Ethereal Graphics

Road Trip in Autumn . . .

 
  
   Southern Oregon is a sight to behold at any time of the year.  Autumn is especially inspiring for me.  It had been years since I'd stayed along the I-5 corridor north and I was so delighted to see the hills, valleys and hamlets in full fall regalia.

The tiny town of Jacksonville sits off the beaten path and it is worth the diversion . . . 
  
Sweet and sanctified, this little town is a breath of fresh (historic) air . . .
 
  
 I didn't have unlimited time here, but I browsed through unique gift shoppes and apparel stops . . .

From there, I took the back roads through some amazing wine country (no co-pilot, so no tasting) as I wound my way toward Grants Pass and the ribbon of interstate  . . .

Affirminders . . .

My packaging! My packaging!

Excited!  Things have gone from a slow (learning curve) crawl to light-speed with my Affirminders!  What are they?  Affirminders are Affirmations that Remind us . . . a decorative dose of gospel truth to give, get, collect, share and hang anywhere! 

Available via my Etsy Shop. 

 

 

 

Affirmation 8 . . .

A long and busy end to summer . . . I've missed blogging and my friends here!  There is so much to share and (still) not enough time for me to really . . . visually share!  I hope all of you are having a delicious winding-down (or up) into fall. 

I'll be back!

Wedding in wine country . . .

Delicious goodness one moment at a time

I can remember the television images of 'hippies' waving signs the read, "NO MORE WAR"!  and the chaos created by the passion the protesters were swept up in.  There were tears, anger, beatings and threats.  There was adrenaline and rhetoric . . . and fear. 

I think most of us get caught up in the flow of what surrounds us on a daily basis.  I know I do.  And, if just for today when we tune into the media: radio, news, internet . . . stay very aware of what is right before our very eyes, ears and minds: fear. 

I've learned so much in this past year about letting go and stopping the fear cycle in my own life.  It is a moment-by-moment engagement that somedays is exhausting and others is a choice that frees me to the extent that I can actually think differently and become the person I know I am at my core. 

My point?  Unplug this weekend.  Stop letting the fear suck you in.  Take control and make each and every moment in these next 48 hours feel . . . good!   

Grandmother's Prayer Cards . . .

My mom recently gave me a few of my grandmother's psalm books which to my delight were packed full of funeral cards, prayer and saint cards and such lovely ephemera!  I've been having a wonderful time sorting out sweet, dramatic and inspiring images. 

This one struck me because of her innocence. 

I'm not gonna question it

 I'm in the flow without a canoe OR a paddle . . .please don't let me get hung up on the shore.

What would happen if . . .

 

What would happen if there was an all good news channel on television?  All good news, all the time!  Small stories like the child who shared their allowance with a homeless person and the lawyer who forgave his client a debt out of pure kindness and concern. Instead of how horrible the economy is, how about celebrating the ones who make it a little easier on the few, one act of kindness at a time?  The valdalized places deep in the south that were carefully and lovingly cleaned by the retired people in the community?  Or how about the neighbor who checks in on those elderly friends who are all alone?

Big stories like the soldier overseas who truly does care about peace in this world and why? Or just simple, unadulterated TRUST?  I believe that each and every  one of us is, at our core: good.  In the book by Malcom Gladwell, 'The tipping point' it is a fact that when the horrific crime wave in NYC back in the 90's began to recede, a major factor was the fact that they took the time to clean the graffitti off of the subway cars.  If environment can have an effect as profound as that, couldn't we try and use the media to 'tip' our way of thinking, and treating one another?

If these stories were reported as frequently as the bad news, I think mankind as a whole would evolve into a more loving race simply due to exposure to love! 

If I could start a business tomorrow, that is what it would be: 'THE GOOD NEWS CHANNEL' "Good news, all the time." 

Cadence

 

Is there a measure to summer's ebb and flow? Why is it when the day is languid and sweltering, we yearn for snow and shimmer?  I'm working on surrendering myself to the cadence of physical existence.  Hard to stay in the body and clamp shut the mind! 

Working on Holiday 2009 . . .

Trials and trails and red pointy tails . . .

I believe that the secret key to life is plain: Perservere!   Just when the path seems clear. . . lit brightly by a shaft of sunlight deep in the dark, cool woods (cue angelic harmony) . . . and my current goal is just ahead, glistening and shimmering . . . I've come so far!  Then, out pops this little red devil I like to call

Ego-r. 

Simple as it sounds, perserverance can become complicated. We get shoved to our knees and the wind knocked out of us! Some will say it's just 'life' getting in the way.  Another explanation is 'self doubt'.  But here's where a little 'reminder' helps me along.  I actually forget that all I need to do is face the little #@%+#- er down and push him over into the poison ivy.  A sweet, positive Affirmation is all I need to remember how to deal with the little red pointy guy. 

I have mornings when I wake up and I just feel a positive energy all around me.  It's easy to think thoughts of positivity and calm energy.  Then, there are those times when my feet haven't even hit the floor next to my bed and there's a crazy doubt buzzing within me and I become guilty and afraid and doubtful.  The crimson critter has been propped on my pillow all night. Ew. 

Wouldn't it be nice to have a little Affirmation Angel grab ahold of spikey Ego-r and give him a knee to the middle and a blunt blow to his chin button and choke him . . . . sorry.  Okay, how about an Affirmation Angel to guide us or hover about our aura whispering reminders that will arm us for the day ahead . . . the bend in the path where we need to remember our way.  Remember our way back.  Back to the Magic.  The Magic of Life! 

HOLD ON!  THEY'RE ALMOST HERE!