Let's Chat About Blogging...

Immokolee Art Celebration Image

I want to tell you about how I feel about "blogging"...writing my web log these

past five years. I've read bloggers who say, "I've hit a slump" or "I need to take a 

break" because they don't have anything to say, or they don't know what to write 

about. The only time I've "taken time off" is when I've felt a deep loss - like when 

my sweet, little Corgi, Fezzik died unexpectedly. After all this time, I can still 

find plenty to talk about, and it's really easier than you might think. I'll explain.

When I set up my very first header in 2009, I wanted to have a guideline to follow.

 I kept personal journals years ago, and when I went back to read through them, I

was horrified! I realized that I used my journals as a place to bitch and complain.

I couldn't imagine a loved one stumbling upon those grim books years later. My

life is so much better than those paltry complaints written in my own hand on lined

pages. So, I decided that my blog would be filled with "thoughts on a joyful and

creative life"...sharing my beautiful, wonderful, blessed and love-filled life online.

Do I sometimes find it difficult to come up with interesting and inspiring ideas?

Is anyone always interesting and inspiring? (I know I'm not!) So what I do on

those days is slow down, make a cup of tea and write to you as though I'm sitting

across the table from a few of my wonderful, creative girlfriends...and I just "chat".

I chat about my day. I ask about yours. I show you what I've made recently, or

something I'm working on right now. I tell you about my little dog (or he's at

my feet amusing you all by himself), I walk about life with my Handsome, 

supportive husband and his music...and sometimes I openly share my faith.

But one thing I decided that I would not do with my blog is use it as a forum

for complaining or what I call "holding forth". I'm sure, if I chose to, I could

easily tell off bullies, talk about politics or other injustices in the world, and

not only would you not be interested, I would have lost interest years ago, too.

I don't use the word "depressed" ever in my vocabulary because I believe the 

words one uses often become the life one lives. So, even on those days when

I'm not all sunshine, butterflies and puppies, I act like I am. I don't just do it

for you. I do it for me, too. I want what I send out into the world to be lovely

and joyful. I want my legacy to be remembrances of an honest, well-lived life.

I don't post my Sunday Scriptures from a position of perfection. I post them

because they speak to the person I want to be. I share them because they might

serve as inspiration to others, too. I'm not perfect, but I don't give up trying 

to be a better person. I hope that sharing my faith might help others be happier.

So, all that being said, I imagine that some of you just might start or end

your days with me over a cuppa tea, coffee or hot chocolate. We sit down

together, share a few projects or a laugh or two, and we leave each other a little

better than before. If I manage that once in a while, I think I'll be happy

knowing I accomplished my goal here in my own little corner of cyberspace.

I sure can get wordy, can't I? (giggling) Well, my time is up for today. Let

me give you a (virtual) hug and wish you a glorious, good day. Thank you

for stopping by again to visit with me for a little while. I really appreciate it.

I'll be back tomorrow and hope you will be, too.

A New View...

My "Love Birds" applique' quilt.

I've been seeing things in a new light...

My basket full of twill ribbons.

 With renewed focus...

Gifts from dear blog friends.

 Almost with a new set of eyes...

Handsome's Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

 Inside and out...

Ta da! My new Coolpix.

 I have a new camera!

This photo is the last one taken with my old Olympus 

("old" being five years old).

Using my Olympus for blogging every day since I got it 

just flat wore the ol' girl out.

Say "Hello" to my new camera...

It's a Nikon Coolpix P500.

Faster and leaner and with higher resolution than my last one.

Handsome has the professional Nikon D4000 and D5000 cameras

that I could use whenever I want, but I prefer a "grab and go" 

quality for mine. 

We make a good team and

 so far, I'm lovin' my new camera.

Looking Back on 2011...

As I reflect on 2011, I look back upon a year filled with joy, sadness, anticipation, fun and new experiences.

I promise not to dwell on the moments of great sadness, but I can't close out this year without remembering the beautiful lives of my Labrador, Kes - and my first Corgi, Fezzik Inconceivable. They filled our days with unconditional love and laughter.

Both left me this year. I miss them every day, and will never forget the lights they brought into our lives.

