52 Week Photo Project: Week 6

Michael recently needed to go to Fort Collins, Colorado for business.  I decided to go with him.  I really liked Fort Collins. It was a very cute town. Bigger than Grand Junction of course, but they had a similar element - art on the corner.  So while Michael went into his meeting, I went around and snapped some photos.

I used this top one for my 52 Week Photo Project....

Generosity Day

Such an amazing idea for Valentine's Day....sharing and spreading love in random acts of kindness. Michael and I have discussed what we want to do....recently we discussed that we should do Nice Notes again. So we are going to go leave Nice Notes around town. We have a few other things we want to do too.  I also have some personal things I want to do such as sending thank you notes people in my life that really have supported my dreams and inspire me. I have no doubt we will document our day as that is something I have really been into this year is making sure I remember the joy in my life by documenting it....so there will be a post on Thursday about Generosity Day.

#GenerosityDay

Halo

I will make a confession, but I think I heard this song on Glee with the mash up of Walking on Sunshine and liked it, but never really sought it out to listen to again. I then heard Beyonce sing it on the super bowl and I liked it.  I haven't been able to get it out of my head so posting here.

Women Heal

So beautiful.

100 Things | Sandwiches

30. I love sandwiches.

I probably could eat a sandwich everyday. The photo is of an ordinary ham and cheese sandwich, but I like turkey with pesto and roasted red peppers on ciabatta roll, thai chicken wrap, white bean patties with sage topped with roasted tomatoes stuffed in a pita, a club sandwich,  a roast beef topped spinach leaves and horseradish on a hoagie, and there is always my childhood favorite which tastes good anytime - peanut butter and jelly. Really the combinations are endless for sandwiches and start out with a bready goodness so I can't go wrong with a sandwich.

Okay now I am hungry!

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. our trip to Ft. Collins....beautiful and fun
2. an upcoming trip where I will get to see a friend - chatting, sharing tea and giving each other big hugs
3. seeing a good friend while in Denver
4. being able to stand in a special spot for Michael and I while in Denver
5. seeing goats on our way to Denver - lucky we were able to see them as they blend into the landscape really well. (see above photo)

52 Lists: Week 5

Week 5: List Things You are Grateful for
* Michael
* my parents
* my sisters
* family & friends
* life
* living in beautiful Colorado
* Michael working from home
* having time & ability to do my art
* having a therapist who is supportive & understanding
* having medical help even without insurance
* having gone through some hard things in my life & getting through each situation - learning & growing
* having a roof over our heads and food on the table
* technology - allows me creativity outlets as well as keeping touch with family and friends who live so far away
* colors - being able to see them
* holding hands with the man I love - being able to touch/feel his warm hand in mine
* hearing Michael singing - hearing all the sounds that happen daily
* being able to express myself through words, writing, feelings, laughing, crying,  creating, making a happy home, whispering to Michael, dancing, singing, smiling
* friends who inspire me and support my dreams
* joy in the everyday ordinary moments
* the library - always having a stack of books to read
* the chance to learn and grow daily
* day trips and traveling
* having many things in my life that comfort me - such as tea, baking, creating art, hugs from Michael, kitty cats purring


Join in doing 52 Lists hosted by Moorea Seal.  I love them and it has been not only fun, but really interesting exploring some areas I buried or never really noticed about myself.  #52lists2013

52 Week Photo Project: Week 5

Sprouts opened up here in Grand Junction. Sprouts has natural, organic - more green and sustainable groceries.  Every time we have drove past since it opened on January 16th - the store has been really busy. Parking lot full. But finally Michael and I decided to brave the crowds and so glad we did visit.  Thankful to have it added to our town. It had wonderful looking produce and the prices on many of our staples were pretty good. So I do believe we will be some of our shopping there.

We picked up several organic apples.
I have been having them as snacks - yummy!

as I said to Michael when we passed these bins
 my 2 favorite veggies right next to each other

Downton Abbey

I have been drinking more tea this winter. Last winter, I might have had a cup or two a week. Now I have one almost everyday.  Even having a second cup sometimes. 

I told Michael this morning that either it is just because it has been so cold this winter or maybe watching so much of Downton Abbey is inspiring me to drink more tea. 

It took about 3 episodes of the first season before getting Michael hooked on Downton Abbey. We watched season 1 on Netflix and 2 on Hulu.  Right now 3 is being shown on PBS.org until March 3rd. But luckily for me, Michael bought me Downton Abbey UK edition Season 3 on DVD so we had a season 3 marathon recently. I was thrilled to see moments I had been waiting for since season 1. But I was also shocked by some things and think Mr. Julian Fellowes writer/creator of Downton Abbey has a little Joss Whedon in him. Joss fans might understand when they watch season 3. 

