Healing Hillary

reflecting and creating

I've been quiet this week. I've been here, I'm present...and yet have been quiet. As I grow through life, I am finding I am more able to have clarity. I am grateful for the clarity, because...it is truly beautiful.

During my quiet time I have been reflecting...

Can you see my husband's hand on my daughter in this photo? That was a moment in time I happen to catch...

And I have been creating...

 

fingerless mits

I have also been shifting. I suppose this is tangible evidence of my internal shift. I recreated a little corner in our bedroom...one that tells a story of me and provides inspiration. 

In this photo are my jewels, a hand painted lamp from childhood, my shoes and rattles, my charm bracelet, my old coin collection and special rock collection, books that have been passed down through generations, and some of my favorite photos...one of me fly fishing (years after almost drowning during a fly fishing adventure), one of me as a child, and probably my favorite photo *of all time* my brothers dressed up in my nightgowns and some shower caps. I can easily say this last photo is my favorite, because it *never* ceases to make me smile. 

 
 I think I may be finding my niche! 

 
With abundant gratitude,

Hillary 

snow (com)post

i've been hulled up in the house this week. between a sick tot and a wee bit of snow (which is a show stopper here in the south), outside a short trip to a redbox (julie & julia for me during naps) and the local store for immunity building soup ingredients, i've been at home.  

i had all of these lofty ideas of places i'd go this week. places i'd get to take pictures of my feet and share with my fellow unravellers and with you. i thought i would get to spin a tale of wonder in my big world. but life had other plans for me and yet there is something to be grateful for...honesty. i can share what is real for me, and what is real is that i am at home. i am in my slippers padding around the house carrying my sick child and brewing thyme tea and honey for her cough (all hours of the day and night). i have pockets full of hankies and a counter top filled with remedies. 

the only time i stepped outside yesterday, was to take out the compost. i made a large pot of fresh soup to warm our insides and had many compostables (is that a word?). 

today is a new day. today i get to go on a knitting adventure with two new friends. and my tot will be home tucked in with daddy. oh for a few hours outside my home...now to decide what knitting projects to bring along. 

peace and love,

hillary 

one word

if you haven't caught on yet...there is a bit of a ONE theme going on this first month of the new year, new decade...one small change, one for me, "I am only ONE woman" and now one word. now i assure you, deep down in my core, this was not intentional. it sort of unfolded all on it's own...which is just *the* best. 

so my one word...

it followed me...in a yoga class on new year's eve the teacher proposed selecting a word to carry into the new year. then in my unravelling course...one word for the year. then at a friend's blog...one word. alright, universe...i hear you. so i am hollering back my one word, COURAGE!

i made this little banner to hang above my bathroom sink as a little reminder. it was really one of my most favorite recent crafts. sewing paper...oh it is exhilarating (because it's easy maybe, but mostly because it is untraditional). 

i thought i'd share this one picture with you as well. i accidentally caught one of my naked professional pregnancy photos in the reflection. hmmm....universe, is that you again? can you hear me, universe...no on the pregnancy front, maybe on the risk taken in exposing myself front...um, ok. so here i go, unravelling. more to share tomorrow. 

your's in naked honesty,

hillary 

p.s. i have a bit of a love for banners. here are two others that i have made in the past and hang in our house. the gratitude banner and T's bunting. you may remember them from posts gone by. 

unravelling

so i am unravelling...and if you are wondering, yes, it's a good thing. 

of all of the blog give-aways that i have entered, ones for toys, for fabric, for yarn and the like, i won one of Soule Mama's give-aways in december for a writing and photography e-course called Unravelling. 

i plan to share my adventures here. this week our assignment is feet...so here are some pictures i have taken thus far. 

the idea of taking pictures of my naked feet was something i could not jump right into. i had to do a bit of warming up to the idea. perhaps it is the single digit degree weather we are having here or maybe it is some hidden modesty i did not know i possessed. regardless, i began with taking pictures of what my feet most often look like these days. nestled in wool socks and my Padraig slippers, stepping around the house, picking up toys, snuggling a child or knitting.

today i decided to take my shoes off for a bit. i felt a bit shy at first...unconsciously hiding my scar from my foot surgery last may. 

then i started feeling a bit more brave and decided if it is time to unravel, it's a time for change. i pulled off the toe ring i have worn for the last 16 years and set it aside for these next photos...and have yet to put it back on. 

i took many photos. these two are my favorites. T's presence is pervasive in my life. i cannot even escape for a private photo shoot with my feet with out her curiously wanting to be involved. it is natural for her to be a part of my photos. she spontaneously decided to include herself in this photo. 

and by this one...i was welcoming her presence as a part of the process. 

i hope you will look forward to seeing me unravel. i am devoted to taking different action to promote growth in my life. i am grateful the universe responded with this *gift*. 

here's to unravelling (with the british spelling...well, just because),

hillary