A GREAT day

is what today turned out to be. I went to bed last night feeling not well at all. The alarm went off early for my Kiwanis meeting and I just didn't think I could get myself out of that nice soft bed. Several of us take turns writing the weekly newsletter, and today was my turn. Of course all it would have taken is a phone call and someone else would have done it. And, even if no one was available, in the course of human events this newsletter would rate pretty low. But every now and then my old Catholic training sets in. Words like commitment, promise and responsibility began to swirl about my sleepy mind. Of course, I got up. The first promising change was brought on by a shower. Then I wore a new top, remembered that the program today was by a group that reported on a humanitarian trip they took to India. Complete with wonderful slides of amazing photos.

I was already feeling better as I went out to the car and was greeted by this on the patio
Then this
This is the second round for both of these. Reminds me of an old cowboy song, My Adobe Hacienda. Phrase is "cactus blooming on the patio."

Then I saw the last of the water Iris. Looking pretty good for a straggler. The pot this is in is full of tadpoles.

Then, as well as 'things' looking up, 'I' looked up.



Throw in a cup of coffee, lots of hugs and laughs with friends and things were really turning around.

I did promise that I would take it easy today. So, I came home and planted myself in the den and cut, pasted, wrote. Made cards, journaled, drank lots of green tea and played with the dogs. Snuck out for a brief out to lunch with the husband and came right back to play with photos I've taken recently. That brings us up to right about now and feeling pretty good.

The husband came home the other day very excited about an angel statue that he saw at the store. He insisted I go back with him and see it. Guess what? We bought it and she looks great in the yard right outside of the den. She begged to have her picture taken and I obliged. Here is a two page journal entry using her.


Then I made a transparency transfer that came out better than any I've done so far. I glued it to cardboard and think I will make it into mail art. I just need to find someone to send it to. Hmmmm.
This next journal page is one of a couple I've done around a Nun theme. I am a product of these mysterious women and for some reason find myself thinking of them a lot lately. My first page was a bit of a juvenile rant that turned into a very different and mature perspective.

This is the power of journaling. Over the years I've filled composition books with my thoughts, dreams and fears. I've worked out a lot of difficult issues on paper as well as discovering that my daily writing could be seed for poems and prose. But I have to say that art journaling has had a much more profound effect on me.
On this page, I found myself thinking not of myself but about them; young women who stepped bravely into the unknown taking no familiar comfort with them. I have lots of Nun Stories for another day.

These "Nun" entries brought my internal housecleaning to life. I wasn't aware of any connection in these two pieces until today. Quite the experience having my Self point something out in the concrete to myself.

So, how can a day that started out reluctantly, evolved to angels and nuns and ended here with all of you be called anything but "great!"

Peace, Love and Mystery to all.

Potpourri

A most amazing week has just passed for me. A mixture of sweet and difficult moments. The biggest sweet is that I have had the delightful company of my youngest granddaughter, nearly 3. So smart, so pretty, so wise, so good!!! I have learned many great things from her.

And today my other daughter came to visit us with my 7 year old granddaughter. The two girls played and played. The 7 year old is soooooo good to the little. She helps her on the swings and even helped give her a bath tonight. They are constant reminders of how blessed I am.  The phrase on this journal page about grandchildren is stolen from someone, but for the life of me, I can't remember who to credit.  I think the actual quote was:  Grandchildren are your heart walking around outside of you.


And, this week brought a bit of a disappointing surprise. Seems my intentions were completely misunderstood and someone ended up feeling very offended. 'Impugned' is a word that was used. I was horrified. But I do believe, along with Rob Bezsny, that the universe is conspiring to shower me with blessings (otherwise known as Pronoia-the opposite of paranoia) and that was certainly true in this misadventure. I'll spare the details, but I have had several positive exchanges over this, which I sincerely appreciate, and I am hopeful that a relationship will be mended and this can be left behind. Even my home page horoscope on the day of the affair felt like a personal message.

Daily Scorpio horoscope:

Don't try to force your ideas on anyone, dear Scorpio. It is important to maintain a point of neutrality so that you can act from a stable state of mind when someone confronts you with an issue that needs to be dealt with right away. The key is to act on a situation instead of reacting to it. If you know that you are right about something, keep it to yourself.

Back in the day, I did seminars on discovering The Beloved. One exercise I devised was to have the participants look at their horoscopes in the daily paper and view them as personal love messages from The Divine.

I have been working on myself for years and have begun to see the fruits of my labors, but this event helped me see real progress and that encourages me to keep working. I want to leave the planet calm and at peace with myself, with others and the world around me.

Then, more sweetness. I got mail art from that crazed woman, Randi. Fascinating art and supportive messages. And, because the age of miracles hasn't passed, I finally finished a piece to send back to her. Ahhhhh.



The gods smiled upon me again by sending me all sorts of hidden messages in the reading I did this week. Here are just a few of the phrases and image makers I've picked up. The first two are from Poe Ballentine in this months issue of the Sun and the third is from a friend.

the thunder of migrating butterflies
the dust of dying stars
reflect the spiritual image of the Creator in the closet

All in all, a week heavy with growth, riches, light and love.

Wish me luck as I strive to walk with open hands, giving no offense and taking none.