Now I am waiting for season 4! And rewatching all seasons OVER and OVER. 

Landslide

One of my favorite songs.

52 Lists: Week 4

This is week's 4 list - List Your Current & Future Goals & Dreams....This one was almost as hard as last weeks. And then when things started flowing...I realized I have a lot of dreams. Although that makes me happy, because I do feel like for a while I didn't dream anymore, I do realize I don't want to overwhelm myself with too many things on my list.

Get my art website up and going again - Get Etsy shop going - Continue on with poetry & photography - Continue with Inner Excavation - Work on Art weekly - Do Project Life - Take a couple of e-courses such as Ali Edward’s One Word -  Continue losing weight - To continue with therapy learning & growing into myself - To continue learning to love myself and know I am enough and worthy - Go back to Santa Fe - Travel - Accept compliments more easily &  help re-write the negative talk that goes on inside my head - Find a way to live with my pain that doesn't shut life down. Instead offers a a way to live my life with pain more fully. - Keep working towards a more green lifestyle - get one or more tattoos - contribute to the household financially - learn & practice yoga - work on meditation more - always be kind, compassionate, generous and grateful  - To continue to live in the present moment and live with intention - To continue on building my relationship with Michael as relationships require work and care to grow. - Go on an art retreat

Join in doing 52 Lists hosted by Moorea Seal.  I love them and it has been not only fun, but really interesting exploring some areas I buried or never really noticed about myself.  #52lists2013

Cheyenne!

When Michael and I were in Denver a few weeks ago, we discussed on the way home what we should do for our anniversary. We really want to get away for the weekend so started to think of places that wouldn't cost too much and we could get to and enjoy in just a short weekend.

Well you think anniversary - so cozy cabins in the woods, nice hotel with room service in the city or some other romantic getaway - right? We wanted it a little more low key then that so we really toss around several ideas...one being Salt Lake City as I have never been and it is just the same distance basically as Denver. We could also have some of our favorite pizza while there as they have a Godfathers.

We couldn't decide plus we had another thing to factor in...work. As much as we like getting away Michael has his own business and sometimes work comes before going away and taking vacations. I totally understand and we do other things to create downtime and celebrate special moments. We don't need to get away to celebrate 10 years anything we do - will capture the relationship and the love we have for each other.

So that night in bed Michael was almost asleep while I was reading and he woke up with a start and said CHEYENNE  While most people would look at this man and give him an odd look, I shouted - YES! Cheyenne doesn't exactly bring up romantic getaway thoughts for anyone....but us I am sure.

See after we decided I was moving here, I was scared to cross the passes on my own. He suggested we meet in Cheyenne so he could guide me into Colorado so I wouldn't have to go over the major passes. We stayed in Cheyenne for a couple nights as I arrived there with a flat tire. It was a really good weekend - seeing each other after being away from each other for several months. Knowing our life together was taking a new turn to being together full time and not having to suffer through the distance from Ohio to Colorado and not seeing each other daily.

For us Cheyenne would be the perfect place to celebrate 10 years. As it turns out we weren't be able to go, but we are marking it on our calendars and hoping we can go in May which will celebrate that weekend's anniversary.

As I said above we have captured our relationship and love we have for each other in other ways. Just being together and being able to celebrate 10 years together makes me feel incredibly blessed.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. 10 years with an amazing man
2. a beautiful day shared with him
3. another wonderful poetry date
4. evening spent watching Downton Abbey with my love
5. Starting the day and ending the day with my love -
6. being able to wake up each morning and say I love you to a man I walk an incredible path with daily

* photo from a little book I made for Michael for our anniversary. I will do a post later about the book with more photos and what I did.

10 Years Together

Most couples have a song that means something to them...that is their song.  I think we also have a movie. I am going to suggest that tonight we watch our movie...Serendipity.

I think it really fits us too. Michael and my life touched in places even before we knew each other. When I was a teenager, I would do Bible Camp in Woodland Park, Colorado. It was one of the reasons I wanted to move to Colorado - because I fell in love with the awesome beauty of the mountains. Michael's family visited Woodland Park often when he was young as his Grandfather had a cabin up in the mountains there. So we were near to each other - but not know each other yet. 

