Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.
~ Albert Einstein
Tid bits from the homefront:
Marley and I went to FABO this morning … leaving many PatriciaA pieces there. So excited. Let’s all [please] send energy for everything to be loved and sold …
The girls just left for the bachelorette trip to Savannah. Such fun. I can’t believe the dreamy wedding is only one week away. Much to finish up this weekend so next week will be as calm as possible.
Garden Fun: Week 7
The garden is growing nicely. The lovely sun showers we have been enjoying for the past few days have really helped to blend the new compost ‘soil stuff’ with the last year’s soil … making for happy plants. Even the yellow rose bush seems to be adapting [after losing many roses and lots of leaves] to its new spot and beginning to gain strength again. Yeah.
beauteous flowers
cucumbers
basil - parsley ... and my shadow
garlic and spearmint
mixed greens
peace stone
peas - growing like crazy - covered with flowers
tomatoes
zucchini
Babbling:
I don’t have too much to rant or babble about today … my heart and head are focused on the dreamy wedding and having all of my family and friends together – can’t wait … love having Marley home … life is so good. grateful ... grateful. I hope everyone is getting ready for a beautiful weekend. Please check out my etsy shop – http://www.etsy.com/people/PatriciaA
I found this today – don’t know who said it – thought worthy of sharing -
The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.
Things I love Today
Dreamy wedding ‘stuff’
Sprouting garlic
Morning rain
Thunder
Tid bits from the homefront:
Hope [the momma cat], has taken up part-time residency here. She is such a sweet cat – not bothered at all by the dogs – and they seem to enjoy her as well.
Garden Fun:
I can’t believe I forgot to plant garlic … handled that yesterday. I knew something was missing. This morning, it was already sprouting little bits of green – loving that.
Babbling:
I am excited to take pieces of PatriciaA Wearable Art to FABO in Charlotte on Friday … getting things ready this evening … challenging to decide which pieces to take – maybe I will just close my eyes and ‘pick’. That reminds me – that we have taken a few vacations with that ‘plan of attack’ – open the map, close eyes, twirl finger and point … fun. Taylor and I went to Portsmouth, [I think it was Portsmouth?] Virginia that way once a few years ago. Fun, fun … they had beautiful art all around town – colorful sculptures of mermaids – everywhere. That added to our missing Marley – she loved mermaids.
Things [people, places, events, tidbits from the universe] seem to always come right when we need them … I was reading this blog yesterday – love it - http://sexloveliberation.com/ [&subscribe to my love-filled newsletter] she [Ev`Yan] has great affirmations. I printed them out and have a copy hanging on the bathroom mirror, one on the fridg, and one in my purse … it takes awhile to get things through my thick head sometimes; even when I thought I already had a handle on it – lesson redo – at least I believe it is at a higher level … maybe even a bit more than baby steps this time -
8 Simple Affirmations
You Should Whisper to Yourself Daily.
1.) “I am worthy.”
Worthy of love. Worthy of peace. Worthy of praise. Worthy of happiness. Worthy of pleasure.
2.) “My thoughts create my reality.”
Be aware of the thoughts that drift to & fro in your mind; they are direct reflectors of not only your inner world but your outer world. Believe in & aspire to positivity. If you believe that you are abundant, you will create abundance. If you believe you are blessed, you will create imminent blessings.
3.) “Be kind.”
Smile sweetly. Compliment a stranger. Ask someone how they are & really care about their well being. Exude friendliness & warmth, because everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. Radiate compassionate consideration. Give until it hurts.
4.) “The opinions of others don’t really matter.”
Filter the words you hear throughout the day. Only internalize the ones that resonate with your natural rhythms. And when you do listen to the wisdom of others, take it with a grain or two of salt. Cherish your ability to make sound choices; rely on it. Listen to your heart; it’ll never steer you wrong.
5.) “I am stunning.”
Repeat five times more for good measure. Hammer this into your brain. Never forget it.
6.) “Life is beautiful.”
Through the trials & tribulations, through the intricate complexities & complications… life & your existence within it is beautiful. Dwell on that.
