Air It Out

Oh Wow! What a weekend! A friend of mine rented a beautiful home on Lake Petenwell this past week. We were invited to stay with them and headed up for an extended weekend. The house was gorgeous. The natural setting absolutely soul cleansing.
Our master suite (yes, opposed to 'the other" master suite) was on first floor with huge windows and a stone patio looking out toward the lake. I would lie in bed after waking in the morning and take in my surroundings. Starting with the beautiful home, then turning my head upward toward the window above my head where I could watch the trees blowing in the breeze, leaves dancing in the sun beams. Turning my head to the side, I could see the lake view filtered through the curtains. As my feet hit the ground I stepped toward the massive windows, opened the curtains, then the door and stepped out on the patio to take in the sun, the wind, the leaves rustling, the waves crashing.
I took my mind, my body, my spirit, all out on that patio for a good airing out. Inhale, exhale, arms in the air, head thrown toward the heavens, inhale, exhale, smile, love, bliss.
aaaaaahhhh.....

What did you do this past weekend? Hope it was good ;)

our master suite

lying in bed, looking up, out the window

filtered morning view from bed

throwing back curtains & opening door

welcome to bliss!

aaaahh!

looking back at our little patio

peace!

Fellow

 

(my youngest skipping rocks in the rockies)

A Tricky Fellow

Days grow long

you start having fun

time feels never ending.

You play, you rest

you do your best

to live in the moment you're spending.

Laughing and learning

growing, exploring.

That's what summers are for.

Watching, loving

every moment absorbing

soon it will be no more.

Back to school

oh what a fool!

To think time would stand still.

Allowing me

the time I need

to drink and get my fill.

My kids, my heart,

soon to part

back to the daily grind.

I must embrace

these last few days

as summer must unwind.

Time I tell you

is a tricky fellow.

You think you have forever.

Instead he calls

upon us all.

Summer's end arrives with fervor.

To this I say,

"Enjoy these last days

of rock tossing and sleeping in,

until next school year end

when time once again becomes friend

and another magical summer begins."

~ Lynn Retzlaff

Uber Fun!

I went to Madison, WI last week.

I was blessed with a new baby nephew!

On the way to meet him at the hospital

I stopped into a coffee shop

and met Juliette Crane's art!

I have followed her blog for some time.

She makes the cutest art which you can buy here.

Or you can go to Madison, WI and see it in person at

Gallup Coffee + Bakehouse

1859 Monroe Street, Madison WI

 

 

Please pardon the pictures. The lighting was tricky.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Here's Little Darlin' enjoying a delicious brownie.

She loves to join in my adventures.

Ah yes! The brand new beautiful baby boy!

Words of Inspiration

I wanted to share my first Etsy Treasury with you. I have never put one together before but felt compelled to do so. I chose "Inspirational Words" as my focus.


Please click the link to enjoy all the beautiful creations and bask in the inspiration :)

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c72f4f315f26d917feaa309/inspirational-words


p.s. does anyone know how to get the treasury to show as a photo in my blog? I tried putting the URL in the "add photo" section but it would not go :(
p.p.s. for anyone who has created a treasury before, does it automatically inform all those artisans whose art you have included in your treasury?

Thanks for any insight. I truly appreciate help when I'm stumbling.

Motivation for Monday

Let me set you off this fine Monday morning

with some motivational words

brought to you by my always wise

bag of Dove Dark Chocolate.

(gotta grab a Dove to ward off the menstrual symptoms)

Today's words of wisdom and motivation...

drum roll please...

ta da da da da da da

(lame attempt at drum roll)

Dove says, "You go, girl! You deserve this!"

Oh yes I do!

and so do YOU!

Go out and grab your day,

chase your dreams,

live, laugh and love life.

 Boy, did I need that!

mess of emotion

My journal today looks a mess.

There is significance in this.

I look at my journal and self-judge. 

I am no artist. I wish I was.

Bad, negative feelings.

Obviously stemming from deep within.

Perhaps partially due to a life of doubt.

Stemming from two addict parents.

I sit here trying to figure out how many years of my life

both parents were sober at the same time.
Guess how many I came up with?
None.

Not too many I'm afraid.

I have dealt with a lot of crisis

involving mom

involving dad

current crisis included.

It's a mixed up, messed up story

that would take a book to write.

The feelings (as I tried to portray on the right)

seem to blend and bleed and dump into a big black hole.