Another moment happened almost a year before he and I started talking to each other.  I lived in Cleveland, Ohio at the time, but had a group of friends from the Kansas City, MO area from when I lived in Topeka, KS.  One of the people in that group of friends was dating Michael in a long distant relationship. When I would visit, she talked about him, but I never knew him.  At one time when he was dating her, that group of friends went to Denver for a weekend getaway. One of the friends in the group was man I was interested in. He and I were talking about me visiting - doing the long distant thing and then maybe eventually moving to KC.  During that weekend away, I called him while he there and was talking him when Michael arrived to his room. He had taken another friend to hair salon.  We were just a few steps away from knowing each other. 

The woman Michael was dating is a friend of mine as I said. After they stopped dating, she suggested that he contact me as she felt we would be a good fit.  So he waited almost 6 months before he ended up emailing me. I was captivated from that first email - I knew there was something special with him. Might be silly sounding to some people that an email would spark enough connection that made me write him back and pursue getting to know this man better, but  I am so thankful I did...as 10 years today we are still going strong. 

Michael is smart, funny, kind, compassionate, hard-working, creative, talented and has endless qualities that I  cherish daily as well as new ones I discover even now.  We have made some priceless memories over the years. I feel extremely thankful to spend every day with him - even when it is just daily life we are moving through  It is each moment that counts and each moment with him counts more then I could have ever imagined. I feel extremely blessed to have taken each step of this journey with him and love him deeply and passionately as I did way back then. I look forward to celebrating 10 years with him and look forward to spending the coming years together too. 

Michael, your love has brought new colors to my world! Thank you! I love you! Happy Anniversary!

Winter's Sacred Invitation

A couple weeks of ago I went along with Michael to a client's home. They live right at the base of the Colorado Monument and it was just a beautiful winters day. I found it very inspiring and created this poem. 

Winter's Sacred Invitation
Majestic red mountains cloaked in white rising to greet us
Snow shimmering like jewels lining our way
Bare branches waiting for a dance with Winter's daughter
The icy breeze kissing our cheeks and fingertips
As tracks in the snow coax us forward
Winter's sacred invitation laid before us

52 Week Photo Project: Week 4

Last Friday Michael and I went on a Poetry Date and I snapped a bunch of photos. We saw so many wonderful pieces that inspired us. So for Week 4's photo I used the top photo, but adding the second photo of it too.

This old secretary desk. Michael and I really liked. We actually started looking at it because of a tea set on top. We were talking about it and so I opened it up. Inside it had photocopies of marriage and birth certificates of a couple who received the desk as a gift for their marriage. The top paper was a handwritten note with some of their story. Each item in the store has a story, but this one was included with the piece. It was a nice surprise to open the drawer and find it.

My Word is Joy

I believe it was Ali Edwards that started picking a word for the year. That will represent the goals and thing to keep present in your life for the year. This year I picked the word joy.  The end of last year, I really tried to practice finding joy in everyday.... whether they were ordinary moments or something quite extraordinarily. I found it helped me on so many levels...mentally, emotionally, creatively and physically. Although it didn't cure my pain, it helped me not get so swallowed up by it that I couldn't see anything, but the pain. I didn't pick a word last year, but kindness probably represented my year - being kind towards not only others, but myself. I always try to be kind, but I guess I wanted to take that a step further and be kind towards myself as that one is always hard for me.

So this year is joy and finding those moments of joy everyday. Today I was washing dishes and a moment of joy was looking at my dishcloth. It is a yellow handmade dishcloth made by an Aunt. It is always more enjoyable to wash dishes with a dishcloth made by someone I love.  A moment of joy in the middle of this ordinary task.

Feels Like Home

On February 1 Michael and I will celebrate 10 years together. This is our song. Just feel extremely blessed to with such an amazing man and sharing this journey with him for the last 10 years and the years ahead.

52 Lists: Week 3

Moorea Seal hit the nail on the head with this one....it came at a really good time for me and she worded it perfectly. I am working on several things out of my comfort zone and it is easy for me to get my brain spinning about things and not see that I have much to be proud of in myself.  Moorea Seal said on her blog: "I absolutely believe that everyone has reasons to be proud of who they are, what they have made it through and what they have created in their lives.  But many of us doubt that we even have anything to be proud of.  If you are having a hard time feeling proud of anything about yourself or in your life, you can at least try to acknowledge those things which you should seek to find pride in." 

I am doing the 52 Lists as a way to explore myself. I have many things I am proud of in friends and family, but trying to keep this list to exploring myself and it is very hard for me to even think about what I should be proud of - so a really good task for me to do as I have had people in my life say - I often discount the things I do. 


This weeks list is - List the things you should be proud of.....

