A Happy Easter To You

One of my favorite vintage Easter candles

An array of spring color to brighten the season

Simple pleasures~ Soften our lives and bring a sparkle to our eyes.

Happy Easter!!!

They Made It!

Planted last November, my tulips gradually sprouted and today they started to open! They made it through winds, torrential rains, and the countless nibbles from squirrels and chipmunks, curious to find a new delicacy growing up in their corner of the world.

The first flowers to bloom are a lovely shade of peach with bright orange centers. There are more on the way in yellows and reds.

It's so nice to have such graceful flowers adding a splash of color!

My New Year

I think January 1st is a day to think of resolutions on a collective basis...what can we all do to resolve to make the world a better place? A birthday provides an opportunity to reflect on one's own life and make a personal resolve to make efforts to change what one can to better him or herself. Today is my 53rd birthday...a day for celebrating the beginning of yet another year of the gift of life and a day to think about what I want to do to grow and give more of myself in a way that brings meaningfulness to my own life and others. The past year was one of vulnerability. I'd just had a kidney transplant and was learning how to adapt to the multitude of medications I must take to preserve the health of the precious new kidney valiantly pumping away inside of me. I was physically weak from the surgery, often quite sick from the medications, and emotionally more sensitive than usual. I felt like a turtle without a shell. Even though I made progress and got stronger with time, a sense of having to be ever so cautious overwhelmed me and affected my eagerness to expand my horizons. I felt more like I should hole up and be guarded. Even though I still face health challenges that need to be addressed and resolved, this year I hope to get back on my feet, so to speak, and strengthen mind and body more and more. Kevin and I would like to get back to the hikes and backpack trips we love so much. It will literally be a step by step process...but I'm feeling ready to do what it takes to get beyond the limitations that hindered me last year and move forward to get back to these activities and others we wish to pursue. So, my main new year's resolution as I step towards birthday 54 will be to face life with greater boldness...knowing the time to push myself has come. As I become stronger and more secure, I will naturally have more to give to those I love and to those causes to which I want to dedicate my time and attention. Spiritual and political leader Muhatma Gandhi brilliantly stated, "You must be the change you want to see in the world." Obviously a very wise, compassionate man, Gandhi gave us all a challenge with his words ... a challenge I would like to start to better meet in this, my 53rd year.

Gentle Light

This afternoon, the gentle light coming through the kitchen window highlighted the hummingbird suncatcher and new blooms on this African violet creating a sense of serenity.

I love the way sun light can affect everything in a room.

Living My Dream

Today, in a moment of stillness, I came to an epiphany...I am living my dream. Wow, I thought to myself, what an incredible realization! My past was fraught with trouble and broken dreams - heartache, abusive relationships, illness, loss, and confusion. Now, despite facing some current medical challenges...all I've ever wanted is...the life that I have. This clarity came to me as I inwardly reviewed my current life situation. I'm living with my soul mate in a peaceful cabin in the woods. I have the opportunity to expand on my artwork and have a wonderful friend and mentor to guide me in these efforts. I'm active in a non-profit environmental organization through which I can participate as well as create programs for to benefit our little corner of the world here in the Catoctin Mountains. My beautiful daughter is healthy and thriving and all that she is and all that she does makes me ever so proud of her. The struggles we lived through only made her a stronger, more determined individual, ready to face the world and reach for and live her own dreams. My "dream" career, beyond parenting, has always been as teacher and naturalist - both of which I carry out on a less formal basis than in previous paid positions I've held, but now with the utter freedom to do as I would like to do without constraints or structured guidelines. I also love nature photography, and though I am not a professional and don't work with high tech equipment, I enjoy taking simple pictures outdoors, and, every-once-in-a-while, come up with shots that capture the essence of what I was going for when I snapped them. Living my dream, in some ways, is a letting go of some of the bigger, more expansive versions of what that means - I realize I won't work for National Geographic on assignment or do field studies of tropical birds and butterflies in the Amazon Rainforest...but I do enjoy whatever traveling Kevin and I do and look forward to every new adventure we take, be it near or a little farther. Looking forward to our vacation getaways keeps life exciting in the slower times. The slower times are enjoyable in and of themselves - living in peace and in harmony with Kevin in a home environment we create for beauty and comfort. Being in tune with and enjoying the seasonal changes. Tending the gardens and discovering new birds and insects and observing other wildlife in our woodlands. Leisurely weekends going to museums, antique shops, and doing household chores, going out to the movies or staying in and watching DVDs...being with my friend and love to share in all that life is and means. Plus, I have goals that I look forward to working on and achieving - continuing the climb to better physical health, picking up my new flute and getting back to a place I left off long ago when I played lovely music at ease and with much enjoyment, writing and illustrating that book I've conceptualized for years. Living the dream ~ accepting the past for what it is and forgiving myself and others when necessary, whole-heartedly enjoying the present and reflecting on the good, and reaching for goals in the future ... yup ... living my dream! Life may have thrown curve balls and added in it's struggles to contend with, but, it sure is something to sit back now and fully realize the life I've carved out is a life that I love...hard work, perseverance, good decision making, and faith have led to living a dream come true.

Happy Spring

HAPPY SPRING

Long ago, I was told if you say "rabbit, rabbit" on the first day of each month you'll have good luck the whole month through. :)