Simple Joy and Satisfaction!!

A favorite pasttime is heading out on an adventure to Wegman's and Whole Foods.  I have a preference, one over the other, but that's nothing you will find out from me except in a private conversation via email or phone!!  Anyhow - why this picture now? First of all, I am relieved that my computer is healthy once again!!!  We have this totally super neighbor and today he emptied it and started me out from scratch.  Wonder of wonders - so now I can be back and connected!!  Digressing but isn't that part of the fun?!?!?  Sunday I decided to go on this adventure and bring home what we love bestest - healthy fruits and vegetables, especially greens and berries.  When we were done, Bill and I just stood there and said that this is as pretty as a picture and so it is!!  It's a commentary on how we know we need to eat always (ok, some slips sometimes when we are out).  Today I was looking at reviews for several books about contemplative photography and I thought that this is definitely a photo to contemplate and reflect on!  Health...Happiness...Nutrition...Colorful...Crunchy ...all of the tastes we could want...so take a gander and come on over for a meal when you are in the area.  Wouldn't scare us in the least!! 



Striving for Balance

All things being equal, this is about as Yin/Yang as one can get - dark to light and light to dark - restful - being still and watching!  Since the 'retirement' has been cast upon us, we are exploring - you know about drum making and playing and then there is yoga, more nutrition and Tai Chi.  Oh and let's not forget Monday meditation with Judy at Integrative Wellness and then ,mindfulness meditation exploration with Lindsay.  Phew.  When I had the 'job' working from home, I didn't have this intensity of activity.  The way my mind works is to go out there and explore. Then I come back in and make choices.  Doing the former well - haven't quite connected with the latter but that will come.  I am beginning to think about what I am doing and considering making CHOICES.  One thing I do know - Yoga is challenging.  I thought you could go and settle in and be still while you hold poses.  NOT SO!  it is using the body to reach levels it didn't know it had within - even though Suzanne, the instructor, says to go with compassionate acceptance.  Oh my.  Then my friend Pat told me about the senior center and once I saw the calendar, I invited Bill to join me for Tai Chi.  I think we have , together, discovered a way to find more flow and balance.  There is more but alas, you will have to come back for another visit to find out what else is going on.  This I know for sure:  we are NOT some of those people who take the rocking chair on the porch and watch the birds fly by!!  We are spreading our wings!!  YEAH!!!  (NOTE:  The dog?? WE found him sleeping in a pet store doorway in Manayunk, PA)

The Girls...and their legs?!?!?

It was a weekend for family and friends!  We travelled the PA Turnpike to see where Niece Kat spends her life when she is not travelling/living abroad or home in Maryland.  Dickinson College is in Carlisle,PA.  Bill and I drove to spend time with family, see Kat's theatre production - she is the stage manager and just generally get a feel for the town.  We walked and walked and then we walked some more around the campus and downtown to see the shops, galleries and restaurants.  Learning to stop and be still and see what is around me, these legs were the focus - all for sale at a gallery and each one funkier than the next!  My challenge to you - which of the girls would you match with each of the leg sculptures?  Katie is on the left - Kat's roommate; center is Kat and on the right is twin sister Rebecca.  Your guess...I won't speculate.  We got to see Kat in her element, meet some of her friends and eat in a few restaurants that I would have loved to pick up and transport to south Jersey - Pitman in particular.  Every once in awhile someone challenges me to open one - NO!!  I enjoy them and know what I like, but owner/operator - maybe in another lifetime. Interesting time spent...lessons learned...and then home again.  It's great to go 'out there' and great to come home again to the comfort and security of where we belong!!

Challenging Communications

My computer, Internet Explorer and traveling in cyberspace are not in a friendly relationship right now so, I am sharing Bill's computer and being gentle on the road less travelled.  Someday soon, we will all be working in synch once again - so much to share - visit to Dickinson College/Carlisle, driveway asphalt paving, signs of Spring and well, the infinite possibilities that every moment of every day brings to our lives. 

WOW! Clear Messages from Desiree...

A few Mondays ago, I chose to attend a Mandala Meditation workshop at Integrative Wellness in Mullica Hill. I didn't have a clue what to expect except that I was bringing lots of crayons, markers and colored pencils to share.  When we arrived, Judy Dingler, our facilitator/leader, had about 20 mandalas spread out on the table and we were to choose one that we connected with.  I thought of Spring that is so present in the air and chose this one that brought a flower to mind.  Now, I had an intention, after seeing others that folks had done, to do my coloring with all PASTELS!  Nevermind - life doesn't always work as you anticipate.  Judy asked us to close our eyes and invite our angels/guides in to work with us.  Immediately, I hear, "I am Desiree!!"  She was enthusiastic and I knew we were gearing up for a fun adventure!  I picked out the pale pink and then the light blue colors to use.  After that was done and I was contemplating the next color, Desiree started laughing at me and asked when I ever thought that pastel colors were something that I could easily do??  I tried - honest I did BUT this gave me a clear message about who I am - balanced maybe, but bright and enthusiastic and COLORFUL in the boldest sense of the word.  Know what??  I accepted that and had a grand time with the project.  Made me realize that it is not we who are in charge sometimes but it is more important to BE STILL and get the message!  That I did and everytime I look at this Mandala, I laugh about life and enjoy who I am!!!  I put a link here for you to check out a Mandala meditation and see how you resonate with this.  GO FOR IT!!
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/mindspiritandself/ss/mandala.htm