Balducci Ristorante, Here's My Story: About the Blue Dress Too!

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Will I find myself back to Balducci? Like - ever? Maybe not. Or..maybe yes..hmmm...but most likely NOT. Balducci and me, we have no...none of the sparks between us. Nobody's fault, mind you.

It was a late Saturday evening and the skies poured gregariously. The rain, let me tell you, it was beautiful that night - not at all rat dreary or gutter dreadful. Instead, the falling drench silver glistened our evening streets with a kind of filmy sheen that reflected the warm golden glow and shadows of streetlights and city cafe's. It was an incandescent sight, a bit..what's the word...NOIR!! 

Catching Light Chasing Shadows ( Lux Lucis Vita )

1-28 2014 Maybe this resonates with you. Maybe it doesn't. A moment when slices of decorous days turn sour and your light within extinguishes itself without apology.

Suddenly, your inner colorful morphs into a mottled palette overnight, a drab washed out lizard salmon of a life. That tempest within, she wakes, cocking what a diminutive dun you are.

Facing shadows - a melancholy one must battle.The past days have been so for me. What was there to do but embrace it. My adoring gratitude goes to the one who is patient and who believes and makes me laugh, until once again I am suffused with the sensation of bright - a conduit to the honest happiness around me. Tis' over. Now, I claim my emergence.

"One need not be a chamber to be haunted...

one need not be a house.

The brain has corridors

surpassing material space."

- Emily Dickinson

Something is happening to me. For weeks on end I am swept over by a sour suffocating smog of the soul. As if my spirit, once blithe and carefree, all of a sudden felt faint weary, begging for rest - that long deep dreamless rest of the ones who sleep. Scares me. 

I am not unfamiliar with my shadow. We are....acquainted.
Once a year I am besieged with an un - s.u.n.c.t.i.m.o.nious vacuum that knifes through my being. A veritable selfishness, sloth and venom of days wherein I pace my dysmorphic earth with hollowness. As if nothing exists and matters. Ghostly. A self satisfied canting of there is no mend. 

End.

I speak to it - at it - my barren shadow. 

Not with fights. Not with accusations. Not with soothing words nor with acceptance. 

Letting it be, I walk it through capturing beams and prisms as light amiably slants through branches, leaves and twigs, settling in streets, lawns and bends. Lucent.

I catch the light 

and I catch it 

and catch it 

and catch it. 

Until captured, the light becomes me,
and becomes me,
and becomes me,
and finally,

becomes me,
chasing my shadow -
away. 

Lux Lucis Vita

CATCHING LIGHT CHASING SHADOWS
( a photo journal - click on the link to view all pictures.)

My Many Many Joys ~ January's Lady Prism Living

I want the joy of simple colors, street organs, ribbons, flags, not a joy that takes my breath away and throws me into space alone where no one else can breathe with me, not the joy that comes from a lonely drunkenness. There are so many joys, but I have only known the ones that come like a miracle, touching everything with light.~ Anais Nin

A quaint quiet moment at home.

Keep track everyday the date emblazoned in yr morning.~ Jack Kerouac

Let me remember you sweet succulent January, not for the swipe of ordinary that wrenched my heart with earthly worry, but for the exuberance of your soft rising mornings, for the kindest' constant dew that misted our mortal mid-day livings, and for the gratifying minutes, seconds, hours tinted with laughter well to the embrace and luscious comfort of your evenings replete with walks under a suede sky speckled with brazen scattered starlights.

Grace and miracles, light and shadows, January was a gift of a month; a collection of days that unraveled in gentle supplication. Like the dream of sweet incoming mountain fog, the spirit of an obliging Janus wrapped me in anticipation, whispering, yes..yes, in your life it is possible to create magic, to manifest desires, dreams and intentions, and to live daily with a cleansed bright aura, if you so do wish. 

And these few chosen pics are but random manifestations of the fun  that presented themselves. What pleasure it gives for me to see them blogged artfully this way. My many many joys.

