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Archive for the ‘giving thanks’ Category

-black garlic and..

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You kidding me right… nope… black garlic… it is AMAZING, says on the container YuHongYuan peeled black garlic head – ready to eat and cooking.  You have to know that I was not going to pass an opportunity to try it out.  Delicious.

Got it at the check out aisle of the local T & T Asian grocery store.  I do believe T & T has a website, you can likely find their other locations by checking the web.  You store it in a cool dry place. room temperature, avoid sunlight.  It is a product of China, imported by Uncle T foods, Richmond, BC.

Now.. please allow me to thank everyone who commented on the mixed media book cover, I’ve now finished with the one that I started the other day.  At least for now.

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It was a learning experience for me. I especially liked the texture and look of the Sludge that I got from DeSerres, you can’t see the reharvested copper cinder, because when it dried, it dried clear, but you can feel the texture when you are touching the various parts of the cover where it was used.  The particles are in a professional grade gel medium.  Product is TriArt’s reharvested series.

I used two different  batches of Sludge, #29211 ( deep forest greens)  Batch 27783 is deep purples. Sludge is made from 100% recycled pigments  harvested from TriArt’s washing process.  Remember if you want to be sure the colours are going to be similar .. use the same batch number, the shades can vary from batch to batch.  Again you will find this product at DeSerres.

Crackling acquired by using Distress crackle paint, this is a Rangers product.  I used clear rock candy in this project.  IMPORTANT,  allow the medium to dry on its own.  I believe you get better results by being patient.book-cover-another-view

I’m keen to start another one, but first, I need to catch up on the cards for the church. Hearts and Flowers month will soon be here, and I need to get some special cards done for our PL  Card table.

Happy dabbling and playing.  When you do something, do it with a happy and joyful intent.  Pl Precept # 2  To live is to Express One’s self.

Oyashikiri

La vie de l’homme est une suite d’expressions du soi.

making friends

As I pondered my life this morning, my Mother in the hospital, cherished friends in far distant lands, others busy with their lives I reflected on the current project I’m working on.

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This is another of the books I collected out of the throw away box.  It was published under the direction of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland, The church of England, The church of Scotland,  the  list goes on.  It has maps and plans inside, along with the text of course.  The cover was rather battered, especially I don’t know how long it had been exposed to the elements or where it had been prior to being thrown away.

I’ve used masking tape to protect the center of the cover and I’m working at giving the rest of the cover some strength and I hope character back.

Our lives are lived pretty much like this book.  We are conceived, given birth to, presented to the world, and then……………  who knows where we will go or end up.  Each one of us  has our own  path, destination/goal, and how we achieve or get there.. is our own personal journey.

Facing the possibilities of my Mother’s journey, gives me plenty of time to reflect on my own journey.  Which brings me back to friendships.  Some friends you have known, have carved a place in your heart that will last forever, yet you may never see them again, for their paths have gone in different directions.  Or… the value of the friendship was not balanced, that happens too.

The one person, that is the most important person of all, is yourself.    When I’m working doing art projects, or creating, I’m allowing my self-expression to be seen or heard.  I may be the only one who sees it, but the act of BEING is…. in fact.. making friends with mySELF.

PL Precept #11  Always be with God.

PL Precept # 15   All is a Mirror

GOD is the constant in our lives.  When we are quiet, silent, STILL, we feel and hear from within, not the external machines and noises around us.

PL Precept 20  Live Maintaining Equilibrium between mind and matter

(Vivez en harmonie materielle et spirituelle)    this is so important for us to work towards achieving.

PL Precept #1   Life is ART

Oyashikiri

Thanksgiving Service tonight at 7 pm.  See you then =^_^=

c’est bizarre, c’est jeudi

What happens when suddenly you realize it is Thursday! Wow, like how did this happen, it came at me right out of the blue.

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Like the seasons, was it just yesterday I sat and watched the birds fly by on the horizon, couldn’t have been, when I look out side now, the world is white, we’ve had snow.  Lots of it, although, it was so mild yesterday, temperatures went up to 40 degrees F.  Today is going to be another mild day.

img_20151206_125944719I had thought of going to New York city for the Perfect Liberty Thanksgiving service this month.  The thought of seeing NY again, I’ve been away from some time, actually a LONG time, so close to the Chinese New Year, a side trip down to Chinatown would have been a real treat.

If you saw my blog the other day on Chinese New Year, and took the time to watch the video on the foods prepared for the special celebration, you would have seen a lot of colour, especially reds.

