January is done...but not the service challenge

The month of January has flown by and what I have learned about myself is that I need an enormous amount of work....Forget about my need for exercise, body part relocation and thinking before I speak. I am talking about my superficial acceptance of the January "SERVICE" challenge.It's like the Mother-in -law vacum. The vacuming you do just before the MIL arrives so she can see the vacum marks on the rug.I diligently attempted to provide daily, some helping service to someone other than myself and the dog, choosing the task that best fit into MY day. Hmmm,that's where the plan fell apart and needs a redo. The giving part of service often entails providing when the other person has a need....a novel idea!I hope to implement that concept throughout February and see how that goes.What I have learned is to start....and to start small. It doesn't need to look like a plane full of medical supplies.....

We bless the life around us far more than we realize. Many simple, ordinary
things that we do can affect those around us in profound ways: the unexpected
phone call, the brief touch, the willingness to listen generously, the warm smile
or wink of recognition. All it may take to restore some one's trust in life may be
returning a lost earring or a dropped glove.
So back to the drawing board...Are you in?

Leonard...You're My Man, Man!

Yes I am going to GUSH about Leonard once again. Please go to this site and listen to Q's Jian Gomeshe interview with Mr. Cohen (click on podcast in the Friday interview column) love listening to the voice of this honest, humble, lovely man . OH! and the clicking sound you hear is his prayer beads.

My new Reason For Living

The Keurig Milk Frother.......TA....DA!!!


OMG....this is so yum...Baily's....Eggnog....vanilla bean cream.....ahhhhhhh....

This is all you need to be happy.....to get to happy....so Buddhist....

Ahhh so shiny

 

As we speak, my girl is getting the gift of Titanium.

A day at the Grand

The view from the Dinning room was spectacular and the Brunch was delish....I so love brunch. If ever I have to choose my last meal....let it be Brunch.



Then it was time for baby to come home to mama.....and baby did just that!

Blau, Blau, Blau...this the one I've got.....

So heres the thing....

She had to use the facilities @ 2:30 AM and I was so sound asleep when she came to breath in my face....I let her out and went back to bed. YES, Yes, everyone gets it but me. She had an outdoor sleepover.....get over it! In my defence very black dog....very dark nite. She is still shivering....

Women and their friends

Spent a lovely lunch with 4 woman friends.....best afternoon and it brought to mind this poem by Maya Angelou and the wonder and joy of being a woman with friends.

WHAT A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE

Enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own even if she never wants
to or needs to...

Something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her
dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A youth she's content to leave behind....

A past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....

A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black
lace bra...

One friend who always makes her laugh... and one who
lets her cry...

A good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone
else in her family...

Eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a
recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored...

A feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

How to fall in love without losing herself..

How to quit a job
Break up with a lover,
And confront a friend without ruining the friendship.

when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

That she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

That her childhood may not have been perfect...but its
over...

What she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

How to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't
take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...

Missing in action

I am missing my favorite car bag.....have you seen it?......Lost without seeing it, using it....loving it.

Love This .....Boyzone and the late Stephen Gately

AHA!!!

 

This painting is going to be the spark that creates the palette for my bedroom redo. The walls are a lovely cafe-au-lait.I want blue, gold, bits of sea foam, but mainly blues and golds on the wall. I'm thinking 4 large watercolors across the head of the bed and nite tables and this on the long wall. Can you see it?

And the Award goes to.......

Thanks Lorraine for taking us all out for dinner on your first Pension check. Does that mean some of us are found lacking in the spirit of generosity? You have won the Service award for the week.

Wandering Beam

 

Just wrapped up this picture for Katya and sent it by Priority Post.Originally a childrens story I painted about Little Wandering Beam who sleeps in a cloud cocoon, surrounded by stars. A story told by his grandma as Wandering Beam drifted off to sleep, safe in the arms of her special angel, Coco.

Mid January in the Okanagan

Beautifull sunny morning
....7 degrees C
Green Mountain Lake and Lodge Brew on tap
.....sigh....life is good

Haitie...Can't imagine the heartbreak

Impossible to get past the CNN images of the devastation. Enter contest here and a donation will be made by Ree {Pioneer Woman}.

OMG! Listen and be surprised

No Fear work begins....The January Goal

The year of No Fear will hold 12 Challenges.The Challenge for January is Service and It's value and importance is best summed up in this quote by Albert Schweitzer
"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."

He must know me because his elaboration of why service to man is so difficult definitely resonates within my cold clammy palms.

"From a feeling of embarrassment, we hesitate to approach a stranger. The fear of being repulsed is the cause of a great deal of coldness in the world; when we seem indifferent we are often merely timid. The adventurous (read fearless)soul must break that barrier, resolving in advance not to mind a rebuff. If we dare with wisdom, always maintaining a certain reserve in our approach, we find that when we open ourselves we open doors in others.....Here goes.....No Fear me.......

2010 WORD POST

You say the hill's too steep to climb,
Climb it!
You say you'd like to see me try,
Climb it!
You pick the place and I'll choose the time And I'll climb
The hill in my own way
just wait a while, for the right day
And as I rise above the treeline and the clouds
I look down hear the sound of the things you said today
Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd, smiling
Emotionless the magistrate turns 'round, frowning
and who's the fool who wears the crown
Go down in your own way
And everyday is the right day
And as you rise above the fearlines in the frown
You look down
Hear the sound of the faces in the crowd.....Pink Floyd



KNOW FEAR...NO FEAR ...My word for 2010

Happy Anniversary

From the time I was old enough to remember, my dad would sing this to my mother and they would dance across the kitchen floor. Today while reading and listening to the Nostalgia audio channel this played and I had a flashback to those days and suddenly remembered this was their Anniversary date.Sixty years and I hope they having this dance in heaven tonite. Damn song still makes me teary!

Happy New Year....best of 2010 so far....

Come on.....Dance with me......you know you wanna....

Happy Birthday