Live, Love & Laugh

February Musings on the Wisdom of Celebrating Felicity

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Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home;it's supported by seven hewn timbers. The banquet meal is ready to be served: lamb roasted, wine poured out,table set with silver and flowers; Having dismissed her serving maids, Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place and invites everyone within sound of her voice; 

"Are you confused about life, don't know what's going on? Come with me, oh come have dinner with me! I've prepared a wonderful spread--fresh baked bread, roast lamb,carefully selected wines. Leave your impoverished confusion and live! Walk up the street to a life with meaning. ~ Proverbs 9:1-6

Thanks a million dee' to chance that I read this verse early this morning after the events of having gotten' out of the wrong side of the bed and behaving like a half twit' bat  towards someone - ok - towards one of my sons who was frantically searching for a sock. But by golly' I have not been remiss in warning everyone that I am barely human before 9 am and goodness knows what groggy creature I may be at barely past 5  with nary a slug of coffee, bah!

• ♥ • All survived and it is a pleasant afternoon presently with me recalling that half a minute charged dawn mini-drama which all but placed an imperceptible dent on what is blossoming to be a pretty memory of a charming February. Much have I to recall of laughter and felicity and perhaps, yes, perhaps I could give myself a little pat on the back for somehow keeping "me" together during crookie' moments when times weren't so favorably right and I had the power within me to actually make things worse -> only I didn't, hahaha! Wee'..a bit grown wiser may I becoming? Perhaps, perhaps...

I am grateful for the inspiration of the Highest Wisdom who reigns me in and soothes my being when I whisper a prayer that twines around • ♥ • "please, I want to be strongly gentle...not riled or rattled or rock frenzied by muddled circumstances...let me be the bearer of wise silence when someone unburdens on me, patient and understanding and courageous in holding forth my two cents worth unless genuinely desired.. ♥

  And since it's February and one can be more than pardoned for being a little bit brash with bold pronouncements of "charmed living," (hehe!) it is Without Apology that I flagrantly brandish pictures of  --->
Living My Own Style of A Charmed Life!

"If you celebrate your differentness, the world will, too. It believes exactly what you tell it through the words you use to describe yourself, the actions you take to care for yourself. Tell the world you are one-of-a-kind creation who came here to experience wonder and spread joy. Expect to be accommodated." ~ Victoria Moran

Tis' with a strain of awkwardness that I try to live the above wit, for hooked maliciously on a strand of thought is a hair of guilt that I don't deserve to enjoy - anything; that every moment I cherish is selfishness on my part when there are so many I know wallowing in misfortune of some sort. It sounds mighty crazy but this truth brings out the most unsavory unladylike and quite repulsive side of my character; for instead of enjoying the moment and being grateful of life, I unconsciously reflect negativity, become gravely withdrawn and stoically project an ill perceived manner so flagrantly unbecoming. Thank goodness, that the great God in his marvelous mercy worked with time, and I daresay, through the love of my partner causing my inner person to relax and mellow and be serenely healed, if I may say so, of myself.  

Today, I fondly welcome these chains of beautiful simple abundance moments that always present themselves to me. I laugh, I love and live with a focus on the moment. And when I find myself being led to thoughts of doom, I wrestle it captive to the love of God. It's not easy. But I am not alone.

Now here's that bit of chocolate cake I had last luvy duvy' Valentine's day, hehe!  Bit of a surprise really - I wasn't expecting to go out that evening. The LOVE had a very hectic day and I preferred to celebrate a quiet evening at home. My cell rang mid- afternoon and he absolutely insisted that we go out. Wouldn't even tell me where,  so I was seamlessly thrilled by the mystery of it all, haha! Round 6 pm he picked me up and still - wouldn't divulge much info, until we reached city proper and stuck in traffic  gave the restaurant a call to make sure our table would be held  in reserve for us. Dawned on me, but of course, where else would it be most perfect to spend a lovely night but at TITANIA's Wine Cellar!  We had been there once  about a year ago for a platter of cheese and wine, and vowed we would be back for the whole deal as I was enamored with the place. What perfect timing!

