Magic Carpet Ride

so inspiring.....

2010-03-22T22:47:00.001-07:00

Learning from DOGS

2010-02-26T13:34:00.000-08:00

I ran across this little posting in the March 2010 issue of cesar's way and thought that it was just perfect...an absolute reflection of my view of life:

What we can learn from dogs
{posted by Bob Sheiffer on the CBS website}

Always run to greet loved ones when they come home.

Never pass the opportunity to go for a joy ride.

Recognize the ecstasy of fresh air and wind in your face.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp and play daily.

Thrive on attention & let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, lie on your back in the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and find the shade.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Enjoy long walks.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want is buried, dig deep until you find it.

And, when someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

We'd be better off, better people . . . if we acted more like dogs. {agreed}

my morning inspiration~

2010-01-12T07:48:00.000-08:00

thank you for sharing *alabama chanin*

i {heart} pillows!

2010-01-07T16:23:00.000-08:00

found @ flutterclutter

INCENSE {ritualsmysterylore}

2010-01-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

I found this little treasure of a fantastic book*by Gina Hyams*on some site {i honestly have no idea where} and was intrigued. Seriously, is there that much to know about incense? YES, there is! I read the entire book in one sitting {if you are remotely familiar with my attention span - you would be in shock about now}. Please let me share my new found enthusiasm with you..... So first of all, I've had a love/hate relationship with incense most of my life. Growing up with a hippie momma, we burned a lot! I can remember little sticks poking out of all the plants in the house. Then there was this period in my pre-life {about 10ish years} that I attended the Catholic Church {no longer applies} and was again having the love/hate thing with incense. I kind of only liked the masses where they burned it. Mostly because I was amazed at the amount of people coughing their heads off {I mean, how could something so holy....cause such suffering?} and otherwise, I thought it made the church seem mystical. Now that I've just convinced myself why it is that I was drawn to this book, let me give my version of a book report.

*there are 2 kinds, combustible (has a burning aid) & non (needs charcoal/real fire) *there are artificial ingredients, and they are the culprits for the smoke induced headache, AND you can tell by the smell through the package if A.I. are inside....really strong*there is a global belief in it's divine powers, and prayers are believed to be carried to heaven in the smoke*each fragrance carries it's own vibrational quality and life force (synthetics do not) *the energies of the earth, wind, stars, moonlight and sunshine are released when natural plant materials are burned*

***the word "inspiration" means "breathe in"***

This book has charts for choosing your scent, resources of where to purchase natural incenses, prayers (Taoist, Zen Buddhist and Zuni), a recipe for a version of the intoxicating Kyphi (developed by the high priests of Egypt during secret, chant-filled temple ceremonies) incense, a Big Sky Meditation (this is going to happen on top of Grandfather Mountain), a morning calm ritual.....

When Napoleon was away at war he would burn his wife's favorite incense before her portrait so he could feel her near....how sweet is that!

Yemen women {even today} are covered head to toe, all you can see are eyes. Yet....in the words of the author, "the fragrant cloud that follows them is one of the most alluring and sensual things in the world".

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96 pages, front to back....I highly, highly recommend this book.

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Cheers to you Gina Hyams...you throw down a great little book!!!!

peace.love.harmony.

botanical butterfly

2010-01-06T11:08:00.000-08:00

just a peek at what is to come......images via horchow

Botanical Butterfly is kicking it up a notch this spring!
As a celebration marking 3 beautiful seasons I am setting forth the 'intention' of adding to our lives with an incredible season of NEW!

Reflecting spirit & vision with soul & earth as one!
{ok, YES..I'm excited about this}
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peace.love.light.

6 days into a magical year...

2010-01-06T08:45:00.000-08:00

I can't even believe what a wonderful holiday season just flew past! Whew!!!

