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Now I lay me down to sleep

Now I lay me down to sleep – is a song /prayer that I heard as a child. Maybe you remember it.

the following are the lyrics that I got on the web should you not remember the prayer. It has been revised several times and there are copies on the web for your to browse should you wish to do so. I extrapolated the following from the web dictionary. Perhaps the earliest version was written by Joseph Addison in an essay appearing in The Spectator on March 8, 1711. It says:

When I lay me down to Sleep,
I recommend my self to his care;
when I awake, I give my self up to his Direction.

A later version printed in The New England Primer goes:

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
If I shall die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen.

This little prayer has been playing in my head now for a week or so. I wonder why it only seems to address itself to the younger generation. Perhaps it is because I have been getting my “house in order” shedding, and recycling that I feel this little prayer is one that should be for all ages. Especially those of us who are nearing our golden years. As I packed and filled yet another bag for the Salvation Army, I thought of this, and wanted to pass it along. I’ve seen to many friends pass on into the “great beyond” and their “treasures” and possessions became “stuff” to be rid of by family or persons unknown depending on the situation.

We don’t like to talk about such events, but that is what life is, we come, we live, we leave. In the “we live”part, we deal with all sorts of challenges and adventures, our collections, our memories, how many of them do we actually look at and actually “see” as the years pass by. In cleaning up I relived a lot of fun moments (during the collection) but I also realized that a lot of what I had /have was no longer being used, admired, or even much thought of.

Its cold outside, why do I need a dozen or so hoodies, when it comes time to wear one, I usually wear the same one or two all the time. Someone else can benefit from them, they are in good condition, warm and in a thrift shop will be very affordable. I used to like my “Designer” labels, and would enjoy just looking at the variety in my cupboards. I used my leather purses for decorating and staging a “look” along my walls or hanging from a door. Now I’ve kept only a few that I “may” use at some time or another. I’ve come to terms with the “need” I had for wanting to “possess” (comes from being a child born during the war) =^_^=

Anyway, just musing out loud. What do you think, isn’t the above prayer a good one for each and every one of us?

PL Precept #11 Always be with God

That said, remember to live with a smile in your heart. Pass it on!

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Standing Still

Frozen in Time – sculpted out of wire,apoxie sculpt and fabric this garden fairy likes her crystals, she carries them with her so that the sun and day light will catch and reflect prisms of colour all around her. The stump she stands on was part of a tree she used to love for the shade it provided on the hot summer days. She came inside one year, to grace the mantel, to this day she is still there. There is a window there, and during the bright winter days, when the sun comes shining through … her garland dances sending a rainbow of colour through the room.

Do we stand still in life, or do we constantly want to be on the move? Lately I’ve been forced to spend more time.. standing still… LOL or should I say, having a lie down =^_^=

Like the garden fairy with her crystals, when the dust gathers on her beads, the rainbow of colours is less dazzling. When she was outside, Mother Nature, bathed her in spring, summer and fall with showers, pelting rains and blew soft whispers of breeze through her strand of crystals.

When we stop and allow the world around us to “really be seen” It is surprising what we “see” and realize about where we are in life, and how we are coping with the realities.

Have the courage to really look at where you are, have you been standing still? Is dust gathering on “your crystals”

Prayer is our garland of light, the Universe speaks to us everyday, and in many ways. It is in mindfulness that we
hear and see the Divine connection.

Blessings everyone, may the light of life shine brightly on you today.and always.

Written

on November 19, 2013

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Silent Maiden

From another era, she walks through the garden, silently adjusting her steps to better manouver the changing landscapes from season to season. This maiden was built using chicken wire for the frame (I built out the skirt so that it would give her better balance. Her outfit is made out of material that has been soaked in Paverpol, I was not using Powertex at the time.of her “birthday” both of these products have websites that will give you the full description of their properties. Her face and under body is from Apoxie Sculpt, this is a product from a company called Aves. It is permanent, self hardening and waterproof.

Paverpol and Powertex are liquid hardeners, environmentally friendly, water based alternatives to polyester. The Silent Maiden has been outside in the garden for many years now and she still looks good. Some of her “friends” have not weathered as well. Same is true in life. Some of us weather better than others. =^_^=

May I? this is from the book The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery 1900 – 1944

“Speaking to the Little Prince about love and life, the Fox says: And now here is my secret, a very simple secret, it is only with the heart that one can see rightly: What is essential is invisible to the eye. “

From the teachings of Buddha..

What is the meaning of the saying ” A cupful of water is more than the water of an ocean?” This is the answer “A cupful of water given in a pure and compassionate spirit to one’s parents or to a sick person has an eternal merit, but the water of an ocean will some day come to an end.

The Universe LOVES YOU…..

Note the ongoing problems with the web provider means that I am looking for alternatives, please stay tuned.

