stellar saturday

let go of the past and go for the future. go confidently in the direction of your dreams. live the life you imagined. - henry david thoreau

Today I love …

            Lazy mornings

            Air after a nice rain

            Fun surprises in the mail

            New pillows

            Checking things off of my list

            Weeding

            Making soup

            Making bread

            Watching Lewis play like a puppy

                       

           

Tid bits from the homefront:

We had such a crazy storm the other night. Not much rain and lots of wild wind, thunder and lightening. My outside furniture went across the yard … garden blown everywhere. I think I have it all back together – rebuilding lattice things to hold ‘stuff’ up, and the tomato plants were totally bent down … they are looking a tad sad, but I think they will be okay. What a crazy storm year 2011 has been.

Yesterday was a lovely, semi-lazy day, here in the woods. Finishing up many little projects I have been working on, while beginning a few new ones.

The new home is almost together. I have been working on all of the little things I do not usually enjoy. Only one more room to go and everything has a place … organized and running smoothly. All ready to go on my reunion vaca [I can’t wait to see fam, friends, and go back in time a bit with all of my childhood friends – can’t wait] and come back to begin whatever is supposed to be next. I’m in that trusting it mode … what will be, will be. If anyone has any clue what July will bring for me – please enlighten me.

Garden – Week 16:

Everything continues to grow well in spite of Mother Nature’s recent attacks. Spaghetti squash is growing like crazy … I’ve been so enjoying eating it and summer squash and zucchini. Can’t wait for all of the green tomatoes to become red  - there are so many of the cluster tomatoes … can’t wait. I think Katy [she is housesitting/puppysitting for me while I am in MA] and my neighbors will be loving tomatoes while I am away.

 cluster tomatoes

 tomato plants a tad beat up

 spaghetti squash

 yellow squash

 zucchini

 love these flowers

Babbling:

My thoughts are sparked by something I read on a blog yesterday morning … someone who was really stressed at the continued prospect of dealing with people who drain your energy. I have been working on this for a long time. I know I am getting better with not needing to solve the world’s problems by taking on everyone else’s stuff, and not needing people to like me … it is still a challenge for me sometimes. I find that the older I get, the more exhausted I become with the taking on negative energy … the dark energy does no good.  One of my loudly spoken affirmations during the past few weeks has been, “I will no longer accept your negative stuff … I will no longer accept you wiping out my energy because you can … love you all, but won’t do it anymore … if you have a problem and want to solve it – I am there – if you want to just revel in the darkness, I must move away”.

Thank you thank you thank you … feeling an abundance of gratitude

Two may talk together under the same roof for many years, yet never really meet; and two others at first speech are old friends."
- Mary Catherwood

Until tomorrow xo♥

Be what you want the world to be

Tuesday

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.
- Anais Nin

Today I love …

            Fresh veggies

            Morning swims

            Netflix

            Creating

            It is summer time

            Hummingbirds

            My new [amazing] coffee machine [thank you Cathee and Martha]

            Not smoking

            Planning my trip to MA

           

Tid bits from the homefront:

I have been busy here on the home front, trusting the universe as I work on building this new life of mine … internet issues have prevented me from posting my babbling the past few days. Productive and relaxing couple of weeks here in the woods. My yard is looking great, and I so love having cut flowers inside from my own gardens. It seems the internet is back up and running beautifully – stronger and faster than ever. Yeah. Life is good.

The no smoking thing is going great. I still get edgy and nervous – though those times are becoming further and further apart – yeah.

Bees are completely gone … yeah … what an ordeal that was. Feeling pretty good about getting it handled. Thank you Cherie – we did it!

My newest netflix addiction is MI-5 [a bbc series]. I’ve been loving it. I so enjoy the bbc entertainment.

The garden is doing great. Yesterday I pulled a few of the spaghetti squash plants out of the ground … they were really taking over and I still have no idea how I got so many plants. I have been enjoying dinners with summer squash and spaghetti squash for the past few days, and am very happy that all of the tomato plants are filling up with green tomatoes.

