My latest creation- silver wolf charm, sandlewood, chrysocolla, india agate stars and various glass beads on 49 strand SS wire.  This is the first that I have actually made for myself and am quite proud of it. My skills are improving. Now to find more time to create!

Blackberries & risks..

I'd been craving a blackberry pie so got up early to pick berries. I really am blessed to live in an area where we can have these wonderful berries growing wild. I have the best memories of picking blackberries in the woods with my grandma & mom, then being able to help in the kitchen with cooking the pie. dark stains all over our hands and aprons..thick crust soaked in juices.  Other than peach cobbler, there's not a pie that can compare to a great blackberry pie in my eyes.   I haven't had one in years and was determined not to let the season pass by this year without having one.  I was struck by the parallel to life in picking these berries... to get the biggest and best berries, you have to take the risk of getting a little hurt, scratched or bruised.  In my case today, the hurt was a red wasp sting on the thumb - tip: soak in Espsom salt to draw out the poison from insect bites & stings. But the payoff will be a delicious blackberry pie and lots of great memories.  Sometimes in life you have to take a risk to have the life that you dream of.  I also allowed myself to play a bit and dream bigger - my dream in life is to have a healing center, a safe place surrounded by nature, where people of all kinds are able to come together to grow and heal, to spread their light into the world and make it a better place. I'd love to have lots of garden space as well as fruit & berries. I envision plums, peaches, apples, blueberries, blackberries, dewberries, melons. I've always had veggie & herb gardens but haven't been that great with the fruit.. hopefully that can change.

      I've come up against some resistance to putting myself out there in a blog again as I've been burned in the past with doing similar things. But I'm pushing through this and doing it anyway as I think in the end, the benefit will be great and it will be worth the risk.  It will be a process...

Sit on the hillside....

As you sit on the hillside,
   or lie prone under the trees of the forest,
or sprawl wet-legged by a mountain stream,
  the great door,
       that does not look like a door,
            opens.

Stephen Graham, 1884-1975

British Travel Writer and Novelist

Pacific Garbage Patch Plastic to be Recycled Into Vacuum Cleaners (Video) : TreeHugger

Pacific Garbage Patch Plastic to be Recycled Into Vacuum Cleaners (Video) : TreeHugger

At least some effort is being made to do something about this mess. Maybe it will help make people more aware of where our garbage ends up and more likely to pay more attention to what they are buying and throwing away. Awareness is the first step.

A few of my favorite things..

I'm on Week 10 of The Artists Way and one of the tasks is to make a list of 'touchstones' or things that you love. I love happiness lists! I think it's important to take a moment when you are down in the dumps or feeling overwhelmed to think of these touchstones.. go experience one or two. It's a great tool!

Here are a few of my favorite things (in no particular order)...
* gardens & gardening * spending time with friends/loved ones * nature walks with my dogs * my cats * work with Spirit  (having a wonderful spiritual experience) * photography *   chinese food * thrift stores & yard sales * traveling to places I've never been * wolves (getting to run with wolves in my org work) * pow wows * making a difference however & whenever I can * sleep * being near water * being in Nature *  knowing I am on the right track * loving & being loved in return * pyramids * Amelia Peabody Mysteries * curling up with a great book or movie *pizza*  great conversation * horses  (I especially love watching them run ) * beads & jewelry making * Angels * Faeries * daydreaming * swimming *  Creator *  the energy of a thunderstorm * playing in the rain * laughter * feeling love in my heart * aquariums * SARK * great music * seeing a live show * Supernatural (love those Winchesters) * Nathaniel Arcand * Ebay * flowers * finding something that I thought was lost forever * stars * stargazing * gratitude *   Energy Work * massage * weeping willows * smell of gardenia & the beach * ecology * having everything work out in the end * trees * clouds * a gentle breeze in my hair *  kiwi * chocolate & peanut butter together * butterflies * the silence of snow * springtime - such a feeling of rebirth * boots * art * candlelight * Body + Soul magazine * roller coasters * aloe * oceans & all of the abundant life that live there * trust * Maynard James Keenan's voice * remembering the good times * moments when everything makes sense * hot fudge sundaes * homemade peach ice cream * stepping out of my comfort zone and loving it*   knowing that I have lots more favorites and can keep adding to this list :)

What are a few of your favorite things?

A new beginning...

So I've been thinking about starting a blog for some time. Spirit has been gently nudging me to get myself 'out there' and make a start so here I go. I'm not sure where this will go or what will come but I hope that it will become a place to share and grow, to cultivate new friendships and connections. I suppose it's appropriate to start this on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, a time of transition, reminding us that the season is short and the days are precious. A time to dance in the light and celebrate our connection to All. It's time for the seeds that we've planted to become ready for harvest... a time to make dreams a reality.

Who am I? I'm a stargirl living in a small town in Alabama. I work as a Caregiver and am also part of a 501c3 org called The First Nations Outreach Project. We do wolf rescue and are working to build a Wolf & Wildlife education/ nature center. It is also a Native American org so we do cultural education and hold pow wows each year.   I'm a spiritual traveler, intuitive, a weaver of energy.. a Lightworker. I feel as if I am in a time of great transition and wow, what a ride it is! I love spending time in Nature, playing with my animals, photography, books & movies, various crafts & artwork among other things. Life is a grand adventure..thanks for reading a bit of the patchwork of my life...