My theme for this grand new year is:::

intentions + love + harmony + union + focus + concentration + imagination

I've given these words much thought and decided that just about anything life tosses your way can be summed up in them. For example ~

intentions ~ once you make your mind up, you loose any self doubt and self trust issues that kept you back. I know this because I spent three years trying HARD to loose my fear of heights so my husband and I could enjoy all the beautiful places that he takes me without spending hours shaking and in tears. I woke up one day, announced to myself that this was the day we were going to go high and not be afraid! IT WORKED! Not just worked, but like a charm! My intention was to transform the fear into the love that surrounded me in nature and feel all the universe as it comforted me.

love ~ love the things you fear. Send out love to those who rub you the wrong way, you will quickly see them in a new light....a light that helps you love and understand them as the person they are, not the person they are to you. Love nature. Love yourself. Turn your fears into LOVE!

harmony ~ not everything is positive, but when you can balance the negative with the positive, harmony comes shining through. I find this word helps me in situations I would rather not be in by turning my focus to the present....find the flow of the situation, study it and feel what's there for you.

union ~ union of the soul, union of your life and your soul mates life, union in nature. We are all bound together here on this one earth.

focus ~ ahhh, a tough one for me. I am finding however, that focus means more than your attention. It means really grasping every little thing about whatever situation you are presently in. Focus on the NOW, what is happening right NOW. This one works well with HARMONY and LOVE. Does take a bit of practice to stay in the moment!

concentration ~ I am using this word to follow through with what is important to me, my husband, our life together and where it will take us. Concentrating on the big picture. What do we need to do to get to where we want be? Again, this one is much the friend of FOCUS and INTENTIONS and UNION and of all LOVE.

imagination ~ I just have to keep this guy under constant watch and in reality with all of the above! Staying real!
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I trust my inner being to lead me on the right path.
I am committed to what I truly desire.
I now create inner peace and transformation.
I trust the universe and know that it works perfectly!

happy new year's eve!

2009-12-31T08:56:00.000-08:00

as i await the midnight hour, thoughts of

intention + love + harmony + union + focus + concentration + imagination

fill my head. this year i am closing doors and putting to rest old habits of negativity, fear, and doubt. i fully embrace this coming new year with my mind set that this is the one ::: the magical year of transmutation! love. light. peace. calm. courage....may these things be a part of your mindset for creating the life you want in 2010!

breathe in the power of the universe.
breathe out the power of the universe.

breathe in the love of the divine.
breathe out the love of the divine.

breathe in the light of the Absolute.
breathe out the light of the Absolute.

as you inspire the power, love, and light of the universe, you exhale sharing love and light with all living beings. as you breathe, experience yourself expanding into the eternal light of all life. you are not a seperate entity, you are one with all that is.

~ sandra ingerman, medicine for earth

love LOVE love & more loVe

2009-12-24T08:35:00.001-08:00

my perfect someone to share my whole life, heart & soul
happy first anniversary to the best husband & best friend in the WORLD
i love you

⸛preparations⸛

2009-12-19T08:21:00.000-08:00

december 21
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BLUE MOON
how exciting to end the last day of the year with a big ol' blue moon!
{sooOOOOo much to think about in preparation}
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I am just finishing up 'Inner Beauty', by Reenita Malhotra Hora

ayur - life ::: veda - knowledge

considered to be the 'science of life'

ojas ~ the life force that is the source of inner beauty.
prakruti ~ mind/body constitution.

I am Vada.
free spirited. in motion. creative. spiritual.
air & space.

ubtan body scrub ~ after {massage}
.all doshas.
1 cup gram flour ~ chana besan
1/2 tsp. turmeric * 2 tbsp. ground mustard * 2 tbsp. crushed fresh coriander leaves*
3 tbsp. rose water
leave on for 10-15 minutes. rinse. follow with abhyanga oil.
vata ~ combine with 1/2 - 2/3 cup ghee.
pita ~ combine with 1/2 cuporange juice & 1/2 cup water.

{embrace love & light}
{set your intentions}

~ 2010 ~
dream into being the world you want to live in.
don't say anything to another person unless it will create beauty in their life.
growth. healing. light. magic.

"abracadabra" ~ Aramaic: 'abraq-ad-habra'. "I will create as I speak."
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love

deck the halls, walls, ceiling & floor...

