Beyond the Garden Gate

“I craved to go beyond the garden gate, follow the road that passed it by, and set out for the unknown”
 ~Alexandra David-Neel wrote in 1923

You might think that in reading that quote I would show a picture of some place famous, a gate.

This is the picture that jumped into my head.

Maybe a little thing, but to me it took my breathe away.

We were lost and wandering down a narrow country road in France

when suddenly the entrance to a farm house had this wall of stones and flowers.

I have always been reminded when looking at this picture that it is the little

things of an adventure that stun us, capture our attention, and bring JOY

when we are noticing what we are noticing. 
If we step beyond the garden gate we can find enchantment,
fairies dancing in the moonlight, listen closely as they sing,
imagine pictures in the sky, and laughter in a morning breeze.
The colors sing to me.
They laugh for me.
What are you finding today that is enchanting you?

Word for the Day - 2020

Light

 Wikipedia: The main source of light on Earth is the Sun. Sunlight provides the energy that green plants use to create sugars mostly in the form of starches, which release energy into the living things that digest them. This process of photosynthesis provides virtually all the energy used by living things. Historically, another important source of light for humans has been fire, from ancient campfires to modern kerosene lamps. With the development of electric lights and power systems, electric lighting has effectively replaced firelight. Some species of animals generate their own light, a process called bioluminescence. For example, fireflies use light to locate mates, and vampire squids use it to hide themselves from prey.

Now I don't think of light so technically, but still it is fascinating.
I hadn't really thought about light being involved in creating sugars.

 In church recently I heard "You are the light of the world.
A city built on a hill cannot be hide."
And my mind traveled to France where I walked narrow passages,
climbing hills, and look ever upward to the light ahead.

We often follow the light, it calls to us.

Sometimes the road was narrow or rocky,
but I continued walking toward the light.

 There were glimpses along the way.
A peek in the wall.

Climbing toward the light brought rewards of gorgeous views.

 And then as the sun set, the light flared one more time before going to sleep.

 My word for the year is light and traveling through each
day I am noticing how the light makes me smile and
I am at peace.
I notice the light within me and around me. 
The light is bringing new growth in my garden
and I am delighted.

Valentine - I send you LOVE

For some reason Valentine's Day isn't complete unless

 I have a heart shaped sugar cookie with my tea.

So today is no different than other years where the cookies are nibbled and 

a favorite tea sipped from a pretty cup.
Castleton Moonlight is in my cup and I reminded why I love this tea.

Then if I add a pretty magazine to savor as I sip and nibble, even better.

My favorite guy will be spending the night and I intend on playing a bit.

He is the sweetest little guy I know.

There are always kisses and words of "I love you" too.

Looking forward to this love with him.

Well now if you haven't guessed, it is my grandson, D.

His parents are having a date night.

So I sit in my little cottage sipping tea and awaiting.

The Cosy of My Cottage 

by Earlene Grey (Susan Patterson)

Inside my house it is

Safe and warm,

The way that homes are

Meant to be.

No sharps of sticks

Or blows of guns,

Or faces we cannot see.

Fruit and cream are plenty

With breads and buns to spare.

The perpetual invitation is out,

And I am set,

Ready with tea to share. 

Have a most delightful Valentine's Day whatever you have planned. 

Take time to sip a bit of something quite special to you and nibble too.

And if you find your way to my part of the world

the tea and a nibble is always ready.

Happy Valentine's Day, dear friends!
Have a great day and weekend!

A Personal Altar

A local tea shop had a class last Saturday on how to create a personal altar.

I thought the example above was quite lovely.

Bonnie at https://www.instagram.com/somepinkflowers/ often shares mandalas,
which I find are the same feel as creating an altar.

I have followed Bonnie for a long time as a blogger and now on Instagram

and have always been fascinated by her creativity making mandalas.

The one time I tried making one I did it on my front porch on a windy day.

Well you know how that turned out, it immediately blew away.

So I decided to take the class.

I had no idea what would greet me when I walked in the door,

but loving flowers I was thrill with flowers in abundance.

There were herbs and stones too.

It was like channeling your inner spirit/child and playing.

I had brought along a few things that had significance to me

and added them to my altar of remembrance.

The seashell with the gaping hole was given to me many years ago

by a boyfriend that died in a car accident.

The concrete with green paint is from the Berlin wall and

reminds me of walls people try to put up around themselves or a country.

There was coral, seashell, and rock with lines reminding me of the

grounding I feel when I walk by the sea.

Stones to point the way forward.

And acorn empty of it's nuts representing my love and protection of nature.

And always rosemary for remembrance, heart shaped leaves, and the centerpiece color

and delight of a flower.

The chrysanthemum petals just because they needed to be sprinkled about.

Have you ever done something like this?

Does it bring remembrance or signify something in your life.

The teacher talked about intentionality in making an altar,

a way of meditation and thoughtfulness to pay attention to those thoughts

that signify something in your life.

I may not do this regularly, but I can see it as a time to gather scattered thoughts

and be quiet for awhile.

Word for the Day - 2020

Heart

"There is no charm equal to

tenderness of heart."

~Jane Austen

Books, songs, and sonnets have been written with heart.

From Wikipedia: A heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood in various species.
Heart may also refer to:

• Heart (symbol), a symbol (♥) representing love, the organ, or a card suit

It has become the symbol of Valentine's,
a day we will celebrate each February 14th.
It represents love, which many feel comes from the heart. 

The heart is tucked away deep inside of us.
Sometimes we wear it on our sleeve.
And on occasion I love including it in things I bake.
Have you ever noticed if you slice a strawberry
vertically it becomes a heart shape?

Most hearts you will see are red.
The symbol of heart health is the color red.

Celebrate the heart this week.
Celebrate Love from the Heart. 
Have an amazing week full of love.

Smile

This morning I was looking at my Pinterest board for my things that make me smile file.

I noticed that most of what is in that file is cats doing silly things.

I thought I would share some pictures of Joey that will make you smile today.

He recently celebrated 10 years of adoption.

Most of the pictures were in 2010 and 2011.

He hides now when my camera comes out.

 This is in his element, stretched out somewhere or sleeping under something.

 He was getting quite bored with the whole thing.

 This is how we see him the most often now.

He loves tucking under pillows and blankets to sleep.

 Love those perky ears.

 The bat costume was the last time I dressed him in costume.

I didn't see him for 2 days after I did this one.

He was so humiliated.

 I think it is time for a new picture, a picture again in his element.

Hummm! Just no to costumes!

I hope this just made you smile.

Word for the Day - 2020

Love

When February comes along our thoughts go to LOVE.

The song comes to mind when embracing this word.

"What the world needs now is LOVE, sweet LOVE."

In the middle of winter the color of red and love just reach out

and grab us in our dreary, grey cloud days.

We crave the colors of spring time and blue skies.

It is often said that "Love is in the Air".
An ad came in my inbox this morning with those very words.
My thoughts immediately came "I hope so",
as we need more love in the air these days.
We need a healing of spitefulness, anger, corruptness, and the flu.
I pray for more love and understanding and healing around the world.
So let's send out the love today and each day going forward.
I can visualize each of us sending loving thoughts around the world,
thoughts of love go to you from me.