Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Sweet Freedom!




Took this shot while riding a roller coaster
with Darling Daughter this past weekend.

Aaaaah!

The feeling of sweet freedom.

What makes your soul fly free?

Capture it. Follow it. Do it.



Monday, August 29, 2011

Fantastical Fun!



A
weekend
full of
fantastical fun!!!



Ferris Wheels.



Fabulous Finds






Fun with photos.




What did you do with your weekend?

 (I searched for a good quote about weekends but found none worthy of adding. Instead I will search the comments to this post for brilliant weekend ponderings. Care to indulge me?)


 

Friday, August 26, 2011

Busy Days



Yesterday

Finally had the guts to walk out here...



Went hiking by a waterfall
You'll have to scroll down the link to see the waterfall.
I burned out my batteries at our first stop.

Long drive.
Body retaliating.
Exhausted family.
Good times.
Fun.


Today

Second born turns teenage!
Happy celebration day!


Received phone call from friend.
She was in a bad accident.
Young guy on drugs t-boned her.
She has a shattered pelvis.
Waiting for surgery.
Plates, screws, pain.
I'm worried about her.

Grocery Shopped.
Got in a fender bender.
Both of us backing out.
Both of us in blind spots.
Both our fault.
Decided we would deal with our own cars on our own.
No cops. No insurance.
Left each other with a hug.
No lie.

Off to the amusement park.
Praying for safe travels.

Life is strange.

Wishing all of you a happy and safe weekend
full of the good stuff.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Hanging On While Letting Go



 I've been MIA for good reason.
Bonding with the Big Boy.
This is a picture of his wheels.
After a summer of searching and test driving
he finally has his first big boy wheels!
It's been quite a ride.
An entire summer of searching. 
Small budget.
We have seen rust bombs, crap cars, a few with potential.
We have traveled hours in every direction.
We watched one car die!
I have dealt with honesty, highway robbery, sexist pigs.
We have met some of the nicest people and some not so nice.
We have laughed and we have pounded fists in frustration.
Searching, searching, searching.
Lots of lessons learned. 
Lots of fun had.
End result.

An awesome car!!!!
 Good looking, safe, reliable, sound.

A huge step toward independence.
It pinches.
Being along for the ride is an honor.

 
Adolescents are not monsters.  They are just people trying to learn how to make it among the adults in the world, who are probably not so sure themselves.  ~Virginia Satir, The New Peoplemaking, 1988

You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back.  ~William D. Tammeus

Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.  ~Elizabeth Stone
 

Your children need your presence more than your presents.  ~Jesse Jackson


Friday, August 19, 2011

Living With An Open Mind



  This past week has been crazy busy.
This morning was calm and wonderful!
I spent the early hours enjoying a special phone conversation
with an amazing blog friend
who lives an ocean away.
After breakfast with the kids
I drove to a lovely little coffee shop
and spent hours chatting with a friend
whom I have not seen in some time.

  What does my morning have to do with the post title
'living with an open mind'?

Let me re-tell my story.
My morning phone call was a gift of a long distance tarot reading.
My coffee was consumed at a Christian coffee house
with an athiest friend
conversing about
politics
parenting
and life in general.

It was an absolutely lovely morning
spent with good friends,
good food, and lovely surroundings.
I would not have been able to experience all that goodness
if not for living with an open mind.

Is your mind open to all the wonderment
and possibilities in the world?
If not, what are you waiting for?
Open up Baby!
The world is waiting!



p.s. If you seek healing in your life, if you would like a tarot reading done, if you desire to read uplifting stories, please visit John at his blog
or his website

Both sites offer a plethora of information.
If you would like information on rates
and/or to seek further guidance
please contact John at
sunchihealing@yahoo.com

John also sells
and
while his partner Helen sells clever

Can't you just feel the love?

;O)

Happy Weekending!!!!


Thursday, August 18, 2011

Question... seeking answer.

Short on time.
Had to post.
Seeking answer.
This is the sunset I watched the other night.
Photo is untouched.
Straight out of the camera.

Stripes!!!!!
I was fascinated.
I have many other shots.
All the same.
What could have caused this?
Have you ever seen a sunset like this?
What is it called?

It is a mystery to me.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Special Project

Darling Daughter has been wanting a secret room.
She's been scouring the house for possibilities.
We set up temporary camp in biggest brother's closet
(under the stairs)
but biggest brother was not amused.

Yesterday we went to the fabric store and bought this.
We are going to attempt to make this.


I own a sewing machine but don't know much about sewing.
This gorgeous play tent looks simple enough for the beginner.
What are your creative juices up to today?