How can I describe it - that night - except to say that both the place, the food and the crowd merged into a frolic of red upholstered loveliness  - quite a heady aura of "Phantom of the Operaesque" romance cloaked with a wonderfully fortunate ending. Suffice it to say, the evening qualifies as one of those memorable Valentines I would with fondness recall when I get to be all crinkly old (cute) and grey. 

Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ♥¸¸. ,•ღ. ℒℴνℯ •ღ. ℒℴνℯ♥¸.•*”Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ♥
Each day offers us the gift of being a special occasion if we can simply learn that as well as giving, it is blessed to receive with grace and a grateful heart. ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

2013- A Year That Promises Sparkles

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She who leaves a trail of glitter always sparkles! ( and is never forgotten too, haha!) And that's what 2013 will be for me - a - trail - of - sparkles! I am setting out to make the coming year a jolly, joyful, mirthful, laughter filled year. I dare declare it my jubilee year; 365 days of purposely planned and carefully crafted effervescent days of  joy.- I mean that - or my name isn't Lady Prism, haha!

The way I see it, you and I are both vessels of light. I am - You are- light incarnate! We are meant to shimmer and  radiate. Whatever religious affiliation, ideology, conviction, race, color or creed, Christmas is for all. It is the rekindling gift of light by the Christ, our Redeemer, offered to every single living thing on earth, be it man, woman, child or creature. Let everything that has life praise the Lord, the Good Book says, for He has come to give us joy, a joy the world cannot give.

The Christ of Christmas I know is the spirit of the loving Nazarene, a beacon of love and light, who without earthly political agenda set out to boldly speak of hope, forgiveness and redemption. His message was one of living on higher ground through the practical application of kindness towards self and neighbors. Such a very simple, plain preaching devoid of religious hysteria it was hard to take then, and hard to take now.

And as we are reminded by the season to live in joy, I am personally filled to the brim with a hope of having my light within rekindled luminescent.  A happy me means a happy community of those around me.  I want my happiness to flow because I want my joy to touch you. Being happy takes conscious effort. It takes work. It takes loving discipline; a positive focusing of thoughts hinged on faith. Whatever is good, whatever is lovely, whatever is worthy of praise, think only of those things, the Good Book says.

Being happy takes planning, organization and  execution. The world created out of chaos was formed into order, so should our lives be. It takes sacrifice at times, a giving up of temporal enticements that appear exciting at the present moment but lead nowhere except to  the inner enclaves of spiritual destitution and moral disaster - for if the light in you is darkness, how terribly dark it will be.  Happiness takes courage and a dash of bravery too! It takes giving up and  letting go. It takes an open heart and an open mind. Happiness is not only being with people, it is at times wrestling with a loneliness so deep, facing whatever need be, then plodding on until the clouds break through and light bursts forth again. Happiness is consciously casting out whatever dark thoughts that assail the spirit during downtrodden days, believing that we are never truly alone. Happiness is the mastery of patience, the generosity of understanding, and the charity of forgiving - everyday.

These words I write simply because in times when I feel less than shinning, it would do well to refer the fact that I am a person who chooses to be happy. I am created for joy. My happiness does not hinge on objects to own or people to possess. It isn't hooked on how I am perceived by others either looked up or looked down upon. My happiness is not flared by the grand theatrics of a howling, drinking partying crowd, nor seduced by ominous racks of designer must haves. It isn't rocked by despairing days or rendered arrogant by triumph. My happiness stems from a confidence that I am esteemed by a God of Love and, that my worth is far above rubies. My fave Max Lucado book says it all - God wants you, just the way you are. And this, this is the happiness that makes me sparkle. This is my light. A light that you and I both share, magnificently lit from an everlasting radiant Divine source that kindles from within.

“You are the light of the world.
A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 

~ Matthew 5:14

On Higher Ground

Each of us makes our own weather, 

determines the color of the skies, 

and the emotional universe which we inhabit. 

