The Dragon Year – 23 Jan 2012 to 09 Feb 2013

Begining February 4th 2012 we will enter the year of the Black Water Dragon.

Happy Christmas

This is beautiful

This adorable card is from The Graphics Fairy's blog. It is circa 1922. 

Things I love

*the smell of freshly ground coffee in the morning *baking cookies with my kids  *when it first snows and everything looks peaceful and perfect *big family dinners *late nights walking around quiet suburban streets *the deep forest *homeschooling *telephone calls with my grandmother *creating art at the kitchen table *finishing a great book *sleeping cats under the Christmas tree *fresh cut grass *playing board games with my family and laughing uncontrollably *the smell in the air right before it rains *the quiet of the house when everyone is sleeping *leaving for a road trip *my vegan chocolate cake *crackling fires *out door concerts  *watching Free to Be You and Me with my kids *hot summer nights *having a beer with my dad on his porch  *Christmas carols *picking anything from my garden and eating it right away *home made jam *kick boxing *the ocean *dancing all night long  *thunder storms *when the kitchen counter is clear *loud rock anthems *sleeping in *camping *cool pillow tops *baby animals (human included)  *peace rally's *roses

This post was inspired by Schmutzie's 400 Words About Things I Love. What do you love right now? 

Be mindful of your words

“Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech . . . I vow to cultivate loving speech. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering . . . I vow to learn to speak truthfully, with words that inspire self-confidence, joy, and hope. I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain, and not to criticize or condemn things of which I am not sure. I will refrain from uttering words that can cause division or discord, or that can cause the family or community to break.”

 Zen Teacher Thich Nhat Hahn 

Adele - Someone Like You

I just love this song. Sometimes there is nothing like a sad song.

"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,

Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead"

The power of Intention

Today I was reading with great interest the Intent Blog, created by Mallika Chopra, daughter of Deepak Chopra; author and spiritual leader. In her blog post The Branding of Intent she writes how her father taught her to meditate at age nine, and offered this mantra to her, I re-post it here with the purest of intention.

I am responsible for what I see.

I choose the feelings I experience,

And set the goals I will achieve.

Everything that seems to happen to me,

I ask for and receive as I have asked.

Intention took on a whole new meaning for me ten years ago when I attended a New Year's Eve party like nothing I had ever been to before. A four day retreat in the lush rain forest of British Columbia. It was called INTENTION and was the second in a subsequent dozen events hosted by an intentional dance community on the west coast of Canada called Tribal Harmonix.

To say this event changed my life is an understatement. It was at Intention that I met my husband Mark. Held on the sunshine coast, on Mount Elfinstone, I learned the sound of OM, and felt the awesome power of people joining together to create a community of love, spiritualism, art and incredible music.

Today I know the power of intention is more then I could have ever imagined. I offer this post in my gratitude for all the blessings in my life, for the privileges I live everyday and for the love I have experienced and want to share more of.

Blessings

Changing Paradigms

My hands were busy

I first read this poem when I was still a child. I saw it as a newspaper clipping pasted on my aunt Joyce's fridge.

I remember reading it again shortly after I became a mother, more then 13 years ago. I think it is really beautiful and I try and remember the message of this poem as the days pass so fast.

The author is Anonymous, and the title is either "To my grown up son", or "My hands were busy".

Try and hold on to those moments.

My hands were busy throughout the day

I didn't have much time to play

The little games you asked me to.

I didn't have much time for you.

I'd wash your clothes, I'd sew and cook,

But when you'd bring your picture book

And ask me please to share your fun,

I'd say: "A little later, son."

I'd tuck you in all safe at night

And hear your prayers, turn out the light,

Then tiptoe softly to the door...

I wished I'd stayed a minute more.

For time is short, the years rush past...

A little boy grows up so fast.

No longer is he at your side,

His precious secrets to confide.

The picture books are put away,

There are no longer games to play,

No goodnight kiss, no prayers to hear...

That all belongs to yesteryear.

My hands, once busy, now are still.

The days are long and hard to fill.

I wish I could go back and do

The little things you asked me to.

Author Unknown