what day is it?

I know some time has passed, but I haven't really paid any attention to it. I have had a few visitors and filled the last week with some laughter, love and hard work. We painted the last room in the house that had been left undone. It was my daughters room. ~ Gone are her smells because they are being over powered by the odor of fresh paint. Out came her little twin bed and in went the full sized Victorian bed and dresser. There is nothing here to prove that this was once 'her' room. It has made me very sad and I stood in the finished room, cried and said goodbye and then began to decorate. I am missing these two people who just happen to be together right now. Angela had a few days left for vacation and she is spending them in sunny San Diego. She loves her Auntie Denise and everyone knows that her house is yours and she always spoils her company. I'm expecting to soon see the pictures from their adventures, maybe you will too.

I am also enjoying the blooms of summer.
Their colors seem brighter this year.
It is either my imagination or the fact
that I recently got new glasses.

What matters is that as I come upon a new weekend in July, I am already feeling full and looking forward to any adventures that happen to surprise me and offer up any information for a post here in my journal.

high heels

yes I put you on every now and then
you make my feet appear so small and dainty
while on the inside I'm feeling ten feet tall
and I hear the clicking as I walk around
wondering where you would take me
or if I would even give you permission

and I stare in the big mirror
watching the transformation
and giggle at how just a pair of shoes
can make me feel so giddy
as long as I only look at you
and the two ankles that bring you to life

so for now we carry this secret
of the loveliness that you inspire
and the hope that there may be one special day
that you just might step outside
and leave behind these towering walls
that keep me from going to the ball

and the award goes to...

I received this award from the wonderful Red Shoes Rambling *thank you*thank you*thank you* and now must pass it on to 7 others....there are so many Brilliant minds out there...this will prove to be a daunting task.

Here are the rules:

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.
2. Link to the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you have nominated.

Okay...here we go
1. One Man's View~ Jack
2. Tourette's Mom~ Lynn
3. Full-Soul-Ahead~ Michelle
4. Bead Fluff~ Mary
5. Roughly Speaking~ Jenny
6. As Though I Have Wings~ Silvia
7. Dots Life and Art~ Dot

Congrats winners :)
Many more could have joined you!

discoveries

"The only true voyage of discovery...would be not to visit strange lands but to possess other eyes." Marcel Proust

Darlene's paraphrase ~ What really matters is how you choose to see the world around you, rather than thinking you must actually be somewhere else, in order to have an experience.

No matter what your financial situation is...
If you're in the house of your dreams or not...
If your life has turned out as you expected it would...

circumstances don't have to negatively provoke how you feel about your life.

What are the condition of your eyes...
How do you choose to see your world...
What blessings are you counting...

this message was for me today :)

counting

counting on her
counting on me
facing each other
sisters are we

her steps are felt
so close to mine
even in distance
of space or time

grounded together
equal and free
facing each other
sisters are we

one step closer
you in my arms
head on my shoulder
blocking all harm

counting on you
counting on me
this place in time
so simply lovely

how does your garden grow?

Speaking of food....these little tomatoes don't agree with me, so unfortunately I can't partake, but the Gluten Free Diet is going well and I am having an unusually good summer. I have been doing this for approximately 11 months, so I think its full effect is finally in gear.

Yes, it is a difficult diet to be on, but I was desperate for better health and it has improved mine considerably. So, if any of you have been on the fence, let me help you jump to the other side because having more energy, less pain and fog free thinking has been a blessing and I feel like a whole new girl.

I will be...Gluten Free...for Life :)

who me?...eavesdropping?

Sitting side by side under the warm sun, the tired old couple sat down for a breather. At their feet lay the shards of many yesterdays that the ocean gladly placed before them.

"Oh Henry, look at all the interesting pieces of shell, all in just this one place."

"Mary, they're just crumpled up sea trash and soon they'll end up looking just like the rest of the sand and you won't even notice them then."He grumbled.

"But I'm noticing them now dear, each shape and color, the kind of shell it used to be, the interesting creature that once lived inside it and made it a home." She said with a far off smile.

"The next thing you'll tell me is that that dried up ole stinky sea weed there, is special too!" His words were laced with sarcasm.

"Henry, as a matter of fact, in Ireland the ladies wake up in the wee hours of the morning to pick the very best sea weed of that day and then boil it with secret spices and other veggies...the recipe has been passed down from generation to generation. And the recipe is different from little island to little island.Isn't that just quaint?" She asked.

Henry gave her a blank stare. Still smiling, Mary stood up and reached out her hand to her husband and heaved him up from the ground.

Mary then grunted, "Come on you old bag of sea weed" He then gave her a smirk.

"Henry dear, have I told you what the Eskimo's do with their bags of sea weed?"

With curious eyebrows he replied, "No."

"Well," Mary stated, "I think you'd find it a bit more your style." And off they went continuing on with their walk.

(This was a conversation I eavesdropped on at the beach and does anyone know what the Eskimo's do with their sea weed??? You want to make any guesses? :) hee hee

chitter chatter

We were barefoot, some of us showing off the beautiful anklets we had purchased that day and a toe ring or two, but we were chattering about the day, the beauty surrounding us and the warmth beneath our feet. Suddenly Angela squeezes her daddy's arm a little tighter and says,
"I just have so much love in my heart for my family right now. I really do!" She was excited to announce this and we all cuddled a little closer.

It truly was a "Moment" that was fostered by the fact that we were all in our favorite place, walking side by side and feeling the family vibes of love surrounding us and in that moment everything was perfect.

We love each other immensely, we are loyal to each other unto death and we feel the safe peace that is afforded to us when we open up our hearts, bare our souls and allow our vulnerabilities to be exposed. Then each one lands lovingly and safely into the six arms that we end up holding on our way back from the shore.

stuck in the ruts

The paths that we travel are often rugged and the terrain very difficult indeed. All too often we tell ourselves...
"I will begin my dreams when things level out a little more."
But, the problem with that thinking is, that the ground beneath our feet may never smooth over. So, we wait and in our waiting, we accomplish nothing and while we are accomplishing nothing the terrain becomes weather beaten and we get stuck in the ruts of it all.

That is what I saw when I took this picture. The poor struggling bird was waddling over these deep rivets in the sand and just when I began to feel sorry for him and liken my own plight to his... he easily spread his wings and took flight. Slowly my camera pulled away from my face and tears began to fill my eyes and I watched him strongly soar high above both myself and the rugged sand beneath our feet. The only one keeping me from launching forth was myself. I can't blame it on the path, or the ruts in the road because I have wings to carry me high above all of that. It doesn't matter what the weather is, or the vastness of the sea, wings were meant to carry us all to our desired destinations and fly us right into our wishes and dreams.

Taking a deep breath and wiping my eyes with a warm cotton sleeve, I decided right then that no step is too small when it's going in the right direction. I envisioned my fear as the ruts in my own path that had kept me from launching forward for way too long. It may be presumptuous of myself to think that I have gifts that need to be shared with others, but I have to acknowledge them and rid my shame of taking them for granted for as long as I already have.

And about those ruts...

just one simple wave from the force of the ocean smoothed over the bumps and left a pristine path in their place.

there's a change in the air...

So very excited to be getting some much needed organization

to go along with launching my jewelry.

I adore working with my hands and am eager to pace myself into a forward movement.

One step at a time

Each day a new accomplishment

days and days of fresh growth.

And meeting new friends along the way.

This Gypsy Girl will now be taking Darlene's

walks...but wearing the same shoes;)

(hip hip hooray!) ~ that's me cheering for myself