~ Fulton J. Sheen

Possessing a cottage by the sea, living lulled by wavy foamed lazy waves and taking leisurely walks in warm sugar bleached sand is a romantic notion that buoys my Piscean  fancy. -- The cottage: stony rustic with wistery climbing bounganvilla on its tiled clay roof, or vintage white timbered with a white porch facing the waves, or tropical quaint bamboo(ed) `with latched windows accented with dangling yam purple orchids and mango yellow flowerbells -- 

Or it may not be the dream of a sea but of an idyllic provincial cottage (a happenstance convenient10 minute drive to the city, haha!) complete with trellises of sweet yellow bells and fun hello's of friendly neighbors. 
---- little whimsy dreams because in reality I live neither by the sea.....nor  in some seductive romantic back road inn..fronted by a landscape of bliss. ♥¸.•*”Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ♥¸¸. ,•ღ. ℒℴνℯ •ღ. ℒℴνℯ♥¸.•*”Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ♥¸¸. ,•ღ

There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot,
 but there are others who with the help of their art, 
their intelligence, transform the yellow spot into sun. 
~ Pablo Picasso  

  Nevertheless, I wear this weather of blue skies in the inner insides of me and have colored my homes ( yes, each one I've lived in to where I am today) with the strokes of my emotional universe --> being that what I described above . And it delights me when friends smile and coo' "what a pretty space you've created" ( I have to articulate this because sometimes I forget and grumble and fret so).

 This is how I want to live forever and ever -- > taking a yellow spot and transforming it into the sun --> taking something mundane and working my miracle to make it come alive. Each day to live this way would be such a pleasure.   
 ♥¸.•*”Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ♥¸¸. ,•ღ. ℒℴνℯ •ღ. 
  
A tender reminder this is for me --> to trust that I am guided in my path. In moments of doubt and questioning; when a bite of fear sinks deep in my soul and I let slip how very well I am infused with strength that comes from above, it would be well to acknowledge the oft evoked phrase that goes "...we have not been given a spirit of fear but of love". 

Yesterday I was very much uplifted by what I chanced at a women's devotional website.
 
"My heart has no desire to stay
where doubts arise and fears dismay
Though some may dwell where these abound,
my prayer, my aim, is higher ground.


Lord lift me up and let me stand,
By faith on Heaven's table land
A higher plain than I have found;
Lord plant my feet on higher ground." 

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Today's musing leads me to the following insights:
1. We each make our own weather.
2. We determine the color of our skies.
3. We determine the emotional universe which we inhabit.
4. We can transform even a spot into something pretty
5. We are a spirit of LOVE
6.  We can live on higher ground.
 Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ♥¸¸. ,•ღ. ℒℴνℯ •ღ. ℒℴνℯ♥¸.•*”Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ♥

- all photos and paintings by me :D 

sexy lingerie, cat bites, listening to your heart, green creatures and this demented world

Alice Neel Painting from Pinterest

 Don't let yourself feel worthless: often through life you will really be at your worst when you seem to think best of yourself; and don't worry about losing your "personality," as you persist in calling it: at fifteen you had the radiance of early morning, at 20 you will begin to have the melancholy brilliance of the moon, and when you are my age you will give out, as I do, the genial golden warmth of 4 pm. 

~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

I open Facebook and I am welcomed by entrancing pictures, enlivening quotes, and dearsome' messages ( as do my pinterest, haha!) 

 -- To me, it's all about the visual impetus of basking in a planetary cyber fusion of poetry, fashion, cookery, architecture - art. It quickens, enlivens, suffuses my creative cerebral with muscle strength for beauty. A coiffed cupcake teases my eyes, animates my senses, and suddenly it isn't a mere sweet sponge blob anymore - FB frosted it with royal "respect."  My heart goes dub-dub and I walk buoyant to face my day poised in inspiration and mild exuberance, that quite often flourishes as the hours roll by. 

And then, there are the Facebook cats, of course. And the honest intimation of friends, always and forever endearing no matter how forthright or prosaic. Such is the pulse of affectionate living.

