Easter-Holidays-Why??

Over the last year I've had some different feelings about each and every holiday; and what we are actually celebrating during that day. I'm not a child, so that excitement of doing something fun and special-mostly "getting" stuff had wore off.
 I was raised to understand the historical or religious significance of each holiday. There were an abundance of commercials and shows that bombarded my eyes and ears making me want whatever they were peddling. It left me feeling shallow inside. It gets very old over the years. While raising my four sons I made sure they had fun decorating trees, having bountiful presents, Easter egg hunting and extravagant baskets full of candy and toys, etc. Id dress them up in their little suits and ties and we would all march off to church when the holiday was of a religious matter. Then I would invite other family over and have big meals together. My family always enjoyed my home cooking. Even though I was usually exhausted at the end of each holiday  seeing to every detail, making everyone comfy, loved and entertained...it was a good kind of tired. I always felt like lapsing into a mini-coma at the days end.
Although I still have enjoyment over gathering with family, eating and laughing, happy banter and hugs; I view the meaning of each holiday without the obsessiveness of 'commercial-ness' trying to distort the whole vibe of the holiday.
Look at these pictures and tell me what ones actually 'speak' Easter to you? Not looking for political correctness, just honest and free thinking ponderings:

a basket of bunnies etc...

 A sacred place to fill our souls...

 Victorian dust collectors...

 scriptures..

 

Over the years my perceptions have waivered to 'stuff' - to 'the history/reason, the resurrection' of Jesus Christ ....ok, now you know I'm human too...I have gotten sucked up in the past to over-buying..ugh, exhausted just thinking about it.

Whether you believe or not ( I do) is not my point. My point is, if there is a holiday for a specific reason, its up to you if you want to respect and celebrate that day. If you don't, well then, it's just another day.

I feel that 'we' who believe, should remember what Jesus did often-not just Easter. You should remember He was born to this earth for the love of us-not just remembering on Christmas.

Further, to broaden this thought, you should be told "I love you", taken to dinner and have flowers given to you often to brighten the day, and hugged....much- much hugging should be given! (flowers are a natural gift of a living thing-and dinner, well...we all got to eat-right? ;) -not just on valentines day.

And Veterans / memorial day...no brainer, give them love and respect due every day-tell them so!!!

 

Here is my favorite thought...Lets celebrate the 4th of July with a fun day of BBQs and fireworks, etc. and go on the rest of the year doing things to show how thankful we are to live where we do- stop gripping.., and do things to make life better and happier for our fellow human beings. Not just here, but all around the world. Earth is our home, people are our neighbors. We can have different beliefs, and still care about each other. God gave us the right and the freedom to voice ourselves. Lets just not make it at another's expense. Say it with kindness and calm.

 

Let me share my smile with you this Sunday. No matter what you believe or don't believe, I wish you a happy Easter. I encourage you to go hug people you love that day and everyday. There is a tradition everyone should embrace!

That's what I think in a nutshell

Peace out~

Reliving Scotland and Wales part 2

On my travels, I took the train to do most of my long distance and stayed at out of the way Bed and Breakfast old Victorian homes. The places were warm and homey. The owners were hospitable and engaged you in marvelous conversations. You also got the lowdown on the best places to check out beyond the 'touristy' areas. The breakfasts in the morning were tasty; it was like having an English tea party with morning foods, quaint with old beautiful china and linens and lace. It kind of gets your day started with a whimsical flair. Once in Edinburgh, Scotland, I got to go into my first 'real' old art museum. With paintings from the renaissance era, etc. I stood for what seemed for ever looking at every fantastic piece. I honestly couldn't believe I was there drinking up all of this beauty and creativity. I hated to leave.

The Edinburgh castle. Nearby, there was a whiskey distillery that had a ride that took you underneath the building....like a Disney ride, with animated people telling you the history of how they make true scotch whiskey. When you stepped out of your car..at the end of the ride....a butler looking dude was there with a tray of whiskey shots to give you a taste of fire. oooh strong stuff. I don't drink anymore, but I do remember how stiff and warming it was going down!

This is St.Giles church. A very gothic style inside and out. Boarder line creepy! ( not to be disrespectful) I really liked it.

Before I headed to Inverness, I was finally happy to see a bagpiper...one...just one bagpiper...oh well, he was good, I was ok.

