Happy heart, healthy heart...

According to Eastern medicine, joy is the emotion associated with the heart. It has long been observed that happy go-lucky people are less likely to develop heart disease, and science confirms this. One study showed that one in five patients with coronary heart disease comes from the population of the severely depressed. Researchers found that pleasurable emotions increased levels of natural killer immune cells. Take steps to practice joy in your daily life, and it will expand naturally. Let joy fill your heart, and your heart will gladden your health.

from "secrets of longevity"



Have you gotten your joy on today?

You've got to have friends...

One of the best parts of blogging is that you never know when you will 'meet' a new friend. You don't know if some one has been stopping by and just hasn't said hello yet or if it was their first time here and they left a message. Usually, it's a message of support or camaraderie, sometimes concern and occasionally well...it's sarcastic or rude...you know the type. I've been fortunate that those are few and far between. I've been very fortunate to have found some amazing and true friendships thanks to this bloggy world we live in and I count my blessings often.

Recently I took the "Color your Life" test and posted the results here. I was purple tried and true. Ambitious, creative and independent. Adding some purple to my life would help me to find balance and calm the chaos. Enter my new blog buddy Linda. She thought a little purple could only help my life and offered to send me a little card she had painted with purple flowers on it.

Well, it arrived a few days ago and as you can see it is absolutely gorgeous. The message inside was just what I needed to hear that day. As it turns out Linda is quite talented and loves to paint ostrich eggs. You can go over to her page and check it out. Tell her 'hello' and that I sent you over her way too! Thank you Linda, I'm so glad this bloggy world has brought us together.

The gift of being expected...

Recently we celebrated the Passover Seder. (If I've worded that incorrectly I apologize). This was something entirely new to us. Being raised in a Catholic/Lutheran family we never really ventured outside the walls. We were invited to Seder by my son's future in-laws.

After driving approx. 1 1/2 hours we arrived at their small, quaint, cottage-style home to find at least twenty-five people and a very large, long dining room table. The table itself took up two rooms and was probably more than one table but that matters not to this story. It was set beautifully. Absolutely gorgeous place settings, with silver table wear .... The table was dressed with a vintage array of tablecloths. It was stunning. Each place setting was adorned with several drinking goblets of varying sizes and on each plate a copy of "The Family Haggadah." A follow-along type of book so that all of us new-comers could understand the telling of the Passover story.

We were warmly greeted by our hosts whom we had met once before. Our son and his fiance were already present and our daughter and son-in-law arrived momentarily. There was much laughter and kidding around as our coats were passed to the person closest to the coat rest and we were all introduced to each other. We took our seats without the slightest idea of what the evening would bring.

We followed along with the readings absolutely fascinated as the food was passed, the children singing and laughing and seeking. Is there anything better than the sound of laughter from the little ones? And the food, oh my gosh, the food. Each of the ceremonial foods were explained to us as was every step of the way. When this part was ended we assumed the evening over but could not have been more wrong, for next was the feast. I can't remember seeing/eating so much food. It reminded me of the Thanksgiving table with turkey and gravy and all the fixin's. It was elaborate and yet simply peaceful. It felt like home.

Not once, not for one single moment of the evening, from beginning to end, did we feel out of place. Not once did we feel like we didn't belong, like the outsiders looking in. Not once did we feel like strangers. It was as though I had found the extended family that I have longed for, forever. The 'be there' people. The ones you call 'home.' The ones who feel blessed to have you in their lives and expect you to walk through the door.

The sound of distant wedding bells...

The wedding invitations went out last week. The picture does not do them justice but my scanner is not working (new one on the way). They were designed and created by my daughter in-law to be. They are absolutely lovely.
Plans are moving along as they should be with every thing falling into place. My son and I are working on the menu for the grooms dinner (rehearsal dinner). There will probably be about fifteen of us. The wedding itself is quite small with just the bride and groom, no attendants, and their parents. We have a very small family but there are many, many new faces to enjoy and embrace on the brides side. We have already met many of them and they have made us feel like family. Six weeks and counting!

it's time for us to step up...

have you made any 'green' changes around your house?
*switch to energy saving light bulbs.
* re-usable canvas bags for shopping.
*bio-degradable bags for garbage.
*compostable bio-bags for kitchen scraps.
*low-flow shower heads.
*non-phosphorus laundry detergent, and dishwashing detergent.
*'green' cleaning products.
*energy star appliances (we started with our dishwasher).
*compost bin.

Sunshine overload...

