taza mania

Look what showed up on my front doorstep today!
Yet another great headband from Taza...this one from my baby sis.
I could seriously get addicted to these...
The adorable flowers are made from zippers, no doubt!
This is outrageous talent...ingenuity even...
Oh, this has the potential to get me into deep trouble!
m u s t b u y m o r e...eek!

visualize being whole...

He's One Mans View From Lansing, KS his name is Jack and he wrote something profound that really spoke to me on this day, as I was dealing with an annoying migraine:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
#694 A Secret Scrolls Message

From The Secret Daily Teachings
It is important to remember that it is your thoughts and feelings together that create with the law of attraction, and you cannot separate them. Also remember that it's your feelings that are summing up your overall frequency and telling you what you are creating in this moment.

So how are you feeling right now? Could you feel better? Well then, do what it takes right now to feel better.

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne
The Secret... bringing joy to billions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It really stopped me in my tracks and made me think about what I was thinking about, "Oh bummer, guess I won't be doing much today." And I admit that laying down in a dark room with a pillow over my head was my original plan...until I read his post.

I went through some pictures and found one that really spoke to me. A picture of myself during a happy more healthy moment in time. A joyous occasion (Sissy graduating from U.C. Davis) and we were all on cloud nine. The weather was perfect and we had dinner reservations that we were going to share with a few other families whose daughters had also graduated.

I studied this picture and imposed the feelings of that day into my brain. "This is me, I am that girl and her happiness is my happiness." I purposed this brain exercise over and over again. I am expecting to be this girl in the morning...

Mark & Momma Darlene: Angela's Graduation

Including the fact that I was 6 years younger...(that works too...right Jack? :)

bistro 234

photo taken from bistro 234 site

Yesterday my husband, our son Mark and I celebrated my birthday by going out to dinner at the Bistro 234. It was a slow Tuesday night so we received plenty of attention. We sat by the window at the table with the 2 blue chairs across from one another. Hubby sat in the green chair next to me and we both faced Mark.

He was our entertainment :)

One year ago I would have described Mark as being on the quiet side and very serious, now he is animated, funny and full of stories. As a child, I saw this side of him mostly when just he and I would get away together, but he has grown into someone very sure of himself and happy...he is SO very happy. It was difficult to chew my food because I was smiling the entire time he chatted away (while I was trying to eat a spinach salad...not so pretty!)

His present to me came wrapped in brown paper without a card, just felt tip marker writing on the front wrapping that said, "I love my mom...from your son Mark!" I looked over at him and said, "Well it's good to know that this isn't from any of my other son's!"

Will he always be my miracle boy? I still...still catch my breath every.time.I.see.him. That reaction only deepens my appreciation since almost loosing him. On the way home we happened to pass by the accident site since it is just down the street from where he lives. I asked, "Does it bother you to see this place?" His response was serious, "Yes, yes it still does and feels like just yesterday, even though so much has happened since. It has made me who I am today...and so have you, mom and dad."

Tears fell down my cheeks and my shaky voice said, "Thank you honey." His hand reached around from the back seat and landed on my right shoulder, a tender squeeze.


Totally Yummy Moment...
I had a great birthday :)

blue peeps

This beautifully perfect home that resides on top of one of our pillars was created by a very small House Finch couple. It took them 2 weeks to get it just right and now momma finch sits atop these 4 teeny eggs. They are no bigger than your pinkie finger nail and the nest is the size of a tea cup saucer, something my macro lens distorts. I love that their eggs are blue and have tiny black specks. The nest is quite deep and hides the momma completely when she settles in. Northern female house finches are brown with black and white feathers and the males have a bright red head. They both have red beaks and we have them here by the hundreds. This momma leaves every now and then, I imagine out looking for her man to tell him to hurry home with lunch or dinner. I look forward to hearing the sound of little peeps sometime soon :)

*male finch picture not taken by me

auntie dd~cedar~gran marmie

the way he smells
draws me
into his world
the way he feels
satisfies
a deep need
the way he loves
is like
no other

On our last morning together Cedar, Gran Marmie and I laid down together on the blanketed floor. We snuggled close and relished in the moment... 3 touching heads, 3 generations, 3 hearts very much in love. It felt so peaceful and right, something planned long ago that suddenly gets to be shared in the now.

Cedar is adopted and that word feels clumsy in my mouth. He belongs to us, is such a perfect part of us, that life feels so complete with him in it. His old soul resonates with ours, his sense of humor came from those quirky parts of our family and we flow so freely all together.

Cedar,
I am yours
you captured me
in your tiny hand
and my heart melts
in your smile
Thank you
for choosing us
and gracing us
with your love.

many snuggles ahead,
auntie dd

poppies

pure gold
abundantly scatterd
sharing sunshine

wholely cow...

On my way home from my dad and mom's yesterday there were cows everywhere...

~Happy California Cows~

a deeply serious cow dude...

blond cows have more fun...

this calf's lunch was lip smackin good...

our shade trees have that decorator's touch...

this is one VERY pregnant cow...oiy!

this calf played hide and seek with me...i won :)

no milk here ;)

chillin...

