~~~Gratitude~~~

I am GRATEFUL for a Big Orange Tractor and the Guy who Operates the Beast!

Meet Agent Orange, that is the name of our tractor.  It was a big deal to get him a few years back $$$ wise.  But prior to his arrival my guy SNOW BLOWED our 350 foot driveway...it was nuts!  But the tractor got his name because after he arrived, it was like, we were afraid to use him...so I named him Secret Agent Orange...waiting for his mission!  Finally, the buyers remorse was remedied after the first snow storm.  Many missions later this tractor is a well loved machine.  It is like having a real Tonka toy!

Ok~~~Extra Stuff the Blizzard 2013

Out the front door yesterday

Our Driveway!  What Driveway?

Last night out the backdoor...Crazy Drifting!

More crazy drifting around Duckingham Palace.  Saved a lot on shoveling, grateful for that too!

All 7 ducks accounted for, they got a little treat of oats I sprouted for them.

More Plowing Photos!  My back feels so good!!

And Finally the day before and after spot!

It is my intention, each Sunday, to share something that fills me with Gratitude. 

I write ~~~Gratitude~~~ with the wavy lines to represent the gratitude ENERGY~~~~~! 

I hope you will join me and share your gratitude moments. 

~~~Amen, Blessed Be, Namaste'~~~

Day Before the Nor'easter

This is the view out my window right NOW!  Things are starting to wind up for a pretty big storm.  It has been awhile since we have had any snow at all this winter so it is welcomed.  We are on the fringe of the worst of what is predicted and we are also very well prepared for this kind of event.  So enjoying the blizzard is the business at hand!

So a little wandering through my day.....

I started the day with soup making.  I love soup!  But I will admit to not caring much for cooking.  Daily cooking is in line with laundry, vacuuming, and cleaning the bathroom...sorry all you foodies.  My friends know that my favorite meal is the one someone else cooks.  I do like to eat and since my guy works very long hours and it easier, at this point, to not include the teen I do the cooking.  I try to find efficiencies in my cooking methods and creativity to liven up the process.  Soup suits these desires.  So first I have my palette...the pantry...my efficiency...no measuring.  

The Soup of the Day~~~Lentil Barley Curry

I start by dumping into an 8 quart pot some hulled barley then twice as much-ish of green lentils.  Fill the pot 3/4 full with water.  Then add about 5 to 7 chopped carrots, 2 chopped onions, crumple in some seaweed, and 

3 HEADs of Garlic.

Now the seasonings~Starting at the upper left~Curry Powder, Cumin, Oregano, and a really good squirt of Braggs.  Top off with water and let it simmer on the cook stove all day.

My boots are warmed up ~ time for a walk!

Just a bit of sun and mighty cold.

Quiet in the Woods

Saw a Pileated Woodpecker!

And got a photo!!

Thought this would be a good before photo~~~we will see what the storm brings...I will post again tomorrow...unless we lose power...possible with the predicted winds.

Spent the rest of the day working on fiber art~~FUN~~Reiki space as Art Studio!

Think it is time now to have a wee glass of wine, turn off all the inside lights, turn on the outside lights, and 

BE in a Snow Globe!

By the way...the soup was excellent...everyone fed and pleased...with ease!

Den of Distractions

 Hi~I am here ~ Now! (probably still am...)  This is where it "all" happens.  My little biosphere of blogging.  My Etsy listing nest.  My den of distractions.  I spend more time in front of a screen than I would like to admit. But, living with a teen that has to have at least 2 screens during all waking hours in front of his face gives me the illusion of balance.  My  distractions are not all screen related though.  You can see the big wall of books..they are not just for show..these are pretty comfortable chairs...so I do lose my self at times... 

(should be on the computer working but reading instead...not a problem for the younger generation)   

There is this nice window for mindless gazing.  If it is night and there is a snow storm with the outside lights on~~~total snow globe effect~~~all my work goes out the window!! (pun intended)

Then there is my little loom.  Oh, how I love this machine.  It is my first loom and we have been together for around 30 years!  Her name is Kyra and she is made out of cherry wood.  She has been to many classrooms letting kids have a crack at cloth making.  I weave mostly scarves on her.  This is weaving meditation.  When I  have been sitting too long and my neck is stiff I stand and weave.  The weaving is simple so I only need to be aware of my selvedge edges.  Just enough awareness that I can not think of any thing else. Just...shuttle in the shed, switch, & beat....over and over and over.  So what next...list my 3 finished scarves on Etsy or weave a little first...gaze a bit...hmm a poem might be nice right about now...put my feet up and read idioms from The Dictionary of Idioms???

Life IS Good!

~~~Gratitude~~~

Great Weather for Ducks

This week I am grateful for a windy rainy day.  Thursday was crazy warm for January in Maine.  I came from the Pacific Northwest so a warmish rain is an elixir to my inner child. Along with my ducks I headed outside to enjoy this mid winter oddity.  I am having a very busy week so I am grateful for this  irresistible calling that allowed me a moment or two of play.  I will let the photos speak for themselves.  (because I have to get back to my busy-ness)

ice bubbles nearly melted

http://injoyemporium.blogspot.com/2013/01/pause-see-icescapes.html

Trying to photograph the wind

Happy!

It is my intention, each Sunday, to share something that fills me with Gratitude. 

I write ~~~Gratitude~~~ with the wavy lines to represent the gratitude ENERGY~~~~~! 

I hope you will join me and share your gratitude moments. 