2009-12-10T11:24:00.000-08:00

I'm not so much on the fur skin rug, but besides that I love the colors, the clutter, the layers, the fullness. Collections like these are inspirations of a true bohemian~gypsy inner/outward presence. I have such an appreciation for {such} wonderful 'things', many that I find on the curb.

I've been meaning to repaint an old chest...I think I'll go with this green shade. Oh, and how I love the built in bunny den!!! I know three little rascals that could use a piece like this!

I love the idea of using a spare room for your dressing room....I mean LOOK at that! It's incredible! And don't you just want to crawl into that bed and curl away with a stack of books! {all of these wonderful images are from livingetc.com}

:My new stack of books:

Spiritual Nutrition.Gabriel Cousens, MD.
The Medicine Wheel Garden. E.Barrie Kavasch
Spirits of the Earth. Bobby Lake-Thom

*

~Merry Yule Body Butter~

1/4 cup grated cocoa butter
2 tablespoons light sesame oil
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 tablespoon grated beeswax

melt the oils & butter in a water bath
enjoy

*
peace

paper. once, twice, 3,4,5 times maybe.

2009-12-07T07:40:00.000-08:00

{reading material}

{newspaper yarn}

{tiny paper buildings ~ sweet story}

upcycled..recycled..what the heck is the difference???

{I asked word spy, and this what she told me.}

upcycled ~ a process that takes used or *already* recycled materials and creates a new product with a higher quality or value than the original materials.

recycled ~ current recycling is actually what we call downcycling—reducing the quality of a material over several lifecycles until it is no longer useful.

♲ ...notice how after you look at either word long enough they really look funny and incorrect.

after making the catalog trees, i was inspired to continue my paper 'cycling' activities. i quickly found these beautiful examples!

each photo is linked to the original site ~ just click!

{paper city}

:::what else:::

a few books.
Vastu in 10 Simple Lessons. Bilkis Whelan
Life Magic. Susan Bowes
Daily OM. Madisyn Taylor

pandora station.
Boozoo Bajou

thought.
embark upon the journey. peace.

foolin' around

2009-12-05T12:25:00.000-08:00

ⓛⓘⓕⓔ is sooOOO wonderful....

❀

home fries II

2009-12-05T09:15:00.000-08:00

the sweetest little bunny in the world!

upcycled catalog trees....this particular tree was made from a paper bulb catalog.
i thought the colors were cool!
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3 of the 4 i made last night.

the last few days have been completely filled with good food, old friends and fun crafts!

this one was really thick!

my first "green" smoothie ~ it was soooOOO yummy! blueberries, raspberries, mango, pineapple, spinach and water.

i love to bust out my needle-felting while we hang out in bed and catch up on our shows. i made this one for my hubby because he is so sweet and tolerates a house full of bunnies!

*i am sO inspired right now!*

{once upon a time...i blogged randomly:::like this}

* Edward Lorenz had a theory that every flap of a bird or butterfly's wing could alter wind patterns around the globe.
* ecology teaches us that everything is connected, every single thing we do has a ripple.
~*~
green elements~sun & moon, sky & earth, flowers & herbs.

peace

my day in the sun ~☼~

2009-12-03T17:58:00.000-08:00

{lOve}

{peaCe}

{mmm...}

{brave*heart}

what a glorious day! i've waited a long time for this moment.....

dear {great spirit} {mother earth},
you are inside of me, within my very breath,
within each little bird and each mighty mountain.
your sweet touch reaches everything
and i am well protected.

thank you {great spirit} {mother earth}
for this beautiful day before me.
may joy, love, peace and compassion be part of my life
and all those around me on this day.
i am healing and i am healed.

love
✌

11 days old ❤

2009-11-10T11:49:00.001-08:00

one little eye peeked today! {top left} and they are eating hay!

Ava Petals {momma} is just a joy!
She just hangs out on her own, joining us in the kitchen sometimes.

Bella Lu is doing her best with the babies! She frets over them more than Ava!!!