Oh, I had such a good post planned for y'all today. It was SO good, probably my best but sadly we will never know. It is lost in the windmills of my mind. (Who sang that song?)
It's been almost a year now, a long exhausting painful year, since I was able to get outside and enjoy the sunshine, the warmth and loveliness of being out in the back yard.
About a year ago I was diagnosed with Pirformis Syndrome, a very painful nerve condition of the back, hip, and leg. It left me unable to participate in any activities. When you only have the one leg and it decides to go on strike then you are pretty much done. And I was done. I spent the better part of a year having tests, having physical therapy, going to pain clinics, all without avail. "We" decided to try for pain control as surgery is out of the question once you have a heart-attack. (ain't I fun). It took months and months to find the right combinations that would give me relief but not put me to sleep. And finally a few weeks ago I started to see the light. I started to get up in the morning without crying, started going to the grocery store, started spending the evenings talking with my husband and cooking dinner for him. I even did some laundry.
We have had lovely weather here the past two days and I have just been beside myself with things I want to do. I have been pushing and pushing myself harder each day to stay standing up as long a possible, walk as much as possible...to just be present in my own life.
My son is getting married in six weeks and I have set my goals on that. It is the thing I need to be 'present' for.
There is a trade off, of course, as always. All the sunshine, all the fresh air, all the exercise has played havoc with my glucose readings, and my allergies. I am once again like a child. Fresh air, a nice dinner, and a nap. Not just a little fresher upper nap, but a three hour nap. I have been waking up just in time to take my meds and go to bed. I can 't begin to tell you how much I love it, how happy I feel, how content to have some semblance of my life back.

Singing on a Friday...

"gentle as the sweet Magnolia,

strong as steel her faith and pride."

dolly parton

Because I always need some self-improvement...

or I am too lazy to blog, or I can't think of anything else so I'll throw another one of these 'tests' your way....take your pick! I need some purple in my life...

You Need Some Purple in Your Life

Purple will make you feel ambitious, independent, and creative. And with a little purple, you will project an aura of individuality. If you want more extravagance, you've got to get a little purple in your life! For extra punch: Combine purple with green or orange The downside of purple: It can evoke sad feelings The consequences of more purple in your life: You will feel an increase in your artistic abilities You will find balance in the most chaotic parts of your life You will feel calm and will be hard to disturb

What Color Do You Need?

Let a smile be your umbrella...

have a good day y'all.

My Town Tuesday....

awesome husband buying me flowers

grape hyacinth (thanks for the help with that Deb!)

tulips trying to be grown-up

daffodils

A couple of weeks ago we visited a local bulb farm in search of Spring. I wanted to share some history and a few more pictures with you today.

In the early 1900's Simon VanLierop left his home in the Netherlands and settled in the Puyallup Valley. He began working on a local flower farm and was often paid in bulbs which he sold to neighbors and friends. In 1934 he started his own bulb farm and now sells bulbs of every sort all over the world. The farm has many green houses so flowers are available year round. There is a beautiful walking path around the grounds and a cozy little gift shop featuring 'daffodil' and 'tulip' inspired gifts. On Sundays you can listen to live Chamber music as you stroll the gardens and sip tea. Because of our crazy winter/spring weather the bulbs are quite late in blooming this year. When the tulips are in full bloom it is a glorious sight to see. There are so many varieties and the walking paths are full of color. I'll head back over there when the season is here.

Sunday Serenity...

"hallelujah"

It's always the quiet ones..

and their plans to take over the world! I found this over at Marcie's site and I thought I would steal/share it. I want a do-over since I totally disagree with the last section but every time I tried and changed my answers I came up with this one ;D

You Color Your Life With Subtle Coolness

You are a full of grace and peace. You don't let yourself get worked up. You tend to be a bit reserved. You only speak when you really have something to say. You aspire to a lot in life, and you're quietly working on your plan to take over the world. You are elegant and a bit of a snob. You can't help it... you like expensive things!

How Do You Color Your Life?

What is your color?

random question here;

what color do you see as my background? On my computer it is green which I love. On my husbands computer it is blue which I'm not so in love with. blue/black, green/black, what's a girl to do??

p.s. he is color blind so I am counting on y'all to tell me!

In search of Spring...

The sixth on the 6th...

from Mental P. Mama, the sixth picture from the 6th picture folder: My daughter opening one of her fabulous gifts at her bridal shower (last year). She had been at a work conference in Savannah for the three days prior and had returned to town about 2hours before this picture after being up for 28hours straight trying to get a flight back due to weather problems.

Random question...

how can you come into some one's home (invited), greet everyone that is there with the exception of one person, join in the conversation and activities, eat the food provided by that one person, in fact help prepare some of the food, also provided by that one person, not once, never asking why that one person is using a walker/wheelchair, never once acknowledging that persons presence and then leave without so much as a bye-bye?

Why YES, I am bitter. and hurt. and sad. and confused.

I promise tomorrow I will not be so sad or boring or whatever else I am lately...

Shades of Marie Barone...

Do you remember that episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond" where Marie took a sculpting class? She gave her project to Debra and Raymond as a gift. It was quite large and would only fit in their living room. Marie couldn't understand why they kept covering it up and was rightly offended thinking they didn't like it. She had no idea that everyone but her saw something slightly inappropriate in the shape of the sculpture. It reminded people of a certain area of a woman's body and Marie was horrified when this was pointed out to her.

Yesterday we went for a walk at a local bulb farm. We have been in search of Spring and thought we might find it there even though it had snowed that morning and was now cold and rainy. As we walked around the gardens looking at all the bulbs in assorted stages of bloom I came across a sculpture I had never seen before. As many years as we have been going to the bulb farm and, as many years that this has been called the "Daffodil Valley," I still had not seen this structure. Immediately upon viewing it that episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond" jumped into my mind and I snapped a picture of it. Tell me what you think...

What March taught me...

It is not easy to "stop and smell the roses."

We've trained ourselves to always be thinking ahead.

But if you never live in and fully enjoy the present, what kind of life are you living??