Longings

My heart is being pulled to Montana today. I miss Yellowstone National Park and all it's wonders. I miss looking out a window and seeing wildlife, the most gorgeous blue skies I've ever seen, and "purple mountains majesties".

I feel more alive when I'm out in nature. The fresh air, the peace and serenity, and the knowing how everything all fits together. It's all divine - all the qualities being expressed by animals, trees, air, light, plants, grass, even rocks and soil (and me); life, harmony, strength, sturdiness, progression, beauty, support, nourishment - are all ideas, thoughts of a higher consciousness.

That being said, today being "the office is definitely being purged once-and-for-all" day, I'll open the curtains to watch Chickadees and squirrels play on the tree outside of my window, allow the sun to pour in through the leaves, and see those same qualities being expressed inside and out. As Louise Hay says, "It's only a thought, and a thought can be changed." I don't have to long for a far away place to feel that connection with nature. I can express it right here and now - in my home. It begins in thought and I choose what to think, what to say, how to react to situations.

Today I choose the higher connection.

Blessed be.

Seasons

As the final Autumn leaves cling to sleeping branches, the cooler air leads to cozier nights under goose down comforters. Hot cups of cocoa and tea warm chilled fingers. Holiday music fills the air, both indoors and out. Christmas trees decorate tops of cars and SUVs as families hurry home to start the decorating for the festivities to come.

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" is true now, more than in mid July when some items graced store shelves. The push to buy early screams of corporate greed as cold, bony fingers stretch to our wallets to take our hard-earned money. Consumers hold the real power, however. We choose what to purchase, when and what we are willing to pay for it. What we need to start choosing, is if we really need the item. How will it improve our (or our intended recipient) lives? Is it really necessary? Is it worth the price? Does the gift you are considering express the sentiment you want the person to feel? Personally, I prefer something that shows how much the person cares. Even a knitted scarf, a plate of cookies, or a card with or without a family photograph and a personal greeting means so much more. I could tell my son in law thought about what I'd like when he bought me a gift set of teapot, cups and tea. I love tea! And the decoration of roosters on them warmed my heart. He noticed I enjoy roosters. I am still using and enjoying these cups and pot almost a year later.

My financial circumstances seem limited this year, but I don't feel pressured or disappointed. I have an overabundance of supplies to create thoughtful gifts - and those close to me know that I don't just sit and knit, crochet or cross-stitch; while I do, I talk with God. Hymns fill my thoughts and messages of spirituality and love flow faster than a television broadcast through fiber optic cables.

May you all have a love-filled holiday season.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza and Happy New Year!

Holidays... AGH!

Thanksgiving has come and gone and now the focus is on Christmas. Having been unemployed for the past two years makes it challenging for gift giving, but I have come up with a solution. A purely homemade holiday. I'm no Martha Stewart, but I am handy with a needle (cross-stitch, sewing and knitting), and not to shabby in the kitchen. So I should be Okay. Now to organize the time...

As Christmas becomes more commercialized and pressure to spend money bears down, the more I rebel. I don't like being pressured, confined or controlled. I also don't fall for the horrendous barrage of 15-30 second commercials blaring their sales at me when I'd rather continue watching the program I was enjoying. Since when did commercials last longer than the TV program?? Thank heaven for DVR. I can enjoy my evening without missing anything and fast forward through the carnival barkers.

My charity project is going slower than I'd like. I'm knitting hats for children in Head Start and have sent out the word of the need. I know there are a lot of charities, and funds are precious, but there are more ways to help than writing a check. Investing time and energy and caring means a lot, if not more. I'll keep moving forward!!

I've decided that if I don't find a job by year's end, I'll return to school and learn something new. Perhaps if I get a degree in something, I could work for the State. I know I could do a lot better than some of the people working in the Food Stamp office. YIKES!! Haven't needed it for years, but still...

Internet time is up! Now to do some tidying for an hour, then knitting, then... well, you get the idea... need to schedule just about everything these days!

My, how time flies when you're living life...

Our July 4th was cool and mostly quiet. We decided to flee the 90 degree heat of Portland and head to the coast. Netarts, Oregon was our choice this time. The Terimore wasn't quite what we expected, as we have stayed in more modern digs, however it's quaint, rustic feel was a breath of fresh air. My dear husband gets an idea of how things should be in his head, but reality kicks him in the behind. He's not as flexible as I have learned to be, but by Saturday, he came around. I think I surprised him at my getting up at 6:30am and going for a 2 mile walk on the beach. The trail to the beach could be seen as a challenge; my knees and right hip make things a bit difficult, but I put the discomfort out of my mind and enjoyed the fresh, salty, morning air; the fishermen starting out in their boats, and the low tide that shared the sea floor. The sand was smooth and littered with pieces of crab and sand dollars.

I've found that the Pacific isn't as warm as the Atlantic. Clouds rolled in that prevented us from seeing fireworks, but folks on the beach set off some that we could catch a glimpse of. No organized shows were on. No matter to me. I don't really care for crowds. I prefer to set them off with the family. It's not the same without Ramsey, Joanna and Brandon. I hope, next year, we can spend the holiday together and have a picnic, enjoy each other's company and set off some awesome explosives!

Ron cooked out on our little grill and it was a tasty dinner. We enjoyed a cup of tea and a glass of wine on the deck outside of our room while the sun set. The clouds finally cleared enough for us to experience a calm, amazing evening.

Perhaps, this autum, we'll go back and look for whales. That is the one thing I still long to see.