❀ life is so good ❀

beauty in life ~•☼•~

2009-11-10T10:29:00.000-08:00

what a beautiful video from an amazing blogger ::: tea time traveller

Backyard Beekeeper Nao Sims from Jaime Kowal on Vimeo.

california dreamin'

2009-11-09T15:24:00.000-08:00

it's gray and cooling outside, sniffles inside...but OH...oh...OH.....
the memories of Venice Beach!!!
summer 2009

these last few days have really felt like Cali kind of weather. It's almost Thanksgiving and it's been in the upper 70's {even hot a day or two}.

speaking of thanksgiving.......

Grandfather Great Spirit

All over the world the faces
of living ones are alike.

With tenderness they have
come up out of the ground.

Look upon your children
that they may face the winds
And walk the good road to the Day of Quiet.

Grandfather Great Spirit
Fill us with the Light.
Give us the strength to understand,
And the eyes to see.

Teach us to walk the soft Earth
as relatives to all that live.

firstpeople.us

~•☼•~peace~•☼•~

sudsy...sudsy ☮

2009-11-07T07:11:00.000-08:00

:::behold:::
enchanted empowerment soap
thyme, rosemary, lavender {all organic & from our garden} ~ rose petals {from my favorite garden} & cedar {from our backyard} ~ a splash of olive oil for good measures...

a whole Irish oatmeal bottom on each bar

very much a craft I will be doing again! so many more ideas : tomato leaves, moss, bramble berries, honey .... once you get the hang of it~the possibilities are endless!

❀ devouring the solar food dyer ~ by eden fodor
✼ rooting rose cuttings ☺ hopefully order tomato and pepper seeds!!!!!!
❃ maybe hang our Spanish balconies

{ all while making a full recovery from this dreaded cold }

love....

2009-11-03T12:44:00.000-08:00

I made this one for my sweet hubby..... 'sunday morning @ home'

Wander Girl

i LOVE love love making photo collages !!!
{sooooo many more}

.....off to go try my hand at making homemade soap! fingers crossed!!!

peace & love

I just blinked.....

2009-11-02T06:39:00.001-08:00

morning reflection ~ MY BABY IS 18 TODAY!!! holy cow!
such a fun day around the city!

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!!!!!

☽ halloween babies ☾

2009-11-01T07:06:00.000-08:00

momma ava out for some "me time"

they each have perfect little cow-licks on top of their head...like little mohawks!

they are about 3 inches long right now....

what a sweet little gift on my favorite of all holidays!

grand~pappy was a coal-miner (pt.2)

2009-10-31T07:25:00.000-07:00

{isurfhopkinsco.com}

ran across this article on 'one' of the coal companies my grandfather worked in...

DAWSON DAYLIGHT COAL COMPANY

In 1920, K U Megurie and Karl Jungbluth of Louisville leased coal rights from Fred Beshear and C B Hall and formed the Dawson Daylight Coal Company. They hired W J Borries, mining engineer, to come to Hopkins County and survey the area in 1921.

The company began stripping operations in 1923.⁵ This stripping was conducted in the Kentucky number 4 coalbed, incorrectly correlated as the Kentucky number 6. This author has a copy of the map prepared by W J Borries before mining began and a copy of a map prepared by Mr Borries in 1934, which shows the stripping areas were in the number 4 coalbed.

Author’s photo, Bucyrus 225-B being erected

Information on equipment was not available but an examination of photographs indicates that a Bucyrus 225-B steam shovel may have been used to remove the overburden. This machine had an 80-foot boom with a 6 cubic-yard bucket and could handle up to 40 feet of overburden.

Author’s photo, Pit scene showing Bucyrus 225-B at work

The company also had several small underground mines that started producing coal in 1925 so it was impossible to separate the tonnage mined. However, in 1924 the Daylight Mine produced 66,682 tons of coal with 51 miners working 96 days.

Author’s photo, Daylight’s first tipple (wood-1920s)

The Daylight Mine was located on Lick Creek just north of Charleston and east of KY 109. The stripping operation closed in 1928.

Junk GYpsies

2009-10-14T16:09:00.000-07:00

Oh...I am sooooo making this this winter!!!
photo from junk gypsy

The OC Allotment | Olivia Broadfield & Cassie Leedham

2009-10-03T07:20:00.000-07:00

I can't get enough of these gals! They are so fun and inspiring!