Celebrate the Good Things !

I escaped Black Friday to Montreal, Quebec where Thanksgiving is celebrated in October, and where shopping and bargains have nothing to do with the traditional festivities.

I instead got to surprise my sister Natalie and most of my family by showing up on Sunday for a birthday lunch in Montreal’s Chinatown.

My Mom and I arrived a little early so we walked around and played for a bit, trying to stay out of sight of the restaurant where we were meeting.

It was a blast to see the looks of surprise on my sister’s face when she saw me, and also to hear Miss Katie yell out “Kimmy !!!” when we made our entrance.

Then it was time to decorate the birthday girl a little.

My beautiful sister, Natalie in her birthday regalia !

(Today is her actual birthday. Happy Birthday, Sista !!! I love you !)

My Mom and I hit the dollar store before the party so we all got to take part in the fun !

Thomas reviewed the technique for eating periwinkles in black bean sauce for those who were new to the game, and for us old pros who have been eating them since we were his age.

It may look a little gross but man, are they yummy !

Kate wasn’t into the periwinkles. Rice was more to her taste.

Check out her special chopstick style !

We sang a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday very loudly in the restaurant, with noise makers hoots as a finale.

Then we gathered in the street for some pictures to document the day.

Thomas really makes this one of my Uncle Charlie, my cousin Mathieu, and his beautiful girlfriend, Nadia. Typical Thomas pose !

I love this one of Mathieu swinging Katie around. She kept her legs pointed straight, like a ballerina !

Charlie took this picture of all the girls and our hambone, Tom.

Lots of happy faces !

It was kind of a whirlwind trip but so worth the time driving there and back.

I love my family very much, and being there to celebrate Life and all the good things about it is very, very precious to me.

Okay, now it is time to buckle down !

The craft fair benefiting the Manchester West High School Theatre Knights program is on Saturday, December 3rd !

Off I go to finish crafting !

Happy Tuesday, Beautiful Ones !

I hope your day has a little bit of life celebration in it too.

Haiku My Heart–Sister Magic

We are Sisters three.

Watch out if we clap our hands.

There’s magic in us.

 

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I love this picture of my two sisters and me. It was taken about 4 years ago, when the fates somehow allowed the three of us to get together for a sister’s weekend at our family cottage at Lac Bibitte.

No kids, no husbands, just us three.

That is a rare thing.

As life’s ups and downs and even extreme challenges present themselves for us to handle, there is a preciousness in this circle of three that means so very much to me and to who I am.

I love these two little sisters of mine, so very much. While we are so very different, and live our lives in different ways, and even in different geographical locations, we are forever bonded in Love.

Love you, Tina.

Love you, Nattie.

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Happy Friday, Beautiful Ones !

For more haiku love, visit the Beautiful Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon

Share the Joy–Giving Thanks !

May your day be filled with sweet, joyful moments

and abundant gratitude.

Big Love !

Rocking the Beach on a November Sunday

We were blessed with a really warm November Sunday yesterday.

It was about 65 degrees in the afternoon.

Perfect for one last rock gathering before winter and a sweet visit to my favorite beach with my favorite guy!

This is the sea wall, where all the good rocks are.

See our special Rock Fairy buckets ?

Keeping it clean…

While it was pretty warm outside, that water looked pretty chilly !

Not too chilly for a couple of “Sharks” apparently !

That’s what we call those kooky surfers in wet suits !

It was a nice time.

Really good for bringing me to where I need to be inside.

I am so grateful to live so close to this special place that brings me such peace.

And to my sweet Man for hanging there with me.

I have a feeling that I may just need to keep revisiting that place in my mind as we head into this busy time of year!

Happy Monday, Beautiful Ones !

I hope you find some places of Peace to hang out in too !

Haiku My Heart– Round Circle Love

Create a Round Circle

With Love’s healing light inside

Souls rise together.

 

Today, we are coming together to Haiku the Heart of our friend, Joe Spado.

I truly believe in the power of Love as prayer.

It is not a prayer that will make everything alright or take away the challenges we face.

It is a prayer that gives the Soul strength to go forward with each step of its journey.

And to me, a prayer of Love is also a celebration of the Soul connections we all share.

The Love Light created when we all shine brightly together is truly awe-inspiring, and so very powerful.

We are keeping this circle of Love going for Spadoman who is now at home, resting and gathering strength for the next steps of the journey.

Love and light to you, Man.

Shine on, Beautiful Ones !

 

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Share the Joy Thursday–Joining the Circle of Love

My friend Spadoman is being encircled with love.

(For Joe – 12X12 Canvas, acrylic and collage)

I am a part of the circle.

And I am joined by some incredibly strong and loving hearts.

I took some time yesterday to create.

That creative time helped me focus on sending my friend love from deep within me

and joining into the loving web that surrounds him.

There is a special Soul Joy in that.

In getting away from the worry, the wanting to help but being unable to in the physical ways,

and instead, just focusing on what the Heart does best.

Sending big love and light.

We are with you, Man. And I know you feel it.

 

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Meri generously brings us together each Thursday to Share the Joy.  It’s a beautiful thing !

She is also sharing wonderful things by and for women of substance, on her new site, Finally Me. My recent post Just Jump In has been featured there today. Thanks so much for the recognition, Meri !

This beautiful thing is also bringing me much joy this week.

Miss Pumpkin is a total love bug ! She is settling in very well and will probably be able to meet her feline brothers and canine sister gradually within the next day or two. Nothing like a cat who give head butt kisses ! Love that !

