Change happens to everyone

There is a saying “into every life a little rain must fall” and while there is an element of comfort in that saying (it does say little), it also means life can and will rain on us.

Why mention that today? Our former Genre-ista, Dora Bramden, was slated to guest today and then Life threw her a Curve Ball, more than mist or drizzle or even a steady rain (keeping up the rain analogy).

This past year life, Life, LIFE has been doing that – blowing storms in our path or using another analogy, throwing us curve balls.

Here at Romancing The Genres the Blog Queens have had those curve balls thrown their way at the same time. In ten years that hasn’t happened – not that curve balls weren’t thrown, they were – but at the same time? Not until 2020-2021.

Change happens to everyone.

Some change is anticipated like learning to walk, becoming a parent, retiring. We have time to plan, to figure out our next steps.

Some change hits us, catches us unaware. To survive we must adapt, shift, change. We are all capable of adapting, shifting, changing even when we don’t want to. It isn’t always easy nor is it something we enjoy doing, the choice comes down to whether we want to move forward or not. And not everyone does or maybe not everyone has the same vision of what moving forward means.

The Blog Queens are grateful for each and every Genre-istas who has been on this journey with us. We are grateful for each and every reader who has stopped by. We are grateful you’ve stopped by this weekend.

Which analogy do you prefer rain or curve ball? Obviously I couldn’t decide.

Comfort and Joy by Dora Bramden

Comfort and Joy are exactly what I'm in need of this year. I also don't think I'm the only one. Finding the good feels and is different for each but some of us crafters know that a session at our craft table is the road to peace and contentment. Christmas is a great time for me because I love making Christmas decorations.

 I didn't know if I'd be celebrating the Christmas season with family and friends this year but decided I was going to decorate the house and do a full Christmas even if it was just for myself and Sam.  It was even more important because we would need cheering up if we were going to be missing out on seeing those we love this year.

When I'm crafting a decoration or putting a vignette together It doesn't matter too much how my projects turn out. They often look different in reality from what I'd imagined but so what. It's the creative process, moving my fingers and mind together to create, that shifts my body and mind from anxiety and tension to relaxed and peaceful.

I started early this year, in October. I began with making a Christmas Junk Journal. I found some cheap paper at the Reject shop and ordered a Stamperia 8x8 paper pad. I also used an embellishment pack from Miss Rose and Sister Violet and a digital Christmas kit from Artymaze Etsy Store. Once I had a collection of my favorite things, I went to work with old cereal boxes, old Christmas cards, tea-stained printer paper, magazine pages, and any bits and pieces of fabric and lace I could find. 

I worked for a solid couple of weeks, adding to the pages and collaging to my heart's relief. I created a book where I could record my thoughts and plans. I'm posting some pictures below of the cover and a few favorite pages. 

November arrived and I started thinking that I would get the tree in the family room up. I started working on some decorations for that. I printed out some free digital Santa pictures from The Graphics Fairy and pasted them to some cardboard. I then mounted that onto fabric covered cardboard and then added embellishments and a ribbon to hang it with.

The next step was to bring all the Christmas tubs out of the garage and put them under the verandah at my back door so that I could fossick through them whenever the mood struck. I hung up a lovely angel picture created by Sam's daughter when she was in kindergarten. I created a swag to hang at the top. 

Framed in a poster frame from KMart. I used some folded wrapping paper to create the border.

The boxes at my back door started to empty as November progressed and I created vignettes around my kitchen and family room. Traditional colors warmed my heart and the happy pops of red cheered me every morning when making my mug of tea. Who can't be happy when Santa is smiling at you from mugs next to the kettle and happy knee hugger elves smile on the window sill?

Here are some photos for your enjoyment.

I liked the paper plates so much that I have displayed them as if they were the best china.

December has arrived and I'm still going with my decorating. The dining room needs a table centerpiece and I haven't started on the Lounge Room yet. My boxes are nearly empty but there will be enough to finish the job. Currently, I'm working on a menu for Christmas day. It turns out we are going to be able to have some family come to enjoy Christmas lunch with us so I'm also working out who can bring what to share on the day.

During the uncertain days, I have found joy in getting ready for the festive season. It won't be exactly how I'd like it to be, there will be some members of my family who can't make it and there are some special others who've passed away. But they will be there because they're in our hearts always. 

The warmth of the season is a comfort to me and all the pretty things give me a great deal of joy. I'm wishing you and your loved ones, comfort and joy, this Christmas Season.

Love Dora.

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The Gift of Hope by Dora Bramden

Years ago, at my romance writers group, I was given a set of blocks that spell out the word HOPE for a Kris Kringle present.  I felt the relevance of this present finding its way into my hands. I needed reminding that there is power in hope.  The other lovely thing about these blocks is that the letters are made from a mirror-like material, so looking at them I see myself reflecting back from the word hope. To whoever it was at the Melbourne Romance Writers Guild that gave me these blocks I want to say a huge thank you. 

The pretty pastel blocks found a home just below my television screen. I put them there so that I would see the reminder often. Every time I watch a show, HOPE is there as well. My romantic heart likes to watch movies with happy endings because that leaves me with a hopeful feeling. But a lot of what is on the TV isn’t hopeful, I find those blocks spelling out HOPE act as a balance. 

When the news is dire and there are stories that make me feel the world has gone crazy, HOPE is there as well. Today is one of those days when I really have to reach for hope. The pandemic is dragging on and I’m over it but it isn’t over.  However, my HOPE blocks are there and I remember that good people are working hard to find solutions, others are working to keep up our spirits producing YouTube crafting and homemaking videos, blogs, and books with happy endings.

I’m aware that at times our world can feel just a bit too much, but HOPE for a brighter future will keep us working toward it and doing what we can when we can. For me, I mostly have to stay home and follow the health officer's advice but I can also write my books with hopeful endings. As I said last month, I'm working on a Christmas novel, which is helping me to feel hopeful too. 

So when the daily tally of new infections scrolls across the bottom of my television screen, the word HOPE is sitting directly beneath it. 

Dora Bramden writes heart-melting, passionate, romance.

http://www.dorabramden.com

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