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It was not to be.  In the Japanese Church of Perfect Liberty, we use a word, Kamuwaza, it basically means, “God’s Act”  or through no other reason, but that “something” just doesn’t happen, due to many different circumstances.  In this case, all the signs were not pointing towards a good productive trip, my pushing the envelope to go anyway, would mean that, my desire, my wishes, were “mine” and not necessarily were they going to happen.

The TAO. also addresses this, there are times when we simply need to listen to the “signs” around us, and STOP pushing forward. It is time to STOP, reflect, and regroup.

Noooooo I’m not bummed about it, a tad disappointed maybe, but I have learned, that everything has a reason, (season) and by staying tuned in .. PL Precept # 11   Always be with God.  
PL Precept #17   Grasp what is essential   AND

PL Precept # 20 Live maintaining Equilibrium between Mind and Matter..  Things will progress and develop (PL Precept # 16)

Life is beautiful when you live the PL WAY … every day, in every way.

Oyashikiri

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lazy day

There is something to be said about a cold sunny day, when you can see the shimmering bling of the icicles as they hang from the roof edge.  I have been trying to listen to the good advice from friends, “stay in, stay out of the cold, REST”, I think I’m soon going to be able to say, its been 4 weeks now! cough, cough, splutter, sneeze, wheeze and darn I’m tired.

windows-iceThis is a much better shot of the beautiful sculptured ice.  The sky was the beckoning blue that makes me want to be outside.  I don’t care it is cold, I’m happy outside, I layer up and I’m toasty warm.. the air is so fresh, crisp and deliciously brisk.

Thanks for the great feedback on the Sludge project, thought I’d show you a sneak peek.

sludge-part-2.

This is a piece of a cover that I was very taken with.  I liked it so much I kept the magazine for ages.  Doing these “Art” journals has given me a new way to display and keep the pictures I like, without keeping a whole magazine.  Eventually some time in the future, I will add to the pages.. this is the fun of it all.. there is no rush, no deadlines, just a great way to have quality time with myself doing “stuff” I like.

PL Precept #1   Life is Art

PL Precept # 18  Each Moment is a Turning Point

Make each moment count, enjoy being alive, be grateful, and appreciate that God is in your life…

PL Precept #11   Always be with God

When we live with love in our hearts…it is so much easier to express ourselves.

PL Precept #2   To live is to Express One’s Self.

Oyashikiri

PL Precept #11 Always be with God

May the joy of sharing

the gifts of appreciation

love, good health

and happiness

Bless your world

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with friendships and experiences

that bring ever lasting

harmony

filling your days and nights

with heart-felt

peace for everyone

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quiet beckoning

ompah-hwy-7Ompah is in Ontario, a little out-of-the-way, but not so far one can’t get to it.  The seasons change, right now I’m sure it doesn’t look like this.  It will be snow-covered, and likely there will be a chill in the air.

My body has a cold right now.  Notice I’ve disengaged myself from the body that is wanting to sneeze, wheeze and be a total drain on my energy.

I envision this wonderful location, patiently waiting for the cold to have its day and disappear.

Such is life, sometimes, Nature has its own agenda, time for me to settle down, find a cave and  hibernate for a while. =^_^=

I’ll do that after Hubby takes me out for our anniversary dinner…..International Buffet.. yum.. what is it, you feed a cold or starve a cold??   later, I’ll dwell on it later… =^_^=

smilePencil                                                          Oyashikiri

I know… I will own my decision to go out, when I should be tucked in bed…  I will not complain if/when my body does not take kindly to my actions.

Pl Principle #2     the last part….. ” I will always be creative and will look for shortcomings in my OWN thinking and ACTIONS”

 

 

stuck in traffic

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it happens, you are trying to get somewhere and up ahead, the flashing lights and sirens give advance warning, that just ahead, someone is having not so good a day.  I knew I had to have the truck home in time for Hubby to get to the vet… I checked the dashboard, and saw if the delay wasn’t too long, I’d make it on time.

Turning on the radio, I was immediately surrounded with the drive home news, the traffic delays and the accidents, roads to avoid etc.  Didn’t seem to matter which station, they were all about the snarled traffic, and the bumper to bumper drive home for those stuck on what is supposed to be a freeway. Even the express lanes it seems were not moving, except at a snails pace.