"Good morning! :) Generally, I wake up singing and have a smile on my face. It's time for lunch, but I just love this view out Gran-marmie's back window...b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l."


to the right...


and to the left...it's a sight to see and it rained everyday!


"Here I am waiting for my Auntie dd to play a fish game with me. The pole has a Velcro tip and each fish is made of felt and has their color written on their sides, so now I get to play and learn too."


"I'm really good at this...out came 2 fish...pink and red."


"And at the end of the day, we all kicked back, ate ice cream and watched 'American Idol' I love Momma Sox/Crystal!"

week at mom & dad's...

boho mommie and elfin babe start their day with bathing.


Proof that wood elves do indeed exist :)


And prefer hairdo experiments


boho mommie feeds avocado to the babe


Mmmm..."i want to do it myself"


Now it's time to play ball!


He is sooo cool in his monkey jammies, loving his new ball and watching his favorite cartoon...Miss Spider


And another day begins all over again...

We have all felt grateful for this precious time together. We have had some fever cranky teething baby...random worrisome medical issues and difficult family tender situations, also going on. But the light that radiates from this child's face melts our minds towards peace.

they're coming

and I'm packing my bags and going to mom and dad's to spend time with all of them. I can't wait to munch on Cedar and nuzzle my sis. I am bringing my camera and computer, so we can share some captured moments and post while we are there.

I'm SO excited...

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :)

the package

Oh, admit it...when you drive up and see that little brown box just waiting there on your doorstep...you get a tiny bit excited ;)

it's not your birthday
it's not Christmas
but it sure feels like a present

Mmmm...little treasures that make me smile :)

Rene Furterer Dry Shampoo ~ I heard it was the best, smells good and works great for those 'in between' days when you can't wash your hair.

L'Occitane Extra Gentle Shea Butter Soap ~ I love the "Milk" soap and after using this, I promise you will never go back to your old one. There are other great scents, like Lavender & Verbena, which are also divine. The bars are so big that I cut them in half, so they last a long time.

Buxom Lip Gloss ~ in "Dolly" by Bare Escentuals. It's just the right hint of shade/shine and gives you a tingling cool sensation.

OPI Nail Polish ~ in "Curve-aceous" a fabulous red and there are O so many colors to choose from. These are long lasting and quick drying. OPI also makes drying drops that minimizes waiting time (yay :) you can find them here.

These products came from Sephora and they always throw in a few samples with your order. Reading the reviews helps with trying new things and the site offers "how to" video's.

Hope this was helpful...now go shopping and have Fun!

seeing rainbows

I wake up every day and see these rainbows :)

They are everywhere I look.

I couldn't get away from them if I wanted to...i don't want to.

They are a few of my favorite things...la la la

Yes, I start everyday with a promise...

How could this not be a good day :)

chim~pan~zeeeee

The best part of my day was getting a phone call from my son Mark. He sounded so hopeful and sometimes he can talk for hours, about anything and we both end up doing a lot of laughing.

When Mark was born and the nurse handed him to me I thought he looked like a baby chimpanzee. He was cute, had big round dark eyes and his thick black hair stood straight up from his head.

Mark was born with acute asthma and has suffered horribly from it throughout his life.

Tomorrow he is doing his 5th day of clinicals at a local hospital. He has seen a lot of pretty serious stuff and already experienced life and death situations. As a Respiratory Therapist he will get to work with children in the Pediatric ward. Mark's professor is excited for his interactions with both the children and their parents because he is a walking testimony that people with severe asthma can go on to live active productive lives. "This alone will bring hope into their situations" he said.

And isn't that what we all aspire to be to one another...?

HOPE...?

That our biggest actions or our smallest gestures will bring hope to someone else? As his parent you can only imagine how good it was to hear him excited about doing things for people that not just anyone can do. I couldn't do it. He is 28 years old but when I look at him I still see my little monkey boy.

I don't like to complain but the last couple of days have been extra hard. I refuse to let lupus define who I am or cause me to loose hope about my life..."always move forward" I say to myself.

The best part of my day was getting a phone call from my son Mark...and he gave me hope.

sicky girl

lupus hit

the bull's eye with me today

so much pain and inflammation

it's got me down...physically that is...

; P blah!

hold on

Today it rained hard for 5 hours and the wind blew twisting and turning the trees. Upon inspection we found almonds all over the ground, shook loose before their time. We are new at this and it's easy to take things personal.
It causes anxiety and worry for my husband, something I think only time will decrease, nothing like a few seasons under your belt to dispel useless fretting. We came upon this one tree that was different from all the rest surrounding it. Green leaves had been perfectly removed from their stems and lay in small piles at the base of its trunk. It looked intentional and that alone gave me a creepy feeling. Hubby made some calls and received no tangible answers.

I read this today by Mary Oliver and such peace entered my soul...

~The Trees~

Do you think of them as decoration?

Think again.

Here are maples, flashing.

And here are the oaks, holding on all winter

to their dry leaves.

And here are the pines, that will never fail,

until death, the instruction to be green.

And here are the willows, the first

to pronounce a new year.

May I invite you to revise your thoughts about them?

Oh, Lord, how we are all for invention and

advancement!

But I think

it would do us good if we would think about

these brothers and sisters, quietly and deeply.

The trees, the trees, just holding on

to the old, holy ways.