our efforts there; many of our decorations are home-made and we've had them for many years. Our tastes are simple, lean towards old fashioned, and are sometimes a bit quirky.

Maintain or establish connections: With our family and friends who live far away we've made the effort to keep in touch, giving our time to communication rather than material things. Yes, we do send emails and I use some social media, but nothing can replace a phone call or hand-written note. I especially enjoy meeting a friend for a cup of coffee or lunch to get caught up on each other's lives. One of my long-distance friends has given up on getting her Christmas letters mailed on time. I know to look for hers sometime in January or February and really enjoy reading them during this less-frantic time.

Try something different: There are no hard and fast rules for how one spends their holiday, so don't be afraid to branch out. Some people celebrate on whatever day works best for them, some leave town and spend it doing totally "untraditional" things, and some don't observe the day at all. It's really up to you if, and how, you celebrate it. If you're not happy with the current situation, try something different - what can you lose?

First things first: I find it best to tackle the tough jobs first, if for no other reason than to just get them off my list! I also keep in mind the things that might not get done, so put those at the bottom. And, because not all things come together exactly as planned, learn to be flexible and have a sense of humor. When all is said and done, the very best things we give are memories and sometimes those are of very odd, funny situations!!

 

Put giving before receiving: Gift-giving is a large part of our Christmas celebration, but that has changed through the years. Mostly, we've lived far from family, so all gifts have needed to be planned in advance and mailed. We also don't believe in going in debt, so there's a budget to live with. In our early married years, we made all of our gifts; now we buy most, but still enjoy creating some of them. As our extended family grew, we decided when it seemed prudent to stop exchanging long-distance gifts, notifying those affected with a heart-felt note well in advance. Baked goods or other small creations are always given to close friends as well as those who regularly "serve" us - the mail and paper carriers, trash collectors, etc. We have become much more earth-conscious and try to gift responsibly - buying local, hand-made, and re-purposed goods as much as we can. As the older members of our family have passed on, we've filled those spaces with giving what we can to the needy in our local community. We find true fulfillment in providing a bit of food and a carefully-chosen gift, especially for a little one.

Expect and roll with glitches: As our parents aged, my in-laws would send money for us to buy each other gifts from them. We were both aware of the multiple packages that each of us carefully stashed away for future wrapping to go under the tree. One Christmas Eve, as we sat content among the piles of ripped wrapping paper and assorted gifts, feeling content and relaxed, my husband suddenly blurted out "Hey! Where's all my presents from the folks??" OOOPS - in the midst of all the pre-holiday preparations I'd completely forgotten about those. Sheepishly, I retrieved them and presented them to "his Nibs" in their plain brown boxes and bags. Although it wasn't so funny at the time, we now look back at that with great humor - LIFE happens!

"I wrapped my Christmas presents early this year,

but I used the wrong paper.

See, the paper I used said 'Happy Birthday' on it.

I didn't want to waste it so I just wrote 'Jesus' on it."

Demetri Martin

 

Simplify: There is no rule that says you have to have the perfect holiday or that there's something wrong with you if you don't. Not all things happen quickly, so practice patience. If you're not in a particularly good place right now, take each day as it comes and be grateful for what you do have. If you want your holidays to be different, make that conscious decision, figure out where you are and where you want to go. Just begin - step by step, you will get there.

 

"He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.
Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!"
Dr. Seuss

For other Christmas glitches click here:

Whose Holiday Stamps?

TO BE CONTINUED HERE:

Holidays: 3 Forge Ahead  

 

Holidays: 1. Prepare Yourself

Some holidays tend to loom large in our lives. They are a mixed bag, filled with anticipation, excitement, and deep contentment, as well as trepidation, dread, and bitter disappointment. Where each of us is on the scale of satisfaction depends on a complicated mix of our personal history, present circumstance, experience, expectation, and basic personality.

How are you feeling about the next big holiday headed your way - looking forward to it or just not wanting to deal with it in any way, shape, or form? In the midst of all the hubbub of this time of year, take the time to think of how you feel about it - that's the place to begin...

