You are Wrapped a Little Too Tightly!

So, someone once told me I was wrapped up too tightly.  Well yes I am, thank you.  Sometimes you wrap yourself into a tight coil to protect the tender, sore, secret spots.  A rattlesnake coils itself and rattles to warn trespassers.  Someone always feels the need to poke a stick in the sore, tender spots heedless of the warning rattle.  Why then, would they be shocked when bitten?  It is no secret that some people are every bit as toxic as the venom from a rattlesnake bite.  My cure for toxic people...avoid them when possible, if not possible be very nice to yourself! 

Sometimes it is very difficult to shake off the funk...this helps...

a friend came by the office for a surprise lunch date...I have a 90 minute (don't be a hater) massage scheduled...my favorite dance/meditation class at 6...plus after we express pure joy through movement we have dinner together and experience laughter, tears and more joy!  I would say things are looking up and I can unwind that tight coil.

day trippin

'The time has come,' the walrus said, 'to talk of many things: of shoes and ships - and sealing wax - of cabbages and kings.'

Lewis Carroll

Anyone familiar with the book "The Phantom Tollbooth" will recall being stuck in the DOLDRUMS!  You get sucked in and it is by great force of will that you escape!  Yours truly has been experiencing a touch of ennui.  Thank goodness it is Summer whereby everything slows down a teensy bit. 
 
In an effort to break our routine and explore a new idea or visit a new place my husband and I embark on various day trips.  We put the top down on the convertible and we pursue avenues not normally taken.  We rarely use the fastest route preferring to travel the back roads.  Our discoveries are endless!  The latest adventure took us through rows and rows of cornfields, soy beans and cotton.  The sky was a gorgeous azure with cotton candy puffy clouds.  We explored Manning, Kingstree, and Georgetown then ate a late lunch on Pawley's Island.  Dear husband feasted on shrimp and grits.  I enjoyed lobster and crab.  We could smell the marshes and dreamed of living in one of the stately homes.  
 
We were sunkissed (i.e. I was sunburnt) windblown and tired by the time we arrived home.  It was a great little adventure!  Which is more important the journey or the destination?  I guess that depends on whether you have a specific destination or not.  It was all about the journey for us...we spent time talking and laughing...not being distracted by telephones, computers or television.  
 
p.s.  The "ship" is one of the unusual sights seen on the highways and bi-ways of South Carolina.  Have you seen it?  Do you know where it is,  what it is and why it is there?
 

Everyday miracles and magic

If I take the Wings of the Morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;  even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.  Psalm 139:9-10

We are never truly alone.  This sculpture comforts me in a way I cannot describe.  The longing for serenity, peace and calm, for me, is always to be found in nature and art.  When the two come together...magic happens!

I heard this yesterday...take a deep breath...that is a gift..that is a blessing.  As I thought about these words,
a quote from Albert Einstein lodged in my mind:  " There are only two ways to live your life, one is though nothing is a miracle, the other is though everything is a miracle."    I am choosing to focus on every day magic and miracles rather than just muddling through life.

a few simple magical moments...

watching my husband make repairs on the screened porch
while the dog tilts his head and follows him around, sniffing the paint.

a hug around the knees resulting in an almost tackle from granddarlings that are excited to see you.

friends that "get you"

angel food cake, sliced strawberries, blueberries and cool whip that a dear man prepares for you.

lots of hugs and kisses!

swinging to the call of birds, the humming and buzzing of insects, the tink, tink, tink of the chains on the swing.

what calls to you right now, what simple joys make you happy?

Inscription for a Garden Gate

Pause, friend, and read before you enter here

This vine-clad wall encloses holy ground.

Herein a mellowed garden dreams

away the years,

Steeped in serene, sweet light

and muted sound.

Herein tranquility and peace abide,

For God walks here at cool of

evening-tide.

Pause, friend, and strip from out your heart

All vanity, bitterness, all hate;

Quench, for this hour, the fever of your fears.

Then, treading softly, pass within this gate.

There, where the ancient trees wait

hushed and dim,

May you find God and walk awhile with Him.

Pearl Council Hiatt

Anna Hyatt Huntington selected this poem to be used at the gate of Brookgreen Gardens in 1959.  It was written specifically for Brookgreen in homage to its splendid avenue of live oak trees. 

