Flashback Friday - Some Days a Diamond, Some Days a Stone!

Sometimes...you reach the top and you feel like this...

And sometimes...you feel like if you can't see them...they can't see you...sometimes...solitude is golden

sometimes...contemplation and pondering are the order of the day...and sometimes...you just need your friends!

Happy End of July to You!!!

May All Beings be Free from Suffering

Bumper Sticker seen yesterday:  May all beings be free from Suffering.

Everyone suffers at one point or another in their lives...for some their day to day existence is threatened.  I am happy to know folks that go above and beyond to advocate for the hungry, homeless, abused, poverty stricken masses. 

I would like to introduce you to my friend Kelly...teacher of special needs students, professional photographer, muralist, pottery freak, all around doer of Good plus she is a great mother and a good friend!

Kelly has recently returned from another mission trip to Costa Rica.  During that time, her group  made repairs and painted murals at an orphanage.  They brought shoes and gifts to the children.  Kelly's sons asked how many "orphans" she would bring back to live with them.  She has captured many striking photographs that are displayed in galleries and used to get the message out to each of us to help children the world over.

 
She has given me permission to use some of her photographs on this blog.  Others can be seen at Kelly Crayne Photography (website and on facebook)

Most homes consisted of dirt floors, old boards and tin for roofs.  Food was and is scarce.  Let us not forget the suffering masses around the world.  A small effort from each person is like the ripple effect in a pond.

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.

Mother Teresa

Let us keep the tide of humanitarian aid and effort going.  Each person can do something.  One thing.  Join me!

Playing with Food

Earthfare's special, purchase 1 pound of heirloom tomatoes and receive mozzarella and basil free.  Hmmmm...what to make?  I purchased some organic vine tomatoes and plenty of heirlooms for a special project.  What to do when faced with so many varieties and colors...play with your food!

Heirloom tomato, heirloom rosary (missing cross due to an uncle's trip to pawn shop)  coral beads with sterling silver.

Playing with the tomatoes in the herb garden...oregano looks a little "seeded out"

Oh Tomato, how do I love thee?  Let me count the ways!

tomato, basil, mozzarella salad with a balsamic vinegarette dressing...YUM!!!

Weighing in...postal scales dating to when you could mail a letter for 2 cents...considering more tomato possibilities...fresh tomato juice, tomato, basil, mozzarella pizza, tomato pie, tomato salad, tomato soup, marinara sauce, tomato basil pasta, fried green tomatoes, salsa, preparing jars of tomatoes for winter...ooooh, ooooh the deliciousness goes on and on...tomatoes, love em or leave em?

So, Sew

A silly little tale for sure...many of you know I suffer from bouts of insomnia.  During one of those sleepless, let me see what is on the boob tube at 3 a.m. moments I purchased a sewing machine.  She who hasn't "sewn" in a very long time.  (baby stuff circa 1981 - 1984)  The sewing machine, at least I assumed it was a sewing machine stayed in the box in the home office for probably 3 months at which time I thought I should make sure I had indeed purchased a sewing machine...breathe...establishing that it was in fact a sewing machine it went back into closet sans boxes.  Fast forward to the present day and time...I have an obsession...I adore quilts... I now wish to make a quilt or ten.  The fabric is purchased, the sewing machine is "set up" and I must learn how to operate the computerized version!  We won't discuss how much time was spent ogling and touching fabric or thinking about quilt patterns.  I plan things very well...it is the starting and finishing that is problematic for this lifelong procrastinator.  I am pretty sure I suffer from an adult attention deficit disorder or a scattered memory disorder.  I may start something in one room and go to another room for an item and get started on something else and remember there is a project going on in the other room...you see it is Monday already.

Wish me lots o luck.  I will be under or around a pile of fabrics and lots of delicious sewing implements!

Simple

“The simplest things are often the truest.”


Richard Bach quotes (American Writer, author of 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull', b.1936)

Se'Lah of Necessary Room is hosting a Simple Things Birthday Party for the lovely Christina!

