Sectional Seating

Passion Fairy

Passion

"This week, I went scuba diving," a man told me. "Hadn't done it for years. I forgot how much doing something I love, even for one afternoon, can change my entire outlook on life."

It's easy to tell ourselves we can't have what we want and can't do what we want. And sometimes, we can't. But once in a while, even for an afternoon, it is helpful to treat yourself.

How long has it been since you did something you loved? Are you willing to be open to what excites and inspires you? If you can't do what you love, can you find passion in what you are doing? 

Let's NOT forget peace......

And this is my desktop for today.....and potentially tomorrow....and the next day and the next.....

Ignore this one.....I'm a bit pissy....

Right....how was my day?

Lemme tell ya.......I thought it was going 'okay'.....and then along came some accountability I didn't accept very graciously.  Oh, I accepted externally, but inside my head......NOT so graciously.

So I bought a bit of time.
When agitated, PAUSE......  I'm pretty sure 'agitated' is an understatement given where my brain went........

I pulled two people together and a third asked if they needed to be present.
I excused the other with a 'not needed' but the other two invited the third and said it was 'okay' if they remained.
k.......

And my spiel?
They've proven to me for the last time that they simply cannot do a piece of their job that they TELL me they can do.
I get that they WANT to be able to do it...and I even have appreciation that they have attempted to TRY to do it over and over and over again.
But the bottom line--they've proven to me, with the responsibilities that they already have on their plate, that this ONE MORE responsibility is something that they just cannot get done--not in the timely manner that it's required TO be done by.  Ain't happening.  Ain't happened yet......
And I asked if I was wrong........and got met with silence and looks that passed between them--while the third person simply bit their lip and remained silent.

So--either they're jerking around, having a good time at my expense, or they well and truly just CANnot accomplish what's required with this one.

And the answer was they couldn't do it.
I think it took breaking it down into that 'ugly' of terms to GET the answer.

There's a part of me that's glad for the answer being put out there even if they didn't like it.
There's a part of me that's displeased that it took THIS much to get it--
The solution with them was simple.

Starting today, you're not doing it.  People have been in training TO do it, they're trained--you're done effective today.

There's a part of me that's thinking I oughta be MORE than a bit relieved to be done with the energy it's taken to try to GET that job done by the ones who told me they COULD do it.

But at this moment, I'm too pissed off to be pleased........
And ya know how we got here, dontcha........--cuz I hire people JUST LIKE ME.

A bunch of 'yes thank you, I think I'd like to do that' people -- and if they didn't come to me that way,  I  helped them get there.......and damned if they aren't willing to DIE TRYING before they admit they simply canNOT get it done.


So the troubles I'm dealing in today ..............are of my own making.

There.  Full circle.
And just for the record, I OWNED that to the two of them already......

*insert naughty words of my choosing*

Quilt Barn #47

Today's Reading

Treat your friends as you would a bank account - refrain from drawing too heavily on either.

--Samuel Johnson

"You know," somebody admitted, "I've never really allowed myself to have good friends.

"I always put myself in two extreme roles. Either I think it's my duty to 'save' everyone, or I think it's someone else's function to 'save' me. I set myself up for very dissatisfactory relationships that way. I don't grow very much nor do the people I'm involved with grow much. We get locked into Parent-Child, Teacher-Student, and Counselor-Client kinds of roles.

"I'm tired of empty and lopsided friendships. I want good friends, not parasites or Messiahs running my life. I want friends I can just be me with and not worry whether I'm one-up or one-down on them. I want friends who will accept me as I am and not expect me to have all the answers for all the questions all the time."

TODAY I will examine what I expect of myself and my friendships. As a friend, do I expect myself to give all the advice and have all the answers? Do I expect my friends to take care of me, and give me all the answers? If my friendships are not satisfactory, I will work on enlarging my concept of what a friend is. I will also work on improving the quality of my own friendship.

Happy Penguins!! :-)

Things that make me happy....

...penguins...(k, they're actually pelicans, but callin' 'em penguins makes me happy).

....really loud, really BIG trains!

....the bug finder jar with the magnifying glass on the top.  Ohhhh....and freeing the bugs after I have a good look!

