Follow Your Bliss

Well....

It finally arrived...

Winter has decided to stop by for a visit.

After weeks of mild weather...

That I was getting very used to...

A blanket of snow now covers the ground.

Beautiful....

Yes.

But, oh how I was enjoying spring-like temps.

Such is life.

For now...

I will enjoy Mother Nature's beauty.

Out In the Country...

Whenever I need to leave it all behind
Or feel the need to get away
I find a quiet place, far from the human race
Out in the country

Before the breathin' air is gone
Before the sun is just a bright spot in the nighttime
Out where the rivers like to run
I stand alone and take back somethin' worth rememberin'

Whenever I feel them closing in on me
Or need a bit of room to move
When life becomes too fast, I find relief at last
Out in the country

Before the breathin' air is gone
Before the sun is just a bright spot in the nighttime
Out where the rivers like to run
I stand alone and take back somethin' worth rememberin'

"Out In The Country" - Three Dog Night

Life Is Good...

 
Life is good...

The sky is blue...

The air is warm...

Flowers are blooming...

And new friends have become a part of my life...

 
One of them is furry...

And has four legs...

This pretty girl...

YUP!

Life is good!

Sparkles of Sunshine....

 
The sun is shining!

Warmth envelopes my little part of the world today.

Ahhhhh....

 
Sparkling snow still blankets the ground...

Makes for a great backdrop for a crystal dish filled with pretty glass.

 
Enjoy your day...

Where ever you might be.

Spring is just around the corner!

Elegant Loveliness...

January can be a long month...

But occasionally a warmish day drops by to tease us...

Such was the case today.

So I pulled on my boots...

And grabbed my camera.

 
I find winter gardens to be quite lovely...

 
Just a bit more subtle...

 
And understated...

Elegant loveliness...

 

My girl...

Happy 25th birthday to my sweet girl!

 
I am so proud to be your mom. XOXOXO

Winter... A Pot of Soup... And a Snowdance...

Winter has arrived in full force...

 
But... although Old Man Winter is painting a frigid scene outside...

I am enjoying the beauty of it all from my warm cozy home.

I am secretly... well, maybe NOT so secretly hoping the storm continues through the night...

Perhaps causing school to be canceled tomorrow.

In the meantime...

It's too bad this isn't "smellevision"...

Cuz there are some yummy smells wafting through this warm, cozy house...

 
Yep..

It's a GREAT BIG pot of soup...

I'm not sure what kind...

It has about everything I could find around the kitchen in it...

I guess I will call it - Cheesy broccoli beer cheese chicken noodle potato soup...

A long name...

But - if I do say so myself...

Quite delicious...

Not exactly low-cal...

But why ruin a perfectly nice, snowy, soup-making, wintery day by worrying about that!

I think I am going to have to disturb the sweet, snoring beagle that is sleeping at my feet to go get a bowl of CBBCCNP soup.

I hope you are all warm and cozy...

Eating something yummy.

And do me a favor, will ya?

Do the snow dance for me...

Tomorrow would be a great day to stay safely snuggled up at home.

The Journey...

It's 2011!

Happy New Year to you all.

 
 
I've been thinking of all the usual things one thinks about as a new year approaches...

Resolutions... Wishes...  Dreams...

I'm sure you all have been doing the same thing.

It is my resolve... my wish... my dream

To become a "healthier me".

What that will involve is yet to be seen.

But...

I know it will be a journey...

What is that saying...

"Life is a journey... not a destination..."

So here's to our journey through 2011...

May it be filled with love, peace, joy, and many pleasant surprises!

'tis the season....

Ho Ho Ho....

Oh yes... it's that time of year...

Days filled with jolly little people...

Excited for the holidays.

Our classroom has been filled with lots of  busy elves ....

25 of them in fact....

Busily creating a special gift.

25 painted hands...

25 ornaments filled with brightly colored ribbons....

125 jolly little snowmen....

 
This wonderful idea was found here.

I just love them.

Aren't they cute?

 
We decorated bags...

Bundled them up...

 

Proud little artists...

Beaming...

Carrying their handmade creations...

 
To be presented to someone special.

I just LOVE days like today!

 
I hope your holidays are filled with lovely surprises and much love. 
Merry Christmas! xoxox

Autumn Lovliness...

I am absolutely LOVING autumn this year.

We have had warm, wonderful weather...

Vibrant colors that I simply adore.

 

Does anybody get it?

As I continued my quest for order and simplicity today...

I had an epiphany...

An awakening.

I was cleaning out yet another part of my "space"...

Feeling completely overwhelmed...

When it hit me.

THIS... is my life...

When I can't don't want to "deal" with something...

I put it somewhere...

In a closet...

A drawer...

Under the bed...

In the basement.

Anywhere...

So I don't have to "deal" with it.

Wouldn't it be so much easier to "deal" with it NOW...

Instead of waiting until the closet door won't close...

Or the drawer is overflowing...

Or your mind feels like it might explode...

I tried to explain this to my family...

That we (I) need to "deal" with things before they become "undealable".

They just looked at me like I was  nuts...

Babbling on and on about some crazy "Mom thing".

They JUST don't get it...

I guess they can't don't want to "deal" with it!

But I do!

And I am...

And feels good!

Order...

How does one create order in an otherwise disorderly chaotic life?

That is a question that has plagued me for....

FOREVER....

It just isn't something I am...

But I am craving it...

CRAVING it.

So...

I am starting with my "space"....

One part at a time...

Discarding... donating... de-cluttering...

One corner at a time...

It's coming along...

One closet down...

The rest of the house to go...

My Little Piece of Heaven...

I love my backyard!

  
Vibrant greens, reds, pinks, blues...

 

Corners of bright blooms...

My reading corner...

Love curling up with a book here...

The mornings are perfect and quiet...

 


It is my very own little piece of Heaven!

Flower Love

Helloooooooo.....

Is anybody still looking????

I love my spring garden!

Sweet new blossoms...

Vibrant color!!!

Ahhhhh....

Flower love!

I love spring!

This is the view out my back window...

The bright blue cornflowers...

The snowball bush...Hostas...

So fresh...

Don't you just adore it...

Rebirth...

Renewal..

.SpRinG