There seems to be a lot of transitions going on in my life.

There is a lot of old moving out and new moving in....

It makes me unsettled, but happy.

I am working on learning to calm my mind,

letting myself be unburdened.

Life is too short to be so serious all the time.

I am not much of one for New Years,

but maybe some resolutions are in order this year.

They will only be between me and myself,

but they will be set, none the less.

***

Today I am inspired by:

GRASSDOE

(I think this might be the most beautiful blog that I have seen this year!)

URNATUR

(again, a most beautiful site!)

***

Do you have any resolutions in mind for this year?

Where the Fae Folk dwell

***

The other day walking with a good friend.

Basically the whole center of the "island" is a wooded area called Dogtown.

It is magical.

We took one of my favorite paths that lead us through areas of mossy mounds

suspended in dark water,

then through the swamp where we had to walk on a boardwalk.

I am convinced this is where the Fae Folk dwell...

***

‎"your work is to discover your world

and then with all your heart give yourself to it"
-Buddha

I woke up to this quote.

I think I might adopt it as my motto/mantra,

it's a good one, eh?

Happy New Year to you all,

I hope it is a safe night full of wonderful laughter!

High Tides

Same house,

different light,

high tides.

Happy Friday, Y'all!

Light against Dark

This was Christmas day.

Incredible light, eh?

I think so.

This is one of my favorite views of the marsh

(from the road at least)

and I love this house as well.

The tide gets so high that it is literally under the front of the house.

The little island in the last photo is Hog Island,

where they filmed The Crucible years ago...

Anyway, just thought I'd share.

Happy Thursday to all you little chickadees!!!

observation

I find peace in nature,

calm and simplicity in just looking around me.

I need to be still.

I need to walk freely.

I need to observe,

to see the tiny things that I might have normally passed by.

These are the things that keep me going every day.

My inspiration,

my constant,

my routine.

This is my observation.

Evolution

I don't have many words to share today.

Even though I have said this, there are is a whole verbal dialogue going on in my head.

It just doesn't feel like coming out.

Anyway, this is what my eyes saw the other day.

I am off to go for a walk with Veda and a friend.

What did your eyes see today?

Merriest of merry to you!

Hope you all enjoying this season of love and giving

View from sitting behind my studio table.

(not sure why this is all underlined...)

Things going on around here today:

Gathering with friends

Walks in the woods

Enjoying 50+ degrees (!?!)

Rounding up all the presents I made to see how much wrapping I need to do

Hope your day is merry!

I think I woke up in a bit of a funk this morning.

So to remedy this I am playing some loud music,

bringing in firewood for the woodstove

and making some tea...

Then I will hopefully be motivated to work on a commission I have.

I had a weird dream last night about someone giving me a mini washer and dryer

(like the size of a mini fridge)

and I was so excited!

I know, I'm strange.

Hopefully my brain will start connecting with the rest of me soon.

Maybe it is the grey sky.

What do you do when you are in a funk?

The pasture by the sea.

I really love living by the ocean.

I have come to realize that I need to be able to smell the sea.

I need it to survive.

I feel very blessed to live in such a beautiful area,

I live in the woods, which makes me boundlessly happy.

I have quiet, darkness, trees, privacy, trails in my back yard...

But I can wander on down the street a couple of minutes to get to the water.

That salty air has truly permeated my being,

wrapped itself tightly like a hug around my heart

and claimed me for its own.

***

Good Morning!

Oatmeal with apple, kukicha tea and the Seed Savers catalogue.

Happy Morning to all!

xoxox

I am seeing my first snowflakes of winter today!

Oh, I am so excited!!!

(even if they are only small swirling bits of glitter falling from above)

If you need me you can find me outside, smiling...

Look what came for me today!!!

I was beyond excited today when I stopes by the post box at the end of the road and found a package waiting for me inside!

My dear friend Vibeke from A Butterfly in my Hair had sent me the most wonderful gifts! Thank you sweet friend!

