I think it's coming...Spring is coming!

Spring is in the air!  We saw our first daffodils down south on Saturday!  After a harrowing attempt to feed two cranky children, daughter # 2 and I took the lovelies to Swan Lake.  We walked on the boardwalks through the swamps, admired the cypress "knees" and all the abundant flora and fauna.  

The grandchildren were particularly fond of this old man and he was quite willing to hang out and beg for a morsel or two of something tasty. 

Swan Lake is one of our favorite parks and is home to eight species of swans. Other inhabitants of the park include the Canada Goose, myriad varieties of ducks, herons, turtles and fish.  The park hosts an annual Iris festival.  Camelias, Japanese tulip trees and a few other trees were blossoming.  I love the eerie feel and shadows that the Cypress trees and Spanish Moss cast upon the black waters. 

We are enjoying some lovely weather despite some terrific winds and a howling rainstorm or two.  The grandchildren and I have some plans to build a fairy house or two on Friday...so do come back and take a look.  Happy March Everyone!

(daughter#2 took the photos with a Canon powershot)

Have I done Any Good in the World Today?

It is mid-week, I can say that I gratefully practice random acts of kindness.  I can also say that I was unkind to my dear husband.  It often surprises me that one can be so kind to strangers and then treat our loved ones badly.  I have made up for any and all rudeness (sometimes it happens, we are together 24/7) and am forgiven.  Be kind to yourself today and forgive yourself of any "misdeeds" , forgive those to whom you feel a grievance, you will feel better...I know! 

So many people are hurting, some express this by being angry.  So many people are grieving.  Smile a little more.  Be more patient even when that is the last thing you feel you can do.  Each day passes by so quickly...at the end of the day, the week, the month, the year...can you honestly say,  "I did something good or kind, thoughtful, generous"?   The following hymn is a wonderful reminder of what each person can do to improve their lives and those around them.  Whatever your belief system...the Golden Rule always applies!

 Have I done any good in the world today?


Have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?

If not, I have failed indeed.

Has anyone’s burden been lighter today

Because I was willing to share?

Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?

When they needed my help was I there?

[Chorus]

Then wake up and do something more

Than dream of your mansion above.

Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,

A blessing of duty and love.

 There are chances for work all around just now,

Opportunities right in our way.

Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”

But go and do something today.

’Tis noble of man to work and to give;

Love’s labor has merit alone.

Only he who does something helps others to live.

To God each good work will be known.

How is your week coming along.  Do you need a hug or a big smile.  Consider yourself (((hugged))) really tightly and I am sending you the biggest, brightest smile!  Can you feel it?  Can you see it?  Go look in the mirror and smile, yeah, it looks something like that!!!

Creativity of a Very Random Nature

We recently had the inside of the house painted.  The rooms look so fresh, warm and inviting.  Most of my efforts have been in the direction of restoring order.  My friend Jayne says that in Feng Shui, you are to move about 27 objects a year.  Well Jayne, I see your 27 and raise you 27 more!  Nothing appears to be going back to its original location.  Of course, then somebody wants new pillows, rugs or something!  Somebody has been trying very, very hard not to purchase more "stuff".  My creativity has leaked all over the house and I am tripping over it. 

In January, my precious granddaughter had a beauty shop type birthday party at our house.  Nonnee (that would be me) made the colorful headbands for each beauty to take home.  The pattern can be found here and these are super simple to make. (I sewed the flower through the button and directly around the headband)  I made a few for myself, using felt I already had and scrounging through my vintage and not so vintage buttons.  The last week or so before a trip to the hair salon requires some creativity or the proper use of a hat, clips or headbands.  My goal has been to be creative each day.  I have been doodling, sketching and knitting. Some days getting a meal on the table has been all the effort I could put forth.  My camera and I apparently need some time away from each other these cold, windy days.  I am sure a reconciliation will occur as soon as the weather stays sunny for more than an hour.  I am curious, are you more or less creative in the winter months?

Just a little reminder, Random Acts of Kindness week starts on February 14 ( a good day, eh?)  I hear there are little "fairies of good will and cheer" out and about.  I have been the recipient of these fabulous notecards by Diane English.  I love her quirky sense of humor and fabulous art.  AND I have already given Stickboy one of the cards which has made him all red in the face and gushy!  Love is in the air.

If you have any fabulous, creative ideas...let me know what you are up to...Peace and Love ya'll!

Psst...can I share a secret?

So I have been dreaming of toilets, yes you read that right the first time.  The toilets in my dreams are not the beautiful, pristine white Kohler ones either.  They are usually clogged up nasty ones with doors missing from stalls and really strange people staring at you from said stalls or sinks.  It seems in my dream I am in search of a clean, private space to take care of business.  The interwebs are such a wonderful research device.  I searched out dream interpretations and it appears I am emotionally constipated.  Who knew?   From this site we learn,  "If the toilet is overflowing, this symbolizes a blockage in eliminating difficult feelings and emotions in waking life."  OR if you are literally dreaming of crap...Feces are a common dream symbol. A room filled with excrement that is filthy or uninhabitable is a warning that you are dealing with a lot of crap in your waking life. If it’s other people’s excrement, the dream is telling you that either you are sick of people who dump all of their personal and private issues on you or you are tired of dealing with someone’s crap.  In my waking, daily life I am done with all that sort of thing, Release was last year's deal...we are done, remember?
Apparently my dream life has decided I still have work to do. 