Lately however, screaming between  artsy' updates, (and far more frequently for comfort)  is a glaring stream of what is wrong, terribly horribly hideously wrong with the world: crime, injustice, perversion, brutality, you name it! I'm no Pollyana, I know there's always something putrid going on. But as one who refuses to be intimate with traditional media, I'm aghast that atrocity, a hundred notch higher, now haunts even my closeted cyber realm. The world is toying with insanity and no escaping how it fugs' real bad. Wormy travesty would surely eat my insides ill if I'm not careful.

Why, just before heading here, I read a post about a h-e-i-n-o-u-s crime committed a step away from where I live, while in a parallel part of the globe, an assault of the same nature at the same time. Oh why can't evil people collectively foam in the mouth and die! 

If I were a morbid cynical fundamentalist  I'd say everyone's gone bonkers. The world needs to go for therapy - breathe, talk things over, relax, get a grip, hah!

It's NOT all cruddy of course, and by tomorrow's early morning lemon juice I'd be up with a whiff of hopeful refreshing once again. After all,  joie' de vivre' still taps in spite of what seems to be galactic maelstrom.

There is still the rising of the sun, the chirpy no cares of birdies, oh thank God for birds, really! And there are still kisses and hugs and little sweet choco- cupcakes and raspberry tea and vintage stores in the oddest corners where I get my secret stash of old fashioned I'm- the- only- one- who - has - this - sexy lingerie. And there are fresh Tuesday blooms at my fave flower shop which I buy cheap. So if at this moment like me you refuse to listen to the drone of this thorny world then --->

Listen to your heart. If you can;t hear what it's saying in this noisy world, make time for yourself.

Yes, make time for yourself. I used to think it was selfish to do so and I wallowed in a darky corner of my doing, sniffling and smug and sucking my smile in. Not anymore. 

The other day I set off pretty early for my cat bite injection ( stepped on the fanged mother cat)  and consequently, walked past the city park where the prettier cafe's are. I spied a fancy one open (and it wasn't even 8 am), so asked myself if I should indulge a cuppa' at double the price of a 24 hour McCafe.  It was a beautiful day, and the moment was worth a fancy velvet frilly place ( ah, at 8 am with only me). I love that I did that, plus the capricious impromptu ( little) shopping too. Red rosy dress, oh yes! 

I love this creature, the earth,  no matter how harangued, bizarre and demented it can seem sometimes. With all it's pockmarks of wars, crimes and other bulbous boils of botheration, there exists what is real:  family, friends, pets, plants, poetry, books, quiet coffee corners and grilled oysters! Yes, we all make it still -- a wonderful world! 

The Beautiful Life

Find out where joy resides,
and give it a voice far beyond singing. 

For to miss the joy, is to miss all. ~ Robert Louise Stevenson

How to make a beautiful life.

Love yourself. Make peace with who you are and where you are at this moment in time.

Listen to your heart. If you can;t hear what it's saying in this noisy world, make time for yourself.

Enjoy your own company. Let your mind wonder among the stars.

Try. Take chances. Make mistakes.

Life can be messy and confusing at times but it is also full of surprises. 

The next rock in your path might be a stepping stone.

Be happy. When you don't have what you want, want what you have.

Make do. That's a well kept secret of contentment.

There aren't any shortcuts to tomorrow, you have to make your own way.

To know where you're going is only a part of it.

You need to know where you've been, too.
And if you get lost, don't worry.
The people who love you will find you. Count on it.

Life isn't days and years.
It's what you do with your time and with all the goodness and grace that's inside you.
Make a beautiful life.

The kind of life you deserve.

~ From Quotebites.com

waiting

He will turn 23 next month, and here I am still up, waiting, waiting for him to be home -- safe and sound well in bed in what will most likely be the wee' fresh breath morning of a Sunday. That is how it is, this whole twang of being a mother, no matter the age of your child, the being up, here, there, PRESENT, even if it be annoying ( to them, the young 'uns, yes, because I was specifically told before he stepped out at 9 to NOt wait UP) or ignored, nevermind. It is an impulse, automatic, a reflex, the body resisting rest, quivering in wakefulness as if the very cells of me are jolly occupied in a party of coffee - caffeinated energy at 1 am. Fine.