Luckily for me

I have learned how to separate (for the most part)

that aspect of my life from the rest.

I am extremely thankful for that!

Treasure Hunting

Went to some sales and auctions this past weekend. Can I just say that my purchases made me smitten with my bad self?  ;)  Now to figure out what to keep and what to offer in my Etsy shop.  Hmmm....

gorgeous vintage laces and ribbons

polaroid land camera

same camera open (needs cleaning)

even older polaroid!!! with case and instructions

royal typewriter (a bit rough, but gorgeous)

and an old chair I paid $1 for!!!

closer pic of typewriter

oodles of new yarn, cotton, wool, and more!

vintage books with a few first editions to boot

Lessons

Lessons

Wouldn't it be nice if the universe just dropped you a line?

A simple text or voice mail perhaps?

Instead we get this cryptic code

that we continually slap ourselves upside the head with

experiencing and re-experiencing events until the lesson is heard.

Or perhaps I am reading too much into things.

We spent $700 on our van before our CO trip.

This is a van that is paid for but also 10 years old.

Arrived in CO and husband, uncle, cousin spent two days fixing more problems

with me charging another $400.

Still making noises that were a bit suspicious, 

we continued our trip and made it safely home.

Miraculously it ends up.

As the miles went, the van noise increased.

Ends up the "rear end" was out.

Lots of metal shavings and shards in the Pumpkin.

Basically, there was metal spinning around inside the space

that houses the gears that run the wheels.

Purchased part for $1200

and waited two and a half weeks to get the part delivered.

vehicle no longer drivable.

Meanwhile relying on husbands 20 year old rusty clunker.

Yesterday the part was to finally arrive.

We would pay the $500 labor

and have a van by the end of the day.

Not so.

The evening before the part was to arrive...

SOMEONE HIT OUR VAN IN THE FRIGGIN'

SHOP PARKING LOT!!!!!

We received the call, had to go down,

then to the cop shop to get report, then call body shops

insurance, yada yada yada.

Van is totaled. Damage done more than van value.

Insurance won't fix. Doors won't open.

We need new vehicle.

Waaaaah!

Here's the lesson.

I said to my friend...

"People say God only gives you what you can handle.

He must have a lot of faith in me!"

She says...

"Something big is coming for you. Something really great.

You have been through a lot with vehicle and family (long, hard story) lately.

You have to understand the lesson of what you can handle need not only apply to the bad.

It's the good too. 

Have faith in yourself and the goodness you deserve.

Your abilities.

Your worth.

God will only give you as much good as you can handle as well.

Make note of all the bad you endured and realize how much

good you deserve.

You have a lot of good due to you.

Let Him know you want it and can handle it.

It's coming your way."

Cool, huh?

I'm Ready For All The Good!!!!!!

Oh Joy!!!!

Oh what a beautiful morning. Oh what a beautiful day!!!

I am sooo happy!

My quaint little "N" has been included in an Etsy treasury!

Surrounded by other brilliant "n's"

Check it out HERE 

 Incredible thanks to the lovely lady who included me.

It was the sign I needed. 

The kick in the pants.

The ego boost.

I am going to list more items ToDaY!!!

I am going to start back up on my artwork as well.

I needed the love. The acceptance.

The picture is a bit blurry. 

I am still learning how to take product shots.

Don't list much, make much

or promote much.

I have self-doubted long enough.

I have put off and procrastinated.

How to improve, to move forward, to practice

when I'm standing in my own way,

holding myself back?

Today that changes.

Today is the day!!!!

This Moment...

Inspired by SouleMama.
In her words - "{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

What Lies Ahead

(A picture from our recent Colorado trip. Got me thinking about the road of life. Can't always see what lies ahead. Might not have complete control over which path to take. But we do have the choice to fully embrace and enjoy the ride!)

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It isn't the mountains ahead that wear you out, it's the grain of sand in your shoe. -Unknown.

The only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.  ~Robert M. Pirsig 

If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere. ... Adversity is the first path to truth. ~Lord Byron

Dreams

Photo Friday

Whew!

Made it back from vacation.

There were high points...

hiking

fishing

mountains

family

There were low points...

$2500 in auto repair

days spent on auto repair

strange and damaging storms

even stranger injuries

It was definitely memorable! 

This weekend will be spent regrouping and recouping.

See you on Monday!

May your weekend be full of amazement and wonder ;)

*smooches!*