Walking On Snow

There’s just something beautiful about walking on snow that nobody else has walked on. It makes you believe you’re special.

Carol Rifka Brunt

We had a little snowstorm here and it was delightful! I adore when it snows! I could watch the flakes falling for hours as it feels so peaceful to me. The sounds of snow falling is magical and Buster (our new Golden Retriever Christmas puppy) and I were out in the middle of the night while it was snowing a few times and it was chilly, but well worth it. Because nature’s soothing sounds of snow falling, while the world is asleep, I find amazing. To see him trying to capture the falling flakes was adorable and to witness his first few steps on snow (which he had never experienced before) made me giggle, even though I was trembling in the cold. He, who has a double fur coat, was non-plussed as he rolled around in the snow! Ah, the joys of having a new puppy!

I love this quote as it felt so true, especially when we were out a few times in the snow and as it kept falling, our footprints were erased for the next time he had to go outside. Each time, it felt special! There’s nothing like walking on newly fallen snow! It’s as if you’re blazing your own trail!

I think that’s what our lives are for – blazing our own trails (with or without snow). Taking the time to enjoy those precious quiet moments with those we love, cozy and happily being with loved ones, spending time just being in the present. Noticing all the glorious presence in nature and our world.

May you all have a lovely weekend. Keep your heart lights lit and gather your loved ones together with gratitude in your heart for all of the blessings we have.

Shine On!

xo

Twinkly White Lights Make Me Happy

The title of this post says it all!  I love Twinkly White Lights!  Don’t you?

I’m sitting here quietly at night, cuddled on the couch with a blanket draped over my legs and the computer perched on the arm of my couch typing to you.  As I look up over the screen of the computer I see my mantle shining with twinkly white lights festively decorated with the red left over from Christmas and in preparation for February’s holiday of Valentine’s Day!  Quiet soothing music in the background and I’m perfectly content.  Can you feel the magic?

It’s chilly outside, but not snowing.  It’s not the cold that happens when it’s terribly windy, but a peaceful winter’s night.  The perfect night to count our blessings and feel peace in our hearts.

We’ve made it through the first month of the new decade, although I’ll admit it felt like an extraordinarily long one.  Did you feel that way too?  It seems like many people felt that way, but maybe it’s just that January feels longer than most months since we’ve just come from the festiveness of December and it’s quieter than normal.

When we wake tomorrow it will February First and you know that means Rabbit Rabbit!  I haven’t seen my rabbits lately at all.  Mr. Groundhog made his appearance the other afternoon though and we have an outdoor kitty that I’ve seen hanging out in the yard.  I’m not sure if he belongs to any of the neighbors, but he looks strong and healthy.  We haven’t made friends yet, but perhaps one of these days.  So far, he will stand and look at me when he notices me but then scampers off into the woods.  I just hope he has a warm place to call home.

I hope that your January went smoothly as the transition to the new decade appears to have been a transition of sorts for many people.  A good transition, but a little rocky.  But then not all transitions go smoothly, but that doesn’t make them bad even when we fear change.

Have a lovely night wherever you are, whomever you’re with and whatever you’re doing.  I’m thinking of you all and wishing you serenity and an abundance of blessings.  My heart is full of gratitude.  My twinkly lights are shining and my heartlight is too!

Shine On!

xo

 

Winsome Winter

Icicles! Icicles! Icicles!

In addition to the massive snowfall, the gusty winds and the freezing cold, the house has developed icicles!  These are the biggest ones I’ve ever seen!  What a winsome winter we’re having here!  Thanks Mother Nature!

In the photos, you probably can’t see that there are some which are even taller than me (because they end behind the banister on the stairway), but I think they are beautiful.  When the sun was shining on them and they were glistening, they were magnificent.  Unfortunately the photos I took don’t do them justice.

Snowfall and morning moon with a snow drift in the bottom forefront! Farm house across the road.

The temperatures with wind chills factored in are reaching – 5 to – 20 which is mighty cold for Jersey.  But we are cozy in the house, so that’s all that counts.  We had some snow drifts that were about 3 feet high in places, so they weren’t shoveled.  But the driveway is clear, thanks to a few snowblowers and some back breaking shoveling.  Thank God, all is well.

