My old world rose is still in bloom, even after a couple of frosts. It is right outside the bedroom window and I love to catch the spot of deep red from there. The bright red berries on the heavenly bamboo, which is on the other side of the patio, are beautiful too. 
I spotted a couple of cardinals at the feeders while taking these photos. They always make me smile because the cardinal has become a personal symbol to me. About 3 years ago I went through a very dark time in my life, and on top of everything that was going on I felt I had lost all my energy and creativity. For months I functioned on auto-pilot. That Christmas when I was unpacking the ornaments for the tree, I made a discovery. I realized that I had a huge assortment of ornaments that featured a cardinal. Some I had bought, some from friends, and a lot of them given to me by my daughter. Then looking around the house at my quilted wall hangings, again I saw a cardinal featured on many of them. I found fabric with cardinals in my stash closet. I noticed that many times I had used a cardinal graphic on my quilt labels. I mentioned this a couple of weeks later to the counselor I was seeing. His comment was that I might have found my symbol.
I spotted a couple of cardinals at the feeders while taking these photos. They always make me smile because the cardinal has become a personal symbol to me. About 3 years ago I went through a very dark time in my life, and on top of everything that was going on I felt I had lost all my energy and creativity. For months I functioned on auto-pilot. That Christmas when I was unpacking the ornaments for the tree, I made a discovery. I realized that I had a huge assortment of ornaments that featured a cardinal. Some I had bought, some from friends, and a lot of them given to me by my daughter. Then looking around the house at my quilted wall hangings, again I saw a cardinal featured on many of them. I found fabric with cardinals in my stash closet. I noticed that many times I had used a cardinal graphic on my quilt labels. I mentioned this a couple of weeks later to the counselor I was seeing. His comment was that I might have found my symbol. I researched a little bit and found references to the cardinal as a symbol of hope. That was it for me. Today I use a cardinal in my quilts, either on the front or back. It symbolizes the gift of my heart and who I want to be...energetic, one who loves life, and helps others when I can. Even in the darkest of times, there is hope. That is why the cardinal is featured in my "Turning 60" quilt, as a reminder of who I want to be.
3 comments:
Debbie
I didn't know the cardinal was a symbol of hope but it became one for me as well. Many years ago, going through a divorce, I read a book on journaling called Life's Companion. The author suggested we express gratitude at whatever level we were able as part of our healing. Her quote was "I saw a cardinal in the snow. Thank you". I wasn't feeling too grateful but shortly afterward I looked out my window to see a cardinal in my birch tree (cardinals appeared rarely in our neighbourhood at that time). From that day on, whenever life hasn't gone my way, cardinals seem to appear to remind me how precious life is. Thank you for sharing your story.
Nice to see roses blooming since we are presently in the middle of our first snowstorm here in Ontario:-)
Juanita,
That is it exactly. We are kindred spirits.
What a lovely story - thanks for directing me to it.
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