Throw the doors open, light the candles, sip a cooling beverage, have some cake...today we honor and celebrate the most beautiful Christina of Soul Aperture.  She the amazing, wise, gifted writer, photographer and all around beautiful spirit makes the simple celestial.  Simple things for you Christina...your spirit has reached out and touched my spirit...One Love!  I wish for you...

all the beauty of the earth and sky

cherry juice running fingertips to elbows from the plumpest, juiciest cherries

treasures from the shore and wood

a heartfelt laugh that radiates throughout the entire body

a hand in yours

a delicious cup of tea or two in mismatched cups and saucers

a postcard or letter in the mailbox

rain on your skin

sun on your face and hair

a soft place to land

books of every sort

baking smells in the kitchen

flowers, oh yes lots of flowers on your counters

bubbles

peace and love

hugs and joy

friends who "get" you

everything that is good, lovely and praiseworthy!

Happy Birthday!  May all your dreams and wishes come true!

I am turning to Rust!

I have experienced numerous paper cuts in my life.  No big!  This last paper cut was apparently the Mother of all paper cuts!  I bled profusely on my desk until I could grab a tissue after which I snagged a "band aid" and was good to go.  As I was taking a shower I removed the band aid and noticed this lovely stripe of rusty color around my thumb.  I scrubbed and scrubbed to no avail.  It is Monday and I still have a rusty ring around my thumb after many, many hand washings.  I have NO CLUE what this is about or when it will go away!!!  Anyone out there care to guess?  I did check the packaging on the band aids thinking just maybe they contained iodine or some such ingredient...nope. 

I switched to a platinum wedding ring because my gold engagement ring/band set caused my fingers to turn a very dark black.  I can wear earrings and necklaces with no reaction.  So What's up.  Somebody has to have an idea...I do not for sure! 

Since Men O Pause is such an ornery old cow I can only assume the weirdness that seems to be the norm rather than the exception is a result of that beast.  and because this image is soooooo accurate I will share it yet again...welcome to my itchy, b*&chy, psycho...life!  We laugh because it is more fun than crying.

In other late breaking, exciting news...I am declaring a television fast!  Do you ever have periods whereupon you just watch absolutely too much junk?  Mind numbing stuff.  Train wreck stuff...you are repulsed but cannot look away stuff.  And then she says to herself, " I sure am having some strange dreams"  One cannot eat Gummi Bears for supper,  watch "True Blood" and expect to sleep well...really!  If you are looking for me I am NOT on the couch watching the mind splatterer. 

Happy Birthday to the Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama celebrates his 75th birthday in his adopted town of Dharamsala, India.  The Dalai Lama of Tibet has been in exile since 1959, as long as I have been alive.  His messages of peace, hope, compassion and simplicity benefit all humankind.  Se'Lah of Necessary Room is hosting a Random Act of Kindness Day in honor of the Dalai Lama's birthday.  She inspires me to be a better person and in her words practice...One Love!  Join us today...one random act of kindness...you will like it, I promise!  Following are some of my favorite quotes by the Dalai Lama:

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.


Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.


If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.


If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.


It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.


Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace
 
Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion.
 

 
Part of my life's philosophy is to practice kindness as much as I possibly can on any given day.  My random act of kindness occurred by accident or divine chance...as I was paying for sandwiches for my husband and me, an extra sandwich was added to my bill...I turned to the lady behind me and said "Have a nice day" she said "are you sure?"  I said, "Yes, and just pass it forward"  Hopefully, she will...  Happy Birthday Dalai Lama...we draw strength from your example of love, peace, perseverance and light!  One Love.

Fear of Flying

Mike and Rhetta take a spin while I stand on the deck and watch...what is wrong with this picture???

Ding, ding, ding...you are right I AM NOT in the plane!  I allowed my fear of heights and tight places to keep me grounded.  Our gracious host piloted any guest that desired a ride!  Literally, I am not afraid of flying...I just prefer larger aircraft!  Figuratively, I am often afraid of  "flying"... moving outside the zone which is comfortable and secure.  I am kinda tired of taking the safe, easy way.  Ask me again...I will say YES!
YES to flying in teeny, tiny aircraft...YES to taking new adventures...all EXCEPT the ones involving bridges and elastic cords.

What about you?  Are you planning something adventuresome, something new, something exciting?  Do tell!