THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS FROM MY HEART TO YOURS

Hello again my friends. I've been away for awhile. Life had tapped me on my shoulder and demanded, as it sometimes does, that I stop and take care of little details which had sneakily piled up while I had been self-indulgently........uh.......well, I shall call it like it was....."lazy".

The view out of my bedroom window was so beautiful and the smells coming from my kitchen today moved me so that I decided I must share them with you. The season of Fall stirs me deeply within my soul, you see, and places such contentment in my heart.

The colors of the foilage......the scent of the earth's leaves & soil.....they calm my soul. And, for some reason, during Fall they smell more wonderful as in no other season.

Fall's bounty is currently simmering & roasting away in my kitchen right now.......reminding me of my Grandmother....of how her home always smelled. It did not really matter what she was cooking, but her kitchen always smelled delicious.....of Pine-Sol & love. Her home's smells were just like her arms.......warm, comforting and enveloping.

So, today's cooking........the baking sweet potatoes, simmering turnip greens and roasting pork all remind me of her today, of her sweetness and her unconditional love. And I shed a tear, missing her, for she has been gone from this life for twenty years.

The world is a dimmer place without her here, but I can remember--and enjoy--the sights and smells which take me back.....back to her kitchen of love.

Many Thanksgiving blessings to you and your family. If you have not done so lately, I do some wish you would take some time now to really enjoy your loved ones. As we all know well, some chances come around but once.

Blessings to you and thanks for stopping by. ~^o^~ Rachel

Dry Spell or Just Dried Up?

Okay.......it's been two weeks since I last posted. It's past time to post something pithy, something witty, something charming.

But, let's be brutally honest here......I've hit a dry spell. Nothing witty or pithy comes to mind.

It's September and, a few weeks ago, I caught a hint of autumn in the air. But now, nothing. No autumn, just oppressively hot and dusty.

Not even the approaching Halloween stirs me. No inspirations for painting or writing. I can't even find anything interesting to upcycle.

This lack...this emptiness.....is awful. Help! How do you handle your dry spells? How do you cope during the times where you can't come up with the energy, much less the inspiration to create?

Blessings to you and thanks for stopping by. ~^o^~ Rachel

Pardon My Dust While I Redecorate

Good evening! If you've been stopping by for a visit periodically, you may have noticed my blog has been undergoing a transformation. Or perhaps it just looked a little odd when you arrived and made you wonder "what is this chick doing?"!

Well, in my defense, I do love decorating and unfortunately (as a Libra) I go back and forth several times until I finally make a decision.

In the case of my blog, I found a background I liked but wasn't crazy about some of the colors. Then I found one whose colors were just magnificent.........but I wasn't crazy about some of the items in the picture. Soooooo, I've been flip flopping with the background.

Tonight, when I checked on my blog, I realized the font color of the postings was a little dark. It put a little strain on my eyes anyway!

I'm still not happy about some of the other font colors, but it will have to be a work in progress.....so, please, pardon my dust!

This, however, is one of the pleasures of a blog.......I don't HAVE to dust!!!

Blessings to you and thanks for stopping by. ~^o^~ Rachel

Helloooooooo Fall!

Yes, yes......I know, I KNOW!! It's not officially Fall yet.....BUT... I caught a bit of a wafting scent of it this morning...... I did! You all may not have been so fortunate to catch it tip-toeing around your woods yet, but when I went out early this morning, it was so blessedly cool. The air actually was a bit crisp....a bit of a nip. It's COMING!!! I know it is!

You crazy girl, you may be asking, why are you so excited about Fall??

Well, say I, isn't it obvious?!? Fall is IT......my favorite time of year!! My birthday is in the Fall (just because I don't count them doesn't mean I can't enjoy them).......Halloween is in the Fall (the significance goes without saying)......the leaves are gorgeous...........pumpkins are ready for carving..........craft shows abound!! What is not to love about Fall?

My ultimate Fall day would be to curl up on the comfy sofa, hot cup of mulled cider in hand, and watch the changing leaves as they drift past the window. My quilt tucked around my legs, a wood fire in the fireplace and NPR playing Vivaldi (or Loreena McKennitt on the CD player).

It's corny, I know, but GOSH what a season!! So......if anyone out there is reading this, I would LOVE to know what your favorite part of Fall is. What floats your boat, what lights your fire, what shakes the (turning) leaves on your tree?! Eh? Let me know!

A Treasure Box To.....Well,.... Treasure.