Written

on November 18, 2013

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Londinium Gearworks and Lil Verse

Everyone can dream. This wonderful place in SL (Second Life) is a delight to explore. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/PARP/165/127/45
Sometimes in life we need to slip away from the challenges in RL (Real world) and allow our creativity to recharge. Oh OH, caught Q trying to sneak up to the ice cream vendor. Here one can indulge and not have repercussion (blood sugar levels) =^_^=

There are hobbit buildings where Tabitha showcases, her wonderful Victorian furniture and outfits. There are a ton of places to explore, and if like me you like to take photographs, there is a wide variety of interesting places to capture on disk. You get to try out different environment settings. Virtual photography like anything else,takes some adjusting to, but once you get the hang of it, results are rewarding. This thought process applies to how we live our lives too! When we cheat, sneak a “shouldn’t have” it is our bodies that suffer, it is me.I. self. that pays the price. Choices. My inner voice is always right, I have to learn to trust it more, listen carefully to what I’m hearing, not hear what I want to hear. There is a difference.

In Pl we are encouraged to stay in tune with the times. Virtual worlds are here and have been now for awhile. In world, we get to meet people from all over the world. We can socialize, or explore on our own, there is no escaping that the experience of being in a virtual world broadens our horizons. If you are yourself creative, the possibilities are endless.

Did you know that there is a small building in Second Life dedicated to the study and practice of /on the philosophy of Perfect Liberty? If ever you wanted to meet with one of the ministers, you can do so in Second Life. =^_^= Today I am going to move the church to another building. Once I’m done doing that, I will post the new location for you.

Rev. Goto the minister in New York for the Church of Perfect Liberty, sent out his newsletter recently. In it, he said “PL teachings don’t exist in a far away world, but in the daily movements of our lives” That quote he used, really resonated with me. I so truly believe that God is with us in everything we do. I have found SL to be a wonderful learning tool, I have found and learned some profound lessons through being a member of this virtual world. When we are open to life and its lessons, we are blessed with the experience and wonder of the journey.

“You have a built in yearning to seek your inspired self and feel wholeness, a kind of inexplicable sense that patiently demands recognition and action. You might describe it as a mechanism persistently projecting the words, destiny,mission, or purpose on your inner screen. ” Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

“Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old ” Franz Kafka

Whatever you do today, do it mindfully, be present 100%. LOVE God/Tao with all your heart and soul/mind. Mark 12:30 NIV

Blessings, today and always. Be Happy, SMILE –Good Saturday Morning everyone!

Written

on November 16, 2013

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Who am I

Do you ever wonder who that person is looking back at you in the mirror. For years you have looked at that face, yet how often do you really see the face,and the eyes that are looking so intently back at you.
When we journey into the virtual world, we get to pick an avatar to represent us, it is the avatar that moves around and interacts for us with the other avatars in the virtual world.. Each avatar represents another person, who is sitting at a keyboard and looking at a screen. You can be talking to anyone, anywhere in the world connects to the Internet.
Each and everyone of us is in the game for a reason, to play, to build,design,educate, learn, the reasons are endless. So are the possibilities when it comes to what kind of an avatar you will use to represent “you”.
It is not until you are faced with the task of creating an outward appearance for yourself that you begin to realize that it is not as simple as it seems.
First we have to determine are we male or female. In the real world, we know the cards dealt to us, however in this virtual world, we can be whatever we chose to be.
We get to pick the colour of our skin, the shape of our bodies,, the colour of our eyes, and then when we do all of that, we have to dress ourselves, pick out the hair, finally we can have curly hair, and lots of it.
AND, because we get to pick our size and shape, we can then wear the shoes and outfits that we can’t wear in RL

The challenge can be so daunting, that many people give up before they even really start. I learned early on in the “game” that the choices we are asked to make, can be very helpful to us in learning to understand ourselves.

I’m only touching the surface here, we are only getting started. In this recent adventure, I have had to think long and hard about which avatar I would use. I already have established personalities and characters in SL. I realized that I did not want to use these characters because I liked who they are and the lives they have built for themselves over the years.
So, I dusted off the file on an avatar that I have till now only used when I needed a model. He/she had no defined personality and was simply an avatar. A dormant file/avatar in the game. Even the name of the avatar was non gender, Asia was especially used when I needed a male model for the ads/blogs.
Now Asia is a woman, and a Furry, (an avatar that is an animal with human characteristics) I started out thinking I would be a Neko (cat/feline) a Neko is a human with animal characteristics. But after several hours spent with the Neko I wasn’t connected to it. I felt no affinity.
Also what came into the equation is the other members you meet, who are also Neko,Furries, humans, Tinies,Dinkies, etc. Like in the RL the groups have their own culture, way of dressing, interests etc.
I have been absent from SL for some time, not playing as much as I used to, so I found that with the ever changing technology the products and items being offered, mesh, sculpts,animations etc.were different. Previous sources were no longer in business.
I thought I’d be a possat, I got the avatar put her on, but within minutes I didn’t feel right.

