Musical Mondays - Love Hurts

Love Hurts

But sometimes it's a good hurt

and I feel like I'm alive

Most of us do not associate something that does not necessarily feel good with something that makes us feel alive. Yet how many of us have had a moment when because we loved so much we hurt, because we cared so much we endured when at other times we may not.

I am a hopeless romantic and have always like to think that deep down in 99.9 % of all people there is some good. Because of this view there have been many times when I have had my feelings hurt and have learned lessons that if I had been a bit more guarded I may not have had to learn at such a cost. Yet still I am not sure if I would go back and change my ways.

There was a time in this world when we could think such ways for the most part and did not have to worry about whether or not someone would take advantage of one with such a gullible heart. Maybe it was how I grew up in a small rural Oklahoma town. Everyone knew everyone and although there were things about this that drove me nuts, it had good qualities also. People spoke to each other when they passed. If someone fell on hard times, others helped them out and gave them support and encouragement. People waved at one another even when they did not know each other. It was simple hospitality and manners.

Such things still happen today yet it is obvious that it is not as prevalent as in the past. Yes it is a sign of the times, something that when I was younger I swore I would not harp on as I grew older. "When I was young one, this is how things were." Yet here I am doing just that.

Love Sings

When it transcends the bad things

Have a heart and try me

Cause without love I won't survive.

Yet when one finds themselves giving expecting nothing in return sometimes the reward can be a blessing ten fold. Yes it is hard these days to step out on that edge, to trust enough to take a chance that it will not necessarily blow up in your face. We want to believe that most of the time we can act upon our desires to do good and that it will not be taken advantage of. Yet each day we see evidence that there are so many occurrences in the world where some have done so and paid the price.

I have had many an experience where I took the step of faith and wished that I had not done so. Yet I have also had some where I was blessed by the outcome. Although I have to say that the ways of old I think are a thing of the past and more than likely things will get worse before they get better, I still do not find that a good reason to harden my heart. If we all succumb to that mindset then the world very well will only become a worse place to live in.

Yet if occasionally we seize an opportunity to help someone who is in need, we comfort someone who is hurting or alone, or we simply sit and listen without judgment; we may be amazed at the blessing we receive in return. Not only from the experience alone yet also from the gift coming back to us in return. Karma is a real thing

Listening to the radio over the weekend, an old favorite came on. "Love Hurts" by Incubus. It reminded me that love is not always that wonderful magical sweet and sappy thing. Sometimes it does hurt but sometimes that hurt is a good thing. And when it is good it can be wonderful. Enjoy the week ahead and take the time to stop and be there for someone. The blessing will come back to you.

And The Winner Is...

I can hardly believe it is the first day of September. Fall is but a mere 22 days away. Already the signs of it are everywhere. The birds are already preparing themselves for the colder times. I have been tending to my feeders a bit more than usual. I still hold to my prediction that it will be an early fall and winter. The signs are far too apparent.

Today is also the day that I choose the winners to my latest giveaway. Yes I did say winners. When I went to purchase the book “Eat Pray And Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert I was frustrated to find that the book on the shelf had received a new cover. It was a clip from the movie. I have to be honest and say that this somewhat upset me as it was not the movie that drew me to the book and I loved the previous initial cover. I quickly found a clerk and asked her if they were still able to obtain the book with its original cover.

Upon checking her data base she assured me that it was possible. She continued to tell me how the hardback books were actually on sale. The price was too good to pass up. I purchased me a new one so I could finally give the one which had been loaned to me over a year ago back to its original owner. Then I purchased two more and decided to have two winners instead of just one.

And now for the moment you have all been waiting for; the announcement of the winners. I carefully wrote each ones name out and placed them in my trusty little Autumn planter. Shook them around nice and good and also mixed them thoroughly myself.

The first name I drew was no other than Mary from Moontides (which is just one of her many blogs). A wonderful woman whom I have been blessed by so many times...

The second name to be drawn was Leila from Tatoo Tales. A tremendously talented young woman whose work you truly do need to check out if you have not already. 

I will be sending both of you an email to get just a bit more info from you so that I can personalize the boxes a bit more. Congrats to you both, I hope you enjoy your goodies.

I will be posting the details to my next giveaway in the next few days. You may also want to check out another site I contribute to, Ewitch. This week we have three giveaways; #1 – digital art from Sparrow #2 – A new book by Scott Cunningham given by Luna and #3 – A set of the Gilded Tarot  with companion book and handmade Tarot bag by myself.