~~~Amen, Blessed Be, Namaste'~~~

Path Work ~ Search and Surrender

Today's walk started on the woods trails. I built these trails.  Except for an occasional bit of chainsaw work the trails are my project.  I keep them open and occasionally expand the network.  The trails work began when my son started Kindergarten.  I found I had a bit of extra time and I wanted trails.  I love to be and work in the woods.  I tend to stay on the path.  Today I was thinking of the idea of path. Why is that we tend towards this order and ease. I crossed the path of deer.  They too seem to stick to their repeated track.  Staying on track, follow your path, the path of least resistance....

I came to the were the trail ended in the field and decided it was time to turn off the beaten track.  A little wandering was warranted on this lovely day.  The walking conditions were very good the bit of snow was well packed and frozen. A turn....

As I wandered so did my thoughts.  I had no destination in mind just whichever way I could get though.  I saw a few interesting sights...

 a yellow leaf cradling snow

a captured pine cone

Then a thought came to me.  A couple of years ago when I had wandered off the trails I had found the remnants of a fort built by my son.  Not really a fort.  It was a pallet and a rope hanging off a branch.  I was surprised to find it then.  I thought I had known of all his doings in the woods.  But this was a secret place.  Today I wanted to find it.  It was a strong desire.  A mini obsession.  I just wanted to see it.  I know it must still be there.

I went though brush and had tree branches whack me in the face.  I zigged and I zagged.  I went one way then doubled back.  I set up a search grid.  I just wanted to see that little creation.  I craved that remembrance.  I was yearning for yesterday...

   I climbed over stone walls and then back again.  I wasn't going to give up.  It had to be there.  The woods are so open right now...how could I miss it?  I continued to search...

I finally came near the house and I stopped.  Tears rolled down my cheeks.  I took a breath.  I felt my feet touching the earth and came back to the present.  My son is just 18. He will be graduating this spring.  The teen years have not been easy.  Not bad, but not easy.  Before puberty it was bliss between he and I.  It was the most wonderful time of my life.  I have been telling my self that I am healthily detached from his impending leaving and I will NOT have the empty nest feelings.  It is as it should be.  But today, how I felt in the woods, pointed me to another path that needs to be created.  It is a bittersweet byway of joy and grief as my one and only child goes his merry way.  So I surrendered my search.  I will let that place in the woods be among his many secrets.  I am content with the knowledge that time did exists.  It is now, it is now, it is now....

Happy Trails

Pause & See ~~~ Icescapes

WHEN THE WATER POT

BURST THAT SILENT NIGHT WITH COLD

MY EYES SPLIT OPEN 

Basho

Today at Duckingham Palace I was hurrying through my chores because it was so darn cold! Out of the corner of my eye I glanced at the duck pond and saw these unusual white spots.  I came is for a closer look.  They were spring bubbles trapped frozen in the ice.  I scurried back to the house to get my camera. I braved the cold without mittens and snapped these photos. The photos have not been edited in anyway.  Just auto setting and a bit of zoom.  This beauty took my breath away. I can say no more...except my own haiku for the moment...

MY WORDS HAVE GONE

FROZEN INTO THE POND ICE

PAUSE AND SEE BEAUTY

Orah

This a regular feature I plan to include in this blog.  I try to see something new each day.  It is part of my practice in "seeing".  The art of seeing is essential to any creative work in my humble opinion.  My favorites are the ones that stop me in my tracks!  Like so many folks I have a very busy mind that I struggle to quiet.  But by creating this practice it has given me many opportunities to pause and be with a new wonder.  I love to wonder about wonders.  These little seeings can be just the jolt my creative process needs to get out of a rut.  But mostly they provide a pause which is that moment of peace I need to heal from a frustration. These seeings are grounding for me and bring me to the present.  I will admit to laughing out loud with joy over some of these discoveries. They are a moment of childlike wonder!  

"When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky"             ~~~Buddha

~~~Gratitude~~~

 A Month of Gratitude!

Feeling pretty grateful today.  I had a tough time choosing what to gratitude about.  This has been an amazing month, especially for January.  The day started with a nice breakfast cookstove style.  I had my first good walk in days seeing that the temperature rose to a whooping 10 degrees!  I even warmed enough to take my gloves off for part of the walk. Maine has had incredible temperature fluctuations this month.  It has been a roller coaster of warm to frigid with more warm on the horizon then more cold to follow.  Along with record breaking temps I have broken my own record for seeing Reiki Clients for any January since I started my practice in 2006! (thanks to my wonderful clients!)  Also, happy to say I have had the most Etsy sales this month of any month since opening a year ago!  (thanks to Etsy & the world wide web)  I started the month completely behind with my bookkeeping (thought January would be slow and I would have nothing better to do).  But, Friday I finished my bookkeeping and did our taxes!  I play a little game.....I don't "allow" myself to do my seed order until I get our taxes done.  So now it is the seed catalog reward!  

I just want to send out a thank-you to all who have been a part of this wonderful month!

It is my intention, each Sunday, to share something that fills me with Gratitude. 

I write ~~~Gratitude~~~ with the wavy lines to represent the gratitude ENERGY~~~~~! 

I hope you will join me and share your gratitude moments. 

~~~Amen, Blessed Be, Namaste'~~~