Northern Scotland, Inverness, at the Loch...yes I wanted to see where the Loch ness monster lived ;)

The remnants of the Urquhart castle. I didn't have a sighting of the monster but God sent me a rainbow while I stood alone praying out thanks for my traveling blessings. This was my smile for the day. I felt He was listening~

Before I headed out to the train ( these stops were a few days stay in each area) I had someone take one more picture near the Loch. I just wished I would have saw that legendary aquatic dinosaur Nessy! Oh well maybe next time ;)

Now talking about haunted...I've been on ghost walk tours, been in some very old homes and places that in all probability, should have been filled with ghosts or creepy instances. Not until I jumped off the train late the next night and found a B&B in Preston, did I encounter a place that I was happy to get out of!! Haunted! absofreakinglutly! Old, but nice inside, sweet as can be owners...but oh my word, SCARYYYY night!!! Loud walking in the hall ( no one there) the very strong feeling of someone in your room, very unsettling and uncomfortable atmosphere to name a few things I dealt with that night. This is coming from one who grew up in a century old haunted farm house! No pictures, but here is their card. Go visit and check it out yourself if you dare...eeeek!

Anyway, I spent a wonderful few days in Cardiff, Wales. I have the most ancestral connection there.  The spiritual connection was almost intense, like I was home. I plan on going back and spend more time when I take my trip to Ireland.

 I had the pleasure to stay in a B&B here behind me. Walking distance to many great eats and the castle. Had fun buying my sons armor and knight statues and mini canons etc. Even got to enjoy a concert in the park. Many college kids were having great fun dancing and talking, laughing and living life. I missed prince Charles having lunch there...in the building next to the middle castle structure by one day. Not that it was a big deal, just thought Id mention it...lol.~

Yep that's me that little black dot at the top of the castle. I mastered the many stairs. Seemed to be a theme if you wanted to get anywhere fun...

I hated to leave, but my time was running short and I wanted to stop for a day or two in Bath, England

 One of the places I chose to visit was the Roman Baths. I had read about them in high school and wanted to see a bit more of the UK's history. There are saunas and hot baths etc under this building where people would go to feel better. They thought the main pool/ bath here had healing properties. They would come with their ailments, sores and boils and scabs to soak. auwk-right? The water is a weird green color. After hearing about those in centuries gone by- soaking their wounds in this water....I ask myself WHY AM I PUTTING MY HAND IN THIS GROSS LOOKING POOL??? hahaha. It was kind of like telling a child not to touch a hot pan....I just had to do it! And I'm a little bit of a germaphobe

I enjoyed my time, although I was tired and missing my family, I was also sad to say goodbye. There was so much that I still wanted to do and see. With any luck, I will meet a good man who likes to travel so I can share new experiences with a loved one. Future possibilities!

I leave you with one more insight....when you go out to eat, and you decide to order chicken...chances are you will be eating rabbit passed off as chicken! I like rabbit! Tastes like chicken! ;)

Thank you England, Scotland and Wales, your my home away from home.

I love you guys

Peace out

until I see you again~ Hugs from Oregon state, America

 

Reliving my United Kingdom part 1

I had the chance to jump on the first non-stop flight from Seattle, Washington to the London Heathrow airport in 1995. Round trip ticket cost??? 150.00 bucks! Now who wouldn't have jumped all over that?! It was a promotion from British airways and they only had a small amount of tickets available....I took two seconds to figure it all out and  I made my purchase. The next thing was to get enough time off of work, ( I was married then and still worked two jobs) -(excuse me, make that two paying jobs and raising four sons, managing a household and tending to my husband, etc.) I always seem to down play the importance of  the later~ Yet it is the most important job in the world!
Anyway, I scrambled to make extra money so it wouldn't come out of my families account to have the most fun I could in this amazing vacation opportunity. (before you start thinking-no my husband didn't have a desire to go and was encouraging me to hit the airways) Soooooooo-off I went.

Now please remember I had a ghetto type camera and by no means was I any sort of good photographer. The pictures were a little...well you will see. They are not perfect. If you want perfect, look online or better yet, go there and have yourself an adventure. This was a few parts of my adventure. Thanks to my friend Maria, who has an amazing blog herself, and is an amazing photographer to-boot...( thinking about kidnaping her for my next foreign trip.. wanting better photo memories :):):) ) I wanted to relive the fun I had. I wanted to reminisce.

It was the longest airplane ride I had ever been on!!! I am a "seat wiggler" so I was in the back Isle area standing and chatting up other passengers who apparently had the same issues- quite often.

