Button Bird

There is always something interesting to see when out and about.
Our city has some kind of initiative where artists sculpt animals using a particular theme and when they are done these sculptures are displayed in public outdoor places. After a certain period of time the sculptures are auctioned off. Last summer, cattle were on display. Right now it appears to be eagles sculptures on display.

When I was out recently I came across what I am calling the button bird. I call it that because it is in the style of northwest coast Indian button blankets but the buttons are painted ones rather than real ones. See tons of wonderful images of button blankets here.

This plaque says the eagle sculptures will be auctioned in Spring 2010.

The Bible tells me that God created everything and owns everything including the great animals and birds that bring such beauty to our lands.

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills
I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

Psalm 50: 10-11 (KJV)

God created these things for our enjoyment and His and for these.

For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

Isaiah 45: 18 (KJV)

Yet man in his desire to consume and control has destroyed much of what God created for us to enjoy.

The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

Isaiah 24:5 (KJV)

The destruction of the earth and its inhabitants, people and animals alike, causes me sadness when I really think about. But I am grateful to those men, women and children who do their part to appreciate this wonderful creation. Anything we do, great and small to preserve this great beauty of the earth is a wonderful way we can appreciate and preserve it for the generations to come. It's another new year
and that gives us all another new chance at doing our part for the environment and the animals and people in it. God bless.

Buttons and Blankets

Two days in a row I made it to the local goodwill just after they closed. I was laden with heavy items that I carried several blocks to donate so fortunately the clerk let me in both nights. The first night I was there just after 5 p.m. and she had a customer. I refused to leave so she finally took my bags *smile. The second night, I made sure I got there a half hour before closing, only to find a note on the door that said "Closed early for Christmas Party". This time there were several customers in the shop so the clerk readily took my donations. Whew!

It is very cold here and so one doesn't want to venture too far. Instead it is good to savour some hot tea or coffee and try to keep warm. I continue trying to find a place for, and organize things, as I go along.

Not so long ago, I purchased two of those very large bags for vacuum packing bulky belongings. I managed to pack away 4 large cushions in one and several sheets and pillow cases in another. It still takes up a lot of space but perhaps now it can go in my chest (Yah! it does. I managed to squish this wide bag into my cedar blanket chest. The cushions I'll have to store in my closet until I replace the covers; a project with unspecified time line.

Another organizing project that didn't take so long was taking a very large bag of assorted buttons which I had purchased years ago and sorting them by colour. It seems they fall into several colours: white/creams, black, blue, gold and silver. They are so pretty that I just like looking at them. I no doubt have more buttons in these colours than I will ever need for sewing. Some day I will have to come up with a project to embellish with buttons and if not, I can gift them to someone who will put them to good use.