Happy holidays ahead!
Sending you all virtual smiles and hugs where ever you might be!
xoxox

The past few days have really forces me to think about things that are so seemingly simple at first glace, but it is the onion effect where there is layer upon layer once sliced into.

There are things that I think about as just an everyday part of life,

part of relating,

part of being.

Things that I think I have taken for granted.

Things that I think I deserve.

There is so much push and pull in life,

I guess that is how we are balanced.

There is not light without dark,

no happiness without sadness,

it's the very definition of harmony and balance.

But as we all know, and sometimes I seem to forget,

this is a hard thing to maintain and accept sometimes.

Everything worth anything in life seems to take time and patience (something that I am continually working on having more of).

There is a fine detail to everything in ethos.

The Universe unending shows in unexpected ways how we have strings connected to everything

and everyone.

And yet we are all still human.

I am still human.

Sometimes it is hard for me to remember this.

And sometimes I have to remind myself that I am blessed to have to work so hard at this balance that I am trying to maintain,

to work so hard to continually have the gift of laughter ever present in my life.

I like to be connected.

To have connections.

To have people that smile back at me in my life.

I feel like when I am out about about I am an anthropologist of sorts,

always observing and entertaining ideas about the lives and culture around me.

Observing how and why...

I am fascinated by people.

It helps me to connect.

I hope you all have a wonderful day and maybe take a little time to connect with someone new or someone you already know with open eyes.

***

There seems to be unavoidable shifts going on in my life,

the kinds that even if I wanted to protest or put a stop to it there is no option,

time keeps moving on,

and yet standing still.

I am endlessly happy, but also have some sadness in my heart.

These are things that I grow stronger and better from.

I am learning to let go of control and just trust myself in return...

I have been living by the new Feist album.

It seems to be covering all the emotions I am feeling

and evoking all of the strength that my spirit needs.

I can't even really put it into words.

Lately I have been thankful for my knowledge of using plants as medicine,

Elderberry (syrup) has been a real comfort for this obstinate cough that seems to persist

and for the numerous herbal tea concoctions that I combine for health and for pleasure...

Have I ever mentioned how grateful I am for tea?

In my mind it is a perfect and invaluable medicine,

both for the body and the soul.

When I do consultations or educate others about herbal medicine

making tea is always the first and foremost remedy that I teach.

It is a wonderful way to be present in the process of your own healing.

It requires more than just swallowing a pill or gulping down a tincture.

You have to have patience,

to wait for the time to pass and then slowly sip...

There is a need for purpose.

The plant world has helped me find purpose.

It is a lifestyle and a passion, not just an interest, hobby or job.

It is steep in passion which creates relationships with these green spirits.

A quick Elderberry syrup recipe:

1 cup fresh (or 1/2 cup dried) elderberries (always the blue ones!)

3 cups water

1 cup honey

In a saucepan bring elderberries to a boil in the water, then reduce and simmer for 30-45 minutes.

When done, smash the berries and strain the mixture through a fine cheesecloth.

Add the cup of honey (or honey to taste, which is what I do because I never really measure anything!)

Bottle and store in the refrigerator.

Should keep for a few months.

*Optional to add while simmering:

Ginger

Echinacea

Astragalus

Happy medicine making!

...

Things that I am grateful for today:

-Tea.

-That spark in my solar plexus that makes me want to create...

and have a dance party, even if I'm all by myself.

-Knowledge... Of any kind, this directly connects us to the universe, to spirit.

-Laughter and good friends to share it with.

-Music that speaks directly to my soul.

What are you thankful today?

(photos from my walk on a sunny day...)

Today is gray and a wee bit soggy.

But I don't mind,

I like the rain.

It calms my mind.

I like to hunker down

and let my spirit create what it needs.

...

Things seem to be happening in my life and around me

that I don't always have control over,

but it's ok.

I'm ok.

And that's what's important,

I do believe.

Well, I'm off to be inspired by the moment...