7.) “Breathe.”
Be conscious of every breath you take. Relish in the sensation of your lungs filling up with air; inflate them to their fullest capacity. And when you exhale, smile.
8.) “Be in this moment.”
Stay mindful, stay present, stay centered. And when you feel yourself drifting out of inner consciousness, remind yourself that the past & future are elaborate illusions; that the only time is now.
Only a week and a half until the dreamy wedding …
Until tomorrow xo♥
The wise discuss ideas,
The fools discuss how people behave.
To hold it together when everyone else would understand if
you fell apart, that's true strength.
-
Guillaume Apollinaire
Things I love Today
Spring breezes
Sun showers
Making stuff
When things work
Working in the new back yard
Beautiful day here in the woods. Sunshine mixed with sun showers all day … lovely.
Tid bits from the homefront:
Marley comes home Thursday – can’t wait to be with her. Momma cat returned, very hungry, Saturday afternoon. I was so happy to see she was okay. She has been back often since then – I am glad she is okay.
Garden Fun:
All of the veggie plants seem to be thriving in their new garden home. I love the garden. The pink rose bush seems to have transplanted nicely – blooming brilliantly. The yellow rose bush has some issues. I am afraid I just may have traumatized it [too much] by moving it. I hope it will bounce back. We got the pool cleaned and ready … hoping for warm, warm weather to get the water ready for swimming. Almost decided on the space in the new yard for a labyrinth. Now to figure out what to use for creating it. The kids moved our cool bench to the new back yard today …
Babbling:
I have been pondering how it is that we [as humans] measure ourselves … our lives … successes … failures. During the past couple of tumultuous years, I believe I have only measured myself by what I considered the failures, the mistakes, the things that didn’t work out as I planned/wanted. And, when thought out … many of them weren’t mine to own to begin with. I am trying to practice what I preach … what I truly believe in … guess sometimes we don’t even realize we are being way hard on ourselves. Just a thought.
I believe that all happens for a reason – that each step we take is the right one to bring us to the next step. I know that each happening [good, bad, indifferent] holds in it a lesson we need. Often, when we have to revisit the ‘lessons’ it is annoying … gotta just trust and go with it. xo
Art House Fiction Project – extended the deadline to May 16th – yeah – they must have felt my stress … ha … The extra 2 weeks is perfect … just what I needed.
Hope everyone is enjoying a great beginning to a beauteous week …
Until tomorrow xo♥
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
I’ve been needing a day with no definite plans … no definite goals. Today will be just that day. Taylor has wedding particulars to take care of – and I will go along for the ride … support … being together. No real job for me today. It’s funny … the days I plan to do lots of nothing seem to be the days I accomplish the most. Much to be said for giving oneself a break.
Garden Fun:
Not much to tell on the gardening front [I’m going to try and stop trying to watch them grow – ha] … adding some garden decorations daily … Nice, soft rain today. I’m going to so love my new back yard. I am thinking about how to incorporate a labyrinth … there is space … not sure what to use. Little rocks/stones, maybe? I was thinking of having an art class for kids during the summer … spiritual“ness” and art … they could paint stones and we could create the labyrinth together. What do you think?
Babbling:
I am addicted to making cloth flowers … such an array I now have – and continue to add more to the collection. Not certain where all of them will end up – though I am fairly sure I will think of something fun … jewelry, headbands, purses, spring scarves … maybe a shower curtain adorned with flowers of many colors. ???
I’m on a creative roll here … decided rather than sketch in the book – A Light in the Distance [for illustrating], I am going to sew, in a quilt-like manner, all of the lighthouses and adhere them to the pages in the book … may even embroider directly in the book pages … the book has to be handwritten [which I love] – so I have been writing with the computer and will copy with my hand when it is finished … hoping by the end of the weekend I will have it ready to go … still need good thoughts and energy, please. xo
Remember to leave me a comment for the GIVE-A-WAY – 4 garden art signs - Just a quick click on comment – and then anonymous – and put your name in the comment –[with your tip for helping the planet] please. Drawing for custom garden art signs will be Tuesday, April 26th at noon.