Here's a challenge for you - for us all. Imagine the next major holiday (In my case that is Christmas...) WITHOUT any "selling factors" of it at all. I'm quite serious about this - no radio, TV, or computer ads, no extra flyers in the newspapers, no huge sales in the stores, nor people in furry costumes waving to you from the street corners. No one telling you what to buy, give, bake, decorate, ask for or expect to receive. No one telling you how to feel. In your mind, take away all of those outside influences, and then ask yourself: "What does this holiday mean to me? What do I want it to mean? What can I do to zero in on this meaning for myself and those near and dear to me?"

Over the years, I have done this and in the process have discovered how I feel about and what expectations I have for celebrating each special holiday. Some years have been better than others, but I've found that focusing on what really matters to me and my family enables us to pretty much disregard the projected expectations so flaunted by the various media of the day.

There can be a wide gap between expectations and reality. Some years I have taken on way too much in the way of holiday activities and preparations, only to arrive at the day exhausted and out-of-sorts. Other times, I have spent more than was in the holiday budget, only to regret it later when the bills came due. I have felt down and in no mood to celebrate due to personal loss or been disappointed in others' holiday behaviors, expecting much more of them than they were able to give.

With time - and experience - I've learned that although there is much in life that I cannot control, I can adjust my own thinking and behavior. This is a well-known fact bantered about by the self-help gurus, but it can be quite a challenge to achieve. It also works!

It hasn't always been easy. There are times when I do sit on the "pity pot" and ruminate about all the ills that come my way - until I think of those who have it worse. Much worse. This minor shift in my thinking becomes a major factor in how I view my own life and the approaching holiday season.

To me, Christmas is about LOVE and GIVING - period. I have become very intentional in everything I do to prepare for this special time of year and remind myself of this often. Family, friends, personal beliefs, giving as much and as often as we can to those who are in need - that's how we celebrate.

Once again, I am adjusting my attitude and appraising my expectations. I will not waste precious time and energy on things I can do nothing about. I will concentrate on what I think really matters and disregard the rest.

Our December calendar is full - there are times set aside for regular commitments and "have-tos", times for gathering with dear friends to visit, discuss, and share, times to attend a few events specific to this season. There are also plenty of "blank" spaces - time to spend at home getting ready by decorating, baking, and making some special gifts. We only do what we want to do and truly believe in. Some of those times definitely include getting mentally and spiritually prepared.

Christmas comes, whether we're ready or not. Its preparation begins on the inside of each of us and works its way out from there.

 

TO BE CONTINUED HERE:

Holidays: 2. Figure It Out

 

Traditional ? Feasting

Do you ever consider just why you eat what you do for your Thanksgiving dinner? Simple question - but the answers are a bit more complicated. No, really - why do you?

Some would say that today's "traditional" Thanksgiving meal is in line with what the Pilgrims had at their harvest festival in 1621 at Plymouth Plantation.

There is little written account of that festival; only the words of William Bradford and Edward Winslow have been found. They tell us that four soldiers were sent to hunt for fowls, and they returned with enough to feed the whole village for a week. Other foods listed included corn meal, fish such as bass and cod, water fowls, turkeys, and venison. No stuffing, cranberries, or pies...

Potlatch Pilaf

 

Turkey was introduced to the early Pilgrim settlers by the Wampanoag tribe after the Pilgrims arrived in 1620. The wild turkey is native to North America and was a staple in the Indian diet. The first year for the settlers was bleak, with many dying from the journey.

Their seeds, aside from barley, did not produce any usable crops. The Indians assisted the settlers, introducing them to native foods such as corn and squash and showed them how to hunt and fish.

Pumpkin, which dates back 9,000 years to Mexico, had been cultivated by the Indians for centuries, roasted or boiled for survival. The pilgrims might have made stewed pumpkin by filling the shell with a mixture of orange flesh, milk, honey and spices and baking it in ashes, but the first pumpkin pie did not appear until 1670.