....a brand spankin' new box of sidewalk chalk with NEW colours!  Woohooo!

....orange sherbet pop-ups!  :-)  (I'd say latte ice cream but then I'd be on a roll of a different kind....LOL)

....the wee wren that's trying to decide if he wants to make a home in the wren house.

....OH!  OH!!! 

Lightening bugs!  

I have lightening bugs!!  

I have LIGHTENING BUGS!! 

 :-)

Fairy Reminder

Having too high expectations is a set-up for disappointment. Expectations that are high lend themselves to a fantasy life, and reality can never match our fantasies. When we get hooked on the fantasies, somehow thinking they are reality, or should be reality, we are vulnerable to the hurt that accompanies the emergence of "the real." Then we feel cheated - bitter: "Why did this have to happen to me?"

Dreams and aspirations aren't wrong. In fact, they beckon us on to better and greater things. But dreams of what we can become through responsible choices are quite different from idle expectations of what will or should be.

Every moment of every day opens the way to my aspirations that enhance reality. I will be open and receptive to reality and its gifts.

Prisoners

TFTD

Sure, it’s easy to become dismayed. Yet the truly empowering fact is that it’s just as easy to become determined.

Your attitude is always your choice. So you might as well choose the attitude that will serve you the very best.

When you find yourself feeling angry, cynical, disillusioned, resentful, worried or apathetic, stop. Choose to use those negative feelings as a positive trigger.

You are in control of your attitude, your thoughts and your actions. So choose to be positive, forward-looking, creative and effective no matter what may come your way.

Today's project in process

5 hours later.....

Yesterday's adventure involved a (longer than we planned) roadtrip...and it's the holiday weekend.
I know--what WERE we thinking?!

Apparently we were thinking 'ooohhhhh...let's go on an ADVENTURE!!'....

And we saw TRAINS!  Holy cow did we see trains....about 1 every 10-15 minutes.
And we got two lines that crisscrossed--thankfully NOT at the same time cuz that'd be messier than messy considering the size and speed of those suckers.

I think I like the BNSF ones--but I'm thinkin' that's from affectionately naming them 'bloody noisy stupid freight-trains' once-upon-a-time.

We saw trains.....
And we saw pelicans and deer and ground squirrels and ducks and rusty old tractors and corn peeking up and purple flowers..and... BUNCHES of STUFF....

Which means that today--we vegged out.

Five hours in the Jeep will do that......

TFTD

Life is enjoyable not because of how things are, but because of how you are. Enjoyment is a choice of how to be, not a reaction to what has been.

Whatever you do, you do more effectively when you’re enjoying it. Enjoyment makes you more interested and more interesting, more engaged and more engaging.

The enjoyment you put into your own life spills out into the lives of those around you. And the more enjoyment you give to life, the more you have to offer.

Fairy Diddy

What you’re able to do is not a function of what other people think of you or allow you to do. 

What you’re able to do depends on what you expect of yourself and on what you choose to do with your time.

TGIF!!

I must be aging....it's Friday and my arse is dragging.  I prefer to think I work too hard?
Regardless....I'm ready for the weekend--not that I have plans for any glorious adventures (undoubtedly some will be created).
I think I could use the patio time.

Wait.
I know I can use the patio time....as soon as I find the patio.....

Yesterday's high winds decorated it with all sorts of leaves and twigs and crud........which I promptly tracked into the house as I wandered in and out waiting for a storm to develop......which fizzled.

That's okay--a bit of foliage in the house isn't an all bad thing, despite the grumbles from he-who-must-vacuum-cuz-he's-anal-like-that.
I just smile......waved......and kept singing!

NO.
I'm not over the ice cream deal yet......

♫I'll see you in the sunlight, I'll hear your voice everywhere
I'll run to tenderly hold you......♪but darling you won't be there..... 

(just the leaves will be.....hahahahahaha)
(well, until he vacuums that is.....)

Colour Splash

Today's Thought

You have something beautiful to offer. You have an inspiring and uplifting story to tell.

You experience life in a way that’s unlike anyone else. You have things to say that can benefit everyone else.

You have dreams, visions, and values that can make a real difference in the world. You can give love and joy and meaning to every moment you’re in.

You can make a difference today. 