I really didn't have much issue adjusting to the time zone difference and I never experienced jet lag. I was just in awe of even being in a new part of the world. I have ancestry in the UK including Scotland, Ireland and Wales. ( unfortunately I've yet to get to Ireland, but its on my list to explore in a couple of years-so look out....I'll be coming to your neck of the woods soon!! Can't wait)

Of course I had to be the proverbial 'tourist' and ride the double decker bus for the tour of London. It worked out great, because you can jump off anywhere you want then jump back on. So you get to wander around areas in person then get the $20.00 over the microphone tour. ( note to you all...London drivers are NUTS! Its every man, woman and child for themselves, God bless them....they are some of the most crazy drivers you will ever experience, not to mention they drive on the opposite side of the roads...lol "just being a little American". The picture above is of the House of Governor. The architecture in London is amazing. Many statues adorn their grey buildings with figures posing over our heads. Almost every structure is a work of art. Its like a living story...pictures we have all seen in our history books in school- now here in the hard mason flesh, my eyes are exploding in awe. And of course I said these words out loud in the worst english accent" Ello govnah" haha...Tell me you could resist doing that-right?!

This was taken after I watched the changing of the guards at the Palace. Its quite a to-do. Most interesting. This statue is on top of a monument that is in the center of the round-a-bout outside the Palace gates. It is cast in gold. The weather, as such in London is overcast quite often, and I caught the clouds opening up and shine down on the angel, This is also the place where I left my camera case...drats!!! Oh well.

The royal exchange...it was great sitting on the top of the double decker as it was fully open.

...and although this needs no description...contrary to my young childhood beliefs...London bridge did 'not' fall down...only we did, us fair ladies...This lady in the picture 'photo bombed' me lol. I have no idea who she is!!! hehe.

 

St. Pauls cathedral- prayer room ceiling. The amazing art work that goes into the churches and various buildings, well I could have stayed and gazed for hours soaking it all in.

I got to meet many different people not only from the UK, but from all over the world just visiting for themselves. Guess who I ran into one day??

Henry the 8th and company! Yep that's right, I photo-bombed him! Had to get into the action.

Wait- what?? Really?? Oh that's right, I was at Madame Tussaud's...hahahaha  Ok, that was lame... :)

 

I will continue in the next post of more adventures in the UK

Peace out~ until then

 

Living Poetry

                                             Hope is the thing with feathers,
                                                 That perches in the soul,
                                      And sings the tune without the words,
                              And never stops at all.....a bit of Emily Dickinson

Have you noticed that some days are like a living poem? When you can step back from yourself, in the moment and focus on what is happening in your realm? That is a bit of a dramatic word for what I am trying to convey, but I'm sure you get my drift~
Most of the time I think most of us are so busy with life and multi-tasking, that we forget to stay in the here and now. Breath in and really "see" what is happening around us-ponder what your little part of the moment is unfolding.
I had almost forgotten to do this...until I walked out of my room where I was sorting through some clothing that I sell at a friends designer-resale clothing store in town; when I came out into my living room where my son and my granddaughter ( his niece) were watching a movie together. She was laying comfortably on his leg, all stretched out and comfy. My sons dog of many years perched up on his lap happy as can be. There they were just enjoying time together as two family members, laughing, relaxing with no cares from the outside world. Enjoying each moment. Making a warm happy memory.
I stood for a while in the background and breathed it all in with my mind. It was something I could draw from memory down the road- witnessing a good and bonding time between two people who have my heart. Wait..3, I kind of love that old dog too~ old man Chalupa !

Like a poem that flows on the page, sometimes rhyming- or a sonnet that gives your mind imagery, using metaphors that express a situation and brings emotion to our souls. I see moments in my life that I think plays out this kind of sweetness in my heart.

 My sister used to write deep emotional poetry. She even won an award from a New York poetry contest long ago. Although she has passed over a year ago, I still can read the poetry she left behind and get a glimpse of her world as she stepped back and breathed in her realms.

 What a precious gift our minds are. If we keep letting in the wonder, warm tender and even hilarious moments inside ourselves and create our own poetic understandings of them; maybe we can blot out any sadness or rough edges that can sometimes plague our memories.

I really love to step out on my second story balcony after a hard rain and listen to the soft sounds of wee little birds in the trees-its a renewing sound to me. I see droplets of water still clinging to the undersides of the moss riddled branches close enough to reach out and touch. To me, this is in my here and now moment..my present poetry of nature and my creators calming, just for me. A very "Namaste' " kind of feeling.