After a year of sickness and scarcity, the Pilgrims who survived gathered to thank God for saving their lives and guiding them through their journey in the Mayflower and the following year of drought.

After rain that revived the crop of corn and other fruits, they celebrated the day with their neighbor Massasoit, the chief of the Wampanoag, who came with all his extended family - ninety people - and stayed for three days. No one knows for sure, but this was possibly a placatory measure/political maneuver by the decimated, uneasy ranks of the colonists.

Dungeness Crab

With only four adult married women left to do cooking, the meal likely consisted of roasted venison, stewed or boiled fowl, lobster and fish, corn and wheat breads, stew of dried fruits and perhaps pumpkin, one or two boiled vegetables and only water to drink. The Wampanoag helped by contributing five deer they had killed and probably other supplies out of courtesy.

Giving thanks for the Creator’s gifts had always been a part of Wampanoag daily life. From ancient times, Native People of North America have held ceremonies to give thanks for successful harvests, for the hope of a good growing season in the early spring, and for other good fortune such as the birth of a child. Giving thanks was, and still is, the primary reason for ceremonies or celebrations.

Evergreen Huckleberries

 

Merrymaking and feasting - in England and throughout Europe after a successful crop are as ancient as the harvest-time itself. Today’s national Thanksgiving celebration is a blend of traditions: the custom of rejoicing after a successful harvest and the Puritan Thanksgiving, a solemn religious observance combining prayer and feasting.

Clams & Oysters

So gather together for a day of THANKS with family and friends. In our part of the country, perhaps a meal of baked salmon, clam chowder, braised kale, huckleberry muffins, spiced applesauce, and yes - pumpkin pie - might be in order. How about where you are?

Wild Sockeye Salmon 

..."He has shown kindness

by giving you rain from heaven

and crops in their seasons;

He provides you with plenty of food

and fills your hearts with joy."

Acts 14:17

For other Thanksgiving posts, click below:
Recipe for Thanksgiving
Blessings, Wherever You Find Them
Sorting Out the "Needs"

ArtTrail #9: Fence Post Bandit

"The artist's world is limitless. 

It can be found anywhere,
far from where he lives
or a few feet away. 

It is always on his doorstep." 

Paul Strand

Cory Holmes, of Havre, Montana, is a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway conductor with a penchant for welding scrap metal into art. Many of his pieces, the majority of which he places himself,  mysteriously appear on fence posts around the country. Most of those can be found along the long, lonely highways  in a wide area of Montana, where he has become known as the Fence Post Bandit.

"Electric Man"

I've been hoarding scrap iron for better than four decades; never with a particular thought of selling it though. In fact, I don't believe I ever have sold any steel or iron as scrap. I don't just gather and collect any arbitrary metal; that would be both redundant and boring. I hand pick interesting forms, with unique shapes and histories.

"Model A Horse"


My scrap pile is between 60 and 80 tons at this point. Each piece of scrap played a part in the history of this nation: the springs and hardware from old buggies and farm wagons, the moldboard plows, cycle bar mowers, and horse drawn combines. There were old pieces and parts from oil rigs, pipelines, seismograph outfits and so on. I had railroad parts from hardware from the telegraphs, parts of steam locomotives and various sundry parts from tracks, switches, cabooses and box cars. There were spent military cartridges, helmets, bayonets and various hardware. Interesting stuff....but what does one do with it? Well I do sculptures. I have been doing metal sculptures for about twelve years, as far as the fence art sculptures go, I have been doing them about ten years now.

One day I was reading some farm journal and there was an article that said there were 35 million fence posts in Montana. I thought hmmmm, I wonder how they know that? Do they have fence post census takers? Not too long after I read the article I had to take a trip to Glendive and as I drove along the endless prairie I thought, gee, somebody ought to decorate around here and make this drive a little more interesting. So, I figured why not me? I'll just whip up some stuff and honk it on the top of fence post. And viola, fence art was born.