My relationship with Michael - My Art Exploring new outlets and forms of my creativity  - I love unconditionally - I am passionate about so many things causes – such as human rights, domestic violence, child abuse, fighting cancer and other diseases, poverty and many other things. I have a generous spirit and and am kind-hearted to want to fight for those that need help - Traveling and living in so many areas around the US - I give good advice and am a good friend - I am a good mediator for others when they are upset - Being able to see both side of ideas - The journey I am on and that I continue to grow and learn - Friends and family – so many wonderful people in my life doing amazing things daily - My relationships with family and friends  - Being compassionate and open-minded - Self taught myself many things including website design and photoshop - Working with Michael in his business – learning it and taking on things that scare me and push my comfort bounds - Surviving trauma and troubles in my life including dark thoughts of trying to kill myself  - Surviving each cycle of depression – coming out each time stronger - Reading  - as it allows me to explore areas and times I can never go and expands my imagination – words creating vivid pictures in my head - I am very domestic and enjoy making a happy home for Michael and I -  I am self-aware


Join in doing 52 Lists hosted by Moorea Seal.  I love them and it has been not only fun, but really interesting exploring some areas I buried or never really noticed about myself.  #52lists2013

Poetry Dates

When Michael picked up poemcrazy by Susan Wooldridge, he fell down the rabbit hole like I did after reading it. He immediately started playing with words to capture moments he was seeing.  He suggested we do poetry dates. We made a list of places to go to that would inspire words to create poetry.

After making a list of these places, I cut them into strips of paper and stuffed all of them in a jar.  We will pick a strip of paper from the jar each week to go to and do poetry dates. This first week's pick was Habitat for Humanity Restore.

I snapped photos along the way to help us remember.  It was an outing that surpassed my expectations. It was completely inspiring and enjoyable. I really can't wait until our next date.  I think it was perfect for Michael too - to unplug from work and play creatively.

Each item in the Restore has a story and it was so delightful to look at them and create stories for them. To see beyond just an item sitting on a shelf.  It was perfect for our first date.

Here are some photos I snapped and poetry I am sure will come later.....

old brick tiles

figurines

typeset

I pretty much was swooning over the typeset. There were 2 boxes this one was 18 point and the other was much smaller. Both surprisingly intact. I mean missing some letters, but quite a lot more then I have ever seen in a set.

antique dresser with top row of wicker knobs

pottery

vintage Singer sewing machine

Gratitude Friday

ice outside my doctor's office 

I am thankful for...
1. a good meeting this week for me
2. a therapy session where we high five
3. new glasses - they are purplish pink and I am amazed how better I see now
4. poetry date with Michael at Habitat Humanity ReStore today - so FUN!
5. thick and rich stew for dinner - one of my favorite comfort foods

Life in 2013

Just a few notes about life....

* My life is amazing right now. I just feel overwhelmed with joy. It is easy for the pain to flood in and bring me down though. So trying to hang on to all the good things in my life. Remind myself that I have super fantastic support system in my life between Michael, family, friends, and professionals in my life such as my doctor and therapist.  Hanging on to the abundance of joy and working to get the pain more under control.

* I got new glasses....first time I have worn glasses in at least 15 years.  I joked with the eye doctor that even though Colorado doesn't seem to mind me not having a glasses while driving....I do. :)  I had been driving more and didn't like not being able to read signs ahead.

* I have been working on a project due to Michael and some other people giving me a little nudge. Oddly it was my idea at first and then others were very much in support of it. It is doing things that are out of my comfort zone, but it has been good for me at that same time.  

* 2013 has been artful and creative for me. I am reading a book Poemcrazy (something I have never tried my hand at before) and I am having fun playing with words. Besides the poetry, I have many other fulfilling creative ideas and projects taking up my time. I can't imagine not having them going on now and want to explore them further. I hope to really push my creativity and art in 2013.

* Monday I had to get some X-rays done and handed Poemcrazy to Michael when I was taken back.  He is now hooked on it too. We are going to do Poetry Dates.

* As I started this entry...life is amazing right now. I really am enjoying life right now and I like who I am becoming. I feel very good about everything. I am always growing and working towards things I want in my life...for my life.

Beauty Every Day

The other day Upworthy resposted an article that appeared in The Washington Post about violinist Joshua Bell who went to play incognito in subway station. It was a social experiment by the journalist, but as a quote in the article points out....and I am adding a word to it...what beauty do we miss every day?

"If we can't take the time out of our lives to stay a moment and listen to one of the best musicians on Earth play some of the best music ever written; if the surge of modern life so overpowers us that we are deaf and blind to something like that -- then what else are we missing?" from the Washington Post

Here is some of the video...I know there is one the above link too.

