There's magic in the air!!!

                                      

 October brings the gypsy wind 

       stirring longings and memories 

 The rustling of the leaves talks to the heart, 

healing ancient wounds and promising beautiful tomorrows. 

Listen to the wind - her tales are filled with magic. © smh

Balance

Hello everyone...

Here we are in a recession, and I am working on overload.  So wanting a rest... but... things are cyclical, and I am more than grateful for my work and for my wonderful clients.

Massage is very rewarding, but... soooooo tiring... so this leads me to the video I am posting.  This is my challenge.  I am not nurturing the creative side of me... and... as we all know.... this leads to major dissatisfaction.   I have always craved balance between spiritual practice, creative, social and work... If I do not have at least these... life gets so out of balance.  However, lately it has been eat, sleep, work  which leads to an occasional expression of....Oh Lordy... I just don't want to move ha ha....... and so it has been.

However, I am really focused on changing this routine, and getting balance... Finding time sounds like time is hiding behind the mantle, so I prefer to say allowing time - scheduling time - prioritizing time  to do the things that fill my heart. Mind you, I am not complaining... in fact I am thrilled that my work is flowing so well, and how happy I am in that area... but... big sigh... There is the art, the beading, the cooking, the yoga, the sewing, all tugging at my heart.  I stiffly struggled with my first day back at Yoga today!!! and how many times have I said... I should never never ever stop this practice... and... life becomes overwhelmingly busy and I do.

 Luckily I live in a place that is filled with the beauty of nature, and have wonderful animals and birds around me... and my place of work also is in a place of extraordinary natural beauty, so that uplifts my spirit.  

Travel also is tugging at my heart.  So many places.. to discover and enjoy... so... plans for next year include a couple of my favorite places to be revisited to revive my spirit and soul longings. 

After that long introduction - below is the video.  I think we owe it to ourselves to cherish and nourish our creative selves.  To allow our creativity to grow and to share the beauty of our talents. 

Feathers

I like to pick up feathers when I find them.

I  think of them as a gift.

These are mostly Wild Turkey feathers.

Mother and Child - The Four Legged Kind!!!

She brought her young one
to the creek in front of my
house for a cool drink.
  By her look of pride
I think she just strolled
 on by to show me
her beautiful
creation!!!


You know how Mothers are!!!

She was a little shy,
and looked at me from a distance
.. such beauty. 

Time Flies and Sand Flies

Ok... who wants sand flies... ha ha... not I...It has been a long time since I have posted.  Firstly out of respect for the people living with the devastation that occurred due to the New Zealand earthquakes, then reeling from the horrifying tragedy of Japan I found I could not bring myself to post anything frivolous.  The earth changes just kept  happening, one after another, and close to home were the horrendous tornados that caused such destruction in Alabama.   However, it is important to keep energy flowing, and I will continuing posting.

Here are a couple of suggestions of things to do to occupy yourself while relaxing on the beach this summer...  ha ha... Wow... these people are talented!!!!

Every Now and Then

I rarely bake cakes, just every once in a while.

But this one... well... it looked mighty fine  and 

tasted as good as it looked. 

Cream Cheese Apple Cake with Cinnamon and Sugar..
Yum! 

Winter Art - Mother Nature

I went to my windows this morning to see how much snow 

had fallen during the night, and I was greeted with this beautiful sight.   

Mother Nature just can't help herself.  

She just splashes color, design and beauty everywhere.

I am so glad I could capture this beautiful art.

 In a very short time, the sun had warmed the windows, 

and my beautiful ice curtains had melted.

A little piece of fluff

There are things that a woman just does not want to know.

Two little pieces of fluff that can break a heart are:

Finding out your man is playing around 

Finding out marshmallows are made with corn syrup!

Uh huh...this is a chick blog today guys!  :)

Now the man thing you are going to have to handle yourself, 

but the marshmallows I can help you with!

I really do not have a sweet tooth (not counting chocolate... yum!)... but... occasionally I love to wander off the straight and narrow path and indulge a little.  I thought an occasional detour with a little fluffy pillow of sugary fluff was an ok deal... especially if it was toasted over an open fire... I mean what innocent fun!  But  nooooooo....... 

I don’t buy anything that is made with corn syrup, so  I was pretty much “little miss pouty” when I read the label on the marshmallow packet... I mean... really!!!!   The ingredients listed corn syrup and surprise, it is made with corn, which is mostly  a GMO crop, and when it is processed they manage to get a little mercury into the mix... how clumsy!

It is pretty easy to make marshmallows, Just google for a non corn syrup recipe. 

Don't get sloppy... it is really sticky stuff!!! 

 I am sure you will figure that one out really quickly! 

Fifteen minutes of mixing

A few hours of waiting... unless you want them all rubbery like
the ones you buy in the store, then you may have to wait a few months!

A little bit of bliss...
I am going to try making them with some exotic flavors next time.
I am thinking Grand Mariner, Coffee, Chocolate.. mmm... the list goes on!

Add a cup of hot chocolate, 

and a snowy scene

viewed from the kitchen window,

and you have the perfect recipe 

for a little self indulgence.

Life is good!

Annie wanted to write her own blog.

There are things you do for your cat, even though you know deep in your heart...uh huh... this is not going to work... Annie sat by me absorbing the finer points of setting up her design, we discussed which colors she liked, and what she was going to say... then

I noticed she was getting a far away look in her eyes!

I though... well good... she is on a creative wave...

But no!!!!

Going

Going

Gone!!!

Gone - and snoring

(Annie snores really loudly!!! Shhhh 

Don't let her know I told you!)

A little cat nap does a girl good!

Bless her Heart!

Tennessee Snow

Snow is rare in Nashville, at least that has been the case during the time I have lived here. When it does snow...Nashville closes down. It truly does... you listen to the long list of school closings, and smile as you think of the happy youngsters just waiting to sled or make snowmen. Unless of course they are your youngsters... :)  Then you might have to work up to those warm and fuzzy feelings.

 Yeah... Snow days!!!!

 Schools close, businesses close... and.... this is all for a few inches of snow.  Folk in States who brag about 12 inches or more of snow laugh at us... but... oh hey... this is the South.  We just take it easy on snow days, it is just how we are!

We enjoy the beauty,  relax with a good book, get some crafting done - whatever!

  After a couple of days (enough already!) I ventured out... and... took some photo's of the country side.    I mean... you can't sit around and wait.. snow is here today, and gone tomorrow. -  Hopefully!

    A friend's Gazebo 

Even an old timer like this one is transformed

A hint of the past - a time when the setters came to
Tennessee and built
their  homes in hollows, near creeks,
grew their own food,
and raised their families.

 I love barns!

View of the pastureland from the hill


Tennessee looks good in white... She likes to dressed up for special occasions.
I mean it is January - reason enough.