Monday, August 15, 2011

A piece of fiction

childhood calling

Living in the deepest darkest room of her mind kept the world from intruding. It was safe and it was the chosen spot. Magical thoughts permeated the walls of the room originating from her imagination bringing a kaleidoscope of color which she played with and danced in. Rocking... rocking... back and forth brought comfort and kept the light at bay. Light was the enemy. Sarah did not dare face the light for that's where the voices were. The voices she once loved.

There was a time, a vague memory when the voices felt good. Inviting. Happy. She remembers happiness. Barely.

Then came the darkness. It enveloped her. There was bad. The darkness hid the bad. It hid the good as well but she was willing to sacrifice the good to cover up the evil lurking.

After the darkness, the occasional voice permeated the walls of her room. They had changed.

"Come back to us Sarah. We love you." said the voice who called itself mother.

"What's wrong with her? Why does she act so strange?" said the voice of brother.

Sarah knew that the voices lurked. She felt them trying to penetrate the walls of safety.
But the darkness moved over her like a cloak and she dove deep inside. Deep, deep in her mind where she had control. She found a safe place to rest. The room so deep and dark. Refuge. She has lived there a very long time now. Pulling magic and imagination in. Her own little world safe from the outside. It was lonely at times. It was then that she would turn to face a corner and begin to rock. Movement. Constant. Rocking, rocking, gently swaying. Reliable, secure, safe rocking.

Until one day. A noise. It was a most peculiar noise. Sarah would normally block all noise. The least little bit to make it to her dark place was rejected and expelled back to the life she no longer embraced. This noise was different. It was soft, gentle, angelic in nature. Almost as if it were singing to her soul. She had to strain to hear. She wanted more.

Leaving the dark room she slowly, suspiciously worked her conscious mind back through the path that led to her safe spot. It had been a long time. She wasn't sure if she would find her way. But that noise. That lovely noise.

"Follow the noise" she told herself. "It will lead you back. You must find what is making that beautiful sound. Capture it and bring it back."

She moved her body across the room to the open window. She turned her face toward the light for the first time in years. Glancing through her eyes at the world around her ever so briefly, the first sight she caught was the glistening of the dew on the morning lawn. The water shimmered so close to the beauty from her imaginary world she almost felt safe. Once again she forced herself to see. She looked up. That's when she saw...

I am leaving this piece of writing open for your interpretation. I'm not sure where it came from or why. It seems to be a combination of a memoir I am reading combined with recent happenings in my life all crashing together to form this fictional tidbit. 
The photo does not necessarily represent the story. I took it at the park last evening and fell in love with it. I'm calling it "Childhood Calling". It is unedited, though I may play with it at a later date.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Photo Friday



Darling Daughter's Hair Salon



Waiting Area



 Gossip




Thursday, August 11, 2011

stages


start out small
growing
growing
slip and fall
back up again
gaining confidence

world full of beauty
danger
possibility
fear

climbing
growing
fighting to survive

had your fill
grown by leaps and bounds
seen so much
been through lots
survived
can't help but feel 
something missing
something more
must be meaning
yearning for change
but what?

slow down
curl up
reflect
rest
wait for what comes next


We had so much fun fishing a little over a week ago.
Found a monarch caterpillar.
Brought it home and created a habitat.
Success!
A cocoon.

The kids have been enjoying the process.
I have been enjoying the lessons.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Guerilla Art-a-flopagus


I finished my final assignment for the class

Buah ha ha ha!!!

What a flop!
Well, not a total flop.

I met a friend!!!
Like as in... met for the first time ever.
We've been chatting through e-mail.
I found her art at a local gallery.
The owner said she was painfully shy.
Naughty me snooped around the internet.
Found her e-mail address.
Approached her via e-mail.
Told her I am also a self-taught creator and lover of encaustic art.
Explained that I understand her discomfort with meeting new people
but thought perhaps we could be e-mail buddies.
We could learn from each other.
She agreed.
We chat often. Sometimes daily.

For my final assignment in the Experimental Art e-course
I was assigned come up with a guerilla art project.
I decided my theme would be 
Random Acts of Loving Kindness.

I chose some pictures I had taken.
Played with them in photoshop elements.
Added positive affirmations and a little note in the corner
(a gift for you - a gentle reminder).
Due to my physical struggles this past week they were not perfect.
I did what I could. I decided that was enough.
I would send them into the world as is.
The printing cut off a letter, cropped a picture too tight.
Some of the font is too small.
It's the thought that counts, right?

So I asked my e-mail buddy to meet with me.
No uncomfortable-sit-across-the-table-and-stare-at-a-stranger meeting.
An artsy meet-up with a project to keep us busy.
We would be placing my photo cards in a public place.
Little gifts for others to find.
Pretty pictures and positive sayings to brighten their day.
Perhaps they would find the right owner.
Someone who would take it home.
Someone who needed the message.