You make a life worth living by the way you live it.

Supreme Latte

<-- likes the ice cream muchly

<--  isn't able to GET the ice cream anymore tyvm





Can I add that this was discovered wayyyyy late in the deal.....wayyyyyyyyy after I went to get a bowl only to discover......all gone.
ALL gone.
As in less than a week, 2 scoops for me --ALL GONE.

So I said to he-who-ate-the-ice-cream  "Yo.......a gallon ALL GONE"

It was very good.

Uh huh.....I know this.

I'll get more when I go shopping.  There's coconut in the freezer.

No ty.  Don't like it--too sweet.  But you already knew that.....  Liked the latte kind, tyvm.  ALL GONE?

I'll get more when I go shopping.

I get two scoops and it's ALL GONE?

.....right....sooooooo...Mr.-I'll-get-more-when-I-go-shopping.....went shopping.
He nearly didn't come home he tells me--
Why?
Because it was a limited seasonal ice cream and now they're carrying some double chocolate ice cream cone stuff instead.

Right......  (this is where the staring began)

Yes, I know--wheat in cones......

Right......(more staring)

Right!  Shall I get in the car and check Walmart?

Nonono...... I'll get more when I go shopping he says....uh huh....seasonal and they're not making it any more.  Two scoops for me--ALL GONE.  Oh dear what a shame never mind...

I tried--they've stopped making it.

I'll get MORE when I go shopping he says.....

I'm not going to live this down am I?

This is when I started singing.....

"Oh yes it's going to be a long lonely summer....but darling I promise you this, I'll send you all my love....every day in a letter......and seal it with a kiss......."

It's very effective if you sing that WHILE you're walking off and waving bye-bye, in case ya'll were wondering......

The Fringes

Today's Reading from The Reading Fairy

The very best effort is joyful effort. When there’s joy in what you do, then you’ll be doing it at your highest and most effective level.

Sometimes it is difficult to be joyful about what you’re doing. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

Remember that the joy doesn’t come from the effort itself. Any joy you feel is joy you choose to feel, that comes from within you and flows outward.

Even the most mundane task can be an occasion for joy. Because every moment of life provides you with the opportunity to express your own joy.

You don’t have to be naive or in denial to feel joyful. All you have to do is choose to live and work with joy.

What a doofus......

Yesterday she showed up for chemo at 8 in the morning, got the tests done, got in the 'comfy chair' and got it done.  Thankfully, no reactions to be concerned about....it was a slow drip just to be certain.  Following that there was the radiation appointment and then an appointment to see the radiologist.  And following that.....apparently she thought it was a good day to go hat shopping....and then shopping for some electronic stuff the hubby wanted to look at.....and then to the mall on the off chance that they might have a hat since she wasn't satisfied with the others she tried on.....and then here and there for errands......oh--and then grocery shopping--arriving home at 7 in the evening.

Out came the double barrel shot gun--  G-d love her for being determined.
And I'm pretty sure this kinda dumb is genetic so it's not really her fault.  *ahem*

I must say..... I now have a whole new level of understanding at how pissed off people REALLY were as I was out 'carrying on as usual' whilest the oncology department dumped poison into my body.....again and again.....and again...

Both barrels.  AS lovingly as I could.......  I talked.  She listened.  (mostly cuz talking is so flipping difficult for her right now.....)

Yup--she was 'done' and going to bed.

So the 3am text from her (5 am for me) wasn't really surprising.
She'd woke up and couldn't go back to sleep--and she loved me.

I suggested a shower.
She suggested she wasn't done sweating yet.
I suggested a shower just the same, and a couple glasses of water to put down the stomach tube.
And that she roust the hubby if she started feeling 'off center'.......and that she forgive me for loving her too much.

She's playing catch up today--not unlike the sister she loves too much who went like a mad woman and crashed over and over and over again.
I suspect it's that same high need to maintain some sense of normalcy, to feel like you're on top of IT and IT'S not on top of you.....to do what you can (and then some) WHILE you can.


Well.....that and we're dumb.  LOL

Freckled

Fairy Diddy

Your own thoughts, assumptions and fears can hold you back just as surely as a solid brick wall. And yet, just as you created those self-imposed obstacles, you can let them go.

