weekend shots

Well... at least somebody has time to nap around here!

what i'm thinking about

Scary title I know.  Even scarier that I don't work for Martha Stewart and I am dreaming of my 2014 Christmas tree.  I think they begin Christmas decorating on January 1st.  It isn't odd at all for me to be in the Christmas spirit in June or July.  My friend and ex-coworker Jennifer used to just roll her eyes at me when I would waltz into work singing Jingle Bells in June.  My tree decor has been on my mind since I took down my last tree I must admit.  My 2013 tree housed a blue million beaded snowflakes that I made last year that were beautiful!  The snowflakes were a breeze to make.  I think I started them in October and had about fifty by Christmas.  Since we've been in our home I have decorated the main tree (yes there are several) with something different each year.  It keeps me busy.

This year I am thinking handmade flowers.  There is an art to it you know, at least some of the ones I have seen are arty.  I have found several tutorials in the video and diy blog sense.  I even have a couple of books rented from the library.  The thing is is that I don't want to go out and buy a bunch of supplies to do this.  Last year I already had all of the beads and wire and didn't spend a dime although I guess I did at some point or other because I acquired them somehow.  On the other hand, tissue paper, crepe paper and a little florist tape can't be that bad.  So this is what I am thinking about... me... on the front porch church pew, with my feet up and frosty beverage on a hot July day, making paper flowers for my Christmas tree.  Sounds dreamy.  Here's a few spots of inspiration.  Surely these flowery folks won't get mad at the share.  You can click the pics to visit their sites.  This is gonna be fun!

A book I have from the library.

A lovely blog I have found!  I can see these tissue paper lights in pastels for my tree.

you're fired!

I've been thinking about firing my inner critic.  You know... the one who pipes in while I am innocently getting ready for the day by making rude comments about me.  To my knowledge, this critic has been there my whole life.  Some say it's name is Self Esteem.  Others might say self regard or self respect.  Most people that I know have this inner voice that says "well you look decent but those wrinkles are showing up more every day" or "what made you say that... that was a stupid thing to say" and "you are not seriously considering putting a bathing suit on are you?"  And sometimes you dwell on these silly things, or I do at least, and let them get me down and worry.  It is not a healthy self worth cycle to be on.  That's why I am firing my inner critic.  Not listening anymore.  I'm done.

 


As a matter of fact, this type thing came into play yesterday during my yoga class.  My wonderful instructor, Tracy, gives words of wisdom and thoughts to carry with us until our next session each class.  After our hour long practice, when we were all relaxed, with hearts open and hands centered, she said " I want you to thank your body for three things... three things about your body that you are thankful for".  My first one was my skin, which is a hard thing for me to be thankful for because of the way it looks and feels with my issues.  It actually made me tear up in a way I could hardly control.  I've never "thanked" my body for anything that I can recall.  I felt like my inner critic should be hollering "BUT WHAT ABOUT... BUT THIS... BUT THAT", but my critic was silent during this time and I simply expressed my great-fullness silently.  It felt good to appreciate myself and was as easy as saying "thank you".

This is a practice that I intend to carry with me, being thankful to my body for who and what it is, what is is capable of and does for me every day.  Hush up inner critic!   Nobody wants to hear your trashy bashing of my body and mind any more!

weekend adventures: defeated creek

What a relaxing and good time we had camping, for the second time in our Scotty, over the Memorial Day four day weekend.  We were at Defeated Creek campground in Carthage, Tennessee along with three other campers full of friends.  On Sunday afternoon, I called my friend and excitedly explained my afternoon of bike riding, swing set finding and Shaun, Brooke and I taking a bike ride to the marina for ice cream.  When my story was over I said "wow... that sounded like an eight year old's conversation".  It's Ok to act like a child and do things out of the norm.  Plus the swings had sand underneath them so I pretended I was on the beach.

My Dad made this sign for us.

Extra yummy ribs Shaun cooked for lunch on Saturday.  The meat, of course, from our pigs.

Table tennis anywhere you go!

Stevie's pre-war, 1936 bicycle.  Heavy and rides like a dream.