Sunflowers...

http://wildflowerbouquets.blogspot.com/2012/07/amazing-sunflower-field-near-catawba.html

Several years ago a friend, my daughter and I went to go see a field of sunflowers. They are one of my favorites! But during the year we went we were having a lot of drought and the fields were not very full or vibrant. Now with the endless rain this year I bet they are beautiful, but I didn't think of it until I saw this picture and it may be to late in the season to go. But it is a very fond memory indeed...

Present Reminder...

This photo just looks like a nice place to be in the present moment . Lately people have been reminding me how "un-present" I have been. They will ask or tell me about something relating to something that I routinely do or go and I have not even noticed what it was they mentioned. And when they bring it to my attention it is very obvious. But it's just a good reminder for me to bring myself back to this present moment and involve my senses. Ask myself ~ what do I see, smell, hear, taste?

Summer Haiku...

July moves to August

Heat, rain mingle through the air

Summer times music

Sunday Meal...

Sunday has always been one of those days I use to set aside extra time to make that meal, the one that you wouldn't ordinarily make during the week because it's very time consuming. It provides an extra touch to the start of the busy days ahead, as well as making the little "extra's", like banana bread, sweet treats, something different I've been wanting to try, or that special request from one of the kids! I LOVE being in the present moment with all the smells and colors that cooking provides. I LOVE the memories that only food offers. 

Poem ~ Hope...

A friend gave me a book of poems called "The World Will Follow Joy" by Alice Walker.

Here is one of the poems that I liked:

Hope to Sin Only in the Service of Waking Up

Hope

never to believe

it is your duty

or right

to harm

another

simply because

you mistakenly believe

they are not you.

Hope

to understand

suffering

as the hard assignment

even in school

yo wished

to avoid. But

could not.

Hope

to be imperfect

in all the ways

that keep you

growing.

Hope

never to see

another

not even a blade of grass

that is beyond your joy.

Hope

not to be a snob

the very day

Love

shows up

in love's

work clothes

Hope to see

your own skin

in the wood

grains

of your house.

Hope

to talk

to trees

& at least

tell them everything

you've always

thought.

Hope

at the end 

to enter 

the Unknown

knowing

yourself. Forgetting

yourself

also.

Hope to be consumed

to disappear

into your own

Love.

Hope to know

where you are

~Paradise~

if nobody else

does.

Hope 

that every failure

is an arrow

pointing toward

 enlightenment.

Hope to sin

only

in the service

of waking up.

Plastic World...

http://myplasticfreelife.com

As I'm trying to eliminate more and more plastic in my life, I'm realizing just how much there is in the world. When I was reading this blog, ( link above ) there was a list of all the plastic she wanted to try to get rid of, and I was overwhelmed with the amount that I don't even pay attention to anymore! An eye opener for sure!!!

Trashy...

Since my children were little they have been picking up random pieces of trash and cleaning up the world one piece at a time. The other day I picked up something I found on the ground and thought wouldn't it be nice if we each picked up one thing when we see it, we would have a cleaner world. Of course it would be nice if there wasn't trash to pick up but since we don't live in a perfect world, lets be kind to mother nature and not look for blame. It only takes each of us one present moment to make a difference...