A lovely surprise

Well, it's Friday, and for those of us living in the US we are celebrating Memorial Weekend. This is also the official beginning of Summer. Beaches in New Jersey will open and that peculiar wonderful sense of informality provoked by warm, sunny days, will take hold of everyone. Summers are short up here so every minute counts!  

I am getting ready to go visit our Garden Center but before I "bury" myself in the garden I wanted to thank my dear friend Catherine for bestowing upon me the Versatile  Blogger Award.  Thank you Cath! I just love it!!

Catherine is a lovely lady with an incredible talent to capture life with her camera.  Please visit her at Corner's of Cat's Mind and see for yourself.

In order to keep this Award circulating the following rules must be obeyed:

Rule 1. Thank the person who gave it to you.
Rule 2. Share 9 things about yourself.
Rule 3. Pass the Award along to 9 bloggers who you think are fantastic.
Rule 4. Contact Blog Award winners.

So, here it goes, nine things about myself...

1-I get nervous when crossing a bridge.

2-I am shy and my favorite table at a restaurant is the one tucked away in a quiet corner.

3-I am afraid of spiders and snakes. I know, I’m “such” a girl! :0)

4-I don’t care at all for diamonds or gold but LOVE silver and custom jewelry.

5-I own over 100 pairs of earrings most of which are “gypsy looking” you know the kind, loops and beads and dangling things, totally Bohemian. I NEVER leave the house without making sure I have earrings on, I just love them!

6-I hate western movies, well, all except the ones with Clint Eastwood ;)

7-I don’t like opera.

8-I’ve never been to the theater.

9-I seriously wish to own a real gypsy caravan which of course, would have to be purple!

That wasn't too hard, the tricky part is to try and pick only nine out of all my wonderful friends, but rules are rules, right?

1- Mary at Moontides- Mary describes herself as an "urban pagan" and her blog is a very interesting Diary of her daily observations as she tries to survive living in the Big Apple.

2-Tina at Carousel Dreams- Tina is an incredible artist who lives "down under." Her blog is full of magic and great photos of visits to wonderful places.

3-Andi at Andi's English Attic-Andi visits beautiful and interesting places and never fails to make me smile.

4-Paulette at Beedeebabee-Paulette is a sweet super talented lady. Her creations will surely amaze you!

5-Becca at Patina Moon-Becca's Blog is just beautiful (and so are her cats :0) Her photographs are incredible.

6-Natalie at Reading up a Storm-Natalie is an amazing lady who describes herself as "being 81 but feels 18"---How wonderful is that?!

7-Kelly at When Nature Speaks, Do You Listen?-I just recently met Kelly but I truly feel as if I had known her for a long time. If you love Nature you MUST visit her blog. Her photographs are a work of art!

8-Sherrie at A Vintage Affaire-Sherrie is an avid collector and is now busy getting ready her very own workshop.

9-Kiki at Heart of Wizardess-what can I say about Kiki? She is an amazing spirit and her camera is like her "third eye" A visit to her Blog will not be forgotten!

Well, it's done. I hope you all have fun and not feel pressured to do this. No need to explain or apologize if you decide to skip the Award.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend full of magic and peace, and thank you for coloring my world!

Hugs,

 

Beauty at hand

Old hands, shaky, frail, tremulous. A book tattered and stained by the passing of the years. Just like an old tree trunk with many knots and carvings, old gnarled hands hold a special beauty. They tell a tale of struggles, hard work and sacrifices. Gone are the softness and luster replaced now by brittle,  freckled skin, and I wonder... are these freckles pages of that tale? Do they represent yesteryear's sunny summer days? Were they caused while pottering round the garden too busy to remember to wear gloves? 

Old hands once so useful now holding a flower. Both so fragile! Past and present together on the road to become the future... a memory...

When I grow older and my hands become shaky and frail, I truly hope that each and every freckle and scar would be there to show I did not mind doing things myself and I did not mind helping others. I want my hands to be an open book for all to see I lived my life to the fullest. 

(This post is dedicated in loving memory to both, my father and grandmother. Their useful hands will always have a special place in my heart) 

Photo by Bing Image

Tender rain

Tender drops of rain

sliding down the window pane,

dancing on the flowers,

playing hide and go seek on the grass.

Glistening drops of rain

priceless jewels falling softly on the trees.

Diamonds scattered all over the garden

their magic spread for all to see.

It's tea time, and the ants and the fairies

seek shelter under the lilac bush,

as they lift their tiny cups, I stand still and listen to the rain...

Photo by Bing Images

Comforting Rituals

Every night, as I get ready to go to sleep I find comfort and peace in simple rituals. A cup of tea in a pretty cup, a love note left on the kitchen counter for my wonderful husband to read in the morning, the soft hum of the dishwasher, the sound of my slippers  as I walk to the window for one last look outside. I love the perfect silence, the twinkling of the fairy lights wrapped over the picket fence. At this time, my thoughts fly across the Atlantic to the other side of the world. I close my eyes and I'm at my son's apartment, I hug and kiss him good night. I pray for his safety and happiness. I pray for acceptance and understanding.  As I make my way back to the kitchen I pass "Titania" my dear fairy friend. There she sits surrounded by flowers and tiny lights, holding a small candle, she is the very picture of peace and serenity. I stop and admire her beauty and I smile.

I head upstairs, pause for a moment outside my daughter's bedroom and force myself not to think of the time when she too, leaves home, so I go into the guest bedroom, plump up a cushion, close the curtains, look around. 

My habits have evolved through the years, and just like our family, they've developed, progressed, adapted, and changed. Tonight, as I get ready to go to sleep, I realize that even though so many things are different, I am still able to find peace and beauty in these simple, comforting rituals.

A brand new look

Hello everyone! Yes, it's me, you are aboard the Purple Caravan :0) Hope you like the new look! I really did not plan it, I was just visiting my friend Paulette at Beedeebabee and noticed her Blog had been re-designed by Karen Valentine. I liked it so much I decided to contact Karen who in just three days was able to not only understand what I wanted, but was also able to create it, and install it all for me! I did not have to do anything! If you are looking for a change in your Blog's appearance you will not be disappointed by Karen. She is talented, friendly, and what's best, she listens!  I hope you will visit her at Valentine Design.  Thank you Karen! 

On another note, I've been enjoying four consecutive days without severe allergies.   After numerous visits to the doctor and many changes in medications I can finally sleep all night and look "human" (no puffy, watery, itchy eyes, no runny nose, etc., etc.) Needles to say, I am very HAPPY!  This total feeling of joy reminds me of something I once read :"It is amazing how much crisper the general experience of life becomes when your body is given a chance to develop a little strength" (Frank Duff) So true!

Hope everyone is having a great week. Please don't forget to stop a while and just BE!

Photo by Weheartit.com

Only a Dream

There she sits.  She and her beauty.

Oblivious to everything.

Playful thoughts,

Dreamy eyes,

A smile on her lips.

It's a perfect moment.

Suspended in time

By fragile, glimmering threads.

Untouched, just breathing.

 Her feelings like a shawl, wrap around her shoulders.

This is a day like no other,

Dream big!

Because just like the others, this too will end...

Image by Raymond Leech