"The Business of Your Life"

~ Marsha Sinetar 

 "The significant business of your life is alive and well, awaiting discovery, within your very soul."

   

Nonsense, Fantasy and Dr Seuss

"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities." ~ Dr. Seuss

Cathedral Windows Pillow

Cathedral Windows Pillow

Front View
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Newbie!

Cathedral Windows Pillow - Side View

Top View - Filled with Buckwheat Hulls

Happiness Key

Recently I saw a number of posts on facebook about “never placing the key for your own happiness in someone else’s pocket.” It went over well. Many related to that quote. I certainly did. 


This morning while quietly being open to thoughts over handwashing yesterday’s dishes it occurred to me that equally important to not placing the key to one’s happiness in someone else’s pocket is not permitting anyone else to place the key for their happiness in our pocket. 


Maybe it happened a long time ago, and the pattern is well-established. Maybe some are even now sneakily trying to place that key in your pocket. Or, maybe they are outright asking, insisting, or even demanding that you stretch out your hand and take the damn key. “Right now, I said!”


Undeniably,  many things have happened and are continuing to happen all the time that can contribute to the experience of unhappiness for one person,  many people, and nations. Babies are not always picked up the minute they want to be picked up. People who have not learned how to process their own emotions want to be cared for in the way they want to, or sulkily internalize it only to resurface later in ways that say, “See what you/they did to me?”



This week someone said to me, “ I feel hurt and disappointed by what you did to me.” I’ll spare you the details “ You should not have done _____ to me.” (attempting to place her happiness key in my pocket) Btw, dear facebook friend...that was MY  facebook  you wrote on, so please excuse me for monitoring my guest comments! Being disrespectfully opinionated (not to mention ignorantly biased on the subject matter in question) on your own wall is up to you.  After a comment and then  message exchange one thing lead to  the other. Facebook friends come and they go. Not getting what she wanted she then came to the unilateral, unsubstantiated conclusion that "we aren't worshiping the same God". (semantics, semantics is more like) Here she not only hastily pulled back her key but also pulled out the "Big Gun". Whoa! Of course it goes without saying - her God is the real one, better than mine who may in fact look more like a devil, and hers can probably soundly whip my god/devil with one hand and both feet tied behind his back.  Not to worry...this happens periodically. It wasn't the first time and it most likely won't be the last time based on my current understanding of human nature.  It’s a very good thing she closed the door. That way the door didn't catch her heel as it closed.  ;-) It has been my experience that that kind of door doesn't  lead anywhere nice, anyway.  And, I’m sure she will promptly find another pocket into which to place her happiness key. Most likely she will first pull out the "I've been psychologically and spiritually abused, & I need sympathy" card.


If there is something in my pocket that belongs to someone else it uses up the personal energy that I need to be more creative throughout my own day and life. 


Carry too many keys and the pocket will sag and ultimately tear. Yep! Tricky business...this being supportive of someone else's life process while not assuming their responsibilities.

Cookie-less, Gift-less, Card-less Christmas...

What is a cookie-less, gift-less, card-less Christmas like? ...to be very honest - not bad at all!


This morning I realized that I have not had one (or many :-) ) Christmas cookies this year! I have had a bit of a hankering for Date Pinwheels, though. I may still make a batch or two of them this week - just for old times sake. Instead of dates I want to use Calamondin Marmalade for some and Fig Jam for others - both homemade.


Christmas Day  (for me) was a day pretty much like any other day around here. If it wasn't for the internet we would be completely out of touch out here in the boonies!  Got some weeding done and cleaning up in the gardens in the morning. Puttered around the house doing little things of little consequence, sat around for an hour and more discussing the various points of the first season of  "The United States of Tara" which we saw the night before last. We were aiming for a 4:30 Roast Chicken dinner but for various reasons didn't quite make it. Had dinner on the backporch at 6:30-ish, adjourned to the living room to watch the first season of a Human Target, ate Apple Crisp dessert a few hours later, and off to bed by 12:00 midnight.


True, we didn't have much excitement but we did have Peace, which I personally value much more than a racy adrenaline rush any day! 


                                                                           ~o0o~


btw...we did get Christmas cards by mail and email-just did not send any.

Be Not Afraid

I seldom watch youtube videos due to the limited bandwidth we have, but I just watched this youtube video by  Neale  Donald Walsch about the changes we're experiencing now and will continue to experience for a number of years more. He says we're undergoing a major overhaul but "Be not afraid." He has a soothing and comforting voice. 


Gosh! I feel like I worked hard today, and I have been busy, but not much recount-worthy got done....just one of those days. Well, I'm looking forward to a relaxing evening watching a movie - knowing that tomorrow will be another day!
                                               

I Love Vintage Furniture!