I hope you find joy in sharing your heart and love today, Beautiful Ones !

Big, big love !

For Today, Monday, November 14, 2011

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...the sun is shining, it is warm, and the wind is blowing what is left of the leaves off the trees.

I am thinking...about how nice it was to have had my friend Suzanne and her big, Old English Sheepdog, Sam, here for the weekend. I was worried about Sam and the kitties but he did so great. He and Azzy bonded pretty quickly, actually. Chica enjoyed having a canine playmate and walk buddy. I was very happy to have my old friend here. I am grateful for how easy and fun it is to be with her. She helped me lift some of the grey cloud that was around me last week !

I am thankful...that Suzanne was here to lend a hand to David and I with the raking and bagging of the bazillion of leaves that filled our backyard. With her help, we we able to get a huge chunk of the job done !

In the kitchen... left over pasta from Saturday night, and a big bag of apples waiting to be baked into something…

I am wearing...jeans, a long sleeve t-shirt, and a baseball cap covering the bed head. Suzanne and I went with for a walk the doggies before she left just a little while ago.

I am creating...Some pendants for simple necklaces that I will be selling at the West High School craft fair in December. And at least one page in my journal this week, I promise myself !

I am going...to spend time in the studio today and then to my meditation class tonight.

I am wondering...how the family dynamics will change when we bring home our new addition to the family…(more below)

I am reading...this month’s Cloth Paper Scissors magazine and I am about to start The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern on my Nook.

I am hoping...that our application to adopt our new family member is accepted within the next few days !

I am looking forward to... bringing home the new addition to our family and letting her get to know her furry brothers and sister slowly.

I am hearing...the hum of the computer and the distant roar of the garbage trucks. Quiet Monday morning.

Around the house...things feel pretty quiet and spacious now that big Sam, who weighs a 100 pounds, and Suzanne have left.

I am pondering...when to show you exactly who I mean when I say our new addition !

One of my favorite things...is PUMPKIN !

The sweet girl who I fell in love with when I read about her on Petfinders. I visit the site periodically, with the vague idea of adding in a third cat into our family, but with never any real intentions.

I found Pumpkin and showed her to David and have been talking about her off and on for awhile now.

But the deal was done when we went to the Animal Allies shelter here in Manchester yesterday and saw the sweetie in person. She was mushy, cuddly yummy in my arms and snuggled her chin right under mine and I was done.

David, or Dada as the animals know him, loved her too and was influential in us deciding to go for it and fill out an application !

We should hear by Wednesday if we are approved to have her come home with us !

A few plans for the rest of the week: if all goes well, getting the house ready for our new arrival so that everyone can meet gradually. That and continuing with the craft fair stuff will keep me plenty busy, I think !

Here is a picture I am sharing of exactly how I feel today...

Blessed by the bittersweet gifts of life.

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I hope you have a fine Monday, Beautiful Ones !

Big Love !

Haiku My Heart–The wind has stripped them bare.

My heart is tender.

Accepting the changing view

Takes a little time.

 

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Working on accepting the “bare branch against the sky” look of winter that blew in overnight.

Not easy for this color-loving heart of mine.

Going to try and be gentle with myself about it.

(art from October 2009 – Leaves of your heart)

And surround my Self with the color from the inside out.

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Happy Friday, Beautiful Ones !

For more haiku and to connect with some incredible hearts, visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon

Share the Joy Thursday–It’s in the little things.

I found joy in the Queen of Arts Studio this week.

It is where I spent a lot of time, so that makes sense.

I found it in the furry visitors that sometimes share the space with me :

(Chica)

(Azzy)

I found it in the color, message and abundance of what  I created :

(Car Jewelry, ready for packaging)

and I also found it in the little rituals I have in my space that make me feel grounded in the moment.

I am grateful for all of these little things that bring me joy.

And I am also grateful for the joy that comes from cataloguing and sharing them here !

Have a joy-filled Thursday, Beautiful Ones !

 

More joy at Meri’s Musings.

Just jump in !

A brand new Moleskine Portfolio Watercolor album.

That’s a lot of blank pages.

Where to begin ?

Be Fearless, and just jump in !

Get out the grass green india ink !

Drip and doodle with the eyedropper lid. See how the paper holds just enough

Lovely, lovely watercolor paper in this journal.

Close the book – make a monoprint.

Love having this big two page spread.

No spirals, no drips onto other pages.

Stencils, stencils, where are you ?

Ah, this one. Brand new, never used.

I was lucky enough to win it in a giveaway from Julie Balzer a few months back.

Time to get it dirty!

Acrylic paints on a sponge will work well.

Flip the stencil and we have both a left and right hand !

Black India Ink and a dip pen – tools of my heart !

A little line work and what emerges ?

Eyes behind a mask…

A creature with a strange head ?

Reminds me of some strange creature that Dr. Who may encounter…

Shut up, critic who says I am super weird !

Just Go with it…

My being behind the mask starts to develop…

A tattoo on one cheek,

a scar on another.

Details with India ink, a white gel pen and Twinking H2O’s.

Some good tunes playing as I play.

What is on now ?

Jason Mraz, “Details in the Fabric”.

“Hold on.

Know your name.

Go your own way.

And everything

will be fine.”

Ah, yesssss.

That works.

With that, my first page of my new nest feels complete for today.

I think I am going to like my new journaling home.

Happy Tuesday, Beautifully Creative Ones.

 

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