When I looked at myself as this avatar, I wondered to myself, what had I been thinking. Where was I “in my head” when I thought this is what I wanted to be? this is what life is like, we do things, we purchase something because at the time, it was such a great buy or it really took our fancy, yet days later, it has lost its allure, and the search begins again.

Much like when I look in the mirror, I wonder who that is, and how she got to be where she is, what is she really thinking? The person I have to ask is myself really, and the question again comes down to just who am I. What am I doing here? This could be a long meditation, a long on going chat with my inner self. Meanwhile, life does go on, and I have another avatar in the making. Does this mean that I have multiple personalities. Hmm stay tuned.

In PL we learn to continue and persevere to make our wishes and goals come true. I’ve started this journey, I’m having fun working through my creative “wants” and the realities of my “self: images. I’ve been a lifetime getting to where I am today, guess I’m not about to stop the momentum now. My friends call me a “shape shifter” (in SL) I believe that is because, like in real life, I live the moment, and change is the only constant in life. =^_^=

comments anyone? Have fun in life, take time to play, we are only here “now” I am guilty of taking life far too seriously, even when playing… I’m working on it.. one step at a time. http://www.secondlife.com photos -Q

Written

on November 8, 2013

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Discovery

As an artist I love to discover the artistic creativity of others who share this passion. In SL last night (Second Life) I found bridge, it was late when I came across it, and the sim I was on was experiencing the night cycle. I turned my settings to noon so that I could glimpse what I would find today when I plan to return…
A bridge is always an invitation to explore. But look. see what the artist has done here, one one side of the bridge one is in a fall setting with all the wonderful bright colours of fall. When I took a peak on the other side of the bridge, I saw that the winter wonderland had arrived.
Today when we get back from our hoped for drive (so the dogs can have a proper run in the dog park in Morrisburg) I’m excited about the possibilities of some great camera shots.
For those of you following my latest adventure in SL, I started out thinking I’d be a neko then that changed, and I bought a Possat avatar, I quickly learned that this new society I was entering had/has many many faces. The artistic need in me emerged and my inner self has been challenged to put a visual expression to just “who” Asia is. (name of the current avatar)
I will save the musing on the creation of physical representation of who I am for another blog, suffice to say, the lessons I am learning with this experiment, is that I still have an ego that is healthy and functioning. =^_^= at top capacity.
This is where I currently am in my transformation. A new friend I met yesterday (Elle a stunning furry with a number of different looks to match her feeling and mood of the day) gave me LM (landmarks) for places to shop for accessories to my AV (avatar) and clothes that are made for the “Furry” communities.

Come on now.. how can you resist those eyes….=^_^=

Just deciding who and what you will be is fun, reminds me of when I was a preteen and loved living in a world of fantasy, dress up and designing clothes for my dolls. now I’m the doll.

Written

on November 5, 2013

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Good Morning Everyone!

Clark Kent used a phone booth to become Super Man
Bat Man (Bruce Wayne)had his bat mobile
Wonder Woman her whip, long legs and blue eyes

During the courses of the day, new things happen all the time. Get into the rhythm of things, swing into action be your own action figure.
Today I’m going to explore the world of the “neko”

Neko

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Neko is the Japanese word for cat (猫)

Rented an apartment in Serenity Woods, The guide I met there, (he works on the sim, helps new comers to the area adjust, find what they are looking for, helps them to assimilate. I’ll pay rent of 195 lindens a week, and get to meet new people from all over the world.

I am wanting to know more about the avatar, (the man behind the avatar from the UK), like myself has been in the virtual world since 2007, HIs RL work has him traveling to other countries, I learned he has been to Peru, this is one country I know little of and want to know more of) I will add a link to SL at the end of this blog. It is cold, damp and windy today do you dare to explore?

We can embrace our day, or watch it fade away, come on… join me… get out and play …. tomorrow will be another day. Make today count ….

Love and Blessings, today and always

photos – Q

link to Second Life – http://www.secondlife.com

Written

on November 2, 2013

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Altruism

Compassion, generosity,neighbourliness –
Kindness, charity,benevolence
Public spiritedness

Quiet, continuity, steadfast, centered

78 degrees under bright blue skies, thoughts of fat scallops, abalone, and king size shrimps, sitting on a bed of fresh Udon noodles, ready to be tossed with a ginger garlic and soy dressing.

School house needs to be cleaned out and ready for the winter feedings.

Reminder to myself. > need to pick up a drill bit for my dremel so that I can drill holes when making little people. Little people and “happy cards” are ambassadors for the ‘share a smile ” campaign I’m doing.

