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chop suey Sunday 26th

Today, was a day of errands.  After church I was busy gathering ingredients for a soup, and then to a craft supply place that still had their special sale on.  With the holidays around the corner, I have once again, begun to work at my “work table.” I want to finish cards that I have promised for a few “retail” outlets, and want to make a few personal greetings that need to be posted soon.

To accomplish this, I wander and look at everything that I discover along my path, one never knows when an idea or a creative moment will present itself.  Funny I go into a shop looking for a very specific item or theme, and come out with way more than I had anticipated.  Anyone else, know this curious “happening” it is as if an elf is putting things in our basket when we aren’t looking.  When we do see it, we realize that ..”wow! that is a great ^whatever^ guess I will keep it.”

Fortunately, more often than naught, these are the items that will be the first to be consumed or used in the creative process.

If you are someone who delights in homemade soup… then you are likely familiar with the above utensils… maybe not these, but a strainer of some kind.

I start my soups with bones, for me the most delightful of tastes is the meat that is closest to the bone. Exquisite flavour can be obtained by combining the oddest ingredients, then after hours of slow simmer, straining the broth, only returning to the liquid ambrosia, the jewels you want to feature.  Sometimes they have absolutely nothing to do with the making of the broth.  But their taste, harmonized perfectly to offer up a feast not only for the eyes, but for your taste buds … not to mention the aromatic teasing of your senses

All this to say… I’ ve got a soup on the back burner, and I steamed my veggies to put on my rice, in a Pad Thai sauce.  Hmmm must be time for me to eat.

Hope you all had a great week-end.  Tomorrow we start a brand new week! Soon a new month will appear too…  YAY!!!!

Make every moment count, and enjoy all that life has to offer.. The more you succeed, the merrier life will be.

Oyashikiri

Thanksgiving

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Cranberries and turkey ….stuffing and mashed potatoes ….gathering of friends, sounds like holiday cheer.  My sister was telling me about her menu, for today’s Thanksgiving feast (she lives in the States).  It was interesting to learn that mashed potatoes were not just “mashed potatoes” as I know it, but, how she specially prepared the potatoes for guests on this special evening of sharing.

Potatoes being carefully peeled and cooked, so they could be mashed and presented in a certain consistency etc.  The care and thought she has put into serving up a dinner for her friends I found heart warming.  Just listening to her explain the shopping for, and the prep done days in advance, the settings, the placement of chairs to accommodate the gathering so that all would be comfortable and feel welcome, was all “new” to me.  Our family has our own “Martha”… I was impressed.

My long time personal friends, will all chuckle and know that “yours truly” does not share my sister’s flare. I felt really proud of her, as she went on about her dinner today.  These were/are her friends, and she for years now, has them over to share in a now, “traditional” Thanksgiving in appreciation and love for their part in her life. My little sister, gave me a warm glow of love and appreciation for HER, I am still basking in it today.

LOL she will be busy today, and seldom reads my blog.. so I can get away with saying nice things about her today…hahahaha

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends…. let us ALL embrace and share the meaning of Thanksgiving, in our lives today and always.

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

retreat 10.7.17a

ocean clean up

I just finished watching a video for the second time.  I enjoyed it the first time I viewed it, and again today.

ocean clean up

Since seeing clips on this project, I have been even more aware than ever, on how disrespectful we have been in how we rid ourselves of waste materials.

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Please, let us work together towards a cleaner environment.

Use the present as a starting point, to move forward towards improvements and progress.  Happy start towards a productive new week.

Oyashikiri

*Boyan Slat’s Ocean cleanup project

 

choices

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Today is a new day.  Yesterday was the past.  Once I live today, I will have crossed another time zone.

and  yes………. bus pass is still missing..

some days, just happen.

Smile on everyone! race the sun, it can be fun.

Oyashikiri

 

orange tree

orange tree xI loved this little orange tree.  Every year I would prune it back and bring it inside so it could survive our Canadian winters.  Circumstances were that it grew very big, and we simply were unable to bring it back in.

Fortunately, our niece knew of just the right home and the little, now larger orange tree, went to live somewhere new.  Happiness is letting go, knowing when it is time to say good-bye so that life can continue to grow and bring joy to someone else.

For months now we have been trying to declutter.  We have been finding things we forgot we had.  They are leaving to begin their lives again. Going where they can be rediscovered, and enjoyed and used in the light of day.  Not stored away and forgotten.

When I see piles of this and that.. I’m heartened knowing it is temporary, every day a  bag or box leaves for somewhere else.  It is a work in process.

What are you working on today? Strive towards a positive outcome.  Life is good!!!

“Happiness is giving it away”

Oyashikiri

PL Precept #15  All is a Mirror

 

 

petit diable

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Good Tuesday morning to one and all.  I have used this picture before, I don’t recall where I got it, but it is one I’ve obviously kept.  It still has an appeal.