Speaking of toilets...here are a few for your consideration!

For a rustic, thronelike feel...

For those who share everything...

For those who like to go in style...

So my lovelies which dreams plague your otherwise beautiful slumber?

Planet Connie

Hey Ya'll,

I haven't fallen off the planet...just been hanging out on my own little planet...they like me there!  Spending lots of time daydreaming and planning projects, mulling over "stuff"  I have no shortage of ideas.  I proceed to go all manic and want to do everything at once usually when it is time to go to work.  Yeah, I made a flower headband before I came to the office this morning!  So I guess that counts as a Day 1 creative endeavor.  I have spent the greater part of too much doggone time researching, reading and browsing "creativity" sites and books about being creative that I failed to notice I am creative every day.  Although I should probably be less creative with my bookkeeping and accounting (that is a joke)  So my loyal fans...stick around and I may just share some of my projects...I am seeing how much of my stash of art/craft supplies I can plow through without purchasing new stuff.

Birthday celebrations are still underway...since I started late...I plan to continue until about February or so.
Favorite riding in the car music this week...the soundtrack from "Wicked"  It reminds me of the recent wonderful trip to NYC, the fabulous play at the Gershwin Theater, about how being different is not a bad thing, being popular is overrated, judging people = not good, defying gravity can be a good thing, to stand for something (or you will fall for anything)  "people" in charge do not always have your best interests at heart...stay informed, the line in a song that states, "no good deed goes unpunished"...that was my friend Dot Dot's favorite comment! 

It is a rainy, cold Winter day and I find I am missing my fallen comrads something terribly today.  Sleep well my pretties until we meet again. 

Excuse me, I must go find my sparkly ruby slippers...

Snowed In Day Two!

We so rarely get snow in the South...the snow and ice virtually shut our state down.  People rush to the store for bread and milk...I personally have a stash of chocolate...so I am good!  As I was dozing and debating whether to get up I heard the sound of THUNDER and thought great...no snow day for us.  I have never experienced thunder and snow.  I awakened to a beautiful winter wonderland!  Dear Husband and I had a good ole Southern breakfast after which he went downstairs to his man cave...I watched the multitudes of birds, watched Moe Kitty stalk said birds from his perch on the windowsill and took a few pictures.  I read some of the book club selection and some magazines, did laundry and took a most needed, wonderful nap!

I noticed over on facebook that many of my friends were getting cabin fever...two days at home...oh my!  Myself, I am thrilled to be home in my jammies...the cat and I are enjoying the birds, the silence (since dear husband went in to work) and the beauty of it all.  I think many of my friends are entertaining children or teenagers...been there, done that...I can understand their restlessness with all the noise and mess!

I have chicken and rice with mushrooms on the stove...lots of warm beverages...a toasty fire...a quilt...plenty to  read...Life is Good!  All the responsibilities of work will soon take over but for now...I plan to enjoy being "snowed in". 

Reflections of a Year Well Lived...Part 1

New York State of Mind

All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teef!

Annual Holiday Silly String Wars!

In the year 2010...imagine the music from the song in the year 2525 if man is still alive etc.  It was a year of upheavel, challenges, bereavement and best of all Joy!  This, the last week of 2010 many are pondering the whys and whats of the last year.  Many will determine what changes need to be made...some will choose a word, a "watchword" if you will to determine intentions for the coming year.  Release was the word I chose this past year...it caused me to work on some old thoughts, beliefs and it exhausted me.  I will be entering the year 2011 with a lighter load!  Who benefits from dragging old baggage around?  So many of my friends have participated or will participate in choosing one word rather than a grocery list of resolutions.  It is easy, think, ponder, pray...choose a word...throw some into a hat and let the word choose you.  The word Grace is tickling my fancy right now...this is probably the word I will go with for 2011...the definition:

1. elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.

2. a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment.
3. favor or good will.
4. a manifestation of favor, esp. by a superior: It was only through the dean's grace that I wasn't expelled from school.
5. mercy; clemency; pardon: an act of grace.
6. favor shown in granting a delay or temporary immunity.
7. an allowance of time after a debt or bill has become payable granted to the debtor before suit can be brought against him or her or a penalty applied
8. Theology:
a. the freely given, unmerited favor and love of god.
b. the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.
c. a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.
d. Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.
9. moral strength: the grace to perform a duty.
10. a short prayer before or after a meal, in which a blessing is asked and thanks are given.
11. ( usually initial capital letter ) a formal title used in addressing or mentioning a duke, duchess, or archbishop, and formerly also a sovereign (usually prec. by your, his, etc.).
12. Graces, Classical Mythology . the goddesses of beauty, daughters of Zeus and Eurynome, worshiped in Greece as the Charities and in Rome as the Gratiae.
13. Music . grace note.

Synonyms

1. attractiveness, charm, gracefulness, comeliness, ease. 4. kindness, kindliness, love, benignity; condescension. 5. lenity, leniency. 14. embellish, beautify, deck, decorate, ornament; enhance, honor.

What do you think?  Will "Grace" be an easier choice for the coming year?  Hmmmmmm...we'll see, won't we! 

If I am not back sooner... Happy New Year my Lovely Friends!