A Christmas Birthday

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I turned 60 years old today. Someone asked me if I was afraid to get old and I answered: No, I'm not afraid to get old, I'm just afraid to get old and not have a chance to do the things I have always wanted to do. Things that got put on the back burner while I was busy raising a family, taking care of my aging parents, putting everybody and everything first. Does it sound familiar? Oh, I bet it does!

Do I feel 60? I don't know. How's 60 supposed to feel? I mean, in my Amazon wish list I had Monster High School dolls (which by the way, my sweet, sweet daughter and son in law got for me, LOL) Is that normal at 60? Maybe not, but who cares? The point is, yes, I am 60 years old, yes, my face is  not what it used to be but not my spirit and soul!

I do have a list of things I want to do before I get "too old." On top of that list (some people call it the 'bucket list') is my wish to go to England. Why? I have no idea. All I know is that since I was 8 years old and I read Alice in Wonderland I simply  fell in love with anything and everything English. Then came The Beatles who were, are, and will always be such a big part of me. I was blown away when I saw my birthday cake:

(I had a very hard time cutting this cake. I did not want to ruin it!)

I hope to never loose my faith in people, my sense of humour, my wish to try new things, my love for Nature and above all, my innocence, the one thing that will keep my heart forever young.

XO

Merry Christmas

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"What if Christmas doesn't come from a store.

What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more..." The Grinch

What if indeed! This 'little bit more' is so easily overlooked.  I wish you all a wonderful day. May you never be too busy to enjoy the holidays for what they are, not for what they should be. 

Love always,

Forever a Daddy's girl

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Hello everyone,

Amidst the neverending sad, unpleasant, and depressing news constantly making headlines on the Web I found one so special I just HAD to share with you. This will surely strike a loud chord in those who were, are, and will always be a Daddy's girl.

http://www.today.com/news/dying-father-has-last-first-dance-daughter-6C10703525

I am always in awe by the incredible power of love.

Sparkles and Fireflies

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July has arrived and so have the fireflies. I find it hard to come indoors, all I want to do is sit in the garden and watch  their magical light show. Who needs fireworks?

Hope everyone is doing great and that your Summer season is filled with love, sparkles and fireflies :0)

Mother's Day Wishes

Hi everyone!

Just popping in from under what seems to be an ongoing, never-ending project: my Art Room! Been busy trying to make my working space cohesive and easy to manage, but this room must be a true self expression. No matter how hard I try, it remains unruly and wild at heart! LOL

Anyway, I am here to wish all my lovely ladies a beautiful day. Please read this post I wrote a couple of years ago. I hope these words echo some of your memories.

http://thepurplecaravan.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-05-11T00:01:00-04:00&max-results=6

May you always be surrounded by peace and love.

Happy Easter/Happy Spring

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Just popping in to wish everyone a wonderful weekend. No matter how you observe (or not) this religious holiday hope you get to spend time in the company of family and good friends.

Cheers!

Make your own kind of music

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But you've gotta make your own kind of music
Sing your own special song.
Make your own kind of music even if nobody
else sings along...
(The Mamas and the Papas)

And so, on these final days of Winter as I try to hold in check my impatient heart and tell myself not to keep looking for the first signs of Spring, I grow restless. Cabin fever sets in.  I don't really feel like shopping (gasp!) so I go for a ride. 

Driving aimlessly I turn on the radio. One by one I flip through the stations but its no good. I can't find one to please me. I drive in silence for a while when suddenly I remember something my father said back in the days when I entered the tumultuous teenage years and he became middle aged: "You know you are getting older when you no longer like the songs on the radio."  Deja vu...

Growing older is tricky. You go about doing your thing when suddenly: BAM! "Maturity" jumps out of nowhere. The thing is, IT had always been there, a silent ghost, an invisible companion that's been by your side from the day you were born. IT waits patiently until IT decides is time to come out. Shy at first, IT plays hide and seek. You catch a glimpse here and there but is only a matter of time. IT will grow more confident. IT will let you know its here to stay...

I wait for Spring with great anticipation. I have been busy teaching myself how to crochet and I have fallen in love with Granny Squares. Here are my humble first attempts...

 I am looking forward going back to my Purple Caravan.

I ignore the radio and play the music of my generation. Just like a Mantra, the familiar words and sounds manage to still bring a spark of magic to make my heart jump and skip a beat. 

Time marches on.  I know IT is hiding nearby but I'm not worried. I dance and sing. I play my Blue Tambourine.

The music is loud, Abby joins the celebration. 

She barks and I laugh. IT doesn't stand a chance ;0)

 Wishing you all a weekend filled with magic. Rock on!

As the snow falls

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She said she usually cried at least once a day, not because she was sad but because the world was so beautiful and life was so short. (Unknown)

Woke up this morning and found our bit of the world has been painted white. On days like this I tend to feel soft inside. I roam around unable to concentrate much on anything. Of course this leads to thinking and thinking usually leads to trouble. I much rather daydream than think...

On a Winter Afternoon

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There's a party outside my window. 'Local Wind' has company. She dances hand in hand with 'Arctic Blast' and 'Frosty Spell'... 

Inside our home everything feels warm and cozy. Chairs look more inviting. They seem to whisper promises filled with sweet silence...

As the wind howls I go round sorting, updating, organizing. These are my days to do what is usually done during the Spring but I know that once the weather gets warmer I will not be able to concentrate. 

 I keep a mental countdown. Only 54 days for Spring to arrive and for another cycle to start.  In the meantime RED continues to dominate and fascinate me and so does this new painting I stumbled upon. 

Red is here....

and here

Valentine Day has arrived early and red hearts are everywhere

Standing by my window I watch the three winter ladies dance away and I dream of the coming season when their heads will wear flowery crowns...


May you find the magic of these Winter days... XO

Words of wisdom

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THE LAUGHING HEART

"Your life is your life

Don't let it be clubbed into dank submission

Be on the watch.

There are ways out.

There is a light somewhere.

It may not be much light but

It beats the darkness.

Be on the watch.

The gods will offer you chances.

Know them.

Take them.

You can't beat death

But you can beat death in life, sometimes.

And the more often you learn to do it

The more light there will be.

Your life is your life.

Know it while you  have it.

You are marvelous

The gods wait to delight in you"

(Charles Bukowski)

Words of wisdom as we start a New Year...