I am feeling so grateful …

The idea of really changing up one’s life is [equally] exciting and scary. I am excited about it most of the time, mixed with a few bouts of panic, here and there, when I get nervous that it isn’t going to all fall into place. Trusting that it will – that it is … is with me most of the time.

How fortunate I am to have such amazing fam and friends … the crazy journey of the past 2 years has been the most growing time of my entire life. Pretty cool. Love that I can say that, and mean that, now. So grateful to have been surrounded with [and often caught when needed] by so much love …

I realize I am scattered with my thoughts/writing … still think it is the no-smoking thing … writing without a cigarette is very new to/for me … hope I can get back the knack of doing it – soon.

The Summer Solstice is a mystical / magical stop in time … loving the tilt in the universe. Turning the dark into light …

The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but to reveal to him, his own."
-Benjamin Disraeli

Until tomorrow xo♥

Be what you want the world to be

wonder-filled wednesday

"If we judge people there is no room to love them."

Mother Theresa

Tid bits from the homefront:

Last night – again – Bee time. Gasoline and even fire did not deter these pests. I don’t like using anything that is bad for the environment – though I will not get attacked by those little buggers again. Garden work was slow and quiet this morning … tiptoeing around my yard.  I accept [and thoroughly enjoy] living in the woods will include sharing space with more bugs and creatures … but bees taking over the yard – a tad too much for me. Staying positive on this beautiful day.  

The red roses are blooming again. So Pretty.

A few years ago my daughter, Taylor, gave this book to me for Christmas. I read it on Christmas day and the following day purchased 30 of them to send to my friends. What an impact it made … it is all ‘stuff’ that we should know – life gets in the way and we often need reminders. The other day, in the moving frenzy, I found a copy and gave it to my new friend/neighbor, Cherie. Upon giving, I realized that I must read it again [now] … that it would ignite some of the smoldering fire within me that I have been adjusting and working with for the past year or so … It so did. I love Patricia Reilly.  A book, I believe, every woman should keep close. I ordered many copies from Amazon.com – perfect gift for women we love.

Imagine a Woman in Love with Herself by Patricia Lynn Reilly

The following [I believe] is the essence of it all – a poem which begins [and weaves through] the book. Patricia Reilly is amazing – I think she says it all.

Imagine a woman who believes it is right and good she is woman.

A woman who honors her experience and tells her stories.

Who refuses to carry the sins of others within her body and life.

Imagine a woman who has acknowledged the past’s influence on the present.

A woman who has walked through her past,

Who has healed into the present.

Imagine a woman in love with her own body.

A woman who believes her body is enough, just as it is.

Who celebrates her body’s rhythms and cycles as an exquisite resource.

Imagine a woman who embraces her sexuality as her own.

A woman who delights in pleasuring herself.

Who experiences her erotic sensations without shame or guilt.

Imagine a woman who honors the body of the Goddess in her changing body.

A woman who celebrates the accumulation of her years and her wisdom.

Who refuses to use her precious life-energy disguising the changes in her body and life.

Imagine a woman who has access to the full range of human emotion.

A woman who expresses her feelings clearly and directly.

Who allows them to pass through her as gracefully as a breath.

Imagine a woman who tells the truth.

A woman who trusts her experience of the world and expresses it.

Who refuses to defer to the thoughts, perceptions, and responses of others.

Imagine a woman who follows her creative impulses.

A woman who produces original creations.

Who refuses to color inside someone else’s lines.

Imagine a woman who names her own gods.

A woman who imagines the divine in her image and likeness.

Who designs a personal spirituality to inform her daily life.

Imagine a woman who refuses to surrender to gods, gurus, and higher powers.

A woman who has descended into her own inner life.

Who asserts her will in harmony with its impulses and instincts.

Imagine a woman who is interested in her own life.

A woman who embraces her life as teacher, healer, and challenge.

Who is grateful for the ordinary moments of beauty and grace.

Imagine a woman who authors her own life.