HELLO dears! I hope all of you are having a marvelous day! It is gorgeous here.........the sultry days are finally cooling off a bit and the trees are getting anxious to shake off their shabby old wardrobe. I believe, perhaps, there is even a hint of Halloween in the air.

Now, I must....must, must, MUST.......share another new treasure I have acquired!

Isn't it just divine!?! Believe me when I say this picture of my lovely box does not do it justice! I love the old-timey Halloween colors & the ever-so-witchy witch flying off towards who-knows-what-mayhem!

I've placed the box in a place of honor----in my bedroom sitting on my chest of drawers....... don't we all place our truly favorite treasures in our little private inner sanctums!?!

This magical piece was created by Halloween Folk Artist Cindy Tevis. I hate to use a cliche, but she really is such a talented artist. I purchased this piece off of eBay from her (and borrowed her picture to post here as well). She is The Shabby Hag & her user name is HalloweenSpirit01. I've included a link to her blog so everyone can enjoy her work. http://halloweenspirit01.blogspot.com/

Blessings to all. ~^*^~ Rachel

OH, THOSE BRILLIANT BLOGGERS! and FULL RED MOON

Have you ever discovered a blog that you absolutely loved.......thought the author was just brilliant........you couldn't wait 'til the next fabulous posting??? Me TOO!

It seems as if, lately, I've spent so much time enjoying those fabulous other blogspots that I've neglected my own. Shame on me. Well, no....no, I cannot feel guilty. I derive too much enjoyment from reading all of the other wonderful goings on & viewing their incredible artwork.

And, while speaking of artwork, I'm absolutely over the (full) moon with my latest find! I'd been eyeing this little treasure on Etsy for a while, but by the time I was ready to make my purchase, it was gone! Darn my eyes, I am such a procrastinator! I was able to write to the artist and ask if she had another she'd part with! Bless her soul, she did! Now I wait by the mailbox every day, breathless with anticipation. I've even purchased a frame for it already so I can place it on my wall as soon as it arrives!

CROW by Rima Staines

For anyone who has not yet discovered this talented artist, please check out Rima Staines at http://www.intothehermitage.blogspot.com/. She is a lovely, interesting soul living in the UK. I am always delighted to discover another interesting soul, aren't you!?

AND.........speaking of a full moon. I shall once again turn to the Farmer's Almanac for their full moon wisdom. They say the lovely August full moon is called the Sturgeon Moon. It seems that these large fish of the Great Lakes were more readily caught during this month. Other names for this late summer moon include the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon. Ah, but my favorite is the Full Red Moon. It seems that our little Man in the Moon may appear at times reddish when viewed through our sultry summer hazes. (For any non-romantics out there, read "pollution".)
Has anyone seen a Full Red Moon. I cannot recall ever seeing one. A red Sol, yes.....but Luna, no.

So, another night spent full moon gazing. Looking out at all the world shining with an other-worldly silvery glow recharges my soul and makes anything seem possible.....which it is.

Happy Red Moon to all.

HAPPY THUNDER MOON

In the quiet of the deep velvet night, I love to sit at my bedroom window.... long after everyone else has gone to sleep.....and tilt my face upwards to the full moon. It calls to me, wrenching the demons from my soul. The silvery white light kisses & caresses my face, calming the swirling tempest within. What peace. What love. What a sense of oneness with the Highest One.

According to the Farmer's Almanac, tonight's moon is called the Full Buck Moon. July is normally the month when the new velvety antlers of buck deer thrust forth from their foreheads. I can only imagine the itchiness & torment this creates. It would be enough to cause anyone to wildly dash out in front of passing cars.

Another name for this month's Moon was the Full Hay Moon. Even in today's world, you can see farmers scrambling to bale hay.....trying to outrun the rain.....trying to put aside plenty against the coming paucity of winter's none.

My favorite name for July's full moon, though, is the Full Thunder Moon......so bestowed for the frequent violent thunderstorms which occur this time of year. Watching nature rage during a snapping, booming thunderstorm is just as soul satisfying as gazing at that full platinum orb dangling in our black velvet sky.

Wishing peace, love and oneness with the Highest One for you. Blessings.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I discovered this fabulous clip art online at the Vintage Moth. She has lovely things there...you should give her a look.

And this one from Clip Art ETC. I just adore skeletons, don't you?! My favorites in particular are bat skeletons, skeleton keys, skeletons of old lovers.....OH! Excusez-moi, that last bit just, ah, slipped out.

Give them a look and enjoy the clip art!