Life happens in stages.

Someday soon they will be on their own..and I will think back to this...the wake-full-ness...and I know I will be thankful that LIFE was kind enough to grant me these someone's that are etched in my heart, to wait for them, when they were young...and still in this home...

perhaps I will miss..the waiting.

The Thread That Binds Us All

♥¸.•*”Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ♥¸¸. ,•ღ. ℒℴνℯ •ღ. ℒℴνℯ♥¸.•*”Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ♥¸¸. ,•ღ " Not by appointment do we meet delight Or joy;  they heed not our expectancy; but round some corner of the street of life, they of a sudden greet us with a smile. ~ Gerald Massey

My little joy spot 

I can't believe how this tumble thread of days can just tangle unto another...Why' it seems only a blink ago that I sat content in the veranda' with an enamored view of the silver sea; transfixed I was by sweepy lull lapping waves.

I had a book which remained unopened on that table. Yes, I was intending to read. But no, I had to say no to the pages; the seascape before me was far too precious to slight - even for a second. I wanted to drink, engulf, imbibe and nurse myself in all the beauty and soak full body, mind and soul in nature's resplendent display. It was a rainy weekend -- and all the more endearing as the heavens poured a harmony of misty blowing droplets that enhanced evermore the lush greens and flowerettes all around. There was quietude in the cacophony of nature's current temperament.

In the evening, the sweetheart and I had that lovely dinner overlooking the beach, followed by coffee coupled with the best blueberry cheesecake I've had in a while. Then my strawberry margarita and his preferred drink was served. It all molded happy considering this little retreat was a business trip and totally unexpected.

-- Back in the city there was a day of celebrating the event of my son's 21st birthday which coincided with Father's Day. Dinner at a local Chinese restaurant. Cake and coffee back home after. All would be bliss' in the coming days I thought, but sigh'...

Let's just say when one gets too comfy on the steering wheel of life, out of the blue a bump is sure to jolt you back from reverie. Oh well, one ought not to dwell morosely on the melodrama of life. Instead, I'd like to point out this inspiring thread of goodies' that have made me smile:

This dolphin made me smile big time! 

1. Had a nice letter chat with friend Hliza. 
2. Rosemary and Thyme ~ I must write a post about this gardening mystery series. I adore it!
3. Enchanted April  - I don't think I'll ever tire of the book { nor of  the movie}. I'm looking forward to reading more Elizabeth von Arnim writings.
4. Glynnis Whitwer - I love reading her Bible devotions. Not at all condescending or hard put. Just very lifting.
5. FB Inspirations - My newsfeed is littered with inspiring quotes, garden and nature pictures! It's a joy to open up and see all the fun and beauty! And it's nice to hear and read from friends all over the world.
5. Cynthia's Cottage Design - Wonderful!!! No words, except - wonderful!!
6. I was kissed by a seal. Wow!
7. Watched dolphins at play!

Today I meet a good friend and the day after I take lessons in organic soap making.

-- Life is sunshine. Life is storm. A day followed by another can be downright dismal {and for a moment} despondency can even set in. I know of friends who are struggling with fear and uncertainty and anger and doubt. So do I at times. We want to run away to a place where everything is SURE, where there is pastoral calm and everything works out the way it's supposed to work out.

-- This wanting...this dream..it binds us all. We ask of life what is necessary. And what is necessary is to gather all shinning moments as one would stumble upon and pick up precious shells while strolling by the shoreline of a billowing sea. We scoop up the treasure, marvel at its exquisiteness and pocket it as a memory. There are a many of these moments, it is well to be reminded at times. And they come almost always...just like my recent chippery weekend....quite unexpected.

2012 Aha Moment!

2011 I went absolutely retro blog - shy! Can you believe that?

Like, whoa, what was up with me, then? WHY? Where was I?
It was a kind year, a mild "I care for you" kinda' feel for 12 months, rough in the edges at times, but generally the days were soothing. I could've at least recorded a sprinkle of the best times, but heck, no - I went, a-hiding. Did jot down several meager meanderings; however, the JoY, the jingle sparkle of what mattered most was left dangling vague. Alas, no record ov' it.

