A Belated Blessed May Day

Yes for those of you who may be wondering, I am still kicking.  When I posted yesterday (just a favorite quote) I noticed the number of times I had posted thus far this year. It was few to say the least.  The month of April was only 1. 

Most of you know the reasons that keep me busier than before and why I have not been here as much as I would like to be.  Vincent is doing well.  The doctor appointments are fewer and farther between.  Although he is still under care it is a welcomed occurrence. He is back to work and so I do manage to have a bit of time to myself.  I have gained so  much respect for those who hold the name caregiver.

May Day was yesterday and a beautiful day it was.  A bit breezy yet that is to be expected in Oklahoma.  The cottonwoods are out in full force so my allergies are letting themselves be known in a wonderful manner.  We are well above our normal rainfall so everything is in full force.  It never ceases to amaze me the changes that come.  Last year we were in a major drought.  The temperatures were extremely high and everything was brown.  This year we are close to the opposite.  The abundance of color has been a wonderful gift.  It seems my flowers and such have never seemed more healthy.  My back porch has become my quiet place.  A place to calm myself when needed.

As always I am hoping to be able to drop by a bit more often then I have been yet I have learned not to promise things you are not sure of.  I have missed so many of you so much and the occasional email or comment I receive from you always lets me know that some friends can never be explained or replaced…. Blessings to all of you.  I hope that this finds you well and that our visits will become a bit more frequent.  Til then be safe….

Little Blessings

Life never ceases to amaze me.  Whether it be in huge unavoidable manners that one can not help but see the cosmic clarity of or the small simple moments that come at even a more constant rate.  The later unfortunately we seem to miss all too often.  The volume of life is usually turned up way too loud. Such little noises that come along get drowned out and over looked.  Yet there are moments when silence is there and we are able to enjoy such wonderful tender notes.  It seems that this spring has been blessed with such tiny notes of laughter, color and simple bliss.  

I refused to believe that spring could have sprung so early.  Yet the more I see around me the more I can not help but be convinced that I may actually be wrong.  I still find myself crossing my fingers in hopes that a late visit from old man winter does not surprise us all and make the blanket of green spotted with purples, yellows and blues disappear.  

The days have been filled with fluffy white clouds laced with grey from the possibility of rain; tiny fingerlings of green sprouting out on the willows promising the soon arrival of leaves that will dance in the wind; buds of pink and purple with dots of blue  which line the bank of the pond where the tulips have sprouted and the grape hyacinth have decided to join their dance.  Needless to say Spring has definitely sprung.

  

It has been such things that have seemed to be my saving grace as of late.  The last two months have been eventful to say the least .  Vincent and I have found ourselves facing experiences that neither of us would have ever expected before they befell us. Each moment we feel that we may be seeing an end a new issue arises and we are reminded that sometimes patience is all that one can ask for.  

I  have always been one who welcomes a new life lesson.  Mind you I try hard not to request them as that is as silly as praying for patience.  Yet still when one comes along, although I may find myself whining in the beginning, I come around and am glad for the chance to learn more about life and all it has to offer.  When I take a few steps back and look at the situation in a whole I know that it could be so much worse than it appears at times.  Although I will say that when you are sailing along on calm waters, your hand lazily hung over the edge of the boat feeling the cool water as it slowly passes beneath you, and suddenly you are awaken by a change in current and realize that calm stream is leading straight to a waterfall.  Well lets just say that you are taken a bit by surprise.  

I am thankful though for the little things that have made themselves known to me throughout it all.  For it has been these little blessings that have helped me to get through much of it.  From the newness of spring to the birth of a new great niece to the wonderful words of encouragement from so many of my blog friends; I have truly been showered with blessings. 

 

It can be easy at times of difficulty and challenge in our lives to take a stance of self pity and negativity; To just sit down in our little puddle of mud and refuse to continue.   Yet eventually we will need to once again stand up and continue on; that is if we want to get out of the experience we may be in at the time. 

 

Nothing lasts forever – thank goodness.  Eventually everything will pass making way for yet another new adventure in our lives.  Some are good some are not so good.  Yet there is one thing that we can always be sure of.  Along the way of whatever may befall us, good or bad, we will be blessed with little blessings.  That is if we take the time to be still… open our eyes… look for them.. and listen.  Life is a never ending adventure of ups and downs each with its own special gift of enjoyment, sorrow, laughter and pain.  For those who refuse to embrace all that it has to offer, whether good or bad, has no idea what they are missing out on. 

 

Blessings to you and yours.

Are You Doing Your Part?

You are not here to merely make a living. 

Your are here…

in order to enable the world to live more amply,

with greater vision,

and with a finer spirit of hope and achievement.