Other cars, and a big school bus were trying to maneuver their vehicles to take side streets. With cars/trucks  at a standstill, and no where to move to it made their task very difficult.  Fortunately for me I had my ice coffee to sip on, and enough for a second refill in my extra container. I decided to turn off the busy nattering, and just sit in the truck pondering the days events.

blank-pages

I had actually had a wonderful visit with a dear friend who  after almost 10 years of visiting back and forth via the internet, had met over lunch a couple of months back.  She is like a breath of fresh air, we share a lot of interests, so we had a show and tell luncheon, and I admit to being rather chuffed about it. To share with someone else who knows the excitement of a “blank page” or what one can do with a rubber stamp or wafer thin die, is rather exhilarating. I had even taken my experiments (work in progress) to show her.  How cool is that…. To be able to present your “babies” and bask in the glow of having another “artist/crafter” understand why you think a typeset page, turned into a blank page with bumps and creases is so great.  It had been a fantastic lunch… so being stuck in traffic was not going to spoil my mood.

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There are choices we make in life, we can grumble and complain about a negative inconvenience that we have no control over, or we can dwell on a positive.  I always lean towards the positive.  I find it so much more productive for me, and time passes, and I get to appreciate, all the more, the experience of sharing with a friend.

PL Precept #4   Being Annoyed Limits Your Expression

PL Principle # 5  I will not get angry at anyone or anything.

This Wednesday, December 21st. is when the church of Perfect Liberty, celebrates Thanksgiving,  Service is at 7 PM.  Being stuck in the traffic gave me much time to reflect on the many blessings in my life.  Someone else (the reason for the flashing lights) was not as blessed. While I give thanks for my day, I pray that something positive will balance out the negative that happened to someone else.

Oyashikiri

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many steps

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we begin with an idea…

PL Precept # 19   Begin Once you Perceive

PL Precept #17   Grasp what is most essential

project-finished

In this case, my sister lovingly sought out and found this material  and presented it to me.  I loved it..  I wanted it to be something that would be used, and appreciated every day.  I don’t get to see my sister every day, she lives in California, but I appreciate her every day. This pillow graces our bed, so every day, she is part of my daily life.   A sister is a precious gift, I am lucky and have two =^_^=

PL Precept # 7  Everything Exists in Relativity

In PL we have a Thanksgiving service every month on the 21st.  It is the most important service of the month, held at 7 pm.  Members humbly express appreciation to God for all the blessings of the past month, and sincerely renew our determination to follow and practice the PL “Way”

Our 2017  Perfect Liberty Calendars are here and ready for those interested in obtaining one or having them for gifts to friends and family for the coming year.  They are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and of course Japanese.  A reminder if you need them mailed to you, there would be a cost for the shipping.

YOU are a blessing in my life

Oyashikiri

snow- start to the week

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Getting around wasn’t easy for some today, the snow started last night, and kept falling well into the day.  City crews did their best to ensure that the main  highways were cleared, but it was made clear, side streets would not be cleared till after the afternoon drive home rush hours.

On the six o’clock news they showed one enterprising young man, Xross-country skiing into work.  I recall one year when I snow- shoed in =^_^=  I didn’t have to go out today, but I wanted to take advantage of the weather and attend a sale, that is usually impossible to get close to, especially if you want to park your vehicle, in my case, a big truck.

I was right, traffic was light, it was mid morning, and I had plenty of room to park. My day went very well, I found some great “deals” and enjoyed being out in the brisk snow filled air. Sure one had to drive slowly and with care, but we should be doing that at all time anyway.   I was able to get some shopping in without a lot of fuss, and get home at a decent hour.

The PL philosophy is that if you start your day with a positive attitude, and a sincere appreciation for the weather and the world around you, your chances of having a full and productive day are very good.

PL Precept #15  all is a mirror

PL Principle # 2  I will not have complaints about others, matters, nor the weather.  Rather I will always be creative and will for shortcomings in my own thinking and actions.

PL Principle # 3   I will live with a mind of appreciation towards others and things.

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ohno-part-2e_007There is a wonderland around us.  We walk through it every day.  There are magical people that pass us by on the street every day.  People with dreams and imaginations just like ours, who from looking at them we would never know that they were actors in their own theatres and plays.  Yet at night they could be transforming the world of others with their creativity and talents.  You need only walk though a museum, see a window display, every where and especially at this time of year, you will see the creative expressions decorating homes and whole streets…. We love to delight.

PL Precept # 2  To live is to Express One’s Self.

mess-12-9

There is an expression when you do something, do it right.  Well this was not my intent, but, hey, life happens.

PL Precept # 1    Life is Art

The congee did cool down and was transferred to another bowl, my wonderful husband, who I appreciate every day, cleaned it up .. he says I’m the best “mess maker” he has ever ever known =^_^=

PL Principle #21  I will live in true harmony with my spouse

Enjoy the sunshine, dress up .. it is  on the cool side, but remember.. LIFE IS GOOD!

Oyashikiri

 

 

 

 

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