52 Week Project: Week 3

We were in Denver last week and I snapped some photos while Michael was in meetings. One was this photo of branches. I have started a poem about branches and what they mean to me - I am not finished with it. Oddly I started this poem before I started reading a book called poemcrazy by Susan Wooldridge.  Now I have no doubt the poem will emerge more easily as that book has freed the words stuck inside. I see them all around now.

New Year

Julius Shulman

photographer Julius Shulman

Michael stopped me this morning before I dived into work to watch a documentary on Julius Shulman via Netflix instant. Oh....I am so thankful he did...it was captivating.

From Amazon: "Narrated by Dustin Hoffman, VISUAL ACOUSTICS celebrates the life and career of Julius Shulman, the world s greatest architectural photographer, whose images brought modern architecture to the American mainstream. Shulman captured the work of nearly every major modern and progressive architect since the 1930s including Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra, John Lautner and Frank Gehry. His images epitomized the singular beauty of Southern California s modernist movement and brought its iconic structures to the attention of the general public. This unique film is both a testament to the evolution of modern architecture and a joyful portrait of the magnetic, whip-smart gentleman who chronicled it with his unforgettable images."

I will tell you the truth, I didn't know the name Julius Shulman, but as soon as they started showing his photographs...I recognized them. The film and his photography are impactful and inspiring. Extremely glad Michael persuaded me to take the time to watch it. It was well worth every minute and I know I will be floating on daydreams of beautiful architecture all day.

Gratitude Friday

a photo from our drive home

I am thankful for...
1. a safe trip to Denver
2. seeing our good friend Lala in Denver
3. being able to see Michael's parents and new puppy
4. playing with my camera while Michael was in a meeting
5. stopping in Glenwood Canyon to take photos with Michael - we had a lot of fun stomping around in the cold and snow.
6. really good dinner of veggie lo mein and baked egg rolls

52 Lists: Week 2

This week....List Your Greatest Comforts

holding hands with Michael - watching movies with Michael - creating art - going to museums -purring kitty cats - soft sweaters - snuggling under a blanket - pillow talk - the smell of soup simmering - hot soup on a cold winter night - tea with cream & sugar - cool drink on a hot summer day - reading books- Brene Brown books - Paulo Coehlo books - Eat Pray Love - chatting with friends - hugs from friends & family - sending & receiving snail mail - listening to music - office supplies - art supplies - cardamom cookies - smelling & eating freshly baked bread - warm fuzzy socks // hot cocoa - Christmas - chocolate -baking - singing - touch - dreams - sunsets -mountains - photographs - candles - notepads - journals - chapstick - memories - snow - rain - coloring - crying - laughter - road trips  - Asian food - Thanksgiving dinner - making lists - Sunday mornings

Join in doing 52 Lists hosted by Moorea Seal.  I love them and it has been not only fun, but really interesting exploring some areas I buried or never really noticed about myself.  #52lists2013

52 Week Photo Project - Week 2

Rhonda's Rocks

I have a therapist. I don't think everyone needs therapy, but I know for me I am thankful for the therapists I have had in my life. I have struggled with depression all my life - my brain chemistry is just wired differently.  It is not like I had a broken childhood or lots of trauma in my life, but I do have things that have tripped me up and it has been hard for me to move past those issues.  Add in that I just feel as a person....I am constantly working on me. I am continually growing and changing and it is nice to have someone there who isn't a friend or lover to help be a sounding board and give guidance without some of the things that come with having an intimate bond.

Last January my therapist at that time left for a new job and it wasn't like her current job so not like I could just follow her so she recommended one of her colleagues for me.  We had kind of a bumpy start only because I was scared of some of the things brought up.  But when I reached out again she was there for me and has been a champion for me.  I am extremely thankful to have her help.

I feel in 2012 - really just in the last 6 months. I have been growing more comfortable with myself then I have ever been. I know it is mainly due to her help and understanding.

The above photo is from my therapist's office. She has a bowl of rocks in her office. Some of the rocks have been given to her, some she has collected and she has it out so people can look at them or can take a rock if they want.  When I stepped into her office, I immediately was taken with the bowl of rocks.  I ran my fingers through them and picked them up looking at them - so many lovely shapes, textures and colors.  I think one reason I was drawn to them because here at home I have a bowl of rocks too. Mostly rocks given to me by friends, but some collected over the years. I have found lately when we travel, I have been finding rocks that I feel should come home with me and be added to my bowl. I am glad I see them and see so many other things I have ignored for far too long....simple everyday joy is coming back to me and I have to thank my therapist for helping me find my way back to it. Thank you Rhonda!

Here to Stay

I think I heard this on the tv show Nikita and really liked it.

