Sunday, April 29, 2012

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

I love lilacs and the heady smell of lilacs blooming. There’s nothing quite like the scent of this lovely flowers; it's almost magical... and that's the scent wafting from almost every room in my house lately... If you’re a lilac lover like me, then you no doubt feel the lilac blooming season is far too short. I am saving these lovely memories....

For those of you not familiar with our "linky parties” they are basically a chance for us home and garden lovers to show off… well, just that—our homes and gardens! And all in all whatever is going on in our life that’s worth sharing! Got anything you’d like to share? Then link up! But remember:

Etiquette for linky parties

1) Link to a recent project post, and not a link to the front page of your blog, your Etsy store or a giveaway.

2) Link back to the host’s blog via a button or text link. This is a common courtesy, and it is usually appreciated if you link back in the same blog post that you are linking up.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Just thinking out loud

Daylight is an old man sitting outside the jagged shack...

Hand on cane chin on hand.

And his old soul is a butterfly sitting in the brink of time.

A moment decisive. And me too--tested has been the day.

Empty handed I befall lips sealed windswept

I am the old man.

(Cielo Noriega)

-------------------

Have you ever felt this way before?... And I was struck all at once how life was out there going through its regular courses, and I was caught in its whirlpool; suspended, waiting, caught in a cell within a cell; between living my life and not living it the way I want to live it... I know... there will be better days...

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

In the garden

It felt like summer this past weekend; high temperatures as we haven’t seen around here for this time of year since 1934—surely a record on these chilly mountains of ours. And gardening was truly a delight. Although I’d have to say, we worked like mastodon work horses from early morning to late evening cleaning, repainting the porch’s floors, planting and taking out old bushes that were originally planted in the wrong spot, dividing, mending and replacing all the sprinklers that had broke down over the winter—mud in my face and hair, mud in my hands and feet.

Are you like that too? Oh, I choose to do my gardening devoid of garden gloves and rather do so too barefooted—old garden boots forgotten… unless, of course, I’d really need to wear them.

And thus, I was right in my habitat; delightfully enjoying all the hard work. I never see working in the garden as ‘work’. You? To me it is more a deed of love rather that a task.

Hard work is the rule, though delightfulness is often discovered in the midst of it. And I had an epiphany while working—more like a reverie: A cottage set amongst tranquil, rolling hills; stillness enfolding the cottage garden; soul attuned to the silent hum in the heart of all life.

...that was, of course, until my dreams and the sanctity of silence and stillness were shattered into thousands of tiny pieces by all the annoying barking that goes on in our neighbourhood. Argh Arrrggghhh smackalack-pooey-poeey!!
Can you imagine Buddha finally reaching enlightenment through contemplation while sitting with his dogs beneath a tree? So much for the silence of the mystics!

So everything is looking marvelous over here; with the freshly painted floors and new pastel linen on furnishings…

And the birds… oh the birds! It’s bird season for sure. The heavens are filled with songs and perfume. If you can sit down for just a moment and take a long, loving, look at your surroundings, you’ll be able to see the world in such different way. It is amazing to be able to observe our world with the senses rather than the intellect…. It is a passionate, emotional, even intuitive endeavor.

I’m so enjoying this time of year… I love spring. My soul rejoices in this new life that’s coming forth from the ground with such an unconquerable force and promises. All around me speaks to my heart of a powerful Creator—God of all heavens and earth. I am humbled by the deeds of His hand.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Outside is raining petals....
Petals from our Crabapple trees, of course!

I brought home our first bouquets of flowers for the season.

The master bedroom got its own bouquet too... smells so pretty!

This corner got a pretty bouquet too!

For those of you not familiar with our "linky parties” they are basically a chance for us home and garden lovers to show off… well, just that—our homes and gardens! And all in all whatever is going on in our life that’s worth sharing! Got anything you’d like to share? Then link up! But remember:

Etiquette for linky parties

1) Link to a recent project post, and not a link to the front page of your blog, your Etsy store or a giveaway.

2) Link back to the host’s blog via a button or text link. This is a common courtesy, and it is usually appreciated if you link back in the same blog post that you are linking up.

NOTE: Because thumb links tend to slow down things a bit, I decided to use text link this time as an experiment... so try to add some type of an interesting title to attract readers to your blog! ;)

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Under the rain...

It is raining… Do you love rain? Rain gives me starry eyes, and it makes me feel dreamy and romantic inside—wistful drops of enchantment posses me… Now, I don’t know what it is, but something magical opens up inside of me on rainy days. The invisible world comes alive. And I hear whispers on the wind. And I can see invisible creatures hiding in the apple tree.

Do you think heavens might be raining tear drops down on us on rainy days, or is it more like showers of pearls?—pearls from some divine necklace that has snapped off and scattered down on us; only we get to see it in liquid form?

Oh, don’t you mind me when I talk nonsense such as this… it’s the rain—I’ve already told you. It has that power in me. But really, if you dare see the world through the eyes of imagination, and hope, I'm sure you’ll be able to contemplate life in an especially enchanting way. Not that trouble would go away sometimes, but dreaming a fair amount it certainly helps. It helps when you feel scare, or when life just doesn’t happen the way you want it to be, or dreamed it to be. Just dream your life exactly the way you want it to be any way! And hold fast onto your dreams!