 

Of course I cherish the moments that make me laugh and smile so hard I think my face will crack and explode! I have to admit, I do tend to laugh a lot. Life- its just too short not to get as much bone-tickling, giggle until you almost wet yourself fun out of it! Sometimes you have to go out and find that kind of merriment....turn that kind of poetry into a Limerick! Have fun once in a while with your day. Keep it on a good positive wave though....life is enough without creating trouble!

Have I gotten you brain fluids flowing yet?

 

"I love my world. I get to share it with you !  "

Peace out~

A Warm St. Patricks Day Cheer

St. Patrick's day is quite an enchanted time-when the winter's chill starts to transform into the budding warmth of the spring day. With Irish ancestors, I am drawn the visit Ireland soon- in my near future. I went on a trip back in '95, to London, Scotland and Wales. Part of my heritage is also Scottish and Welsh.  ( Norwegian and Swiss on my dads side) Romantically, I have been very close to my Celtic side. I am doing some deeper family history and hope to find the clan I am related too before I go to my ancestral stopping grounds. I have a dream of finding some long distant relatives to connect with. Who better to get the true 'non-tourist' type Irish experience from?


On a walk a while ago, I found a three leaf clover growing tandem/hugging an interesting mushroom. I thought, how cool would it be if it were an actual four leaf clover? My thought process, being that of a strange-creative-artsy person, I decided to create my own luck. Aren't 4-leaf clovers suppose to be lucky? So are Leprechaun's, but what are the chances of me coming across one of those- right?! haha

And so I did create!.......

Instead of waiting for that special moment to happen, instead of hanging out patiently for something sweet and interesting to unfold in my life...I make my own kind of simple magic to give me a giggly smile, simple fun and simple happiness! Oh sure I have those spontaneous, "farout- way cool" moments that come naturally. It doesn't happen when I'd like it too unfortunately! Bummer... But I don't think I really care :)  Life is just fun when I play with what's in front of me ...when appropriate, of course.

~At the end of this particular walk, mid-day, I noticed brother moon was impatient with the sun and had decided to rise before his time. Maybe the moon was trying to get his fifteen minutes of fame chasing the brilliant fire of sister sun...haha

Yes, this was the little story I was telling myself at the end of my walk. I was in an interesting mood after creating my clover master piece  :) making everything a bit magical. I am a complex thinker, a multi-tasker, an artist, a writer of the different....yet, it doesn't take much to make me happy. I'm easy to please. I live for a smile, a laugh, a kind word....I live for love. Things that don't cost. These are the things I love to give to those in my path. Ok, enough sappiness! My Irish eyes are shinning this St. Patrick's day. I shall were my green lucky charms shirt and my green decked out derby hat. I shall top it off with the biggest smile and a laughing heart. One of my favorite quotes that describes me well:

                                           A proper Irish blessing to my readers~
May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind always be at your back,
May the sunshine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hands.

Peace out~

ADHD? or Multi-Tasker?

In my day, someone with ADHD was just someone who was full of energy, lively and energetic. We went outside and burned off all our enthusiasm! Today it means we need a diagnosis and medication to calm us down. Now I don't have ADHD but I do have a son who was "diagnosed" with it. We decided to go the natural route and he joined his local football team. We decided, together, at age 10, there would be no drug taking and we would find natural ways to help him develop his focus and positive ways to use up his energy. Now this doesn't work for everyone, but for many, it does. I found that if you give your child some say in what is done for his or her future, reasoning it out together, it tends to work out for the best. That child has been given a vested interest in following through for themselves....with support and guidance from the parent.
I also believe there is a small inherited component to ADHD, etc. I myself, have a very borderline obsessive thought process of  'specific' cleaning and organizing. I tend to get sidetracked easily while doing something...I tend to start other projects..... you know....multi-tasking! I see myself a little bit like when I look in my old mission style mirror that is grainy from years of reflection and cleaning that I purchased out of an old craftsman style house that was going to be demolished. You can see a reflection of who I am, but it is a little distorted..... not in a bad way... but a very interesting and creative way of looking at who I am.

I really love that mirror!