A woman who trusts her inner sense of what is right for her.

Who refuses to twist her life out of shape to meet the expectations of others.

Imagine a woman who participates in her own life.

A woman who meets each challenge with creativity.

Who takes action on her own behalf with clarity and strength.

Imagine a woman who has crafted a fully formed solitude.

A woman who is available to herself.

Who chooses friends and lovers with the capacity to respect her solitude.

Imagine a woman who refuses to diminish her life so others will feel better.

A woman who brings the fullness of her years, experience, and wisdom into each relationship.

Who expects others to be challenged and blessed by her presence in their lives.

Imagine a woman who assumes equality in her relationships.

A woman who no longer believes she is inferior to men and in need of their salvation.

Who has taken her rightful place beside them in the human community.

Imagine a woman who refuses to use her precious life-energy

managing crisis and conflict.

A woman whose relationships deepen in satisfaction and contentment

without depleting her.

Who chooses friends and lovers with the necessary skills to navigate through the challenges of life.

Imagine a woman who values the women in her life.

A woman who sits in circle of women.

Who is reminded of the truth about herself when she forgets.

Imagine a woman who has relinquished the desire for intellectual safety and approval.

A woman who makes a powerful statement with every word she speaks,

every action she takes.

Who asserts to herself the right to reorder the world.

Imagine a woman who has grown in knowledge and love of herself.

A woman who has vowed faithfulness to her own life and capacities.

Who remains loyal to herself. Regardless.

Imagine yourself as this woman.

www.openwindowcreations.com

We all go through periods in life where we struggle with who we are – where we are going – etc. etc. … I am so excited to have traveling this latest challenging journey. Just a few short months ago I do not think I could have said that ... even though I knew it. I used to think dark [challenges] times were partly about getting to the light at the end of the tunnel … no no no. It is about all of the moments on the way – even the ones that make us very uncomfortable in our own skin - as the light inside of us goes from flickering to burning brightly once again. So grateful I am.

I hope everyone has a beautiful day …

Until tomorrow xo♥

Be what you want the world to be

Tuesday

The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.

~ Arthur C. Clarke

Grateful – Grateful – Grateful …

Having these past few days to get things finished up around the homefront has been great. Things feel really peaceful here – even though I am still somewhat jigged up with my body seeming to be scouring the universe for nicotine.

Becky and Amy are coming over tonight – for dinner and to hang out. I so love that we keep that daughter-like connection when my girls are far away. I am so fortunate to have so many amazing friends of all ages.

Tid bits from the homefront:

What a beautiful day it is here in the woods.

It was so nice and cool outside this morning … glorious. I finally finished planting my side garden planter box that Caleb built for me … a mixture of flowers, Swedish ivy and a bit of basil. Love it.

The pepper plants are now in the garden – they are weeks behind the other veggies – I think they will be great though …

The puppies are so happy to be spending the day outside … what a difference 10 degrees makes. Lewis is getting more comfy each day here. He seems happy and thoroughly enjoys playing with his squeaky toys.

Bees are gone … at least that is what Brad tells me. Here he is in the bee suit. He traced the little buggers to my neighbor’s yard, and [for as much as I am not usually about killing anything] disposed of them all. I am still a tad nervous [more than a tad really] when walking over to work on the garden and especially around the pool. I’m sure that will pass as the bites disappear.

The pool is back to great again. After only two weeks with the new pump, it blew a leak and we had to return it. This time I think we got the right one. I should have listened to Brad the first time. It really isn’t that I wasn’t listening. I heard. I am pretty money-tight here lately as I figure out what my next career will be. The prospects are exciting – though I feel like I better hurry up a bit. [I gave up hurrying a few years ago] I have a green thumb when it comes to plants of most kinds – not too great here lately with the money trees though …

Garden  - week 14:

Things are growing so beautifully - tonight we will enjoy yellow squash from the garden - I so love that ...

Here is a great blog to check out … I love her words/thoughts/randomness

http://www.lostinrandomeness.com/

When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal; you do not change your decision to get there.