"Monster Face"

 

Now, ponder this for a moment. A farmer is seeding his field for the umpteenth time. Out of the corner of his eye he sees a strange apparition perched on a fence post his father set forty years ago as a teenager. "What the heck is that?" he thinks and parks his tractor trundles over and takes a look. He stares a while, scratches his head and goes back to farming. Pretty soon, over coffee at the grain elevator he asks his neighbor if he has seen any weird stuff on fence posts. Strangely, his neighbor says yes, he has a thing on one of his fence post too. What are they? No one knows. Who put them there? No clue. What do they mean? No idea. So they ponder the mystery. They talk about it. We have social interaction between neighbors; perhaps not a bad idea in this age of wireless anonymity.

In order to do sculptures I have to bend and shape and fabricate all this stuff. My specific method of making sculptures is called the direct metal technique. That means that I have to arrange, shape, forge, grind and polish all things by hand. It also means each one of my pieces is an original and a one of a kind. I use a number of different fabrication methods in making my sculptures and fence art, I use a coal forge and trip hammer when I have to do blacksmithing. I also weld with a combination of gasses, a method rapidly becoming obsolete but sometimes necessary to achieve a certain look or effect.

"Spikes and Springs"

I thought I would probably quit when I expended my original 50 or 60 tons of scrap iron but an interesting thing happened. Once people heard what I was doing they started bringing me more scrap. And some really interesting stuff too. I found a 200 lb camshaft from a locomotive someone had left in my truck, buckets of square nuts from the 1920s, and huge rivets from a disassembled bridge. The list goes on, and so does fence art production.

"Ode to Maud Muller"

Near as I can tell I have in the neighborhood of 700 pieces of fence art in 17 states and two Canadian provinces. In actuality I cannot be certain the people who I gave fence art to actually put them up as they said they would and claimed they did. I, however, have personally put them up in 11 states and two Canadian Provinces. I would have put a couple up in Hawaii as well but airline regulations make this almost impossible.

I never ask permission - of course, in a perfect world I would. I try to avoid the unpleasantness of explaining what manner of unbridled weirdness I am committing to some farmer's fence post. So almost without fail my fence arts are placed in pretty remote places.

"Longhorn Cow"

I like to put them on the skyline whenever possible because they are easier to see. The single most important part is the fencepost. It has to be a substantial post and unfortunately most post are not. Railroad tie fencepost are king. I try not to place them on brace post next to gates because I don’t want it to snag a farmer’s header on a combine or swather. I try not to place them in near proximity to houses unless somebody specifically asks me to. I have put a goodly number of fence art in national forest, but, to be honest they are difficult to see because of the trees. The upside is they don't get stolen nearly as often as the prairie variety.

Thievery can be a problem but it does not bother me as much as it confuses me. I don't understand why people take them but sometimes they do. I can only speculate that sometimes they are offended that someone put something up on a fence because they own the fence, or because it’s just too far out of their realm of normalness, or maybe because they took a shine to it and wanted it in their back yard.
 

"Hands and Tire Wrench"

I give anybody that wants a fence art, a fence art. But I prefer if they come and get it from me at my home, or wait until it’s convenient for me to deliver it. Yes I do sell my work. But not fence art, it's free.

"Fence Chicken"

Of all the reasons Cory gives for creating fence art: boredom, wanderlust, cheap mindless entertainment, lack of adult supervision, frustration with deadlines, disgust with 50% commission fees at art galleries, lack of parameters, love of the creative process, potential longevity, lack of expected political correctness, ultimate freedom of choice, shock value, an excuse to travel to unseen places and the challenge to convey an idea or concept in a brief moment, he says, "Mostly I guess I did it because it was really fun."

 

"What art offers is space - a certain breathing room for the spirit. "

John Updike

Cory's words here were taken from an interview that appeared on the Glacier Electric Cooperative, Inc. web site. Click HERE to read the complete article.

To view more of Cory's fantastic fence art:

http://community.webshots.com/user/iamasculptor

http://www.montanapictures.net/hobson_art_tour_three.htm