  You are here to enrich the world,

and you impoverish yourself

if you forget the errand . 

-WoodrowWilson- 

Quietly Before It Begins…

Hello old friends. It has been some time since I have been here.  I have to say I have missed it in so many ways yet every time I had good intentions of coming by for a visit, it always seemed like something else pulled me in an opposite direction.  But then we all know what they say of good intentions.

When I looked out at this time last year, I thought what I saw was a coming year full of events and excitement.  It did evolve into just that yet the events and excitement were not of the manner that I had thought they would be.  I will say that there were many lessons to be learned.  A time it seemed to realize that there are many perspectives and interpretations to the world around me.  I would not be talking truthfully if I was to say that I was not glad that this year is drawing quickly to a close and a new one is about to begin. 

 

Not only has this time brought a wonderful release from the sweltering heat that came our way this summer it has also brought about a calmness and a form of rebirth.  Even mother nature seems to be experiencing this effect.  Flowers that labored under the heat of summer and held back much of their blooms are now unfolding in vibrant colors and number.  It is as if they are trying to make up for the lost time they had stolen from them by father sun. 

 

Over the weekend we received a wonderful drenching of moisture from the sky.  It brought with it a revival of growth and blooms.  The shorter days as well as the moisture have given cooler days and relaxing moments, something I have missed terribly.

I hope that likewise all of you have been able to experience such a time yourselves.  A few moments to gather ones self and prepare for the quietness that the coming months will soon bring.  I have no doubt that with it we will have our own surprises, much like this last year brought.  Yet I hope that it will give us times to reflect and once again prepare ourselves. 

The year draws down to its final days and soon the time of Samhain will be upon us.  It is a special time for many.   I look forward to all the aspects that it will bring with it.  I look forward to putting this year to the past and making way for the new one to come.

Blessings to you and yours,

M other Moon

Octobers Full Moon -

You all know how much I love the moon in all her glory.  I know that she is in her fullest today, yet I also knew that the clouds and rain would hide her from my site this evening so I snapped a few photos of her last night.  She was gorgeous as usual and the ring that encircled her foretold of the rain that was about to come.  If your skys are clear tonight I suggest you take a gaze at her... As the air gets cooler the moons become even more brillant.  Simply a beautiful site. 

I is for Iguana - ABC Wednesdays

A couple years ago, we spent our Christmas in a very non traditional manner.  Seeing that everyone had alternative plans and we would be home alone anyway, Vincent and I decided to join a couple friends and spend Christmas in Cozumel.  Needless to say we had a wonderful time.  It was by far one of the most relaxing vacations I have ever had. 

While there I snapped these photos of the local Iguanas.  They seem to be everywhere and came in an assortment of colors.  I thought they would be a fine addition to this weeks ABC Wednesday where the letter of the week is I.  Enjoy.

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

A New Variation To The Game of Tag

Celtic Dragonfly over at Following the Path as A Thrifty Pagan tagged me this morning.  Yet this game of tag has a bit of a spin to it.  It's a game of photo tag.

The rules are as follows:

Open your first photo file

Scroll to the 10th photo

Post the photo and the story behind it

Tag Five more people.

The photo above is one of the first photos I took with a decent camera.  Vincent was teaching me the ropes with his 35 mm.  I loved the fact that I could take such close up photos.  Caught this bug, (not sure what it is) on tope of a tecate beer cap.  It is one of my favorites by far.

Now for who I wish to tag:

Antics of A Tameran Witch - As I know she has loads of cute puppy pixs

Serindipity - As I love her sunrise photographs

October farm - As she always has the most yummy food pictures

Old Man Sutton - I love his tree photos - especially the roots

Go Out Beneath the Naked Night - I loved her ugly bunny picture. 

What Makes Me Happy - You Really Think You Are Ready For This?

Faerwillow over at Serendipity was a dear and gave me this award.  Her blog is always uplifting and full of wonderful things.  With receipt of this award I am to offer up to my readers 10 things that make me really happy.  Have to say there are probably much more than 10 things, yet at the moment this seems to be the things that are on my mind the most..  And Away We Go............

The first thing that comes to my mind when you speak of happiness has got to be my grandbabies.  They are such a big part of my life as well as such a wealth of smiles, love, and laughter.  I still have not figured out the complete secret of being a grandparent yet I know that there is something incredibly special about it.  It give a feeling inside of you that is unique all to its own.  Plus I just love the simple ways of a child.  They are so open to the world and accepting without question.  They have yet to be mucked up by all the sinicism of the world.  It is refreshing and delightful to experience their bare truth of reality.