~ Zig Ziglar

Question: Why would one affiliate themselves with any group if they didn’t know what the group stood for?

Until tomorrow xo♥

Be what you want the world to be

my monday

One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.— Paulo Coelho

Tid bits from the homefront:

Such a lovely weekend … Worked in the yard and garden, helped my neighbors with the painting of their new home, went to Briggen’s graduation party, enjoyed a beautiful lunch with the Hoovers. Again, I am so grateful they are all okay – after the devastation of that tornado that ripped through their property last week. I’ve never seen anything like it. Trees picked off half-way up, other huge trees ripped right out of the ground. So scary. It seems that Mother Nature has been pissed off lately.

Lovely weekend … until the end of Sunday.  I have seen in the movies how the yellow jackets chase humans – though had never experienced it. I could have lived without that. I felt a sting on my hand, while working on the pool, and I swatted it … big mistake … the whole fam came after me … chasing and stinging me like crazy … I do now know that I guess I don’t have an allergic reaction to bee stings – that part is good, right …

I am trying to change up my daily routines [any suggestions would be much appreciated], hoping it makes the no smoking thing a complete reality. I am doing great with it … not smoking … though so many things I do [did] during the day usually involved taking a cigarette break. I started drinking tea [rather than coffee] in the morning. I’m not crazy about tea – but I don’t think of lighting a cigarette while drinking it – that is a good thing. It is strange the way your whole body changes – likes, dislikes, etc. Craving food I usually don’t think about – not wanting food that I usually love. It is weird. I’m not going to waste my time or energy anymore kicking myself in the ass for smoking all of these years [although it really was dumb] – focusing only on being finished with it.

I was feeling badly because I am behind in things I should have done – things I told others I would do – etc. etc. I decided I can’t worry about that right now – because it takes much energy to change this stupid habit … and that has to be my main focus – for me. In a week or two, I will be running full speed ahead once again … and everything will get done.

I had planned to add more photos of my wondrous garden – it will have to wait until tomorrow – Tonight Brad will wear the bee suit and get rid of the yellow jacket nests in the yard. Back to normal garden 'stuff' tomorrow.

Everything tells me that I am about to make a wrong decision, but making mistakes is just part of life. What does the world want of me? Does it want me to take no risks, to go back to where I came from because I didn't have the courage to say "yes" to life?" — Paulo Coelho

I hope everyone is having a great start to a great week.

Until tomorrow xo♥

Be what you want the world to be

fun fun friday

It's never crowded along the extra mile.

~Wayne Dyer

Tid bits from the homefront:

Today the no smoking thing is making me crazy. I swear, my teeth hurt and my head is dizzy … I’m getting much done – little things that I normally would overlook and/or let pile up … I really can’t do too much thinking today – so, please accept my apologies in advance for the poor writing/content.

Taylor says I should do a cartwheel every time I want a cigarette – that could be funny … not too certain I want to through my fifty-seven year old body around the yard – we shall see.

I did much mindless work today … good work though. Took car loads to Goodwill and Habitat and organized the laundry room. Then – the fun part of the day – Ryan and I went out to lunch and hung out for a while. It was nice being with him. He gave me a cucumber plant – as my cucumbers seem to all be spaghetti squash – hopefully I won’t kill it … I think it will be okay.

Garden:

Finally … green, yellow and red pepper seeds are starting to sprout. The originals, from the start of the garden work, must have blown away – or they were all duds – none sprouted. Now I have a bunch of them … will wait a week or so and put them in the garden. I know I am going to have to pull some of the spaghetti squash plants out of the ground – they are taking over the garden … did I say that already?

Boring I must sound – hope it will be over soon – once this body of mine realizes that nicotine [and all of the other crap in cigarettes] isn’t good for it.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than 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

Have a beautiful weekend xo

Until tomorrow xo♥

Be what you want the world to be

thinking thursday

Nature gave us two ends: one to sit on and one to think with. Ever since then, man's success or failure has been dependent on the one he used most.