It's a Tiara

Michael and I have been on a Big Bang Theory marathon lately and this is a clip that I loved from on of the episodes we watched today.  Michael said it reminded him of me.  And I admit it reminded me of me too. :)

Gratitude Friday

Michael blowing bubbles in -7 degree weather
Light reflecting off bubbles to make them look like fire

I am thankful for..
1. Michael dancing and singing in the furniture store we went to on Sunday with my parents
2. blowing bubbles in single digit and minus degree weather just to see if bubbles will freeze. Although the test didn't succeed. We did have fun trying even though it was so very cold!
3. tea
4. capturing everyday moments with my camera
5. my parents visiting us....it was a really nice time. It was great to see them. I miss my family so much - so glad to have a little time with my parents

Resolution or Desire and Intention

I have never really made New Year's resolutions. I might have a very loose list of things in my head of things I want to work on, but they don't necessarily come with just the new year. They are just things in my head that I am constantly adding to, working on and doing throughout the year. I evaluate my life and think about what I want and where I want to go with my life throughout the year - not just at the new year.

The last few years I have some goals written down as I felt seeing them in black and white gives them intention and vision to do them. So I guess in fact they have been resolutions as the definition of resolution is resolving to do something or setting a course of action and being firm in determination.

Why I have never called them resolutions though is because to me a resolution is more firm or outlined and often - well I am a dreamer and think with my heart so things are always changing and moving for me. I don't always have a clear vision of how to get to where I want to go, but kind of leave it up to where the path may lead me - not always to the final goal, but something I needed anyway.

This year a good friend of mine wrote me to ask how she could support me in my new year goals. I was blown away by her kindness and generosity, but she did make me look at my goals. I am still not making clear plans or outlines really. But I am making intention.  Intention of what I desire and where I would like to go with my life. Again my path my steer me off sometimes, but I trust in the universe to guide me to my dreams, desires and intention for my life.

One of my desires for the new year is get Danielle LaPorte's Desire Map program. As always she speaks to me and with this new year of setting desires and intentions for myself it of course speaks even more clear....

52 Lists: Week 1

I found this via Pinterest as I follow Moorea Seal there and enjoy her blog also. She is doing a list a week for the year - 52 Lists.  I love lists so I am going to jump into this project.

Right now I am reading the book Inner Excavation by Liz Lamoreux and she suggest collecting a word toolbox. Gathering words to create poetry. So this first list is perfect for that too...the first weeks list is Words that Touch Your Soul.

The words I have on my list:  love - Michael - grace -living - stillness - joy - devotion - vibrant - laughter - star - dream - believe - feeling - spirit - celebrate - rainbow - simplicity - play - passion - kindness // journey - open - peace - friendship - family - gratitude - wholehearted - hope - mountains - acceptance - being - beauty - expressive - hearth - home - energy - sisters - understanding - giving - knowledge // vulnerable - courage - doing - truth - reality universe - touch - tea - silliness - artistry - purple - mermaid - darkness - light - enough - enchanted - faith - music - growth - possible

Join in doing 52 Lists hosted by Moorea Seal.  I love them and it has been not only fun, but really interesting exploring some areas I buried or never really noticed about myself.  #52lists2013

Keep Holding On

I have been rewatching Glee on Netflix Instant .  This is a song that played in the episode I watched tonight.

52 Week Photo Project - Week 1

A couple friends of mine are doing the 365 Photo project, but I am not sure I am up to doing 365. Along with the 365 Photo Project there is 52 Week Photo Project so I am doing that....a photo a week.  I am working with the book Inner Excavation by Liz Lamoreux  and I am trying to just capture picture of my life here and there.

Here is week 1 photo....

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. my parent's arriving 
2. hugging my parents
3. kitty cats
4. hot cocoa with homemade coffee liqueur
5. Michael fixing the light in my office

2012 A Year in Review by Google

Yesterday I posted a commercial that had a song in it that I like, but made me think of commercials and last night while watching Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin Eve - Google had a commercial that made me cry. As I said to Michael - Google commercials always get to me. They have an amazing advertising department. So inspiring.

2012 A Year in Review by Google

Beautiful Dreamer

I love this commercial for the imagination used in it, the shots capture, and the song...the song always makes me look up when it comes on.



The song is Beautiful Dreamer done by Rachel Fannan. But oddly enough according to this website the song was originally written in 1864. 

