Showing posts with label berries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label berries. Show all posts

Monday, August 29, 2016

Mandala Monday


“The Tibetan monks make mandalas out of dyed sand laid out into big, beautiful designs.
And when they’re done, after days or weeks of work, they wipe it all away. They let it all go,
no pain, no regrets. That is happiness. That is bliss. The euphoria of Nirvana. We live for
that. Just for the experience. We paint a picture and we erase it. ”
― Thisuri Wanniarachchi, The Terrorist's Daughter





Tuesday, August 2, 2016

How to find small magic in life

"It's all a matter of paying attention, being awake in the present moment, and not expecting a huge payoff. The magic in this world seems to work in whispers and small kindnesses.”
― Charles de Lint


Most of my life I have been in search of small magic,
the kind of magic that is real and quiet and makes our days wonderful,
The kind that is in the little pleasures of life,
Things like treasure hunts with children,
Or planting herb gardens,
Or in quiet pine groves,
Or in the details of a feather...
Or creating a flower mandala...
Things we see all the time but in our rushed lives we often overlook.
Or in things we only see rarely but that fill us with small wonder when they do happen....
Like an unexpected moment when the wind blows and covers you with a soft snowfall of pink crabapple blossoms.


(A few years ago I made a video of the small magic in a feather here...I was very early on in my video making skills at that time but I still like it and hope you will too!)
(And another video here  of the small magic in a flower mandala... I was getting a bit better by this video. I think it is my favorite)



So for awhile now I had been thinking maybe I would make a post about my search, and try to show you all where I find small magic,
But I kept putting it off, until two things happened.

1. One of my daughters posted this on my facebook page...
(I had no idea that she or anyone really, was aware of how I felt about "magic" till she put it in words for me...)

"This right here is one of the many reasons I love my mama so much! She is so thoughtful and sweet, with a touch of magic on the side Her loving energy and her constant push for us to see the magic in everyday life is what I will always remember her by. My childhood memories are full of books about spells and unicorns. We went on trips to the falls and cricks and rivers, where we would stack rocks and build houses out of sticks and stones and flowers for the fairies. My birthdays consisted of vibrant decorations and pins and hats that were hand made by my mother and full of flare! I remember treasure hunts, with maps that looked like a REAL pirate could have handed it over himself... And even to this day, she still finds a way to bring magic in my life!  I can only hope that I become even HALF the mother that you are, one day. Thank you for everything you've done and continue to do, Mom. This little text has brightened my whole day and I can't WAIT to see the crystal you picked out for me!! I love you.. Yesterday, today and tomorrow♥ Forever and always!
  • 'This right here is one of the many reasons I love my mama so much! She is so thoughtful and sweet, with a touch of magic on the side ;) Her loving energy and her constant push for us to see the magic in everyday life is what I will always remember her by. My childhood memories are full of books about spells and unicorns. We went on trips to the falls and cricks and rivers, where we would stack rocks and build houses out of sticks and stones and flowers for the fairies. My birthdays consisted of vibrant decorations and pins and hats that were hand made by my mother and full of flare! I remember treasure hunts, with maps that looked like a REAL pirate could have handed it over himself... And even to this day, she still finds a way to bring magic in my life! :) I can only hope that I become even HALF the mother that you are, one day. Thank you for everything you've done and continue to do, Mom. This little text has brightened my whole day and I can't WAIT to see magical thing you have picked out for me!! I love you.. Yesterday, today and tomorrow<3 Forever and always!'
     

and 2. Nicolas, (a maker of fairy houses and much more, 
and a fan of following the same wonder one might have felt in childhood), 
suggested, after a conversation about needing magic in the world, that I make the idea a regular feature on my blog with a link....


So, now I have been hoping... if I added a linky thing at the bottom of this soon to be monthly post (starting this month on the 13th) that others would join in with posts of their own letting us know where they find...
wonder
and awe
and joy
And
Small magic!


“She wore flowers in her hair and carried magic secrets in her eyes. She spoke to no one. She spent hours on the riverbank. She smoked cigarettes and had midnight swims...” 

Monday, August 18, 2014

Sweetness and light...

I wanted to try a piece that would be perfect for a little girl's room.
 Not that I have a little girl in mind, just felt like painting all cute and pink and pale.
 Sweet peas and strawberries make me feel like that...
 Sweetness and light...
I even did my nails up to match.











This original is available in my etsy shop.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Blackberry smoothie

i love being able to step out my backdoor and pick something fresh and organic to eat or cook with! We have been eating our own zucchini and summer squash and broccoli and cucumbers, and adding mint to our water, and chives and basil and parsley to our meals....

and picking our own blackberries which grew wild behind our shed...





I made a smoothie with them before work...

To my blender I added one banana and the following:




It was perfect!

Friday, July 12, 2013

wildflowers







laughing wildflowers
run amok in profusion
berries in the sun








 
found along dirt roads
not mattering they're not mine
there for all to see

Friday, October 19, 2012

Red berries all around

This week I saw red berries everywhere...
on vines clinging to fences, on ground cover, on trees...
As the leaves drop the berries are left behind just for me to find.
Not to eat, just to sketch...
 

 


 


 
 
Rushing off to work
I"m driving into the sun
singing oldies LOUD
 
 
 
 
ps:
 if you wanted an update on how it's going vegan then you can read yesterdays post...
today I am feeling deprived but still not craving sugar! Iam having trouble wanting to eat at all...
Happy Paint Party Friday and Hello all at Haiku my Heart!