I recently spent a beautiful morning admiring the oaks, the floral bounty, the wildlife, the many fountains and sculptures of Brookgreen Gardens.  I also took a meditative stroll through the labyrinth.  If you have plans to visit coastal South Carolina, I highly recommend this beautiful, serene garden.  Brookgreen also has an extensive aviary and butterfly house.  The entry fee allows you to come to the gardens all week.  A very good deal for $12.00





Putting on the Super G Mom Cape

Ah...the glorious month of May...Mother's Day, dance recitals, school programs, hot and sunny days.
My sweet daughter and her husband took an early anniversary/birthday jaunt to Vegas early in the month.  The granddarlings stayed with us part of the time.  In the midst of the everyday stuff we took opportunities for crafting and playing.  We painted flower pots for Mother's Day.  I love, love, love to watch children create! 

I taught at a Montessori school for ten years.  The process was always more important than the finished product.  I try to remember that for myself as well.  My grandson decided to paint trees as well...his story and he is sticking to it..." I am painting this tree because it is my special tree then I can find it again" 

Skip forward a bit.  I took care of my daughter as she was recovering from surgery, then handed her off to her husband and collected the grandchildren.  When did getting children fed, dressed and off to school get so hard?  Oh yeah, I think it is because I am 30 years older.  I am part of the sandwich generation... the filling between generations...caring for aging parents and spending time with grandchildren. 

A bit of a respite was had between all the craziness of May.   Darling Husband and I escaped to the coast for a weekend.  He even pretended to enjoy the sculpture gardens.  This spot right here...it is calling me back...I can hear my name crashing into the surf...Connie, come back...

Wishing you a beautiful Spring day!  I am planning a little porch renovation for the weekend...Do you have any special projects in the works?

The Floozies take on Edgefield

We gather monthly to celebrate another turn around the sun.  Jeanne's birthday was celebrated at The Edgefield Grill.  A delightful afternoon of buzzed bees,er bees buzzing, lunch on the veranda and much laughter to the hum of thousands of cicadas emerging from the earth to mate.  Imagine the whump, whump, whump of the Mothership...the cicadas have that alien sound.  It is great sport to keep the cicadas out of your hair, mouth or food.

The town of Edgefield is the turkey capital of the state.  It is/was hometown to countless politicians...is that a coincidence or what?  Handpainted concrete turkeys line the streets of this quaint town.  We attempted to shop however the town apparently closes at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.  No one told us!   Floozies are a persistant lot and we soon found ourselves being educated at Edgefield Pottery.

This gentleman told us the history of pottery in Edgefield. The shop houses quite an extensive collection of artifacts. 

I have found there is no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than to laugh, talk, shop and eat!  We do that extremely well.   Friends enrich you and bring JOY to life!

Hazelnut Chocolate Ganache...Fried Green Tomato Salad with bacon crumbles and cucumber-wasabi dressing.
Ellen tried to keep us out of her delightful sorbet...too bad we are NOT germaphobes!

Happy Birthday Jeanne and act SURPRISED!  Jeanne expressed a lovely thought...each time she wore the Silpada bracelet...she would think of us. 

  

Yep, it is a two seater!

What mischief has come your way lately?  Laissez bon temps rouler!!! 

Getting Trashed or a little bit of This and That

Columbia Design League's 2011 Runaway Runway...featuring fashion designed solely from trash and recycled materials...no new products allowed. 

A couple of friends joined me Friday evening for an avant garde fashion show and event.  All outfits were made from 100% post consumer trash.  Ranging from recycled cemetary flowers to coffee bags, pepsi cans, car parts...you name it!  I have been interested in participating for years.  The Lady Chablis (of the movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil) was in attendance and that is one funny character.  Musical numbers were performed by various artists including a group of drag queens.  The spectators were almost as colorful as the performers.   The youngest designer was nine years old and there was a grandma or two in the mix as well.  I apologize for the blurry photos...I needed a reminder that I would like to design something for next year!  I am looking at trash in a new way.

Dear Husband and I visited the "Who Shot Rock and Roll" photography exhibit at our local art museum.  DH was in attendance during some of the concerts depicted and he had a bit of a stroll down memory lane.

He was interested in the musicians portrayed...I was interested in the photography techniques...win, win.  I saw a college of cut and pasted photos that inspired me to create something in that direction as well.  I continue to be amazed by what a slight change in perspective can do for your creative life.  Sometimes all it requires is a tilted head to see something from a different angle.

Here are my little creative genius granddarlings...leftover 3D glasses and booklamps...they clipped them on and proceded to play dentist.  Anna selected one of my knitting implements to examine my teeth...I am happy to report that I have no cavities and all teeth are still intact.

Anna was in a dance pageant recently...when asked if she was sad that she didn't win she said " I won a trophy, I had a lot of fun and I did something really hard"  My little precious is only five and one wise little girl!  She performed a solo dance to a Justin Bieber song in front of a pretty large crowd!

So what excitement have you been up to lately?