The second thing that makes me happy is my Vinnie.  Funny how I have truly been in love with this man since I was 7 years old.  I just wish I had had my pushy ways back when I was younger.  Maybe I would not had to have waited until I was 42 to have married him.  He has brought me more love in the last 5 and half years of being together than I think I have had in all the years before.  He truly is my soulmate and best friend.  My very own Captain Morgan... what else could a girl ask for. 

Music runs a close number three with of course Matthew Bellamy of Muse being at the forefront of that.  I mean really girls the boy believes in fairies.  Music has always been an important attribute to my life.  It inspires, lifts my spirits, makes me cry, and makes me want to dance like a crazed loon.  Yes, I can get down with my bad self, believe it or not.  I think I will have the same feelings as well as the same closet groupie fetishes til the day I die.  From George Harrison of the Beatles to Mattie.... I will "forever" love the boys in the band. 

Friends and family come in next.  Goodness where would we be without this one.  Over the last year I have realized the important of both of these groups.  Whether they are right next door to you or clear across the pond, they still mean as much to you and can have just as much influence and impact on your life.  A true friend is hard to find and sometimes impossible.  I feel that as of late I have been blessed with several.  And that can do nothing but make me happy.

Cooking is another thing that makes me happy.  Let me feed someone and that is my way of telling them I care.  Not sure why I am like that, I think I get it from my mother.  Although since she learned I can cook she doesn't cook for me as much.  Just ask my kids they will tell you that I love nothing more than to shove food down ones throat.  A little melodramatic there... although my daughter swears I fed them too much as kids... Always having cookies and cakes baked.  What can I say... it is one of my many ways of saying I love you.

Full moons and fairies.  Yea I know this is two things yet to me I tie them together often.  I have always loved to gaze at a full round moon as it rises in the sky at night.  To feel its energies pulsating from it.  I have forever been a moonchild and feel extremely close to her.  As for the fairies, the wee folk have always been dear to me.  It saddens me that people truly do not believe in them anymore yet I can understand why.  They represent something that is unseen to most and therefore can be unproven.  Ah to be caught in a world where you can not believe what you can not see.    Something that definitely does not make me smile....

Nature and all her glory of course makes me smile and tremendously happy.  From the strength and wisdom of a tall aged oak to the soft touch of a gentle breeze.  There are so many facets of this area that truly touch my soul.  I have learned so much from the out of doors.  It is what is truly real.  It holds so many secrets for us if we only but listen to her.  Its stories are ageless and offer to us the answers to so many of the questions we often ponder. 

My garden makes me happy.  Over the last several years I have planted and nurtured several flowers, trees, etc.  It is now coming to the stage where it is starting to shine.  It has been a wonderful experience for me to learn.  Although the feel of the earth under my feet or the touch of fresh soil excites me in a way that only another gardener can understand.  The excitement of that little green sprout peeking out of the ground or the first bud on a rose bush makes me beam... I thank my grandma and grandpa for this love of the earth as well as Thelma Pate, a woman who taught me the love of a beautiful flower at a very young age. 

My camera and my love of photography makes me smile.  It goes with me everywhere and has brought me a form of satisfaction I had not experienced before.  It has taught me creativity, uniqueness and the means to accept myself as an artist. 

Lastly what makes me Happy?  Me Myself and I.  I have learned to love myself and who and what I am.  I can laugh at my shortcomings and not be too hard on myself... I love life and all that it has to offer.  I guess in a way Life makes me happy.  Sure it has its pitfalls and such but there truly is always something positive to be gained from everything.  No matter how cliche that sounds.  I have learned to lean towards the positive side of all things and in the end all will be better for it.  Not to dwell on the negative or the trivial as it will only bog you down and keep you from enjoying the goodness that surrounds you.  Now I have to send this on to 10 more people.  First let me say that I am not necessarily a lover of question and answer things such as this yet this one has been a bit of a blessing to me.  It made me focus on a bunch of positive  things and also made me realize that there is much more than just 10 things... In saying this I pass this on to 10 people whom have inspired me with their stories, their teachings and their lives.  People whom have made me happy .  I hope you have as much fun doing this as I have had;  PS:  Lyon, Rue and Mary:  I would send this to you yet see you already had it sent to you.... All three of you have made me smile several times as well as lift my spirits and taught me much... blessing to you. 

So in no specific order:

Tracy from Witch Path to Take

Bridgett from Doug and; Boo Plus 2

Iris from Iris Awakened

Sugar and Spice from Sweet and Sour Witches

Nan from Ole Crows Nest

Dede from Brightest Blessings

Birgit from Swapping Howdies

Bella from Memoirs of A Crazy Witch

Linda from Old Baggs n Stuffed Shirts

Lucy from Secrets for Happyness

Love all of you and Faerwillow, thank you so much for sending this my way.... Blessings to all of you.