We had the adventure of our lives when Handsome, Kes and I embarked on a four month trip last summer. We packed our essentials along with too many extras into our Airstream and set off on our travels.

Together, we covered nearly 11,000 miles, 13 states, enjoyed friends and family, and were a part of some incredible music performances. We learned that we can live happily together in a small space, and that less "stuff" is actually liberating. We're already planning our next big destination!

Brynwood's Taggart (aka Tag) joined our adventure mid-trip (July 4th) and he immediately fit right in. He was a natural for traveling, and did his best to make friends with Kes.  We're so glad that he's a part of our family now,  and we're looking forward to spending many more years with him. Even now, he considers the Flying Cloud his home, and he gets quite animated when he realizes we're going out to spend a little time there.

Although Kes didn't return home with us, she'll always be with us in spirit. I miss her silly ways, and her ability to teach the puppies by example.

I also had fun creating beautiful things in 2011. If you click here, you can see my 2011 Completed Projects Flickr album.

I want to thank all of you for the comments, love and support you've given me. You help lift me during the most difficult days, and made them more bearable. You shared all the good times with me, too. You may never know the true effect that blogging has had on me. What started as a little personal diary, grew into new and wonderful friendship and a celebration of my creative and personal life. Thank you for being a part of this adventure.

Because You Just Never Know...

Many days I write my blog posts and never know the lives I touch with my words.  Each day, my goal is to write a thoughtful post about the "joyful and creative" aspects of my life. Then there are days where I share some of the less joyful or less creative stories I have to tell.

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know that this past year has had some sad days, too. Those dark days when I lost Fezzik so unexpectedly, and then this fall when Kes (and my former Golden, Kirby) joined him at the Rainbow Bridge during our travels. Our dogs lives are so very short to begin with, but it still comes with sadness when their times come and they must leave us.

I don't recall this for you to make you relive those sad days with me. Rather, to explain the stories that prompted one of my blog friends to send me a package recently. I received a package in the mail Tuesday and I hate to say that I didn't recognize the return address. Marie in Ohio. Hmmmm. Did I order something and forget where I purchased it? I didn't think so.

Handsome, Tag and I walked back to the house whereupon I immediately went back to the studio to open the box so it would reveal its contents. Imagine my surprise to find so many wonderful surprises inside!

An adorable squirrel holding acorn salt and pepper shakers. Marie knows how I adore acorns and thought of me when she found this. Then, she also added two little sewing (quilting) kits. The sweetest snowman is the center of a small accent quilt from The Wooden Bear Designs, and all the supplies in another kit to create a little zippered Out & About carry-all. Aren't they wonderful?

Marie also added two pieces of nautical-themed fabric that I know will work perfectly with a recent lighthouse fabric purchase.

I opened her handwritten card first, but wanted to save its sentiment for last.  Marie told me that she reads my blog all the time - although she doesn't have one of her own yet - and that she saw the acorn s/p set and got them just for me. (Imagine that!) She also traveled this summer, but spends time in Winter Haven, FL, too. I'm hoping that I will get to see her on her next trip south so that I can thank her in person. (Marie...please send me an email through my blog so that we can see if there's time to get together while you're here!)

By the time I'd finished her card, I admit I was a little weepy. She wrote the most beautiful words to me and I want her to know that she - and all of you - bless me every day with your thoughts and comments, and sometimes with your gifts. Thank you, my new friend, for all the special gifts you sent to me. They will be used and cherished for a long time to come.

I also received another gorgeous artist trading card from Sherry @ Createology. She is so talented and artistic. I'm tickled to have another card from her to add to my collection. I owe you, my friend! I'll get your cards out this week I promise.

So, if you're wondering if anyone reads what you write on your blog, or whether or not you touch anyone with your thoughts, I'm proof that we all do. I'll continue to share those thoughts on my joyful and creative life with you, and try to keep the "reality" posts to a minimum. When I'm writing to you, I'll continue to write as though I'm sitting down to tea with my girlfriends (and boy friends, too). After all, you just never know whose life you might touch...and occasionally, they'll touch you right back.

Again, I am humbled beyond words at the generosity of my long-distance friends. Thank you.

Playing With The Girls...