Robert Albert Bloch

Tid bits from the homefront:

It is lovely here in the woods this morning. Either I am fooling myself, or I am really beginning to relax. I so love getting up in the morning and starting the day with walking the puppies and working in the garden. Meditative way to begin the day.

The remainder of the moving/sorting ordeal is coming to an end – yeah. I have a few more things to make decisions about – school materials for the most part. I will do that today – and then I can get back to creating in a different way. I have some cool [I think] purses/bag ideas in my head that I can’t wait to begin creating.

And the ground [thanks to Brad] is all ready for the labyrinth. I have been collecting stones/rocks and cans for candles – still need many more. This weekend I will go collecting … can’t wait to begin creating it – excited to have drumming circles and healing circles here soon. 

The no smoking thing is going extremely well … I am excited to have this crazy habit behind me.

Did I mention that Brad and Cherie are moving into my old home? That makes me happy … I put a lot of love into that space … and am so happy that they are going to make it their new home.

My television viewing, as of late, has been netflix – The Rockford Files’ – not sure where I will go next – I am almost finished with all of the seasons. Yesterday I did catch a glimpse of Ann Coulter on ‘The View’ – maybe I was distracted with my work, but she didn’t turn my stomach quite as much as she usually does. I still don’t want to have lunch with her, though it felt as though her energy has changed a bit. What do you think?

Garden – week 13:

Love these flowers growing in the front garden:

I didn’t kill it - How beautiful is this little yellow rose bush:

Little tomatoes popping up. I just picked the first of the summer squash.

It appears the garden has been taken over with spaghetti squash – we will have enough to feed the neighborhood I am sure.

 asparagus

 basil - parsley

 spearmint

aren't these metal sculptured poppies beautiful ... taylor and caleb got them for me awhile back ... love that I have the perfect place for them now

We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.

~ Charles R. Swindoll

Until tomorrow xo♥

Be what you want the world to be

it's monday

Ability is what you're capable of doing.

Motivation determines what you do.

Attitude determines how well you do it.

~Raymond Chandler

Tid bits from the homefront:

What a crazy storm we had last night. The start of it was lovely – I was so grateful for the cooler air and the much needed rain … soon it turned into a raging storm – much damage all around our little town … not used to seeing tornadoes so close to home … I hope everyone is okay.

Realized [more than ever], last night, that if we listen to the wildlife and to our domestic friends – we shall know. My dog, Sam, is really afraid when thunder starts … last night he was much more than afraid – he hid and was panting so much – I kept putting cold cloths on him – afraid he was going to pass out. And, Lewis, who usually sits on the patio with me during storms was finding a hiding place on my lap … he never has been nervous before this. Even Karma, the bold, strong cat, was nervous enough to sit on my lap with Lewis. We must listen to the animals.

Today is a calm day here in the woods … getting things more organized … getting ready for doing testing with Zack tomorrow … making my plans for Massachusetts at the end of the month – yeah – 40^th high school reunion – I am surely not that old.  I can’t wait to see everyone.

I decided that I couldn’t sell/give away all of the Montessori materials I have – my grandchildren may need them someday … so, my biggest job today is to figure out where to store [and still be able to see] all of these lovely pieces.

Emotions running rampant today … good, bad, indifferent … so happy that I am finding my centered place … life is good. My body is not liking the lack of nicotine … though I am happy to be ridding myself of it …

Garden stuff:

Okay – help – what the heck is this? I thought [I planted] 6 cucumber plants – that I was so excited were growing like wild – seems they are not cucumber plants [at least not all of them] – what the heck are they? Maybe I messed up and switched cucumber and spaghetti squash? The leaves and vines look so much the same – but ?????? If this pick looks familiar to you – please let me know … they are everywhere – they are growing like crazy.

A bend in the road is not the end of the road ... unless you fail to make the turn.

Author Unknown

Monday has always been my favorite day of the week – the start … enjoy the week … xo

Until tomorrow xo♥

Be what you want the world to be