Which seasoning to use in my morning bowl of veggies, mushroom and egg? Then now that the car is back, I guess I run errands, Yup, if I can time it right, Costco will be on the list. Oh hum….its Friday… let me share one more moment with you. I met this man back in the late 70’s, backstage after a show at the then Montreal Forum, I enjoyed his energy then, and today, he still has me wanting to dance. Funky Friday everyone, Shake it.

Share the LOVE, share a SMILE, Make each and every moment count. Love you all. Blessings, big and small =^_^=

Written

on November 1, 2013

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Carrots and life

If ever anything would always be the same, one would think it would be carrots. Huh uh, not so, now when you go to purchase carrots, you are faced with a selection. I find little finger size ones, for snacking on and vegetable trays. I read an article about how they are processed, and now skip the little carrots and go for the family size carrot. =^_^= That said, at this time of year, you can get some P R E T T Y big sized carrots. The other day i found a carrot that was so big,I think with patience I could have stuffed it.
In the warmer months, I love to simply walk around snacking on a raw carrot. the natural sweetness is refreshing on a hot day, and the crunch is second only to the crunch of a fresh radish.
Interestingly enough, I found that the carrot taught me a lesson in life this past summer, actually it was just a couple of weeks past. One should never take our carrots for granted.
I found myself downtown in between meals, I was walking around the market when I was struck with a craving for a crunch. conveniently I was in the market, so walked up to a stall and picked a box of coloured carrots. the packaging was just like I got today, you can see how inviting they are,
For those of you still not educated (yet) in the lure of the carrot, there is a different taste albeit subtle to the “designer” carrot, vs. the good old farm variety. To my taste buds they are sweeter, with a lighter lingering taste of carrot that is teasing on the palette.

Now skip forward to later in the week when hubby and I found ourselves on a back road in the countryside far from the maddening crowd but with working farms. My crunch craving hit… what to do.. “oh look” I cried out, Hubby well used to my outbursts, slowed the car and took the lane way that advertised Fresh veggies and Pumpkins. In earlier posts you saw pictures of the pumpkin and squash displays.
With no radishes in sight, I headed for the carrots. Yes there was one basket left. Greedily my hand reached out and in the blink of an eye I was at the cash. Recognize the symptoms, we do this in life, we want something, we get something, we don’t really inspect, or take in the whole picture, we just act.
Now what could be wrong, or go wrong with freshly picked carrots from a working veggie farm. thank you for wondering/asking. A lot. Ms city here, used to buying carrots in the grocery stores, fresh produce markets had not anticipated or thought about the real home-grown carrot, that comes to you straight from the ground. It was encrusted in dirt, good old farm soil, I was traveling in the car .. I didn’t have running water to clean it with… nor did we have the dogs with us, so their fresh drinking water was not with us.
How badly did I need to feel and hear that crunch.
I dipped a clean tissue in my drinking water.. and rubbed. That dirt was caked on, but with purpose and dedication, I managed to get most of it off. I crunched into that carrot like it was a jewel from the ground (which it was). I lived to tell the tale, even discovered that I did recall in the long last memory cells, that carrots don’t come all sparkling clean from the farm with out someone washing and packaging them
A reminder on how much we take the food we eat for granted. At first my citified mind wanted to cry out loud, how can that farmer not know to clean the vegetable before putting up for sale. thank goodness the other part of my brain, spoke up, it was me, it was my spoiled city self that was not being grateful for the opportunity to taste a carrot “really’ fresh from the farm, and the lesson that, life and the food we get should not be taken for granted either.
I now have a greater appreciation for what I find in the stores, the journey they had to take to get there, and I don’t begrudge the money spent for the quality of goods I get. We need to take time in life to appreciate the bounty that we have available to us. God provides.

I used carrots today to give variety to the potato oven fries, presented along with the potatoes, were carrot and orange beet slices. Yummy, I toss them in a virgin cold pressed olive oil with seasoning before putting them in the oven to roast.

With the veggie baked fries, we are having sliced pork (Pork is my cold weather meat) stir fried and simmered in a buttered (light) curry sauce.

Eat your carrots they are good for your eyesight.

photo -Q

Written

on October 30, 2013

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sunlight thru the shade

The other day I talked of how light and shadows can draw us in, create a picture that catches our imagination. The first snowfall will also change the landscape. We are so fortunate to have the 4 seasons to delight us with their differences.

Does this picture tell a story?

The camera allows for one point of interest to have many looks.

“Care enough for a result, and you will almost certainly attain it. “ William James

“It is the experience of living that is important, not searching for meaning. We bring meaning by how we love the world” Bernie Siegel, M.D.

Life is Art… every day gives us new opportunities.

TAO > Put forth your effort with no thought of gain……………….. non anticipation

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