We decided on the library.
It was uber busy.
I spread the picture cards around.
One on the steps.
One on the bench. 
A book shelf here.
A movie shelf there.
By the computers.
On and on.
We parked our fannies, chatted, and watched.

Most people walked right by.
Some people looked.
A few picked them up but set them back down.
Afraid to take them?
Not understanding they were a gift?

Then.....
along came....
'dum dum dum'
THE LIBRARIAN.

She spotted the cards, walked around picking them up
and proceeded to deposit them in the waste basket!!!!!
Seems she did not find our idea cute in the least.
Litter. Solicitation.

Whaaaaat?
She totally crapped on my random act of kindness.
What a jab. Ouch!
Thank goodness my new friend was with.
We decided to laugh instead of cry.   :)
I picked them out of the garbage.
An afternoon in the library and not a single card adopted.

We left.
We went to a cemetery to take pictures of old headstones.
My camera died after a couple shots.
Luck was not on my side.
Time to call it a day.


I dropped my new friend off at her car.
Thanked her for her help and for a fun afternoon.
I headed off to run some errands and left the pictures in random places as I went, this time with no worries as to whether they would be found or thrown or simply blown away.
After all, it's the thought that counts.

That reminds me.
My surprise for today.
I wanted to send two sets of my 
"Random Act of Loving Kindess"
cards out into the world via my blog.
They're not perfect
but
they're filled with
Loving Kindess!
Possible uses
bookmarks
send via mail anonymously
give to those you love
give to total strangers
stick in library books
stick in random places around town
keep them for yourself.

If interested in receiving a set let me know in a comment.
If there are more than two people I will draw names by Friday.

p.s. Thanks to all my loving friends who sent well wishes this past week. My pain is receding, mind clearing and I am on the upswing. Hugs back atcha!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Patience


Patience Please
as my body kicks my a$$ in another major fibro flare.

I'm trying. I really am.
The patience thing gets hard when suffering with chronic pain.
Little things feel huge.
Annoyances become astronomical.
People still expect and want and need
not understanding that I'm not always capable.
I look okay.
I feel like I was in a major car wreck.

Don't know if it's the weather.
Don't know if it's stress.
Don't know what's setting it off but I know it's been a while.

Lost a follower this week.
Don't blame 'em.
I've been MIA.
I've been uninspiring.
I've been lost for decent words.

I'm working through it.
I have good ideas in the making.
I have a surprise for tomorrow.

Sometimes all we have to do is look around for gentle reminders.
My cats.


They remind me to live in the moment.
They remind me to have patience.
They remind me I am loved and needed.

I really don't remember where I was going with this post.
My mind is not working as clearly as I would like.
For now. I ask. Patience please
while I work through my physical issues.
I feel like I haven't fully been present here in the blog world for some time.
I've been lurking and learning and loving.

Be back tomorrow with a fun story.


Monday, August 8, 2011

Guerilla Art Assignment



Remember the online course I'm taking?
Experimental art e-course

Did I tell you I won the spot in the class? Yup. Over at Free Spirit Knits
Check out Shannon's blog.
She's talented, sweet, and full of positive energy.
She teaches a class that is starting soon called Inside Out.

Taking the Experimental Art e-course has been good.
Very, very good.
It has caused me to experiment,
play, broaden my horizon.
It has forced me to post art I would never have posted.
Forced me out of my comfort zone in many ways.


The class has come to a close.
The last and biggest assignment has been posted
and I am IN LOVE with it!!!!

Guerilla Art


I'd tell you more about what I have chosen to do
but when I think about it
I feel as if I'll explode!
To save you that sight,
I will wait to share
until the task is complete.


For now, here's a sneak peek...



Thursday, August 4, 2011

confession

Hi.
My name is Lynn.
It's been six days since my last post.

Ooops!
Wrong group!
Tee hee! 
;)



I've been reflecting a lot lately.
It has me a bit discombobulated
which causes a lack of ability to form coherent thoughts.
The reflecting reminds me a bit of our neglected pool.
Pool / Life
looks inviting
but it's been neglected
pool cover / emotional wall
has a hole allowing water to escape / has a hole allowing inside out
 
figure perhaps it's wisest to remove
 pull off cover / break down wall
pool is green underneath / exposes buried feelings, dreams
what a mess
must clean up
how to start?

overwhelmed
give up
start drowning

see the ladder
it's just a reflection

wallow
desperate
fear drowning
remember I can swim
start swimming
swimming
swimming

all the swimming is building muscles
making me stronger
see net just out of reach
stretch, reach, fight
grab net
a tool
start sifting

that's where I'm at
sifting...


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