Happy Birthday to Me!

I can hardly believe how time flies when you are growing, having fun, making choices (good and bad) and learning from them. I "am" 50 today. Don't feel it. Most say I don't look it (even tho I quit coloring my hair - I might be able to get away with looking 40... ha ha ha).

I'm not focusing on the disappointments of the day. My dear daughter-in-law said, "Don't let any little worms interfere with your day..." What a wise woman.

So - after taking care of chores around the house, I'll be out the rest of the day exploring McMinnville, OR and have a lovely dinner and perhaps a movie... whatever strikes my fancy!

Back to Reality

 

If I was allowed to live two days in heaven ~ just once in my lifetime before moving on to the next experience ~ I just had that weekend.

To share a love of photography with an amazing person who is talented, insightful, thoughtful, generous, kind, humorous, intelligent, handsome… I could go on and on, but one would think I was gushing.

It didn’t matter that it was raining. It felt like the sun was shining everywhere we were. The smile is still on my face. When I have a light memory, hear a particular song, or see something out the window that just calls to be photographed, I grin like the Cheshire Cat.

I look forward to many more weekends of taking pictures with this truly wonderful man. He makes my heart sing!

 

Thanks, Graham! You are a Prince among men and your heart is pure gold.

Snogs and hugs!!

Hope Springs

 

This week’s end brings much for me to be excited about. I feel like it’s the week before Christmas already! There is a photo shoot this weekend. Friend(s) from Seattle will be coming down to see the lights and wonders of Portland at Christmas. So many things to do and see… can we do it all in a day and a half?

Taking the photos will be half the fun. Meeting online friends in person is what brings such hope and anticipation. It’s like a light at the end of a tunnel. I’m anxious for the week to be done, and at the same time hope I have enough time to finish projects I have in the works in order to have a truly free weekend.

In the meantime, I’ll be writing and anticipating a very fun, active and adventure-filled weekend!

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.