I really love it when I can spend time with any of my blog friends. I've become good friends with beautiful women and love it when we can finally meet in person.

The past couple of weeks have been especially fun because one of my friends has been in the area, and we've visited, gone to lunch and shopped together. We've also shared this time with a third blogger, our mutual friend, Carol of Serendipity. Carol lives in Sarasota for part of the year, so I'll be able to get together with her again before she goes back up north for the summer. Lucky me!

I'm showing you a photo we cooked up to have a little fun with you. You see, this blog friend won't be back home until late this week, and she didn't want to let people know that she's away from home right now. So we took a picture of her beautiful hair. (I mean, really. beautiful. hair!)

Can you guess who she is? I'm not giving any hints today, but if anyone guesses who it is, I'll contact you privately and send a little prize your way. (Be sure that you're not set up as a "no comment blogger", so that I can get in touch with you. You can read Pleasant Home's post about this if you're not sure.)

Carol and I will meet up with her for lunch one more time today before she leaves. Then, we'll have to say our goodbyes until next year. She'll be leaving to go home tomorrow.

I'll reveal her identity as soon as I know she's close to home. We have a fabulous photo of all three of us from one of our outings. Then I can dish all the juicy tidbits of our times together. I can't wait!

Today I'm Blogging For Bliss...

Welcome to today's Blogging For Bliss Party. Our hostess today is Kari Ramstrom over at Artsy Mama. She planned her party to coincide with the release of Tara Frey's inspirational book called "Blogging For Bliss". I know I speak for all of us in Blogland when I congratulate Tara on the publication of her book. Yea, Tara! It's an entertaining and informative read, whether you're a seasoned blogger, new to blogging, or perhaps contemplating a blogging adventure for yourself.

Once you've read about Brynwood, you can click here to visit Artsy Mama. Just go down the right side bar for a guest list; click on the guests' names and explore their blogs. I'm sure this is going to be fun!

In keeping with the spirit of the party, I've decided to share with you my blogging inspirations and what you can expect to find here (if you aren't already one of my readers. If you are - Thanks so much!).

I never was much for writing in diaries or journals. It seems I only put pen to paper when I was feeling bad or when my life would hit a rough patch (many, many years ago). When I decided to write a blog last March, I knew that it would be a place where I could count my blessings...seeing my glass as always half full and not half empty. You see, I'm basically an optimist. Blogging helps me to focus in on all the joys of my life. It's interesting to know how easy and simple it is to find your blessings, when it is blessings you seek. I never want my readers to be bored or worse yet, to be burdened by my writings.

In addition, I have a creative life - loving needlework and crafting in all forms. The hardest thing for me was to pare down my interests to fit within the confines of my studio. Alas, I have failed, in that my books spill into the hallway, and I have a few plastic storage tubs in other rooms of the house. But I try every day...I really do.

I am inspired daily by the love of my friends and family...those people in whose care my heart is safe. I am inspired by nature and the beauty to be found on a walk in the woods, or by looking closely in concrete jungles. I have found that nature always finds a way. You can find grass growing through cracks in cement or places where it should not be able to find a foothold. But there it is, right in front of you.

As nature always finds a way, so does art. I could no more spend my days without a creative outlet than I could without food. It nourishes my mind, my heart and my soul. When I give a gift from my hands, I give a small part of myself to the recipient. And just when you think there's nothing new under the sun...there it is, right there in front of you. Art in all its glory.

The purpose of my blog is to share myself with you. To help you find inspiration, creativity and joy in your daily life. To learn more about you and for you learn more about me. To share the parts of my life that give me purpose.

My favorite quote is: "The way to use life is to do something that outlasts it." I find that the heirloom-quality needlework and sewing I do - and then share with others - is some small way to accomplish that. I hope that in sharing myself and my days with you, the memory of me and how I live my life with survive long after I'm gone (hopefully, many years from now).

I also hope that my writing and photographs inspire my readers to try something new, or to share their gifts with someone they know. You can never really be sure how you can touch someone else's life until you try.

Thank you for visiting me again. Have fun at the party...and do something creative today! You'll be glad you did.

Don't forget to come back Friday for my 100th Post Giveaway!!! See you then!