Follow Your Bliss

My Path...

This...

 

Is my path.

It goes from the front yard to the back yard...

Or visa versa...

It has been there for quite some time...

But I have reworked it a little this year...

The rock edging is new...

Boy are those things heavy!

Great workout, don't ya think?

And my hostas and ferns are doing especially well this year thanks to the cool temps and some nice gentle rains.

The weeds are growing quite nicely as well...

But anyway...

Do you ever think about "your paths"?

You know.. the paths you choose to take for whatever reason?

Usually, I try to take the path with the least resistance... the one that is fairly easy to follow... the one that gets me where I want to go the quickest.

How about you?

But sometimes...

Even though you are sure the path you have chosen is the "right one".

You get a surprise...

Sometimes...

The surprise isn't so great.

Some weeds are bound to pop up...

But other times...

Generally when you least expect it...

You are pleasantly surprised by something wonderful and unexpected.

 

This sweet  thing...

And many more just as lovely...

Appeared along my garden path.

What a delightful surprise!

After all the labor of making it "just right"...

A sweet little patch of vibrant red wild strawberries has appeared... in just the right spot.

Maybe it is all those squirrels that tease my silly beagles that dropped the beginnings...

Who knows...

But it is a pleasant surprise.

Isn't that just like life?

You choose your paths wisely...

Do the things you need to do...

And inevitably you run into some "weedy patches"...

You survive them and keep on truckin'!

And then...

Someone or something...

Drops by and leaves a delightful surprise.

It makes all the tough stuff worth it, doesn't it?

A New Day...

A bouquet of peonies and roses sits on my kitchen table.
When I walked in there this morning...
I was greeted with their spectacular scent!
What a way to begin a new day.

Summer vacation is underway. I sent my charges off for the summer. I wonder if they know that their teacher is JUST as excited as they are to have some free time...

Yesterday I rose early to attend a "Water Wake-up" class at 5:45 a.m. Yes I made it. Can you believe it???? I got up that early on my very first day of vacation.... but it was worth it! What fun! I plan to go every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We'll see....

And... I am still loving that pretty bike! I plan to get a sweet wicker basket to attach to it. That way I can carry things... like a camera... snacks...anything! I feel so good after riding.

I am beginning to feel the need to create again. Now to find a place where I can spread it all out again.

I love this quote...

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.

Marcel Proust

Sweet Ride

Isn't she pretty?

 

She's my sweet new ride!

And I simply adore her!

She rides like a dream...

Which is really nice since it has been...

Over THIRTY years since I was on one of these!

Look at her grips!

 

Cool, huh?

I've had her for 36 hours...

And have ridden 15 miles! The bike trails around here are fabulous!

Pretty good for someone who hasn't ridden for a looooong time!

But...

I'm feeling it!

Oh well... more trails to explore tomorrow!

Gratitude...

I was with a group of friends this evening and we were talking about gratitude.

A person can get so bogged down in the difficult things in his or her life. We can dwell on the tough stuff. Pity ourselves to the point of making ourselves victims of our own negative thoughts.We need to stop going down that road and think about the things in our lives that we are grateful for...

It doesn't have to be anything big or miraculous...

Just an everyday thing...

Like this...

 

Or this...

Both in my backyard...

They just landed there. I didn't plant them. Aren't they beautiful?

So today I am grateful to be able to sit in my own backyard and see the beauty that surrounds me. Sometimes I take it for granted...

But not today.

What are you grateful for?

 

Yes...

This was me...

Thinking...

How can I keep going...

What should I do...

There were times when I thought my world was over...

But it isn't...

It is different...

And that is good.

Sometimes it takes time to find the clarity necessary to move forward...

I waited... not so patiently, I must admit...

And it came...

Not all at once...

But in little bits...

And those bits keep coming...

So now...

I feel more like that butterfly...

Ready to see the beauty that surrounds me once again.

 

I am ready to spread my wings...

and fly....

Awakening

Lamb-like

You know the old saying...

March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb....

Well... we aren't quite to the end yet...

But it certainly is lamb-like outside today!

Delightfully warm and sunny.

I took "the girls"... my sweet beagles... for a walk this afternoon.

Took in the fresh air and warmth from the sun.

We all enjoyed it tremendously.

Hopefully this will continue...

I have so much more energy and motivation when the weather is nice.

I received these the other day...

 

Nice, huh?

Hope your day is wonderful and sunny as well.

It's March 1st...

Although I am sooooo looking forward to spring...

I am reminded of this...

 

"Winter is a work of art created by a Divine hand."

Listening...

It feels like a fall day. The temp is in the 50's. It is raining. It is quiet.

I am listening to the quiet.

Feeling the quiet.

Trying to hear what it is saying to me.

The rain is gently falling...

Whispering...

 

Secrets in my ear...

About quiet strength...

Perseverence...

But occasionally the windchime...

 It bellows its message of power...

Truth...

Action.

Shameless...

A bit of shameless self-promotion...

Not my usual way...

But feel quite delightful...

Because...

This....

 

Is in the latest edition of Artful Blogging!

In the "Banners We Love" section.

I feel quite honored.

New Beginnings...

It's the beginning of a new month...

February...

It's cold and gray around here.

Not much snow left.

We need some color.

 

So I played with paints.

Maybe they will become something spectacular....

 Maybe...

How Lucky Am I?

Oh yes!

I am a lucky girl!

Look what came my way...

 

Isn't this absolutely the sweetest journal you have ever seen?!

That precious little girl with butterfly wings reminds me of my sweet grandma...

And inside....

The most luscious pages...

 Created in the sun...

With images of nature...

Absolutely yummy, I tell ya!

Not being the prolific journalling queen that my  dear sis, who also happens to be the creator of this delicious journal, is...

I bravely put pen to paper and created my first page....

Not quite finished... not real sure where else to go with it...

But nonetheless....

Here's a little bit of it...

My dear Pixie Sis is looking at me...

Telling me to be gentle with myself...

Keep peace in my soul....

 

Not always an easy task... but I'm working on it.

I have to say...

This journal is such fun to work in...

Just the right size...

And I love the texture and color of the pages.

I'll bet you're wishing you could have one too, aren't you? 

Well you can!

Just hop on over to Shop eb and one of these lovelies can be yours!