A little Caturday surprise before the tree is removed.

How are you doing in your area?  Snow?  Cold?  Windy?  Sunny?  Warm?  I hope that whatever your weather, you are nestled all snug in your home like our kitty Tigger.  As always, I wish you a lovely Saturday, filled with blessings, goodness and with a heartlight that shines brilliantly!

Shine On!

xo

 

Teardrop Poetry

Teardrops fall unbidden

like raindrops outside the window,

nourishing the soul,

so she can blossom again.

Cleansing, letting go

of winters passed

turning a tear-streaked face

to the spring of a new dawn.

~The Presents of Presence

Shine On!

xo

What We Can Learn From Winter (and I’m not writing about the season)!

Have you ever seen the 2011 movie Dolphin Tale?  Or its sequel Dolphin Tale 2 which came out in 2014?  The movies chronicle the life of a dolphin named Winter who was maimed by being caught in a crab trap and thusly, lost her tail.  I have seen the movies before, but I find that I always enjoy them as their universally inspirational message rings clearly to me.

We are here to work through our trials and tribulations and we are also here to inspire others.

We can be hurt, heartbroken, maimed and feel as if we can’t survive, but with help from those around us, even perhaps strangers, we can find the will to go on.  As we heal, we can choose to live our lives as an example of what the human or ‘ahem’ dolphin spirit can achieve with love.

I recently visited Winter’s site click here!  I learned that beginning Monday February 1st, a real-life follow up show series called Rescue-Clearwater will premiere online documenting the work at Clearwater Marine Aquarium.  Each episode will be released at the beginning of the month and be 30 minutes in length.  What a great way to catch up with Winter’s progress!

I highly recommend clicking on their website.  There’s even a real-time webcam to watch Winter and Hope and all the rest of the animals.  What fun to watch Winter as she swims and how inspiring to see her!  Don’t you just love a great feel good story?  I know I do!  Open your heartlight and let it shine!

Have you ever been to Clearwater to see Winter?  Please share below!

Shine On!

xo

St Patrick’s Day Magic

   St. Patrick’s Day

A day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic.

-Adrienne Cook

May we all enjoy a bit of magic today and always!

Shine On!

xo

Winter Wishes

Winter. One kind word can warm three winter months. ~ Japanese Proverb

It’s feeling a bit wintry here so this one felt like a goodie for the start of the week!  It’s important to speak, read, write, and think kind words during this wintry hibernation ~ to ourselves and to others.  What would be your kind word for today?  Please share below!

I think mine would be love.

Shine On!

xo

Daffodils for You!

I took this picture this morning of one of the daffodils on my kitchen table because it made me smile and I thought I’d share it with you today.  The daffs are not blooming in my yard yet as it’s too cold.  They are still just green shoots coming out of the cold hard earth.  But they are there, heralding the beginning of Spring, just waiting for the perfect moment to shine their yellow sunshine on all.

Spring to me is a rebirth ~ just like every dawn which comes my way.  It’s a newness from which the hope of a new day springs for me.  Daffodils remind me that the struggle of winter’s barrenness is over and with it comes the rebirth of creativity and  the newness of Spring which enter the soul.

I took my picture, uploaded it to my free SendOutCards account and made it into a greeting card within 5 minutes!  If you look closely you can see the green dotted outline of what is printed on the card ~ almost all of my images are that way because I make my own greeting cards and/or use the ones from the SOC (SendOutCards) catalog to make make my images for my blog.  Obviously the green dots aren’t on the greeting card, this is just how it shows what the image will look like so that I can make sure that my image is within the green dotted line which is what’s printed on the card!   I’d love to share my daffodil with you ~ if you send me your address, I’ll send you a card!  Wouldn’t you enjoy a surprise in your mailbox amidst the bills and junk mail?  I’d love to send you a smile today!

Hugs to all of you!

Thanks for reading my blog post!

Shine On!

xo

P.S.  Any more March birthdays out there?