Frankly, no sweeping answer, ( to myself as I'm self- analyzing) except that it was a year made for burrowing inside my shell....no revelations, no shout-outs, no blissful writing and cybie connecting.

Which isn't to say that life was banal. It was rich to see Hliza, long time sweet blog friend! Yup, Got to see and hug her in person! The lady is beautiful! How's about that for some magic, eh? I reconnected with college friend, Lei. Ah, 2011 was the year I did the dirty salsa, (dig that) thanks to this lady, hahaha! We've kept up the meets since then which is a revelation!

Not to forget I met some old high school lady friends haven't seen in 2 decades too! Then of course there's those fantastic ladies at FB I exchange cute-somes with! Aiiind...my super BFF GalPals, oh yes, been a long stretch since we last got together but December I got to shoot margaritas with the hotties, haha! yah!

What say whoosh, 2011 was a year of new and old friends! And BOOKS!! And wine!! And food!! And hanging out with my boys around much more of the time! Had a lot of swing going on, just too ugh' shucks I didn't write them down in  this space.

But nevermind...2012 is a pulp pf vitality! Blog is back and I am here to write and ponder and write with inspiration! Plus, my so many pictures just a- hiding here in my storage bin - aha' time to spill and splash em' all out! I do this thing that I do because I love life and recording the simplest pleasure and blessing confronts me with so much to be grateful for.

This space complements my written gratitude journal.  When I read back, a month or two or three or a year even, and find what transpired what when, I find meaning after meaning and learning after learning and purpose after purpose for why I am who I am -where I am a certain point in time.
It all matters.

With this said, I'm back and vibrant than  EVER!!
Larger than life! :D

An Evening to Remember

♥ •ღ.•*Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ*• ♥ •ღ.•*Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ*• 

This is to simply remember October 27, 2011. I was just really really happy. Had I stayed where I was and declined the offer, then I wouldn't have had this memory to keep. Must be the moon, must be the places, must be the vibrant night people, must be the lights, most definitely the company - the vibes was just perfect, the conversation so alive. It was a carefree feeling that everything for the moment, the world I'm in, the world of those who surround me, the world of the stranger a table behind, the world of continents overseas, and all the worlds of our worlds at peace. I hope to keep the spirit of this everyday. 
And one more thing to remember...

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

~ Marrianne Williamson ( A Return to Love)  

Raising My Vibration: Living My Light

 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ""Trust my instinct. Shun the phony. Stay clear of pity parties. Respect my soul: Never allow myself to get sucked into someone's cycle of doom and drama - no matter  how sympathetic I may be. Never be lured to peek into someone's world of hate. Bad vibes rub in. Turn down the invite. Never compromise my peace of mind. LIVE MY LIGHT! Protect my truth: Never apologize for having high standards." 

October is deep. A pull. A push.
A swirl. A dragging. A lifting.
A questioning.
A finding.

All that and more, this capricious month of highs and lows present itself to be both hail and breeze, iron and cotton, daring me to stroll out and challenge the depths of my beliefs, the brawn of my convictions, the maxim of my person. Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ"

My steps come one after another in an unsure swag, sometimes a huff, always one foot poised on a bedrock of learning, while the other teeters and balances uncertain. But I'll get there. Oh; I'll get there. Haven't I questioned enough? And doesn't the cosmos  throw me answers, more often when I am caught unawares? Why, heavens, in the sunrise as I walked around the bend the zinnias cheered to me -

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ "Look at us! Look at us! We are made up of layers, cells, constellations, sister! Haven't you heard we are? And then there is YOU, who are made of the same stuff too! 

Reverie!
How stunning when wild wild things call to me.
invisible to the eye, essential to the soul,
an aisle of talking petals - Now I understand, Exupery! 
In its time, He makes all things beautiful, in its time.

Thus speak I do, about this wisdom trail I tread,
alongside posies - that light my path. Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ"

The Lady Prism