Have you ever walked barefoot? I mean, outside, in the mud, under the rain? There is nothing more magical than walking on a muddy path in the sun, the cool mud oozing between your toes; the pulse of mother earth beneath your feet; musing your soul as she reminds you how she remains unchanged by time—like our Creator Himself… forever the same; unchangeable through all generations.

Forget about getting rained on, forget about calluses and pedicures… live your life freely and don’t worry too much about the “outside”. I think that woman who worries too much about their looks are missing a whole lot in life… it’s such a freeing feeling just being who you are.

Be yourself and enjoy life for what it is; every moment, every day! OK? Do that! And I’ll meet you in the garden… under the rain! ;)

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

In the garden

And thus… I was strolling my enchanted garden the other day. The air possessed an especially sweet spring taste that morning and the warmth outdoors whispered nothing but quiet in the stillness of the early morning dormancy.

Now, you'd have to remember that this is the sweetest, most mysterious-looking place any one can imagine. And I said “mysterious” because… well, it just is!

You can imagine my surprise as I was weeding and trimming those slim, wispy little things flowers-like Lady Sleepers, when something totally unexpected surfaced from the ground... Ah yes, the most peculiar of things you can ever imagine; right here in this very spot. A complete surprise!

And what was it I found?--you'd ask. And would you believe me if I told you it was the most precious little china cup?

I know I know… strange things such as this have a propensity to occur here; I mean like finding china cups mysteriously hanging from tree branches and such... just like it happened last fall as you can see here... but that's just how things are around here.

Ah yes my dears, as I was saying, this little teacup lay about three inches down in the soil, and it was very dirty, but underneath the grime showed a lovely bright blue… Holding it up, I rubbed off some of the dirt until finally the bright blue of the china shone out…

It looked as if it might have belonged in a child’s playhouse… I couldn’t believe it was not broken. And how did it get in the garden? That’s what a magical garden will do, I supposed… things would drop down into it and get lost for days, and then all of a sudden they’ll rise up out of nowhere into the light of day…

There was no reason I could think of why this teacup should had been there. Do you think someone might had buried it there? But who… and why?

All of a sudden, I had the most unnerving certainty... I knew exactly who the little cup belonged to... you see, in a far corner of the garden, right under the flowering pear tree I could see the most ridiculous of things... a witch’s hat and staff on that tree?

Had you been here standing right beside me, I’m sure you would had seen my hands shaking and my heart… you would had hear my heart thumping: pa rum pum pum! And how would it not! A witch in my garden! Could it be possible? Loco loco!

Oh, I think I might had even caught a glimpse of the witch as she was making her exodus out of the garden... in a hurry! Maybe she was planning a tea party with her witches friends under the flowering pear tree and I just spoiled the moment? You'll never know!

Well, maybe teacups just won't burst out of the ground like that, and maybe witches are only the product of an over-fertile imagination, but I'm sure if you pay close attention to your surroundings you'll find innumerable little surprises scattered all around you everywhere you go... and I mean EVERYWHERE, not just only in your garden... Our Father scatters blessings unimaginable upon his earthly children, we just don't have the eyes to see, or feel. And you know why? Because we need to grow eyes in our heart and eyes in our soul.

What I am trying to say is…SEE with your HEART so that you can see what you really need to see. Look only in those places that nurture the deepest part of you. Think thoughts that feed your soul. No gift on earth could compare with this, for it touches us more profoundly than our imagination can envision.

Peace be to you my friend...

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

I love vintage postcards; particularly old guardian angel postcards, and ever since I discovered the world of “free graphics”, I’ve been reducing and enlarging copies of lovely vintage postcards, waiting for the perfect project to use them.

I particularly love vintage postcards with wonderful aged patina; including small rips and stains in the background.

I absolutely love this one... It bestows such a mystic feeling; gone-by eras and past lives that I find so intriguing and fascinating at the same time…

I made tags with the image from my vintage guardian angel postcard. I copied it onto photo paper, and bonded it to thick card stock. I made a hole on the top with my hole puncher and added some ribbons. Simple… and practical enough. You can also make some lovely bookmarks using this same method too.

These vintage images are lovely in their own right just as they are… group them up and put them anywhere you want for an extra dosis of prettiness. I think these images look particularly lovely sitting on top o’ all my pretty lace. Don't you think so? They impart a certain nostalgic feel that I just love.

Oh oh and did you notice that awesome moon face image here? Don't you just love it!

This ain't what you might be thinking, thought… yup! This is actually the pretties little baggy I’ve ever seen, and it came to the house in the roses via the fairies all the way from “Hello Lovely, Inc.” It’s filled with some lovely surprises too!

Absolutely adorable bracelets and pin. Go visit Michele (one L); owner of “Hello Lovely, Inc.” for some awesome jewerly! Her Etsy shop is filled with charming vintage jewelry like these and much more. And she’ll be happy to give you a 15% off with the code LOVELY15. Thank YOU, Michele!

Other projects coming up! For now this is it! For those of you not familiar with our "linky parties” they are basically a chance for us home and garden lovers to show off… well, just that—our homes and gardens! And all in all whatever is going on in our life that’s worth sharing! Got anything you’d like to share? Then link up! But remember:

Etiquette for linky parties

1) Link to a recent project post, and not a link to the front page of your blog, your Etsy store or a giveaway.

2) Link back to the host’s blog via a button or text link. This is a common courtesy, and it is usually appreciated if you link back in the same blog post that you are linking up.