Gratitude Friday

Christmas Eve Dinner

I am thankful for...
1. a very nice Christmas
2. a white Christmas
3. being able to just be - not having to think or do anything sometimes is very nice and it was this week
4. talking to my parents and sister Michelle on Christmas
5. an amazing 2012

Merry Christmas

May peace, love and joy be yours today and your blessings throughout the year. Wishing a very Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

Frittata

Frittata - potatoes, onion, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms and peppers, sausage, cheese, and herbs/seasonings - rosemary, parsley, salt and pepper - beaten eggs
poured over the top and baked - this was brunch this morning

Gratitude Friday

blue lights in Grand Junction

I am thankful for...
1. road side service...our car wouldn't start this morning and road side service came to our house to give us a jump.  We then went to get a new battery for the car as it was much needed.
2. being able to play Santa Elves and deliver some goodie trays as well as a casserole to a friend that just was getting out of the hospital.
3. wearing Santa hats and singing Christmas songs with my love
4. going out and looking at lights
5. unexpected gift from a friend that helped us do one of our traditions - getting a starbucks to sip on while driving around looking at lights.

blue lights on trees - probably close to 50 trees in this yard 

Santa's Elves

Michael and I are going to play Santa's Elves today and deliver a strata with roasted mushrooms, peppers and tomatoes, several of these little goodie trays and then a container of fudge.  We are even going to wear our Santa hats. 

On the tray: Maple fudge, sour cream cookies, chocolate fudge, 7 layer bars, thin mints and festive bark.

The Greatest Gift

During the holidays when I am busy making and baking gifts I will either watch Christmas movies on Netflix instant or listen Christmas music on Pandora.  This year I have been watching movies and one I watched was The Christmas Lodge. Not a fabulous movie, but still not horrible either.  Very pretty scenery shots in it too.  Anyway....this song was in the Christmas Lodge and the singer was in the movie.   

Gratitude Friday

Today's Gratitude Friday is hard for me to do. I know I have lots of things to be thankful for....but today has just been filled with so much...so much pain and sadness not only because of the shooting in CT, but we had 2 friends diagnosed with cancer this week.

So sending every one light and love.

Impact

"Consider the importance of becoming aware of the impact you have on others, and remind yourself that by raising your own energy level to a place where you’re in harmony with Source, you become an instrument, or a channel, of peace. This works everywhere, so be a part of the counterbalance to the human negativity you encounter in your life. As Mahatma Gandhi said: “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.” Dr. Wayne W. Dyer from Do You Make a Difference?

I Believe Father Christmas

Christmas Treats

These are some new recipes I want to try this Christmas....

Source: bakersroyale.com via Darby on Pinterest

Instead of making them into pops, I think I will just do little brownie bits.

Source: flowerpatchfarmgirl.blogspot.com via Darby on Pinterest

This I think I want to make and give as gifts in a mason jar.

Source: food.com via Darby on Pinterest

These are microwave caramels....which seems almost impossible to me, but I would consider it a huge blessing if it was true. So I think I will try them.

Taking a Leap

The on-the-spot practice of being fully present, feeling your heart, and greeting the next moment with an open mind can be done at any time: when you wake up in the morning, before a difficult conversation, whenever fear or discomfort arises. This practice is a beautiful way to claim your warriorship, your spiritual warriorship. In other words, it is a way to claim your courage, your kindness, your strength. Whenever it occurs to you, you can pause briefly, touch in with how you're feeling both physically and mentally, and then connect with your heart-even putting your hand on your heart, if you want to. This is a way of extending warmth and acceptance to whatever is going on for you right now. You might have an aching back, an upset stomach, panic, rage, impatience, calmness, joy-whatever it is, you can let it be there just as it is, without labeling it good or bad, without telling yourself you should or shouldn't be feeling that way. Having connected with what is, with love and acceptance, you can go forward with curiosity and courage. I call this step "taking a leap." From Pema Chodron's book "Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change"

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. Michael - it was his birthday yesterday and I am just so thankful for being able to walk this path of life together.
2. just relaxing and watching movies with Michael on his birthday
3. Michael feeling a little bit better...he has had the flu all week
4. Michael relaxing and not pushing too much this week...letting his body rest and heal.
5. apple cider to warm us up on this cold evening

100 Things | My Name

29. I love my name

I love that I have my name. Thankful my parents saw it in a church bulletin and decided to name it. As a child though, I did get upset when other kids got pencils, notepads and other little trinkets with their name on it and I didn't. On Christma

s when I was about 6 years old my Grandma & Grandpa gave me a t-shirt that had my name on it that they went out and got specifically customized for me. I hung on to that t-shirt for YEARS. But eventually I lost it in one of my moves otherwise I am sure it would enshrined because of how important it was to me as a little girl. At least now days with the digital age it is easier to customize things with names on them.