There are plenty of obstacles that can stand in your way. Don’t be one of them.

This weeks desktop

Things that make me happy....

....flashy red, silly, boy hummers, zooming around the feeder.

....stacking MY marshmallows higher than you-know-who.  LOL

....coffee in the punkin mug.....in May tyvm.

....carrying the bucket of sidewalk chalk to the neighbors' piece of sidewalk.  *snickering*

....the cool green stolen pen that writes really smoothly.

....ladybugs.

....freeing the trapped bee from the car.

Fairy Reminder

Decide that this day will be productive and consequential, and it will be. Decide to rise above the petty distractions, and you’re already on your way.

Decide that there are valuable opportunities in the challenges, and you’ll find those opportunities. Decide to make a positive difference, and you’ll have what is necessary to do so.

There are many factors in life over which you have no direct control. And yet even with those things, you can decide how to handle them.

Decide to live and work and play from a perspective of love and gratitude. Decide to greet each day, each moment, and each new situation with a determination to make the world a better place.

Life is a continuous series of choices. Decide where you want those choices to lead, and put yourself on your own path to fulfillment.

Decide to live the very best life you can imagine, and delight in making it happen.

A bit of the crescent sunset

It was one of those 'should we/shouldn't we', 'worth the bother/not worth the bother'....

...."Get something on your feet"....

...moments.

Yeah, ya shouldn't stand on gravel roads with bare feets!
And you shouldn't look directly at the sun.
And you shouldn't look through the view finder, apparently--leastwise according to he-who-wants-to-protect-my-eyes.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.....

So we only got to see a bit of it.
So it was windy and cool and I forgot my sweatshirt.
So?!

Sometimes I STILL need to just shut up and get in the freaking car.
LOL

Today's Reminder

It’s very easy to say you care, and even to look like you care. It’s much more difficult to actually do it. Sincerely caring about others isn’t just a matter of being nice and agreeable. 

In fact, when you truly care you often must disagree, even if it would be much easier to just be nice. There are times when the most loving and compassionate thing you can say is no. There are times when the most respectful and considerate response is to disagree. 

 Challenging people to do their best is much more empowering than letting them get by with halfhearted efforts. Helping people to become self sufficient is much more generous than letting them become dependent on your generosity, though it is also much more difficult. 

 Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do for someone is to hold that person accountable. One of the most valuable things you can give to another person is the opportunity, difficult as it may be, to grow stronger, more capable and more dependable. 

 The world cries out for caring people, yet merely being nice and generous is not enough. Care enough to respect, to positively challenge, to insist on nothing less than the best, and permanently raise those you care about to a higher level of living.

Nature's Swing

More Fairy Wisdom

I accept the fact that I have made mistakes.

I find comfort in knowing that, in the past, I did what I thought was right at the time.

What makes my mistakes seem so bad is that I judge them by what I know today.

I know more than I did then, and less than I will tomorrow.

I trust that, in the future, I will not make the same mistakes.

I have more information now, and I will be able to handle things differently and make wiser choices.

I accept myself for who I was then and for who I am today.

The Flower Girl

It sometimes amazes me how I can try to keep it simple and despite my best efforts, complications galore happen.  My best intentions, huh?

Yes, I'm honoured to be asked to the wedding--thank you.  I appreciate being asked.
Yes, I'll attend.


Yes, I'll find photos of the boy at different stages in his life for the reception slideshow.


I appreciate being asked, truly....but the honour of lighting candles belongs to the mother of the bride and the step-mother of the boy....they've been active in the lives of the boy and his bride for some time.   It's their privilege--but I appreciate the kindness.


I'm sorry, but I don't have photos of my deceased step-mother....or of my deceased father to place in a memorial for the wedding.  Fire destroyed those long ago.....but thank you for wanting to remember them at the ceremony....

Witness the ceremony, I reiterated to the girl.
That's all I really wanted to be able to do.

And today when I was given a corsage and asked to sit with the mother of the bride and the father/step-mother of the groom I paused and tried very hard to be gracious.  Oh, it wasn't by the boy....though I'm sure the girl was manipulating a bit on his behalf.  The Bug was flower-girl and after tossing petals and waiting on the arrival of the bride, she would be dismissed--and since the Bug has little to do with the father of the girl, I was asked to sit with the parents of the wedding party so the Bug would have a person to sit with.