Sunday Funnys Plus A Friendly Reminder

I saw this the other day and laughed my head off.  Our puppy Winston is not quite 7 months and he is feeling his oats.  Another way of saying it... his "favorite friend" currently is his big pillow.  Well you know what I mean... Anyway this cartoon reminded me of him and so I thought I would share.  We are debating as to whether or not to have him clipped.  Personally I would rather not do it, yet I am not sure if someday that may be him slinking out of the neighborhood adult dog store.  Hopefully he will grow out of it...

Another thing I wanted to remind all of you, if you haven't already signed up for my current giveaway Eat Pray and Love the winner will be chosen this Wednesday, September 1st.  Be sure and head on over via the link above and drop a quick comment to have your name thrown into the hopper.  I have had so much fun with this giveaway; yet I am not sure if there has ever been one that I haven't enjoyed.  I am looking forward to personalizing the goodie box to whomever is chosen to receive the gift. You can rest assured chocolate is involved. 

Wordy Wednesdays

Unfortunately the weather man was wrong once again. Although we did receive somewhat of a cool front over the weekend, the much anticipated moisture that was to have come with it did not show. As in most cases it visited all our surrounding neighbors except for us. Still I feel a bit of autumn in the air. I have been watching the birds as well as the trees and other vegetation and I feel like fall will make itself known not long from now.

As in years before the bug to start preparing for fall and the winter ahead is a strong feeling inside me. I have seeded many of my flowers that bloomed so well for me over the summer as well as some of my herbs as well. Once again I will plant some in the fall and the rest in the coming spring of next year. Many of my flowers which I planted in hanging baskets or pots on the porch were chosen with the intention of planting them in the yard before the year was out to enjoy them next year. This is also another task that I have to work on as I would like to give them some extra time to adjust to their move. I am also preparing my yearly flower bulb order for the new flowers I will add to my yard when October and November comes. I have started to decide on the Christmas crafts I will make for friends and family. I have even bought my first pumpkin. Yes I know that may be a bit early yet an occasional glance at it assures me of the appending arrival of fall and the time of the year I love best.

I am seriously considering preparing me a nice little plot for a garden next year. After my weekly visits to the Farmer’s markets and the prices of some of the things, I figure that I could do it much more economically myself. It would also give me an opportunity to share with those around me. The wonderful flavors of the summer should never be missed simply because one cannot afford the prices of fresh veggies. When I purchased my peaches in Tennessee I was able to get 2 full boxes for a mere $40.00. When I arrived home and wanted to purchase a few more here in Oklahoma they were close to $1.00 a piece. Simply ridiculous. I love to buy local yet when I can make a good excuse to go and visit my grand kids and also get a good buy, I call that a fantastic deal.

I had so much fun with my anniversary giveaway that I decided to do another one for the remainder of the month of August. Be sure and check out my Eat Pray and Love giveaway. I am looking forward to personalizing the goodie box for whoever wins. I already picked a couple tidbits up today while in town to toss into the box. I have way too much fun with these giveaways and constantly have ideas tossing around in my head. I have met so many wonderful people via them.

I also realized that I have not been out and about with my camera much this summer. Usually by this time of year I would have showered my posts with photos of my garden and such. Yet the heat has kept me in more than I would like and I have not been the shutter bug that I usually am. I did manage to shoot a couple photos of my pet dragon fly who visits me each evening as well as a big garden spider that spun a beautiful web near the pond. After reading a book on the attributes of spiders I am doing my best to allow them to flourish at least outdoors. The one thing I wish they would help me with though is my grasshopper issue… They have brought havoc to much of my garden.

Yet as anyone who has ever had a garden knows…. They are continuously a work in progress and there is always something more to do. In saying that, I had best take advantage of the cooler time and spend some time with my little piece of nature. Happy hump day to all of you. Blessings

Eat Pray and Love - Something to Ponder

I will be honest and say that I am not one that reads as much as I probably should. Although my taste for the written word has grown in my later years, I always seems to fall asleep (or want to) if I try and curl up with a good book. There has been a few that once I opened the cover I was unable to put it down and carried with me everywhere until I finally finished the last word. I love a book that grabs me in such a way.

A book that is a good example of this was “Eat Pray Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert. I loved this book from the moment I picked it up. It was probably because I could relate to it in so many ways… I understood the frustration she had in the beginning of the book when she struggled with the possibility and eventual divorce from her husband. Her desire to travel to “find herself” also appealed to me.

Not only did she decide she would travel, she traveled to three of my favorite places as well as made it her quest to explore three areas of her life that she felt strongly about; food, her spiritual side, and love. I know that they have made the book into a movie which has recently come out. I have mixed feelings as to whether I wish to go and see it or not. One reason is because movies never seem to truly do a book justice and end up leaving you disappointed. I think this is mainly because when one reads a book they bring with them their own imagination. This in turn creates a fantasy land in one’s head of what they envision the story to look like, smell like and taste like. It is impossible for any movie to fit this interpretation of so many that would go and see it, therefore there will always be those who are not satisfied with the manner it was told in.