A short view of my morning can be that I start to wash dishes ( by hand) and see my counters need to be wiped off - so before the dishes are done I start wiping the counters-then notice out on my deck when I glanced out the siding window door that I needed to water my plants-I stop wiping my counters and go start filling up my water can-while that's going I finish my counters-go out to water my plants and see I need to sweep and tie up some tall growth on my tomato plants-I go cut some string that I have a large ball of in my utility closet-and notice I need to straighten up my coffee/butler table ( I need things to be straight and organized, in place or it just bugs the crap out of me inside my brain, lol.... yep, that's me!) With the string draped over my shoulder, I make my table presentable :)  - then I cut through the kitchen and remember I was in the middle of my dishes, so I finish the last of them in the sink-walk outside past my dining table and notice some paperwork I need to finish....am I making you tired yet?? haha....me too. At the time it was nothing, all normal for me. Anyhow, I decided to finish my outside "already started jobs" and head inside to sit down to start working at the paper pile. Now you think I would slow down and get the job done, right? I had to fight myself to actually finish the paperwork. My eye has a mind of its own. It kept roving around my home looking for things I needed to do...and I found a few things...it took a great deal of inner convincing to keep myself focused and sitting! It's no wonder why I fall into a mini coma at night. The only problem is if I 'still' have energy in my brain, its hard to shut it off at bedtime. This is some of why, my good blog readers, I walk /jog as much as I do. I find its the best way for me to decompress, distress, get some good endorphins flowing and burn that energy!

 Maybe someday I will marry- and will have other enjoyable ways of releasing my excess energy- like a feather on the warm beach dancing in the wind, white and beautiful....

I will leave it at that...to the imagination.

Actually, I see my son, myself and anyone else who deals with different ways of working through their 'uniqueness' in a positive way- pilots of their lives. Flying high above the issues during the day and soaring forward in their lives, living adventurous and free from negative restrictions.

 Like I've always said, it's all in how you perceive your path; it's all in how you pilot your plane. Don't feel afraid to crash or have an emergency landing ever so often....we all have those moments. EVERYONE DOES!

 We just need to find other ways to get creative and learn how to do an aerial roll, or a loop, maneuvering in an artistic forward flow. That's the way I see it! It's more exciting and productive that way. What fun!!

I am the Aviatrix of my life!!

Come fly with me - and kiss the sky

~Peace out~

 

Santa Anna- a form of 'Peace'

I had a very long couple of weeks. It was just over a year since my beloved sister, Michelle had crossed over from cancer. One of the most heartbreaking life experiences I had to go through. She was the other part of my comedy relief and my twin support in life. No, we were not actually twins; we just could basically read each others minds most of the time. Rather a bit "twilight zone-ish". Now Michelle had a saying she taught me, I believe she got from some comedian ( she watched a lot of comedy tv )..whenever she got over stressed and needed to quickly calm herself down, she would chant
 "sah-nahta-auwna". A weird way of saying Santa Anna. It's pretty funny but it gets the job done. I got to the point where I find myself doing the same thing. Not only does it refocus my thoughts to calm....it also provides me with a way to feel close to my sister and causes me to smile. Smiling sooths my inner freak-out and boosts those good ole' endorphins!
I went to a very sacred and beautiful place on my sisters birthday, March 7th. I needed to feel close to her and give myself a sweet positive image to replace the sorrow I had in my heart.
Nature, even if in a man-made area filled with natures abundance, someplace that is quieting to the soul and mind. A center focus...

.....A place where you can quiet your thoughts and heart and hear the sounds of the water flowing and small birds singing a soft song..

....The gentle wind through the trees, and feel the sunshine on your face. The warmth sinking into the layers of your skin...

......The colors of the blue sky and white clouds.
 I found my deep peace and centeredness near a place of faith. Sometimes I find it out in the woods or at the beach while I walk alone. I can even obtain it on my deck when all isn't quiet in my neighborhood. I can just slowly edit out any noise I don't wish to accept at that moment. This is a hard thing to do...but a bit of practice will do the trick. My sister and I called it "there is no back seat!" When our kids were young and we would go somewhere together in the car...and the boys would argue and yell at each other and fuss to no end...besides doing the proverbial  "stop it, or I'll pull the car over" bit; we would look at each other and say let's play "there is no back seat" and just ignore all the commotion. Strangely enough, when the boys wouldn't get any reaction from us, they would calm themselves down and all would be right in our little vehicle world! This worked for us. Don't ask me why! .....I'm not sure we cared...it just brought us back to our inner sanity.
I would urge anyone who has experienced any kind of loss or hurt on a specific day, ( which would be most of us) to go find a place of beauty, quietness; a place that makes you smile and feel good inside and out. Heap all the love and warmth into you heart and transform it into a good place to be. Trade the sorrow for an uplift in spirits. The next year, you will be surprised at how things feel inside you. Sunshine instead of clouds in your mind. A beautiful gift to give yourself. You are deserving my friend.
            .......sah-nahta-auwna...
                   Peace out~