That would be NON-Seasonal Affective Disorder...because Winter is definitely a non-season this year! I'm actually depressed by the lack of rain and snow. And, if one more person says to me, in an oh-so-cheerful tone, "Oh, isn't this a wonderful winter? I just love it!" ... I just might slap them so hard their head spins around and falls off. Well, not really, but I think about it, oh yes...
I took this back in June, put it in 'to be filed' and promptly forgot about it. I'm so glad I found it, but now I have to sort through that file of thousands of pictures, groan. Or...maybe I could just forget about it again...
This faerie is also a nightlight. She was given to me by my youngest niece right after my studio was finished being built. Violetina lives in the studio's bathroom, and I've always thought she looks like she is saying, "OMG! I've got such a headache!" My niece says she looks like that because of where she lives, ha ha. My husband says she looks like that because of what she sees. Oh, what a wit. Ha. Ha. 
"The moment when, after many years of hard work and a long voyage, you stand in the centre of your room, house, half-acre, square mile, island, country, knowing at last how you got there, and say, I own this,
Ambrose says, "What...you've never seen a cat drinking from a birdbath before? I like birdbath water, it tastes like birds. I think of it as 'cruelty-free birdie soup!"
I took this photo in early Spring of 2010 while I was out for a ramble. The quote below perfectly sums up the way I feel about the natural world. 
I found this photo on the internet, but I don't know who took it. If this is your photo please let me know so I can give you the credit and thank you for taking this gorgeous photo!
This is Mademoiselle Blanche and she lives on the Winter tree in my studio during the day. I thought she looked a little tired today and, when I asked her about it, this is what she told me in her charming French accent:
"Last night Monsieur Polaires and I...who is Monsieur Polaires? He is the polar bear just to my right. We are dear friends. The snowman on my left is nice enough, but I find snowmen to be rather cold companions. But, I digress. Monsieur Polaires and I fly, on most nights, to the North Pole. What? Polar bears fly the same way that reindeer fly! No, I am not going to tell you how either of them can fly! We meet our friends, other polar bears and faeries, and we all dance to the music that the Northern Lights make. Their music is wonderful, sometimes fast, sometimes slow and always changing. We feast on snowdrop cakes and quench our thirst with starshine ale and then go back to dancing. Il est amusant magnifique!
Last night, however...oh, last night tragedy was narrowly averted! Mon Dieu, I have never been so frightened in all my life! As Poli (this is my affectionate nick-name for Monsieur Polaires) and I were flying over the Gulf of Alaska, dipping low and following the rise and fall of the waves, we did not notice the whale that had surfaced directly below us. It blew out a great spout of water from its head! I know this sounds quite fantastic...oh, you knew that whales did that? I don't care what this is called, let me get on with my story! Merde! Anyway, I fly faster than Poli, so I managed to avoid the water, but poor Poli was caught in the gush of whale water and dragged into the ocean!
I screamed his name over and over, darting frantically back and forth over the rough waves, searching for him. The moon made so many twinkles on the water, however, that I could not see the twinkles from Poli's coat.
I could not find him.
Despair was filling my heart, and tears were pouring down my face. I thought I had lost my beloved Poli. But then I saw a mermaid with hair so red it glowed in the moonlight, as if lit from within. She was waving and calling to me! I quickly flew over to her and guess what she was holding in her hand? Oui, my Poli! He was drenched, shivering miserably, unable to move. I was going to try to fan him dry with my wings, but she lifted her amazing hair out of the water. It dried instantly and she tenderly laid Poli on it, then wrapped it around him for a minute. I could feel the magical healing warmth of her hair from where I anxiously hovered. When she unwrapped him, he was warm and dry! We thanked her profusely and I told her my secret name, the one known only to me, my mother, and Poli. I told her if she ever had need of Faerie help she had only to call out this name. I am indebted to her forever.
Poor Poli was so exhausted from his ordeal that I had to do most of the flying for both of us on the way home, and that is why I look so tired. I must say, Madame Victoria, I think it was exceedingly rude of you to say that I looked so tired, but you would have missed out on a most interesting story if you had not, non? So, I will forgive you...this time!"
I hope everyone has a wonderful 2012 filled to the brim with blessings and happiness! (I know this is a bit late, but you know the old saying: Better late than never).
The tree in my studio, which I leave up year round, is always decorated in a winter theme and, right now, it's about the only thing around here that does look like winter. We haven't had any snow, or even rain, since about December 15. 
Exhaustion! Anthony and George look like I feel. As lovely as the Christmas season is, it is also a very hectic, busy season. I usually feel like I've run some sort of marathon by the time it's over, even as I'm grumbling about it going by too fast and being over too soon. 
This is The Yule Faerie. She hasn't told me her other name yet. She's also probably a bit upset with me for some reason; she hasn't flown into the house yet but is still in her usual place in my studio. Hmmm...
December 12, 2011. The clouds have been gathering all day. As each one arrived it brought a bit more of the scent that Winter wears, that cold, clean, silvery perfume that is Her’s alone. As the afternoon approached evening, the silence of the forest deepened with each passing moment, as if it and all its inhabitants were holding their breath as they awaited Winter’s arrival. 
Georgie finally found a place he could take a nap and be undisturbed...under the second tree. He dragged the snowman pillow off of the couch and, when it was arranged to his satisfaction, put his head on it and took off for dreamland. I was going to finish decorating this tree today (it only has about 1/4 of the ornaments on it) but I didn't have the heart to disturb the little guy. He'd get mad at me for calling him little since he weighs 18 pounds, but you know what I mean.
This is Queen Celyn (Celyn is Welsh for 'holly) which seems fitting, since she is wearing a crown of holly. She wouldn't tell me her name for the longest time; she just said, "You may address me as 'Your Highness.' " Well, I thought this was a tiny bit rude but, of course, I didn't tell her that! You know how ... ummm ... sensitive faeries can be. After gracing our cottage with her presence every Christmas/Yule season for many years, I'm happy I finally know her name.
Georgie says, "It's too scary. All last night and today the wind monster was howling and roaring! It would creep around our house and sound really sad, like a little kitten lost out in the cold. Then, just when I'd jumped up onto a windowsill to see if I could find the kitten so I could tell Mom and she could save it, the wind monster would roar and SLAM its huge, invisible body right into our little cottage! The whole house would shake and tremble, and I could hear the wind monster trying to get its claws under the windows and doors. I think it wanted to get in so it could eat us! And right before everybody went to bed all the lights went out. Of course, being a cat, I could see perfectly well, but Dad bumped into something when he was looking for the flashlight and said some really, really bad words. 
