The Four Challenge #10

your way begins on the other side

become the sky

take an axe to the prison wall,

escape

walk out like someone

suddenly born into color

do it now.
~rumi ~

The picture was taken from my phone so it doesn't do the scene justice. It has been a cold dreary spring here in northern Maine. Today the sun came out, the clouds were fluffy and even the dandelions were beautiful.

Recipe for Joy

Begin with two adults in one household, add one teenage grandaughter and you have a recipe for joy. Her smile lights up our hearts and her presence our lives. Everything seems to change. Last night we ate at the kitchen table insead of in front of the nightly news. I made homemade pizza tonight instead of frozen. I love the quiet mornings with my phone unplugged so she can sleep in. There is cozy clutter everywhere and afternoons filled with games. I love guilt-free days of neglecting housework. Why did I think those things were so important when I was raising my kids? How many moms wish they could do things a bit differently? Oh, grandparenting is a great blessing. I love you sweet girl.

One Day

I know I am a day late with this post but it has been a busy weekend. Nevertheless one day is not enough to stop and remember those who have sacrificed for the freedom we enjoy to picnic and spend time with family on Memorial day weekend. Thank you to all Armed Forces and your families.

New York City Memories

A few years ago, my daughter, her daughter, and I flew to NYC for the weekend. We spent the weekend making memories. The above photo contains an album I filled with pictures of that time. Every now and then I take it out and relive the moments.
Look carefully in the left-hand corner at the tiny frame. My two favorite girls in the world are pictured in front of Starbucks. My daughter was in heaven, a Starbucks on every corner:)

What I loved about the city-

• the taxicabs
• the energy
• the Statue of Liberty
• the double decker bus tour
• the Olympic venue in Rockefeller plaza
• NBC Studios
• being there with my girls

We talked of returning to see a Broadway play or at Christmas time for all the decorated windows. Who knew how many changes life would bring in the meantime? Who knew I would be flying across the country to see my girls? Never take for granted the moments you have together, both large and small. Life can turn on a dime.

Sunshine/Color List #5

I finished this book and laid it on a shelf in my office. It has been a whole week and I still smile everytime I look at it. Obviously, Lady in the Palazzo has earned the final spot on my Sunshine/Color list. This is the third in a series of books written by Marlena de Blazi and my favorite. The Italian setting and culture draws the reader into the slower- paced life of its endearing and sometimes irritating cast of characters. Perhaps once again it is all about timing, but have I mentioned that I loved this book? :)

Sunshine/Color List #4

When we left home on Friday, it had been rainy and cold most of the week. we drove 3 hours to the city of Bangor. The sun was shining:) and continued to shine until we left Saturday night. it was a magical time; one of those trips when every step is bathed in favor. My spirits lifted considerably. I hadn't realized how down I had been. For two weeks I had been fighting health issues and discouragement, but the tide turned as we drove on country roads with the windows down enjoying the warm breeze. We were searching for a shop someone had told us about. Finding the shop was an added bonus to the joyous ride. It seemed like the whole community were out and about working on lawns etc enjoying the day.
Back in the city at lunchtime, we ate outside on this little terrace surrounded by color. this was definitely a Sunshine/Color Day.

Sunshine/Color List #3- Me

Tonight is my Self-Care online class with a friend. Last month we cancelled and it was tempting to do the same this month. I am tired, fighting allergies/cold headache, and want to go lay down. That was over an hour ago. The pic above was taken in the middle of our online class and as you can see i am glad I didn't cancel. This class is for me, even though it sometimes makes me say ouch. so Sunshine/Color #3 is putting Me on my list.

Sunshine/Color List #2- Piano, Piano

I loved this movie so much that I bought the book, which was much different from the movie. The restoration of the villa painfully crawled along, as did the book. Yet it intrigued me. One of the Italian phrases from the book has been whispering to me lately- piano, piano. In English it would mean slowly, slowly.
Several years later I am reading a series of books by Marlena de Blasi with the setting in Italy. The pace of life is in drastic contrast to ours in the U.S. as is the thought process. Reading about her life in Umbria brings a constant reminder to relax and let life craft its course, enjoying the journey. Thank you Italy for your words that found their way across the ocean to a little town in northern Maine- Piano, Piano.

Sunshine/Color List #1

I am challenged this morning by one of my favorite bloggers at "My Little Corner of the World." to find 5 ways to bring sunshine into my life this week. Then i read "Disrupted by Change" with her challenge to find color in her world. So here goes. Flowers are #1 on my Sunshine/Color list. I snapped this picture last week on a rainy day. The view is looking out my kitchen window. Raindrops are the backdrop to the flower and slips of plants in water, starting new life. One of my goals this week is to plant some seedlings, focusing on the days of sunshine ahead of me rather than this gloomy morning.

The Four Challenge- Pools of Blessing

Inside water, a waterwheel turns.A star circulates with the moon.
We live in the night ocean wondering,What are these lights?
~Rumi

This was the hardest challenge yet for me. The poetry is beautiful and the images on The Four are mystical. I've waited and pondered this week, "what will I do?" As I sat here this morning at my kitchen table watching the rain, the thought came to me to just start snapping a few pictures. Right outside of my door is the flowerbed I dug up last fall, to plant this spring. I had never done this before and it took a long time. Then the rains came and plummeted right down into my fresh soil, splashing black dirt onto my house and creating a dirty ditch. Winter followed and so did the rocks and gravel from plowing snow- right into my flowerbed.

I asked my husband this week if he could put up a gutter on the eaves. His reply, "Sure." But I know that tone. I'd love to, but I may not get around to it. (his heart is in the right place) So every time I looked at this spot, discouragement nipped at my heels.

Isn't it interesting how the valleys in our lives become pools of blessing if we will see with different eyes? My ditch became a mini- pond today. If you look closely, you can see the raindrop splashing from the eaves.

Water is a scarce commodity in many places in this world. Here I am with a crystal clear pool, right outside my door.Perhaps this is no ocean, but there is light in the depths of this pool for me.

A little prayer: Lord, help me to see that my valleys in life are preparing me to receive blessings of good things every day. They are right outside my door. :)