'Tis the Season!

Santa Baby! I found this guy that I made last year when I began my rummaging for Christmas decorations. I like him! It is easy to be in a festive mood today as it is Sunday...I have the day off...have been for great walks with my dogs and those I am caring for...it is snowing! Has been since early morning. FESTIVE!

Fire in the fireplace, puttering around with some crafts, some art...and looking over a storage box of dolls in various stages of completion. Trying to find the box of vintage photographs for a collage...no luck yet. Still have created a couple of collages that I really like...Wise/Emerging Woman is the theme. I have been working on this for over a year and it is finally taking shape. Fun to do the art and not just think about it or be fearful that it won't be "perfect". Oh, that fear thing. Gotta get rid of that. Beautiful, snowy, creative day! More on Emerging Woman later.

Thanksgiving

It is a beautiful, cold Thanksgiving Day. I am feeling quite content and most grateful. That theme has beeen growing over the past months. Spent a lovely morning caring for critters; mine and those of L and K...they are away. It was most rewarding and peaceful. The birds are feasting out in their aviary and the Ubu and Max are watching. The birds are happy munching the the cat and dog are happy to watch!

I sent Blue Mountain cards to friends and family and the quote in one of them was: "The things that matter most in our lives are not the things we acquire along the way but within a treasure chest of memories and experiences with the people we love." How very true. I have such lovely memories both of Thanksgivings past, and life in general. I am and have been truly blessed.

As I nest around the house this morning I arrange the flowers that Petra gave me yesterday. It was part of a lovely birthday celebration. Again, I am so blessed not only to have three of the most fantastic chiropractors in the world...but to have them as friends. I set the flowers, bright and cheery on my table.

I read a prayer from one of the books written by Don Miguel Ruiz this morning - it is one I often read and try to hold with me for the entire day. "Let us be aware of our power to create a dream of heaven where everything is possible. Help us to use our imagination to guide the dream of our life, the magic of our creation, so we can live without fear, without anger without jealousy, without envy. Give us a light to follow, and let today be the day that our search for loe and happiness is over. Today let something extraordinary happen that will change our life forever; Let everything we do and say be an expression of the beauty in our hearts, always based on love."

Words to live by and act upon today...and every day!

This gem was a birthday gift from Meslissa, my wonderful daughter in law. She knows me so well and I treasure this faux stone with a quote by Cicero...

I have a full heart and deep gratitude for my many gifts, family, critters, friends, my garden and library!

Happy Thanksgiving, peace, love and joy to all today and every day.

Inspiration

I was just going back over some notes I took after reading Phil Borges Book, Women Empowered Inspiring Change in the Emerging World. A dear friend gave it to me as a birthday gift a few years ago. We have since ordered it for our local library as well. It is an important work; an amazing book. It astounded me with not only breathtaking photos, but facts.

"Women produce half of the world's food but own just one percent of its farmland. Of the 867 million illiterate adults in the world, two thirds of those are women. On average women represent a mere ten percent of all elected legislators worldwide. Eighty percent of the world's refugees and displaced people are women and girls. An increase of one year in the average education of a nation's women corresponds to a five to ten percent decrease in that country's child mortality rates. Worldwide, at least one in three women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or abused in some way, most often by someone she knows. Between 100 and 140 MILLION girls and women have been subject to female genital mutilation - and yes, that still goes on. About one in seven girls in the developing world gets married before her fifteen th birthday."

Now that gives shock and awe a whole new meaning to me. Phil Borges is not only a talented artist but he is insightful and very inspiring.

Winter is here, Thanksgiving approaches

What a beautiful, clear, cold and very crisp morning. The wind stung my cheeks as I did chores yet the sun warmed my back. Such a wonderous day! This time of year is alwasy one of introspection for me, and it is a great favorite of mine. This morning I see the mountains anew and marvel at their wonder. I notice leaves, skittering in the wind and see them with new and appriciative eyes. The snow snags the reamins of plant live and paints a fascinating landscape. There is so much beauty in my world and I am so very grateful! Thanksgiving is every day, yet this special week, with a day singled out for thanks...makes me realize just how much I am thankful for! The love and deep caring of family; the devotion of dear friends; the companionship and joy the critters give me...and my home, my sanctuary, my yard, my JOY! The full of the moon and the fullness of my life nurture me and in it all there is great gratitude and joy.

"Sacred"

I have been thinking a lot about this word since the talk with Christina a couple of weeks ago. The dictionary says sacred is - "Made holy, consecrated, entitled to extreme reverence, hallowed." Maslow says - "The great lesson is that the sacred is in the ordinary, that it si to be found in ones daily life, ones neighbors, friends and family, in ones backyard."

Ah, yes. In the simple and the ordinary; in family, friends...and in the dark of the silent night when the moon enlivens and enlightens and in my backyard and barnyard.

A gift from the Goddess!

I just went outside with the dogs, and this little posey greeted me. It has been on the table, outside the back door for a while now and I was sure it was gone. Temperatures have been in the single digits some nights. Here she is in all her splendor!

I can not help but feel an extra special connection to my mother today, and pansies were her loves. I get them each year in memory of her - and here it is, the day of my birth, November 14th and this little pansie patch is thriving. I just gave it a drink and said a profound thank you and a thank you to Mom. The maternal child bond feels very strong today.

The Sixty Four Club!

I am now officially a member of the Sixty Four Club. Today is my birthday. Thinking a lot about family, my parents and just feeling rich, grateful and mellow. Many, many loving wishes sent to me today and lovely gifts. Sweet William, my youngest son, has sent a birthday cake! ....as well as many other goodies and a gift card. He called first thing this morning. What a wonderful way to begin my day, talking with him. I am so very blessed and deeply appreciative today...and hopefully appreciative every day. I remember my parents with whom I often had an adversarial relationship, yet, there are fond memories and those are the ones I choose today. I still miss my mother on occasion although we were so very different...she was always loving in her own way. A good day to say thank you for all the love and blessings.

My best friend from high school, dear Barbara, sent a surprise package that made me cry. She is back east and we both hold fantastic memories of that area, Plymouth. (We recently reminisced about riding our bicycles to the beach when we were teens. A long and hot ride to a beach that ended up being less than optimal. We both got sunburned and were exhausted at days end. I also remembered her father passing us in his truck several times - making sure we were ok. Sweet Eddy!) She sent a treasure package of all sorts of things "Plymouth" . The mug and tea are but a couple of the goodies. What a rich and wonderful day. While I miss family being close, my heart is full.