GRATEFUL

"If you must look back, do so forgivingly.
If you must look forward, do so prayerfully.
However, the wisest thing you can do is be
present in the present...gratefully."

~ Maya Angelou.

 Now that the rain has moved on
we are starting to slowly dry out,

and it is fun seeing all the
mushrooms that are springing
up.

 The drive is still a wee
bit soggy, but the sun
is shining and I have
managed to get my walk
in each day.

 I have a plan for when I
'must' visit the market and
that is to try at least one new
thing. I get tired of eating/
drinking the same thing over
and over, I need to try new
foods, it helps keep my world
interesting. This week I tried Suja
Juice and have plans to buy
more, it was quite good. Have
you tried it?

 Along with celebrating Veterans
Day, this week was also the 240th
birthday of the Marine Corp.
Since I am the daughter of a
career Marine and live in a
town that trains recruits this
was a really big deal in my world.
I am so grateful to all the service
members for their sacrifice.

 It was a great mail week,
I received a package of
handmade bookmarks
after winning a giveaway
hosted by A butterfly in my hair.
Thank you so much V, I love them.

I am finally finished with
my chunky [cheater:Karen;)]
knitting, I had a few requests
for chunky knits, but I am
now thrilled to be knitting
with needles that don't feel
like logs in my hands.

Emerson had her 2nd grade school
photos taken and I will admit to a
few tears, she is so beautiful and getting
so big!

Enjoy the most wonderful weekend
my friends. We are going from a
high today of 80F to 63F and maybe
I will see the first frost of the season,
fingers crossed.

Much love,
Tracey
XO

MY HEART GIGGLED

Sometimes I'm doing things considered

crazy by others, but then my heart giggles.

That's when I know I am doing the right thing.

 

~Dodinsky

 

                                         [Photos from my walk yesterday.]

Today makes Day 10,
the last day of my
juice fast!

I started out strong,
but by day 3 I was
doubting I could do
it. By day 6 I was
dreaming of tables
filled with breads and
huge tubs of butter
all just waiting for
me to eat, barrels of
yogurt and honey
calling my name.

I started to waver.
Mike voiced his concern,
he worries, but I didn't
want to quit., not after
coming this far.

I've walked for miles
just to be away from 
the house, the kitchen,
food.
I've drank gallons of water
and herb tea.
I"ve run the juicer three,
four times a day processing
tons of vegetables and
fruits.

And now?

Well, my skin looks
pretty good, I have tons and
tons of energy, my clothes
feel looser and my mood
is happy. My sleeping didn't
improve, but then I never
sleep much anyway.
I can't say I would/could do
this more than once a year,
but I'm glad I did it this time.

My favorite afternoon juice:
1/2 pineapple
3 pounds carrot juice
2 inches fresh ginger, optional

Run through juicer, chill. Can mix with seltzer water if desired.

WEEKENDING

To sit in the shade on a fine day
and look upon verdure is the
most perfect refreshment. 

~Jane Austen

Finally taking advantage of
a book that has sat on my shelf
unused for far too long and
began a nature journal.
Packed a basket with drawing
materials, a blanket and a
thermos full of iced coffee
taking a stroll down the dirt
road looking for just 'the spot'.
Temperatures have soared back
into the nineties making me
wonder if fall will ever arrive,
but I finally found a nice shady
area to spread my blanket,
enjoying  several hours of drawing,
there might have been a little
napping too.
After the weekly market trip
there was a quick stop at the
LYS for some needed supplies
for gift I want to make.
 Did you know Christmas
is in 113 days?
Today there will be knitting,
besides secret knitting I am
casting on an Annabel Cardigan
using the yarn   [#2415] 
I was gifted for Mother's Day.
Dinner will include these
because I have a craving.
I hope you are enjoying the
weekend and if you're in the US,
I hope you have a great
Labor Day.
Joining with the lovely
Amanda.

A WORLD OF BEAUTY

Nothing is more beautiful than
the loveliness of the woods before
sunrise.

~George Washington Carver

The world is filled with beauty and
I hope you are taking the time to notice.

I CREATE MYSELF

The philosophy of mine earth
can be summed up as this: 
Sunshine creates happiness,
and I create myself. Nights
are long and life is predominantly
good. Wind is refreshing. Tea is
wisdom. Do the best you can,
and be good to yourself so
that you can above all be
good to others. 

~Jessi Lane Adams

YARN ALONG

It is beautiful when it rains
far away in the distance, the
bright sun shining on the
mound on which you stand,
and only a few guerilla drops
heralding the approach of the
shower towards you.
~John Richard Vernon,

"The Beauty of Rain," 1863

Traveling over 1300 miles
while on my adventure
gave me a lot of time to
knit, and  it was pure
bliss. I finished my
Pebble Tank and found
this pattern to be so
easy to knit that I am
now casting on another
one, this time in a green
cotton.

I have a little book problem
and no matter how high my
'to be read' stack is if I am
in a book store I am not
leaving until I find at least
one book to leave with me.
I was browsing the displays
of a bookstore the other day
and happened upon their
recommended school stand
where they were showcasing
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.
I am not sure how, but I have
never read anything by Sylvia
Plath until now which is really
a shame. The Bell Jar is a gripping
tale of a young woman's slow
spiral into depression that
stays with you even when you
close the book for the night
to try and go to sleep.
 
Joining with Ginny.

WEEKENDING

The best things in life are nearest:
  Breath in your nostrils, light in your
  eyes, flowers at your feet, duties
at your hand, the path of right just
before you. Then do not grasp at
the stars, but do life's plain, common
work as it comes, certain that daily
duties and daily bread are the
 sweetest things in life.

  ~Robert Louis Stevenson

It has been a weekend
of simple tasks...shopping
for food and discovering a
great chip,  finding the most
comfortable bra I have
ever worn, knitting away
on a top for the wee
one's birthday for next
month, picking up great
mail from the post office
[thank you ko], pampering
myself with a fun pedicure
and a much needed facial. 
Today there has been a
slow walk around the yard
and seeing that we really need
rain, clipping berries  and putting
them in the freezer to de-stem
in preparation for making syrup
next week, thinking  I really
want to make this for dessert.
This afternoon promises to be
quiet and peaceful as I hid inside
from the heat and just let the
day flow.
How has your weekend been?
Joining with Amanda for her
weekending posts.

TO BE BLESSED

“Sometimes I need
only to stand
wherever I am
to be blessed.”

~Mary Oliver

Another beautiful morning
to take a walk, this time
in the other direction.

I stopped for a while,
enjoying the view, the
smell, the silence.

I am  blessed!

I am hoping each and
everyone of you has a chance
to just 'be' in the moment, to
be blessed and to feel loved.

Happy Thursday!