Miss Dilettante's Playground

February 1 will mark the second anniversary of my husband Michael's death. I promised myself last year that I wouldn't continue the public memorial. Here I am again, breaking my promises. Partly because I've gotten such kind comments from people on my One World-One Heart post . I wanted to thank you for the support and assure people that I'm not wallowing in grief. Things are getting easier. That's primarily why I felt that I wanted to give away Ann Hood's book "Comfort" as well as Carly Simon's "Into White." I feel that they could provide some solace to another aching heart. They did that for me. I find Ann Hood to be inspirational in the fact that the sudden loss of her 5-year-old daughter could have crushed her forever. Her peace was hard won. Her daughter Grace will never be forgotten by her or her family. To me the most encouraging thing is that the bloom of hope returned to her life. It's that sense of camaraderie. If Ann could...

I heard about this wonderful tradition that has developed in the last few years. Lisa "oceandreamer" Swifka came up with the idea of One World-One Heart in 2007 to coordinate a giveaway to introduce bloggers to one another. She and most of the participants are artists, so you could be a fortunate recipient of a piece of beautiful art. Winning the giveaway isn't really the point. (Of course, everyone likes to be a winner.) It's a way to touch other people's hearts in a sincere manner. It fosters an audience for new and established blogs. It's an icebreaker to encourage people to introduce themselves on a global level. Maybe I can knit something for next year's event, but not this year. I don't need the pressure of the deadline looming over my head. It would probably not get completed in a timely fashion. It's also possible the recipient might not live in a cold climate. My inspiration has come from this book and this CD ...

If you're trying to think of a way to foster global friendships, you might want to join Lisa Swifka's One World-One Heart event beginning January 19. This is the third year and participation continues to increase. Most of the bloggers are artists, so you'll experience a visual cornucopia, as you make your way from blog to blog. An added plus is that each person will be giving something away. You might find yourself making some new friends along the way, too. Isn't that what life's all about?

I love Canada, but I'm not crazy about the lovely temperatures that are sweeping Michigan right now. It's either 4 or 5 below zero depending on which weather icon you choose to believe, and the high is supposed to be 4 degrees. In December 2007 I visited Mexico for the first time. The gorgeous Caribbean entranced me. I came back from Cancun with dozens of pictures of the waves and their stunning beauty. Since a picture is worth a thousand words...