Weekly Photo Challenge – Selfie

And don’t think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter.  It’s quiet, but the roots are down there riotous. ~ Rumi

 

I’ve not participated in  Weekly Photo Challenges before this one, but I thought I’d stretch a little.  I’m typically very Selfie challenged, but I called on my friendly neighbourhood trees to give me a hand (and a place to hide) .

I’m tired of winter.  The cold is taking its toll, yes.  I can relate to Rumi’s image of a major party going on under the frozen ground.  I’m pretty sure we’re all invited!

Let’s Go Postal (The Letter’s in the Mail, Man!)

Interactive part one:  Who has received a letter in the mail (raise hands)?  I mean a personal letter, not a bill, or admail, or current resident/occupant promotion.

Interactive part 2:  How did you feel?  Think for a minute. You’ve taken your key to the super box and the weather is yuck – snowing and blowing the Arctic/Polar Vortex is in full force.  Or maybe you heard the letters slip through the mail slot in your door and land in a gentle phish onto the floor.  Perhaps you slip your gloved hand into the receptacle on your verandah on your way home from work and your bag of groceries that you picked up is a little awkward and it falls a bit (phewf though, the bananas didn’t fall out) while you glean whatever is there.  Flyers, junk mail.  You remind yourself (again) to put the sticker on the mail box saying NO junk mail or flyers.  But then, you catch a glimpse of an envelope that has been handwritten, with your name.  And a regular postage stamp – a self-sticking one now, but not from a postal machine.  Now what?  Glee!  Delight!  Whoa!  A letter!  Suddenly the trip to the mail box is the best thing since the IKEA/Sears Christmas catalogue came out last fall!  What the … ?  Check the return address and you feel the grin, don’t you?  It’s sublime.  It’s wonderful.  It’s make a pot of tea and savour it wonderful.  Or toss the rest of the junk on the floor by the wet boots and tear that sucker open and devour it.

14 Ways to Make ’14 Brilliant

So many resolutions, so little time!

When I was ten years old (or so), one of my siblings asked, “What’s a revolution?”  I answered quickly, “A New Year’s Revolution!”  There was much guffawing and the exchange has lived on in my family for a few decades.  Of course, I was not quite right, but in the spirit of that innocent remark, I give you my (not too)  revolutionary list to create the best year ever.

14 ways to make ’14 brilliant

1. Leave a bit of thread in your needle.
2. Sing.  Even if you don’t think you can.  Even if someone is around, because singing helps you …
3. Breathe!  Breathing brings us the most fundamental nourishment for our bodies (no breath, no life!)
4. Laugh a lot and cry as needed.
5. Connect with a friend every day.
6. Take your shoes off at the door.
7. Read or listen to the news BUT NOT just before you go to bed.
8. Play Solitaire with a real deck of cards.
9. Go outside and play.
10. Smile at yourself in the mirror as much as possible.
11. Unplug for at least 2 hours each day and especially when visiting, snuggling, or eating.
12. Love more (yes, that means your Self too!).
13. Raise your arms above your head and shake them wildly for at least 30 seconds each day.
14. Do something that you really love to do: imperfect action trumps perfect inaction.

Ta dah!  Easy breezy – what would you add?

Bye Bye 2013, with gratitude and love xo

In the spirit of saying goodbye and thanks to 2013 and in preparation for 2014, I give you, the first annual

Honey Drip Awards of Sweetness.

Criteria:  Really extra-ordinarily simple

1. Direct experience – I had to be involved somehow
2. Indirect experience – I had to feel something about it
3. Random input – I feel like including it because it deserves to be mentioned.

Points/Rating System*:  Again, I like to keep things simple, so each entry (submitted by me) will have been judged by a panel (consisting of me and my feelings) and awarded points (arbitrarily assigned by me) based on three things:  1.  How did I like it?  2.  How did I feel about it?  3.  Lasting impact i.e. I’m still feeling it a) not at all; b) somewhat; c) sort of a little; d) someLOTS

*Fine print about the PRS:  I use the totally scientific method of taking really big numbers and input them into a fake algorithm quantum physics gut feeling simulator resulting in an impressively incomprehensible calculation that I translate into honey drips.  The stickier the honey drip, the higher the likelihood of winning in a particular category. 

Categories:

This was a wee bit of a challenge, because I wasn’t sure how to organise them all so I’ve kept it simple (running theme):

Things I Read; Things I saw; Things I listened to; Things I did that Stretched Me; Places I Went; Things I Want to Include

So, without further ado, on this December 31^st, the last day of 2013, I give you with much fanfare and with great joy, the much anticipated Honey Drip Awards of Sweetness

Cold Night, Warm Heart

I picked up a present for my Secret Santa person today (I can’t say what it is in case she’s reading this post and although she won’t know I’m “it”, she’ll know this present and wish I was her Secret Santa and if I’m not, she’ll be disappointed that she doesn’t get this very cool present!).

The path along my walk home.

Walking home in the frigid evening, watching all the rush hour traffic along Memorial Drive, I felt a wee bit giddy at the idea of wrapping this little gift.  Everyone loves one of these.  I got my first one in my stocking years ago as a kid living out in the country.  It’s one of the easiest toys to play with.  I felt warm and cosy in spite of the cold darkness.  Treasured traditions that make me love this time of year filled my heart and head, and grins washed over me.  The shopping in secret.  Hiding presents, like the black patent leather shoes hidden in the window sill on the stairs landing.  Making a little deposit for a family ring for my mom.  And sharing with great enthusiasm with my sisters and brothers.  BAKING!  And sneaking some of the cookies out of the deep freeze (not me though!).