I put on wake up clothes to walk Blue on our usual route through the park. Now the dog and I are home and my youngest son is awake early (because today is not a school day). I suspect my teenage boy stayed up late reading to finish the last 100 pages of his book. I’m going to put my pjs back on, add my cozy robe in the lightest shade of blue, and have breakfast next. Happy Saturday to you!
September 14, 2013
I just got caught daydreaming in the pen aisle of the office supply store while back to school shopping. It’s A Big Decision after all, with a lot of different types of pens to choose from. Either I really looked like I needed help, or the nice employee just wanted to tell me he liked my hula cat shirt with the front and back design, and chit chat about cats, dogs and pets for awhile. For now I’m calling it, “done enough” and heading home where my family, pets included, await. Aloha. =^.^=
August 15, 2013
2. push yourself to fall asleep earlier – start with 11pm, then 10pm, then 9pm. wake up in the morning feeling re-energized and comfortable.
3. erase processed food from your diet. start with no lollies, chips, biscuits, then erase pasta, rice, cereal, then bread. use the rule that if a child couldn’t identify what was in it, you don’t eat it.
4. get into the habit of cooking yourself a beautiful breakfast. fry tomatoes and mushrooms in real butter and garlic, fry an egg, slice up a fresh avocado and squirt way too much lemon on it. sit and eat it and do nothing else.
5. stretch. start by reaching for the sky as hard as you can, then trying to touch your toes. roll your head. stretch your fingers. stretch everything.
6. buy a 1L water bottle. start with pushing yourself to drink the whole thing in a day, then try drinking it twice.
7. buy a beautiful diary and a beautiful black pen. write down everything you do, including dinner dates, appointments, assignments, coffees, what you need to do that day. no detail is too small.
8. strip your bed of your sheets and empty your underwear draw into the washing machine. put a massive scoop of scented fabric softener in there and wash. make your bed in full.
9. organise your room. fold all your clothes (and bag what you don’t want), clean your mirror, your laptop, vacuum the floor. light a beautiful candle.
10. have a luxurious shower with your favourite music playing. wash your hair, scrub your body, brush your teeth. lather your whole body in moisturiser, get familiar with the part between your toes, your inner thighs, the back of your neck.
11. push yourself to go for a walk. take your headphones, go to the beach and walk. smile at strangers walking the other way and be surprised how many smile back. bring your dog and observe the dog’s behaviour. realise you can learn from your dog.
12. message old friends with personal jokes. reminisce. suggest a catch up soon, even if you don’t follow through. push yourself to follow through.
14. think long and hard about what interests you. crime? sex? boarding school? long-forgotten romance etiquette? find a book about it and read it. there is a book about literally everything.
15. become the person you would ideally fall in love with. let cars merge into your lane when driving. pay double for parking tickets and leave a second one in the machine. stick your tongue out at babies. compliment people on their cute clothes. challenge yourself to not ridicule anyone for a whole day. then two. then a week. walk with a straight posture. look people in the eye. ask people about their story. talk to acquaintances so they become friends.
16. lie in the sunshine. daydream about the life you would lead if failure wasn’t a thing. open your eyes. take small steps to make it happen for you.
Sixteen Small Steps to Happiness (via asdfghjkllove)
I just emailed this post to my sister with the subject line, “I loved this and think you will too.” Best of all, I am already doing some of these things, making it feel less daunting to do a few more. ~Janean
I just woke up Snuggles, the sleeping cat, because I need to relocate her to her safe spot on the top floor of the house before picking Blue up from boarding in 10 minutes and counting. It’s been fun having her on the main floor with us again since our return yesterday. If only the fuzzballs could get along… Since they can’t, my cat relocation program will somewhat reduce the commotion once Blue walks in the door. Then we’ll all be home. =^.^=
August 13, 2013
“daybreak”
August 2, 2013
sometime before 6:00am
walking Blue dog
in Clearwater
good morning
and happy Friday
“sunrise o’er the park”
July 23, 2013
doggone dog I love
woofed before 5:30am today
he hasn’t done that for awhile
he’s learned to sleep in, my Blue
today he barked and fussed a bit
to let me know he really meant it
up and at ‘em
put summer clothes on
enough to hit the sidewalk
and be decent
we set off for the park
on our usual morning route
I quickly realized
the beauty of his timing
for Blue knew
it was a special morning
the moon so full and luminous
glowing o’er our heads last night
twas even more lovely
in the early morning light
with pale blue sky
behind the glowing sphere
wisps of pink clouds surrounding
to keep her from feeling bare, exposed
she shows her lovely luminescence
as a new day dawns
a morning moon lit the sky before us
as the sun rose to our backs
Blue and I kept moving forward
looping through the park
circling back toward home
always
home
July 23, 2013
This morning, while on the sidewalk with Blue sometime before 6:00am, a neighbor greeted me first and then added, “That sure is a good looking dog.”
Made me grin and reply, “We love him.” Then the kindly, silver haired neighbor getting his newspaper said, “It shows. You walk him all the time.”
I looked at Blue and replied, “We walk our legs off.” Stated while keeping our forward momentum toward the park on our daily jaunt.
July 9, 2013
The peace rose planted by my front door has one bloom and sixteen buds. SIXTEEN! I can’t quite believe it! I chose this rose bush the first spring we lived here, way back in 2002, because the house I grew up in had a peace rose planted there. At my childhood home there were roses in an array of colors planted to the left of the front walk: red, coral, white, yellow, even a blue rose (really lavender), and peace. It was this peace rose, and its amazing beauty that comes in varying shades of yellow with white edges and a hint of pink blush, that was the only rose my dad commented on every time it bloomed.
“To shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
—Luke 1:79
Before walking Blue this morning, I read this passage of scripture along with a devotion dated July 7. I loved the whole message, but my favorite part was the reference to a “path of peace.” Upon our return home, the dog and me, I photographed the peace rose bush planted to the left of the front walk at the house where I’m the mom. Then I stepped upon the butterfly adorned welcome mat that my sister insisted upon and walked through the front door into home. I’m always thankful for found moments of quiet, calm and peace, since with two growing up fast boys there are many times that noise, chaos and commotion reign. I love those zany times too. I do!
July 9, 2013
Blue and I are the only ones awake here
Those Wild Boys are going to sleep in
I’m sure of it
Garbage and recycle are on the curb
Summer rain started lightly falling when we were three houses away from home after walking through the park
Coffee and breakfast next
Good morning
6:19 a.m.
July 8, 2013
Turquoise Tangles 