Later, y'all.

How long has it been?!?

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animals/images/primary/sea-anemone.jpg

Finding time to blog between watching grandkids, knitting, crochet, housework, training the dog, cleaning up after the cats, cooking, laundry, etc., and crashing into bed at 10:00pm isn't easy. Perhaps I need vitamins or something to help me keep my energy up. I needed a nap at 5pm today! Didn't get it, though. Needed a little "relaxation" time and was sitting outside knitting, but then pup was digging in the dirt and pulling out soda bottle caps, sticks, stones, plastic toys buried long ago by a forgetful child... and broken glass. Who the heck lived in our apartment before us?? It's like an archeological dig back there! I think I'll get some sod and lay it down so that we have grass instead of dirt. And if I get a sandbox, then Rockie will have a place to dig and bury her toys.

I finished two crochet projects; am almost done with the second wrist warmer I've been knitting for myself (yeah, right. I'll end up giving it away. LOL) and I am SO excited to get started on a new project. It's a shawl by Fiber Trends that captures everything the Northwest has at the shore. Waves, fish, evergreens... can't think of it all right now. And I got gorgeous yarn - 50% wool and 50% silk from Corvallis, MT (didn't know there was a Corvallis, MT). It's hand painted and deep blues, greens and purples. I thought it represented the sea and a specific sea anemone I've seen in the rocks in Lincoln City, OR. It's going to take a bit, as I'm new to lace knitting, but I think it will be very rewarding.



That's it for now. It's 8:17 and I can barely keep my eyes open. I've got lots of organizing to do (purging more stuff and putting things in order) either later tonight or early tomorrow, then a cookout in the back yard with the kids (I hope!)



A safe and happy Memorial Day to you all.

Sufficient

"Divine Love always has met, and always will meet every human need." Mary Baker Eddy

During what have described as difficult financial times, I find the above statement becoming almost a mantra for me. Monetary supply has been demonstrated, through prayer, for over a year now. In one form or another, when there has been a need for money, it showed up in abundance - either an overdue payment that was owed to me from insurance payments, back child support, or my husband doing well at his sales job. No matter what the "human picture", Love provided the means to meet the bills, help purchase a second car, a computer and other things that will allow me to work from home in one form or another.

One reason this demonstration came about is because of a change in my thought. I went from seeing lack and no way to fill it, to seeing what I already had. Family, home, food, and clothing. "Are we grateful for the good already received?... Then we will be fitted to receive more." But what exactly are we grateful for? More money? More stuff? Or is more love, more joy, more peace, more assurance that God IS Love and through that Divine Principle we already have everything we need.

Other metaphysical thoughts are that what we ask the Universe for, we shall receive. Visualization, sending out positive thoughts, speaking with kindness, good intentions, doing good deeds, paying it forward - all that is still the same thing. It's expressing Love.

And you know what they say - "What goes around, comes around." I'd rather it be Love.

Have a Blessed day!

It's been a few weeks since it officially turned to Spring. But it also took a while for our blossoms to catch up.

The weather has been mostly wet and cold with a few gorgeous, sunny ones tossed in. Now it's sunny, but chilly. This coming weekend will be pure liquid sunshine! Not such a bad thing; I have much work to do in the house. The nicer weather beckoned and we had to follow, so housework suffered.

I also have several new projects in the hopper. The finishing touches on a baby gift for my cousin's new baby girl should be completed this evening and mailed tomorrow. I am working on two writing projects for my mom and step-dad. My writing has been on the back burner for a few months. I'll get that up and running this summer. My babysitting days will cut back to about three, so that gives me more time for my hobbies and interests.

It's also time to dust off the old sewing machine(s). I have two, so I need to clean them and see which one works the best. I've ordered Balsam Pine from Maine to make scented pillows that I hope to sell at a local Farmer's Market, or online. Three pounds of the wonderful stuff should work out nicely.

The nice thing about the seasons changing is a sense of freshness. No matter what the time of year, it feels like I get another chance to do something different. I'm praying summer isn't too hot this year. Humidity and I don't like each other very much. I would like things a bit drier to get rid of the mold and mildew. They take up residence like visiting relatives that won't leave. I'm thinking of buying Mold and Mildew Remover by the case.

Another unwanted "pet" leaves shimmering trails across my carpet in my office. Slugs are strange creatures. I can't find any when I search for them. Cleaning up their slime isn't a fun chore. They look weird, too. And their purpose?? Bait for fishing?? One was in Rockie's food bowl last night. It was flipped into the grass with a stick by me - after I first inspected it and looked at it's spots, little nobs on it's little head, sort of cute little face... if it really has a face. Still.... ew. I suppose a trip to the local nursery to buy some slug bait that is safe around pets is in order. Don't cats eat slugs? You'd think they'd at least try to earn their keep, furry little beasts that they are. And I almost don't dare mention the ants. We are at war with them. I'm winning.

No complaints. In Montana we had racoons, porcupines, coyotes, all kinds of interesting critters - oh yes, the darling deer that loved to eat my garden. Every part of the country has it's blessings and curses. I'm still waiting for an earthquake I was told happen frequently. There was one a few years ago, but I slept through it.

Time to tidy my wee apartment for the evening. The sun is setting and the golden light is peaceful. Perhaps, tomorrow evening, I'll go downtown to the river to watch the sun set. It's supposed to be the last "nice" day of the week before the rains come back. To sit on a grassy hill, watch boats on the Willamette River and sip something delicious would be just right.