I loved the whole concept of “Eat Pray Love”. It got me to thinking about what I would consider my eat, pray, and love . Then as if we were on the same wavelength, I was clicking channels and landed on Oprah. She had Julia Roberts and Elizabeth Gilbert on her show and they were discussing the movie and were talking about that very thing. I guess great minds do think alike. Ha!!

What is my Eat… what is my Pray… and what is my love…. I would have to say that finding what my “Eat” is could be quite difficult. I have always been one who loves to eat. The main reason it thrills me so (and believe me it can thrill me) is that I love the intense flavors that one can find. I will try anything at least one time because I have learned that you never judge anything simply by its looks. (Especially food) Yet to choose a favorite in the vast selection is close to impossible. Last night it was the pepper crusted rare Ahi Tuna I had….. It was heavenly… yet a few days ago it was the homemade vanilla sugar that I simply ate by dipping my finger into the jar over and over. I am not sure where I would go to explore this side of me as I have found wonderful food in so many places… Yet I guess Italy would not be a bad place to start… Rich tasty homemade mamma food in so many places…. Beautiful country side and extremely good looking men… How could one go wrong with all that to choose from?

My Pray is an easy one…. It would have to be the peaceful serenity of nature. I find such tranquility in my yard and communing with everything that is not manmade. The simple sounds, smells and sights are more precious than anything that can be bought or made. When I feel myself overwhelmed in any sense of the word and I know that I need some time to relax and escape to my sanctuary, I head for the loving arms of Mother Nature. She is always there with her gentle ways no matter the season, no matter the time. In the quiet stillness of morning before all else awakens she stirs. In the heat of a noon day when the sun is high and the day is in full swing. In the slowing down of the afternoon and early eve when it seems that she begins to gather things in for the day. And lastly, during the night, when the stars and moon illuminate the world and a different side of her is shown. She never ceases to amaze me with her ability to bring me to that place where I need to be. To see that answer that I may be trying so hard to find and don’t until I stop and sit with her in silence for a while. My sanctuary, my church, my pray…. Is definitely, communing with the earth and sky.

My love… another easy answer. I love my Vincent and quite honestly he is probably the love of my life. Of course he can drive me nuts, yet over time I have learned that seldom can two be together nonstop 24/7 and not. Yet he accepts me for me and does not in any way attempt to change me. That is what I love most. No matter how silly, corny, or far out there I may be, he listens and makes me feel as if I am as sane as him; which may not necessarily be that sane. Also my grandkids, they likewise take me for who and what I am and love me all the more. They share with me their wide open minds and we ponder the mysteries of the universe together at times… They help me to keep the fact fresh in my mind that there is always something new in the world and that to notice the little things is what keeps us young. My children also have brought much love into my life. From the time they themselves were wee ones until now when they have grown and moved on with their own lives and values. There have been struggles and I am sure there will be more yet we have slowly learned to be accepting and understand that besides being family we are also people. They have taught me to listen more, and also that I do not always have to be the momma… Sometimes I am just another person across the table.

So in closing I ask you, what is your Eat Pray and Love. Something to think about and quite honestly it can really brings some sides of you out that you may not have thought of before. If you have not read the book “Eat Pray Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert and especially if you are female I urge you to do so.

I think if the book had not been such a favorite of mine I would not be so indifferent about seeing it, yet here I am. So when it all comes down to it I more than likely will not go and see the movie. Yet who knows… never say never.

Eat Pray And Love - The Giveaway

I guess that I was looking for a good reason to start another giveaway. After writing the previous post, I could think of nothing more than to do just that. Everyone has an Eat, Pray and Love. Personally I think it is a great idea to examine this concept to the fullest. Now not all of us have the capability of zooming off for a year out of our lives to research this yet there are little things that we can do every day to do just that.

This giveaway is designed to help a bit with that adventure. The winner will receive a copy of Elizabeth Gilberts book “Eat Pray and Love” among other goodies to help them explore this further. Now for the fun part:

To enter all one has to do is leave a comment stating what your Eat Pray and Love is. Be precise as this will have a lot to do with the goodies that will eventually be in the winner’s goodie box.

Adding the giveaway button and/or blogging about the giveaway will also give you the possibility of a couple more chances to win. If you do, please remember to leave an extra comment and also a link to the post. Lastly please if your email is not accessible per your profile, please leave it within your comments. My last giveaway, I had a chosen winner that I was not able to contact due to this and had to draw a new one.

The winner will be chosen on September 1st. Look forward to hearing all your great answers…