"Bentwood Ice Cream Parlor Chair"

Lovely Original Austrian Import Fabric by Mill Creek on the ice cream parlor chair - one of four chairs. Newly reupholstered by moi.
~*~

"Footstool with Removeable Lid"

Large Botanical Print on the lovely Vintage Footstool.  Very sturdily built!
~*~

"Storage Space for Chocolate Candy Stash"

Stash the candy, or embroidery project, or the journal, or the latest library book!
~*~

"Director's Chair"
Sometimes we do have to get up there and talk!
~*~

Upcycled Tea Light Holder

Day...

...and Night.

A few weeks ago I acquired a number of old  pole insulators at a yard sale. I remember these being used to insulate the wires on the poles along the railroad running through my dad's farm. This morning while sitting in my hickory rocking chair I got the image for this tea light holder using an insulator and a rusty old coil spring from a piece of furniture that wasn't salvadgeable because the frame was badly worm-eaten. Fred bought some battery operated tea lights at the local dollar store. The battery can be replaced. Neat thing is the light flickers like a flame does!

Pillows Giveaway Winner

And the winner of the pair of Cathedral Windows Pillows is Bev from Tallahassee!
http://earthnsky8d.blogspot.com/p/c-w-pillows-giveaway-122011.html


My etsy store (SarahsQuiltsnCrafts) is in vacation mode for two weeks. Views had slowed down enormously, and it was obvious to me that this would be an excellent time to take a breather...and time to focus on doing some important things around here. And possibly get into a better routine altogether. That could mean writing things down...making lists! And sticking with them! ;-)

Ho Ho Hum!

Weather-wise, it was a mostly dreary day today...and a "do-nothing kind of day" for me. Despite a blister in hand, I did work some more on  rehabilitating a set of four, wood-frame, ice cream parlor style chairs - up to the point where I need more welt cord than I have on hand. Etsy.com to the rescue! I also need finishing nails that I do not have, but will make a trip to town tomorrow for those, & a few other things on my list.


The first Christmas card of the season arrived yesterday - a lovely handmade card from my youngest niece, Tina. I am going to admit that here at this house we do very little in the way of decorating, or celebrating outwardly, or gift and card giving. I am fully aware that this is no way to support the economy. It is what it is. And that is that.


Over the weekend I am going to take myself by the scruff of my neck and engage in some gardening related activities. Well, I'm planning to do that. I have a package of mixed greens seeds from Pinetree Seeds, & I think it's a good time to begin seeding them every two weeks. They will be ready to eat in 40 days - somewhere in the vicinity of next February. To be continued....

Wicker Chair Makeover!

This project was started months ago, and finished today. Yes, the "old girl's still got it"!

Before...

Repurposed Wicker

...and After!

you’re already perfect

you’re already perfect

‘Be Content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.’ ~Lao Tzu

Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on twitter .

From:  Zen Habits

Tangerine Tango

 "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing". ~ Helen Keller





Click here for more about Tangerine Tango! Pantone's Color of the Year 2012

Kiss the Earth

"Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet." ~Thich Nhat Hahn

Fur Kids in the Bread Box

It was just a Matter of Time!

Repurposed Linen Table Napkins

Lilac Table Napkins - Repurposed Linen

Set of Four - 15" Square

Not Wild...Nor Wooly

Bright Children's Quilt

This was a fun little project! Made using fabric panels and scrap pieces from a dear friend in town. Next project is making a set of four, Lilac-colored print  table napkins, using repurposed linen fabric. 

Full Size Frontal View

I cleaned and oiled my sewing machine this morning (something that does not get done nearly often enough) in preparation for getting started with sewing 280 Cathedral Windows frames....soon!

Rear View


Yesterday I discovered that Listia.com has now given us the option of voluntarily donating our store credits for the benefit of 5 different charities. I chose to donate for Toys for Tots and the Nature Conservancy. www.listia.com/foundations I have asked whether there will be the possibility of them hooking up with Kiva.org for year-round donations of credits. All Faith's Food Bank would work for me as well!

"I am Part of the Sun...." by D. H. Lawrence

Vintage Navajo Marbled Turquoise Ring -signed J.T.

via: Summer Rayne (facebook)

"I am part of the sun as my eye is part of me, That I am part of the earth my feet know perfectly, and my blood is part of the sea... There is nothing of me that is alone and absolute, except my mind, and we shall find that the mind has no existence by itself, it is only the glitter of the sun on the surface of the waters." ~D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ring available at:  SarahsQuiltsnCrafts.etsy.com