I believe in balance.  There is no wrong without there being a right.  Everything seems so subjective, it is not always easy to find objectivity. We try.  At times it is like walking a tight rope with no safety net.  Even when we see and intellectually know the safety net is there, We doubt.

Today, no matter what, I want a happy day.  So… I found Pippa’s post on Instagram… come on… doesn’t she make you smile.  She gets my smile every time.
Pippa Nov. 4.2017

It is our choice, to want a happy day, or to allow challenges to cloud our day.  PL Precept #1   Life is Art.   Sometimes we need creativity to see the opportunities, if you need a boost, find what makes you smile and go for it.

PL Precept #1   Life is Art

 

Pippa_g_thats_me   can be found on Instagram  She is a young female whippet pup living in Austin Texas.

 

Friday – Happy Day!

Pippa in backpackGood morning,

Meet Pippa, she is a female Whippet who lives with her human parent(s).  You can see that in her very short time with them, she knows how to handle them so that life is extra good for her.  I’m told that she is a very patient and willing model, just look at that face.. her eyes are wise beyond her years.  A ride to work in a warm cozy wrap with a fall coloured whimsical cap –    she’s got style.  What better way to get around  and keep her pedicure and paws perfect for her lazy sprawl on the living room couch after a hard day.

Her owner graciously allowed me to share her pictures, Pippa can be found on Instagram, she is a raising star in the “diva dogs” on Instagram    pippa_g_thats_me  Pippa was born, in the spring of 2017 and lives in Austin TX.   If you enjoy a smile from time to time, she is a whippet you might like to follow.  She already  has a lot of followers, the numbers grow everyday.

Pippa young whippet 11.17

This is the picture that caught my eye.  I call it the Gatsby look.  Pippa is really good, if I tried to get Velcro or Keeper to sit and model, sigh, let’s just say, ” have you ever chased a hound when its got another place to be??”..Pippa you are a super model already, I look forward to following your career.  Your wardrobe attendant is going to be one “busy” gal.

You all know that this has been a very challenging year for me, I am so grateful and appreciate so much the kindness of you have shown “us”   The Thursday Door posts yesterday were just so varied and so interesting.  With cancer now part of our lives, we are home of course, much much more.  There will be no wandering the back roads, for a while, but I get to visit such fascinating places, and see so much through “your” eyes.

I wanted to share Pippa with you, because when she pops up on the screen, there is always a smile being shared.

Life is good, we are very blessed, the seasons give us blazing colours, shades of gray, brilliant whites and our views, stories and photographs all come together in a cornucopia of blessings, different for everyone, but there non-the-less.

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

PL Principle #4  I will live with the spirit of Misasage (Devotion) working for the happiness of others.

“Do your best to live in harmony with the world around you.  Life will flow easily and gracefully  along with the current, gently caressing each adventure along the way.”  Q

Oyashikiri

 

Pippa’s pictures (her human)

Wordless Wednesday

Taiwan Jiancing Historic Trail

Taiwan Jiancing Historic Trail, Taipingshan National Forest   elevation 2000 m http://floralia.centerblog.net/rub-autour-du-monde–20.html

photo from internet

 

 

 

Sunday -Fabric continued

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Fabric art, continued.

I was happy to learn today that the 2018 PL Calendars are here, and now available.  After perusing the pages, I can’t wait to begin the new year.  Plan ahead, if you are wanting to be able to send them to friends,   Let us know how many you would like put away for you.  Please note that the cost has been made the same all across North America.  $3.00

Day of Peace ceremony will be November 1.st. 10 a.m

Let us take today’s lesson, Express Yourself Cheerfully, as a thought to carry forward into the whole week.

Remember as we  begin a new week, that our relationships and the situations around us, reflect our own hearts and actions, like a mirror.  When we change our surroundings, it will bring about changes for us personally too.

Happy week ahead.

Oyashikiri

 

original art by Q (in progress)

beginnings

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The fun of starting something new, is that one never really knows what it will end up to be.  what I showed you yesterday, and this today, are beginnings.  Like one would sketch an idea, I am using fabric.  Already when working this piece last night, I could see a glimmer of what I was NOT doing, that I think I will try when I continue playing,

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When we look at a visual, it leaves an impression, that our gray cells will process in different ways, over the course of minutes, hours, days, who knows when what you saw, will reclaim a moment of your “now” to present itself in a different way.

Whatever your medium, photography, paint, ink, text, fabric, if you are expressing yourself, through a visual, the colours, patterns, shapes and textures that impressed themselves on your psyche will show up.  Some colour combinations will never draw my attention, because, my “personal” makeup is drawn to shadows/light and colours that are attractive to me.

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This is one of the reasons I love life, and find it so fascinating.  I “see” the world in such a magical way.  I loved this picture, didn’t know why till I got it home and saw it on my PC screen.  When I took the picture, it was instinct.  Now all I see is the wild animal preparing to chow down.  =^_^=

Beginnings never have to end. Love the choices you make in a day, embrace the adventure of life.  Appreciate your friends.  Life IS.

Oyashikiri

 

all photos and work, mine Q

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