I am

I am...

rethinking

regenerating

regrouping

realizing

recognizing

readying myself.

I am a butterfly with angel dust on my wings. I am praying and protected. I am learning to look through the smoke. Directly at the fire. I spread and flap and hold my breath as I beat my wings and get stronger and stronger until I rise over that fire leaving all the dust and filth and ash behind. Until all I see ahead of me are blue skies and fields of wildflowers. As I uncurl my legs I release all that I hold dear and watch it frolicking free. Carried to safety. By me. My strength. Strength. Gained from God. From all that is good.

Childlike Wonder

There's something about zebras that bring out the childlike wonder in me.

Their stripes are so bold, so exact, so... fake looking!

I've seen horses my whole life and the zebra looks like a horse in striped pajamas.

They appear to be imaginary. They are entirely too amazing to be real.

Zebras were always my favorite zoo animal by far.

When my local zoo took the zebras out, I was heartbroken.

Guess where I found them?

Near a local amusement park wandering the fields free and happy.

(as free as a large fenced field allows)

I was giggling with glee when I took the park's mini-train ride and spotted them grazing.

I could ride that train all day just to get a glimpse of this gorgeous creature.

Staring at them makes me feel like a child again.

They free my sense of wonder.

What frees your sense of wonder?

I challenge you to find something this weekend that wakes your inner child.

Give yourself permission to play!

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.

I'm Baaack!!!!

Hello Blog World!!!!

I missed you!

Boy was that break good for me!

My defeatedly overwhelmed state has been replaced

by optimism and positivity.

I don't blame Blogland for the ugly state I was in.

Quite the contrary.

I find you all inspiring and loving and oh so wonderful!

You may have noticed me lurking around in the shadows.

;0)

Rather I needed a break from the pressures I put on myself.

Needed a chance to step back.

To play. To enjoy. To re-prioritize.

Here is what I've been up to.

The kids and I stained string with various ingest-able items

Playing with art with Amelia (experimental art e-course).

For more info click on button in right hand column.

Helping my man sell his wares.

check out www.loraxcarving.com

sitting around fires

Watching storms and tracking their damage.

catch and release (far, far away) cute garden critters

for the record, we have relocated 15 ground squirrels,

one chipmunk, and this cute fellow below?

He was too cute to move. :) We let him go on the spot.

Lots of visits to the library where I found this cool bike!

Don't know why but it reminds me of Mr. Bean.

Lovelies picked for me by the kiddos.

watching linemen

wildflower (and invasive) spotting

daytime drives

evening skies

perfect shots

swimming at the lake!

Yup. That's what I needed. Some fun times and time to think. I also found inspiring freebies I wanted to share with all of you.

Downloadable positive affirmation page to frame and hang.

Fun positive thoughts page for home, office, anywhere!

more positive freebies from Kind Over Matter

Spiritual reading "Journey of a Soul"

That's it for the freebies.

I know, I know. I hear your screams of "more! more!!!"

How about some great websites to visit?

A blog for photography and editing.

The Coffee Shop Blog

 Hilarious new blog on parenting HERE.

A super cool museum I am going to visit for my birthday

because I'm a geek like that!

Hamilton Wood Type Museum

and a video about the museum.

A glimpse of what we will be up to today

can be found here.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ 

On the flip side of all this fun and inspiration

I am feeling much better and am hoping that somewhere

amongst these photos, links and freebies

you have found inspiration as well.

Peace Out My Friends!

The Gypsy

There is a gypsy living within me.

She pokes and prods and needles me.

Trying to get her way.

Wanting me to run.

To flee.

To kill her misery of being trapped too long in one spot.

She loves to travel and dance and wear loud colors.

She peeks at the world through my eyes and whispers...

"Why do you stay here? Where are your fancy clothes? When can we go and play?"

To which I shush her and answer, "Not now my Dear Gypsy. You see, I have family.

I care for them and feed them and they depend on me.

I must stay here in my conservative clothes and live my stay put life.

Some day. Some day we will travel and play and be free."

"Bring them with if you must but we have to go! I MUST GO!!!!" she screams from within.

"I cannot afford to travel the world with four children in tow.

It is a dream of mine but it is not possible on the salary

of a Domestic Engineer.

How about a nice trip to the lake?

Or a walk in the woods?

Care to shop at the market?

They have pretty scarves there!"

 "Scarves? Well... if we must. 

But promise me. We will wander soon.

We will travel far and wide and be free."

"Yes my Gypsy. Some day we will travel free."

 (Tree of Knowledge)

 (Provoking)

 

 (Release of the Inner Beast)

Lucky Me!!!!

I entered a drawing a bit ago posted at the awesome blog

Free Spirit Knits.

I didn't win.

In her announcement of the winner

she offered the chance to win another prize.

A spot in the

experimental art e-course

with the talented

Amelia Critchlow.

Once again, I didn't win. 

The winner wasn't able to follow through on the class.

Guess what?????

I was the second runner up!!!

I won a spot in the class.

The first series of assignments are certainly

NOT

bringing out any artistic savant in me

but

they have been good for me.

It's all about playing

and doing.

Not thinking.

Something I definitely need practice in.

Your assignment today is to do one thing freely.

 ~ Create a piece of art without putting thought to it (perhaps work to music).

 ~ Write a poem or letter and let the words flow without judgment.

 ~ Take pictures without over analyzing the shot. Just point and shoot and see what you get.

 ~ Cook up a storm. Make up a new recipe for a soup or salad with ingredients you have on hand.

 ~ Take a walk and when you come upon a park, swing, teeter totter, slide without thought to what you look like or what others think.

Do one thing freely.

Baby steps.

Practice to living freely.

That's your assignment from me.

Now go.

Be free!