Education is more than the filling of a pail, it is also the lighting of a fire.
~ William Butler Yeats
Things I love Today
Pink
Salmon salad
Cathee is ALL GOOD xo
Receiving a lovely note from Laura xo
Gala darling
Butterflies
Ice road truckers
Tid bits from the homefront:
Still no appearance by the momma cat … hoping she is home[?] with her kittens and doing well.
Cable guy came this morning … new modem … hoping the intermittent internet will now cease.
Not sure if I will have much writing time here this weekend. It is our last weekend to work on finalizing all of the dreamy wedding plans and get Taylor’s dress altered, and do a gazillion little things – while [in the steal of the night] I will be finishing up the book for the Art House Project. And … excited – getting the pool ready for the warm weather I am focusing on right now.
June, 2011 – I am offering a new series of glass [art] classes. It will be so much fun. My new outside area will be so great for glass art and learning about the kiln. There will be two levels – adults and kids … if you would like to join in, and/or know anyone who would, let me know. It will be great fun. I usually make small [jewelry] pieces – occasionally I go larger. Here are a couple of pieces I made which I am putting in my Etsy Shop soon [as soon as I figure out the packaging and shipping].
fruit / vegetable bowl
cheese /snack platter
Garden Fun: Week 6
I am feeling optimistic in regard to my gardening ability this year. I think all of the little plants are going to flourish and produce yummy food. Starting everything from seed was different for me. I was a little anxious about it … though most [no green peppers – I may have to go to the nursery for those – nothing came up at all???] came up strong – yeah. Already eating lettuce/mixed greens – so cool.
Week 6 pics
yummy mixed greens
cucumbers
peas
spearmint
spaghetti squash
tomatoes - almost ready to go into the ground
yellow squash
zucchini
struggling [transplanted] yellow rose bush -
thriving [transplanted] pink rose bush
front garden [tay's annuals from last year came back]
front garden
front garden
Babbling:
Overcast day here in the woods. I am not usually fond of overcast days – though this one feels quite perfect. Could be ‘me’ I guess, as everything feels quite perfect lately. 67 degrees and calm … I love it … probably more rain later, and right now it feels great.
The pressure is on. I only have 10 days to complete A Light in the Distance. Yikes. I am getting there. Send energy please - I must have this in the mail April 31st ...
Okay … here’s my life situation. I need assistance with building my Etsy Shop into a thriving enterprise. I love creating wearable art, and I think I am pretty good at it … I want so much for this to be ‘my job’. If you like what you see http://www.etsy.com/people/PatriciaA , please pick up a few things … and I would so appreciate it if you would send the link to your friends. Thank you. Thank you.
Starting May 1st my wearable [and garden] art will be in a lovely boutique – FABO in Charlotte. I am so excited for this opportunity … hoping this works out well and other boutiques want to carry PatriciaA wearable art soon. If you know anyone with a shop where hand made art is loved – please let me know.
Remember to leave me a comment for the GIVE-A-WAY – 4 garden art signs - Just a quick click on comment – and then anonymous – and put your name in the comment –[with your tip for helping the planet] please. Drawing for custom garden art signs will be Tuesday, April 26th at noon.
The stray momma cat didn’t come to eat last night … I hoping she comes today. I’m concerned.
We found the perfect tree for our Miranda Tree … close to the garden, and close to the bird feeders. Miranda’s grandmother called me last night. I haven’t spoken with her in a very long time. She had a stroke after Miranda’s death, and forgot everyone for quite awhile. I don’t believe in coincidence, so I guess the universe tapped her on the shoulder yesterday as we were moving Miranda’s tree.
Garden Fun:
We spent a bit of time in the garden this afternoon. All of the plants seem to be adapting quite well to their new home – yeah. It is shaping up nicely in the new back yard. We planted a few hanging pots of flowers too.