You don't think she'll sit with the other grandfather.
The answer was 'no'......she doesn't know the other grandfather well--and she'll want to sit with me because I'm present.
The rationale made sense and given that the girl was busy doing other things for the wedding party, what do ya do....  You pause, stick on the corsage, let some fella in a tux offer an arm and get escorted to the pew of his choice (and since the poor fella had NO clue who he was escorting, I sat one pew behind 'the parents of').

Later he offered his apologies "I didn't realize you were the grooms mother."
Of course he didn't.
And I assured him he did well--I had the best seat in the house.

The Bug did her deal--well, sorta did her deal.....she forgot to toss her petals on the way down and instead hoarded them because she thought they were pretty. (she did toss them on the way out, however....)
The bride and groom did their vows.
Everyone was very kind--everyone.

I got to hug the boy and tell him I was proud of him and happy for him.
He got to thank me for coming--and invited me to the reception following.

I didn't attend the reception.
It's their day--and having it without the awkwardness of 'the elephant in the room' was the right thing to do.  And really, I wasn't up for being 'the elephant in the room'.

But it was a lovely wedding the bride put together.
And the boy was a handsome groom......and he's obviously happy in his marriage with his wife, patient with his children and grown some (in varying ways).

And today I got to witness his vows with his wife.
It truly was an honor and a privilege.

I'm reminded of how just how loving the child was, once upon a time, in his relationship with me.....
When he slipped onto the couch and snuggled in beside me to watch cartoons.
When he shoveled ice cream by the spoonfulls at the ice cream parlor after a soccer win with a laughing 'I love you more than I love ice cream.'
When he wrapped his arms around my legs and screamed and cried and refused to let go......

The letting go was a difficult thing for me to do.....in many ways.

Then........and now....

Fairy Wisdom

The enjoyment you put into your own life spills out into the lives of those around you. And the more enjoyment you give to life, the more you have to offer.

Settling In

Today's Fairy Thought

One of the most disabling assumptions is the assumption of need. Consider that much of what you assume you need, you really don’t.

Remember, just because everyone else has some particular thing, does not mean you need it too. Just because someone says you need something, doesn’t mean you really need it.

If you’re being held back by the need to satisfy your needs, stop and ask yourself a key question about each one. Do you really need it?

Life can be difficult, and yet there’s no sense in adding to the burden. Instead of assuming more and more needs, choose to question those needs.

Live more by intention, and less by reaction. Put your time and effort into those things that create real fulfillment for your life, rather than into needless needs.

Smiles on Stems

Fairy Message

You are indeed capable of transforming even the most difficult situation into bright, shining, meaningful richness and joy. 

The thing you must decide in every moment is, are you willing?

RIP little horn....

"Sadly she honked the last honk today. She honked it louder than ever before and it just couldn't take it."


Oh NO!!
Don't worry--the grandad assures me he can get another horn.  And he says if he tries hard, he thinks he can even find one more wretched than the one that's died!


"Oh no--you don't understand.  It's not the noise. It's the fact that that i can only travel 6 inches without her needing to stop to honk it.  It's taken us 40 minutes to get to the park.....which is only 3 blocks away."

I'll let ya know when I've stopped laughing.


ROFLMAO!!!!!

(well then.....as long as it's not the noise, I guess a 'more wretched one' might be in order.....LOLOLOL)

Mr. and Mrs. Grossbeak

TFTD

Gratitude is more than saying thank you. 

The real power of gratitude comes from making meaningful and valuable use of those things for which you are thankful.

And so we'll begin.......

Thursday, she tells me.  Radiation will start.
About fricking time, if you ask me.  But I'm WELL familiar with the 'hurry up and wait' syndrome.
*sigh*

Now it's just a matter of deciding on the cocktail she'll take weekly with the radiation.

She's got a normal mishmosh of emotions going on.  That's okay--I listened to 'em.  I do that well.  And when I say 'listen' I mean via text--she's still struggling to talk in an understandable manner, which is why she's going to speech therapy, swallowing therapy and hearing therapy (apparently you start to hear yourself talking clearer than the rest of the world, hence the need for 'hearing therapy'....wow.....that makes sense!).

