Vindicated!

I love listening to a Way with Words, Grant Barrett and Martha Barnett's NPR show.
AWaywithWords

Yesterday's episode was especially fun, discussing people who intentionally mispronounce words.
Here's a link that gives several examples,
mispronounciations

I love that I can hold my head high when I say poiple for purple
and bot-toms, accent on the toms, for bottoms.

Any examples of your own???

Advent

Always a joy to light the first candle on the first Sunday of Advent.

Journey of Hope

I just received Volume III of Journey of Hope, the annual chronicle of the achievements of Greg Mortenson's, Central Asia Institute.
Remember him from:


My admiration for him is beyond comparison.

How thrilling to see he has a new book out,


plus his children's book,



and that he will be speaking locally at the Unity Center/Downstairs Sanctuary 8999 Rd. Activity Road in San Diego on Thursday, December 10 at 7 p.m. It is a ticketed event and this site will give you the necessary info
WARWICKS

I had the privilege of hearing him speak two years ago, an unforgettable experience.


Here's a copy of his letter that accompanied Journey of Hope,

He continues his miraculous endeavor.

Pomegranates and Paper

I haven't visited Loretta Marvel's blog

PomegranatesandPaper

in far too long.
I'd forgotten what an entertaining writer she is, what a creative artist she is, what a caring, albeit witty, wife/mother/dog lover
she is. Oh and then, how much I enjoy her book recommendations, far better than Oprah.

I spent way too long this morning catching up with her life, jealous, but happy for she and her husband, that they were able to find a cottage on Cape Cod after months of searching.

In her 'other' life she's a busy attorney, but she still manages to savor her morning coffee, create, work in her garden and write something that will always give me a chuckle and pause for thought.

Thank you, Loretta!

A Sad Commentary on the Fast Pace of our Lives

that we can condense 10 years into a seven minute video.

The Gargoyle

I can't even wrap my tongue around what to say about this incredible book. It's an extraordinary first novel for Andrew Davidson.

In places it was horribly painful to read, his descriptions of the main character's horrific accident and misery in the aftermath in the burn unit are way too graphic. In other places the fantasy of budding romance between he and Marianne, the compassion they each share for one another in their mutual times of agony, leads you to believe in magic. The stories Marianne tells about their former life together are heartrending, heart wrenching. Davidson weaves in other love stories, past and present, as well.

Davi is a far better story teller than I so I'm anxiously awaiting her words to add to this.

It was recommended by our new friend, Kari, who "couldn't put it down." Davi had the very same reaction.

I, on the other hand, could, but I'm glad Davi urged me on. It's truly a masterpiece novel.

From friend to friend!

This was recommended and actually sent to me by Sherry. She's the most well-read person I know on the latest techniques and literature for well-being, both physical and mental. I've long been a fan of Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now, where he teaches you to turn off that negative tape that keeps running in your head and live in this very moment. Momfullness, plays that same theme, only with relation to how we mother our children, our selves, our oh so important friends, and our community.

I rarely take the time to type out segments of books, but the final pages of Momfulness are too good not to share.

As my children have grown and have begun to leave home, I've come to believe that the Angels' Promise (if you fall asleep before finishing our prayers, the angels will finish them for you) holds true for mothers as well. Our part is to begin the work with our children. In the end, that's all we can do. Then we must let go, say a prayer, and trust the universe - and all the angels- to hold them.

Mothering is a vocation that stretches us and that helps us find that which is most wise and loving and generous within us. Day by day, we deepen our practice of Momfulness by being more preset, attentive , compassionate, embodied, in touch with the sacred, and committed to community. As we open to the immense and maternal love at the heart of the universe, we discover that all of life becomes a meditation that transforms us, our families, and our world.

Let us keep reminding each other to breathe, to smile, to treat ourselves and one another with kindness. Let us hold each other when we need support, and let us challenge and remind each other of what is truly important. Let us take care of ourselves so that we don't hand down our unfinished business to the next generation Let us laugh together, and never lose our joy.

And let us take care of the children - our children, all the children. Let us mobilize our fierce and passionate mother energy on behalf of all beings on this little blue-green planet we call Mother Earth.

In closing, I offer this blessing:

May we be fully present, here and now, aware of the gift of each moment.

May we pay attention with kindness to what is happening within us and within our children.

May our hearts open wide with compassion for ourselves, our children and our world.

May we live fully in our bodies as we bless our families each day.

May we open to the great love and grace that holds us all.  

May we care for each other and for the earth as we draw wide the circle of our family.

May we all find peace.

May we all be well.

remember my zentangles post?

well here's a company that does very cool zentangley rubber stamps:
eragraphics

here a few images that i love:










found them through an ad in cloth paper scissors, a magazine to stir up anyone's creative juices!
clothpaperscissors

It's been a while since I've visited the oh so creative bakerella

Look what's she's done to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street


You can find the directions here:
Bakerella

Vote for CCI!

Kyle Orent

I've followed Kyle's successful fund raising events for CCI for many years and loved being able to see him on TV this morning.

What a charming, giving, industrious young man!

From today's Magnificat

The Lord Himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still (Ex 14:14)

Another well kept secret - how well these guys sing!

No. County's Best Kept Secret

I'm am completely blown away by the fact that there's been a phenomenal quilt store in Encinitas for two whole years and I didn't know about it!
Here are some photos of Sleepy Night Hollow, located at the corner of Leucadia Blvd. and Saxony. It's a house, set back from the street, but once you pass through the screen door hold onto your hat - room after room of gorgeous quilts, fabrics, decor...

The best part of it is, I didn't spend my usual fortune, just because I don't have to stock up

on goodies; I can go back anytime.   Yea!!!!

Bless Rita Cooper for finding this local treasure.

America spreads her joy

Miss America and friends at the mall

It's such an impressive sight seeing so many beautifully behaved pups walking the mall.

Five ***** for South of Broad

I absolutely loved this book. It's one I could read over and over.
His imagery with words takes my breath away.
Laugh and cry - doesn't get any better than that!

Some favorite lines:
entering a room at a country club where he knows he's not wanted, "I feel like a booger on a kleenex."
During a tough football workout, Leo's teammate, Ike, the Coach's black son is punished for calling Leo a forbidden name,
Leo takes his part, "When my cocaptain runs, I run."
Describing a time when the mass was said in Latin and the only part spoken in English was the priest's homilies,
When it came to their homilies, there was nothing living that a Catholic priest could not put to sleep."

America had a busy Halloween

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Davielle, the artist

I'm so proud of Davi.
PrincessMagpie
She's become a true artist.
This was "just a little something I put together" with 'stuff' from Lisa Bebi,
Pimpmyspleen
a local, oft-published artist.

Davi's creativity is inspiring!