Babbling:
I am quite irritated with the cable company. I have known for awhile I should change companies … was waiting for the move in May. Grrrrr. The internet seems to work only when ‘it’ feels like it … and that isn’t too often. I spent an hour on the phone this morning [3rd time this month], doing their job. I am not a cable expert [plug, unplug, switch cables, shut down computer, turn on computer, unplug router – yadayadayada] – I teach – I wouldn’t ask them to do my job. All of a sudden, two minutes ago, it began to work again. The plan is that someone will be here in the morning to do something????? I believe their modem is bad – though getting them to believe that is quite a different story. Venting over – thanks.
Lots of exciting things happening around here … I’ll fill you in more tomorrow.
Remember to leave me a comment for the GIVE-A-WAY – 4 garden art signs - Just click on comment – and then anonymous – and put your name in the comment – please. Drawing for custom garden art signs will be Tuesday, April 26th at noon.
The struggle to save the global environment is in one-way much more difficult than the struggle to vanquish Hitler, for this time the war is with ourselves. We are the enemy, just as we have only ourselves as allies. - Al Gore
I like to think I celebrate ‘Earth Day’ each and every day … though I think we need to use the upcoming day itself as a reminder for ourselves and for others … a time when we can all come together as a community cleaning up and celebrating how fortunate we are to have a beautiful planet … let’s work for a few minutes each day to rearrange our thinking … one less plastic bottle, one less hour driving the car, one less light on …is the greenest grass in the neighborhood worth the poisonous affects? Food for thought. xo
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. -Mark Twain
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. - Ambrose Redmoon
Things I love Today
GIVEAWAYS
Happy students
Map hearts
Turnip [yes again]
Laughing til my stomach hurts – and then some
Walking with my puppy
Wii fit age … 21 [how great is that]
Talking with Nelson
GIVE-A-WAY
I am feeling so happy with my garden and with all of life … I think it is time for another GIVEWAY. I think the perfect choice would be Garden Art Signs – 4 garden art signs of your choice … flowers, veggies, fruits … whatever you want. Just comment me with your tip for keeping the planet a cleaner, better place … I so love comments [it makes my day] – I know it is weird sometimes trying to comment and it doesn’t work. Just click on comment – and then anonymous – and put your name in the comment – please. Drawing for custom garden art signs will be Tuesday, April 26th at noon.
Another beautiful day in the woods. After all of the storms we have had here lately, I am even more grateful when the sun is shining and the air is warm. A yellow butterfly flew right into my craft room this morning … what a beautiful ‘good morning message’ I had.
Last evening I spent a wonderful hour on the phone with my sister Cathee. How grateful I am that we found each other. She is amazing. She has gone through a horrible ordeal with cancer, which we know can really crush one’s spirit … not Cathee – she is so positive and determined to be alive and happy. She and her partner Martha seem so happy together and supportive of one another … I so love that. CAN’T WAIT until I go to Massachusetts in July and spend time with them. Family has always been the most important thing to me … and now my fam is growing and growing … brother, sister, and all of Caleb’s family … I so love it. Grateful. Grateful. Life is so good.
There are tadpoles in the pond … how cool is that.
Garden Fun:
The kids were really excited to see what I did this weekend with the garden. We worked a bit – watered much – enjoyed the beauty of the new backyard. Since I started this small school 12 years ago, we have all enjoyed planting/nurturing, building ponds, exploring the outdoors … incorporating hands on science, art, nutrition, conversation and life skills into each day … much learning fun.
A few additions today:
Now we are deciding where to have ‘the Miranda Tree’ in our new yard. After Miranda passed away, we chose our favorite tree and hung mementos of Miranda on it … it has been special to us, and was the only drawback to moving.
I like to think I celebrate ‘Earth Day’ each and every day … though I think we need to use the upcoming day itself as a reminder for ourselves and for others … a time when we can all come together as a community cleaning up and celebrating how fortunate we are to have a beautiful planet … let’s work for a few minutes each day to rearrange our thinking … one less plastic bottle, one less hour driving the car, one less light on …is the greenest grass in the neighborhood worth the poisonous affects? Food for thought. xo
The struggle to save the global environment is in one-way much more difficult than the struggle to vanquish Hitler, for this time the war is with ourselves. We are the enemy, just as we have only ourselves as allies. - Al Gore