And she was a tad envious......

Yesterday evening the neighbor came to ask me some questions--the grandfather is taking radiation for skin cancer and was tripping over his own feet. They wanted to ask me if that was 'normal' for the first treatment.

Um.......NO.

So I checked in on the grandfather who lives across the way--
He WAS a bit loopy......

But when you take valium back to back so you're 'relaxed' for radiation--your feet become a nuisance.  Go figure!!

The sister didn't get valium prescribed.
I assured her that's because she already trips over her own feet.
*laughing*  She bought it!

In the meantime, I've packed up a Happy Almost Birthday box for the sister--skirts that'll fit her for lazing around in and every day wear--they'll work better for her than slacks or shorts, given the state of her body at this moment in time.
She's fun to buy for....and easy cuz she's MY size.  *sigh*
The good news is she's holding that weight and taking walks to keep herself in decent shape for the processes she's about to enter.

Oh....and I packed in some toys!
NOISY toys and messy toys!

*snickering*
The BIL will love me anyway!!

***duplicates of the noisy toys WERE purchased for a small child who'll come visit for the weekend soon

The Grandad will love me anyway too. :-/

Fluff and Stuff

Today's Thought

We do not have to pressure ourselves by insisting that we do or know something before it's time. When it is time, we will know. We will move into that time naturally and harmoniously. We will have peace and consistency. We will feel empowered in a way we do not feel today. 

 Deal with the panic, the urgency, and the fear; do not let them control or dictate decisions. 

 Waiting isn't easy. It isn't fun. 

But waiting is often necessary to get what we want. It is not dead time; it is not downtime. The answer will come. The power will come. The time will come. And it will be right.

Excuse me while I try to figure this out.....

I'm not sure what I walked in to.
Something, apparently.....
Obviously.....
When I get blown up and things get twisted and skewed and used as a bat on me--I gotta wonder exactly how that happened....  Especially since I didn't see it coming AT all.

Now, I know all the lovely professional terms.  But unprofessionally-- Safe place to sling your shit is the assessment.
Face it--you have hurts/angers with folks that you don't feel like you can be honest with, you gotta do something with those hurts/angers.  And since I'm a steady Eddie and I'm not going anywhere--easy place to sling shit.....which of course, I questioned.... Which, of course, hasn't be answered--more twisting and skewing and hostility.  Common tactics, deflect, deflect, deflect and don't answer.  I'll get an answer eventually.  If there's one thing I do well, it's persevere!


So....At this point in time I've asked How about you tell me what it is you want from me and we'll go from there.

I want nothing....  was the answer.
Let's either dub that 'denial' or call it 'liar liar pants on fire'.  Either one will do.

I remember doing this on numerous occasions.
It was quite effective.  People didn't know what hit 'em.....and I 'felt better' for blowing up some undeserving soul. Come to think of it,  I 'felt better' for blowing up the 'deserving souls', too.
That's more honest--everyone got blown up, deserving or undeserving.  It was pretty much my solution for anything and anyone.

I'm trying to remember just how I got out of that piss poor solution for hurts and angers.
I think it was WPIML dragging me back to my 'victim' and making me apologize for treating another human being in an unloving manner.
.....over and over and over again....
I highly doubt that's going to work in this circumstance.
And WPIML put up with a hellacious amount displaced anger and resentment shoved in his direction.
How that changed wasn't from his demands inter-personally between him and I--it was a byproduct of his demands of my behavior with others.

Ohhhh yeah.....  I remember now.
I started to find a conscience.......

*shudder*
Ewwwwwww

Hidden view

Today's Reminder from the Reading Fairy

Our happiness is not a present someone else holds in his or her hands. Our well-being is not held by another to be given or withheld at whim. If we reach out and try to force someone to give us what we believe he or she holds, we will be disappointed. We will discover that it is an illusion. The person didn't hold it. He or she never shall. That beautifully wrapped box with the ribbon on it that we believed contained our happiness that someone was holding - it's an illusion!

In those moments when we are trying to reach out and force someone to stop our pain and create our joy, if we can find the courage to stop flailing about and instead stand still and deal with our issues, we will find our happiness.