Christmas Lights

Coldplay + Christmas music = yay!

World Aids Day

Today is World Aids Day to bring awareness to HIV/AIDS. Although we don't hear about it as often these days as we did in the late 80's/early 90's....it is still a fight. We must continue to fight for those who have HIV/AIDS. So this is for friends who continue the fight of their lives and to those who are no longer with us.

Bond ... James Bond .....

I'm a big time James Bond fan.

Connery, Moore, Lazenby, Dalton, Brosnan, Craig ....

All of them had their stake and left their own unique mark.

The movies are fun.  There's action with sexy women with sexy cars and sexy gadgets.  As the enterprise continued to advance, the Bond empire continued to be more innovative.  The cars did more, the gadgets were more tricky and the characters found themselves in space, under water and rescuing the world over and over again.

But as the empire continued to roll, the character could almost become predictable.  Peril + girl + gadget + action filled escape = successful Bond movie.

It wasn't until Pierce Brosnan's tenure that we started to see a different Bond emerge.  He was upset - feeling betrayed - a little darker - feeling more than going through the typical stunts and falls.

Daniel's version of Bond finally added depth to the character.  We had a Bond who has issues.  We had a Bond who was complicated.  Daniel Craig's Bond got rid of the gadgets and the over-the-top invisible car ... the VANQUISH ..... ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh....

What Daniel did in Casino Royale was to bring Bond back to reality.  Beating his counterparts using his brawn, smarts and a bit of Bond luck.  He didn't need the gadgetry to save him like the infamous jet pack or the laser beam that can fire from his watch.  Don't get me wrong - I like some of that stuff.  It's fun - but after awhile it just felt over used.

And so ... if you haven't seen the last couple Bond films (Quantum of Solace and Skyfall) - you may want to reconsider reading any further.  I don't want to spoil the plot for you.

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Are you sure you're ready?


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Last chance ....

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Alright....  Quantum has been dubbed Craig's mistake in the Bond spectrum.  While I can see some of the complaints ... honestly - if we forgave Pierce and the disappearing car ... we can give Daniel a little leeway too.  

So here comes Sam Mendes to direct the latest film Skyfall.  Sam is very popular and well known for his work with American Beauty, Road to Perdition and Jarhead.  He's done good work and I think he brought a different perspective when he was asked to lead Bond on another adventure.  The problem with Skyfall wasn't Mendes, wasn't Craig, Dench or Javier (who made a really great villain.)

It was the story.

Not everything was bad ... as there were elements I liked.  Bond having a hard time bouncing back after his last assignment, recovery not quite as smooth as it had been for other Bonds.  He was real ... just as I have grown to like him in Casino Royale and Quantum.

But ...  there were times in Skyfall where I felt like we were starting to embrace the earlier Bond methods.  I'm not sure if this was Mendes' way to pay homage to Daniel's former brethren ... but it just didn't seem to mesh with the Bond I've come to really enjoy. 

Yes - it's great to see the famous Aston Martin again.  Yes - it was even great to see Q again.

Where as in Casino and Quantum ... we got to know the villains more.  We learned more about their history and how they got to be evil.  Javier's character barely had one segment to explain why he was in a bad mood and wanted to take down the agency.  It felt flat even though Javier did an incredible job trying to rescue the character.

Even with that ... I felt I could be okay with the movie ... until ....

...the very end.  The last 5-7 minutes seem like a cop out.  Right down to Eve Moneypenny, the cushioned door leading into M's office .... and it just felt like Daniel's Bond had been transformed into something - less - than what he's capable of.  The build-up of what Sam had done up until the last part of the movie - was unraveled by this "blast from the past" kind of familiarity reunion thing.

I'm sure the Bond franchise is eager to start building on Skyfall's popularity.  The movie has gotten rave reviews and has been a good money maker for the Bond empire. It's sad that the bottom fell out at the end of a really good movie.  I'm not saying their unexpected plot twist with M was bad ... it's probably really good for the stories to come ... but we didn't need to come back to Bond circa 1960.  

What Mendes and Broccoli should've realized is that it's okay to be an advanced modern Bond and an advanced MI6.  It's okay to be weak, vulnerable and human with all of the failings that follow.  The Bond empire didn't need to revert or put the jacket back on from long ago.  It's okay to step out of the shadow of the old Bonds ... and make the Bond that resonated the most with the Ian Flemming character.

In short - as some reviewers have said - it's not a bad movie ... but it's just not a great Bond movie.  I do hope that the next Bond movie can step back on the Path they started before ... or else I'm in for another disappointing 2 1/2 hour movie.