Yes, it is true that if someone steps on our foot, he or she is hurting us and therefore holds the power to stop our pain by removing his or her foot. But the pain is still ours. And so is the responsibility to tell someone to stop stepping on our feet.

Healing will come when we're aware of how we attempt to use others to stop our pain and create our happiness. We will heal from the past. We will receive insights that can change the course of our relationships.

We will see that, all along, our happiness and our well-being have been in our hands. We have held that box. The contents are ours for the opening.

Non-black

After 4 hours of looking for two garbage cans (of the non-black variety) and one skirt......after too many dressing rooms and too many hardware stores....after a good cuppa coffee.....

......I gotta go to the nature reserve and look for frogs!
This was Saturday's adventure.

Yes, I know--not everyone's cup of tea, but I like looking for 'em.
They're sneaky boogers and they hide well.
But I found 'em!
I found 'em and I didn't take a decent photo of any of 'em.  *laughing*  Too excited to hold the camera steady.  But that's okay!  I found 'em!!  I found 'em!!
And the lilly pads are out and threatening to blossom.
AND we saw trains!

All that was way more exciting than looking for garbage cans and a stupid skirt.

Settled on a skirt, even though it's nothing to write home about....didn't settle on a garbage can.
All black.
What's up with that?!  Unless I want a metal trash can (which I do not!) my colour choices are limited to black and black.

Maybe if I spruce it up with duct tape stripes!!
Ohhhhh.....*thinking of the possibilities!!*

Today's Reading

The prize we each have been given is our ability to offer full and interested attention to people seeking our counsel. And seldom does a day pass, that we aren't given the opportunity to listen, to nurture, to offer hope where it's been dashed.

We are not separate, one from another. Interdependence is our blessing; however, we fail to recognize it at our crucial crossroads. Alone we ponder. Around us, others, too, are often suffering in silence. These Steps that guide our lives push us to break the silence. The secrets we keep, keep us from the health we deserve.

Our emotional well-being is enhanced each time we share ourselves - our stories or our attentive ears. We need to be a part of someone else's pain and growth in order to make use of the pain that we have grown beyond. Pain has its purpose in our lives. And in the lives of our friends, too. It's our connection to one another, the bridge that closes the gap.

We dread our pain. We hate the suffering our friends must withstand. But each of us gains when we accept these challenges as our invitations for growth and closeness to others.

They're bacckkkkk.....

And they're a bit shy at the moment--seems they think showing up is enough of a gift of gratitude for the food I put out....letting a photo happen--yeah.....notsomuch......

They'll figure it out.
In the meantime I'll sit around with the camera.  I'm told they need to 'get used to me'.
Which means I'm going to sound like the nutzo neighbor lady, talking with the hummers and other assorted critters.....again.....LOL
Oh wait.  I do that year round.....

But wooohooooo.....they're BACK!
I missed those wee things flitting around and getting in my face, tellin' me who's the boss of the patio!

<-- is the boss of the patio, tyvm

Fairy Reminder

I remember that I cannot lose or fail.

I remember that my senses do not validate the Truth of my experience.

I remember that all I have experienced, regardless of how I judge it or hold it in consciousness, has brought me this right now moment... And I'm really okay.

I remember that I'm right where I'm supposed to be and healing is happening in my life.

I remember that I'm always healing on the level from whence I came, clearing the path to show up fully in who I AM today.

I remember that I can access the Love of God and the Peace of God in one single breath.

I remember that it has not yet appeared, what I shall become!

Today, I choose to keep my eyes on the greatness of who I choose to BE, as I remember the Truth of who I am.

Breathing in Home

Fairy Reading for Today

Today, I surrender fear, doubt, worry, anxiety, and control. Today, I acknowledge, accept and admit that I cannot fix anyone or anything.

Today, I acknowledge, accept and admit that I cannot fix, change, heal or help myself. Today, I acknowledge, accept and admit that I cannot change anyone or anything.

Today, I acknowledge, accept and admit that I cannot help anyone. Today, I acknowledge, accept and admit that I cannot control anyone or anything. Today, I acknowledge, accept and admit that I cannot heal anyone or anything.