Monday 30 May 2011

Start the week with a quote...






















Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.

Sunday 29 May 2011

Prayer for World Peace



















Dove of Peace ~ Giclee print


We pray to the great Spiritual Power in which we live and move and have our being.
We pray that we may at all times keep our minds open to new ideas and shun dogma;
that we may grow in our understanding of the nature of all living beings and our connectedness with the natural world;
that we may become ever more filled with generosity of spirit and true compassion and love for all life;
that we may strive to heal the hurts that we have inflicted on nature and control our greed for material things, knowing that our actions are harming our natural world and the future of our children;
that we may value each and every human being for who he is, for who she is, reaching to the spirit that is within, knowing the power of each individual to change the world.



We pray for social justice, for the alleviation of the crippling poverty that condemns millions of people around the world to lives of misery - hungry, sick, and utterly without hope.
We pray for the children who are starving, who are condemned to homelessness, slave labour, prostitution, and especially for those forced to fight, to kill and torture even members of their own family.
We pray for the victims of violence and war, for those wounded in body and for those wounded in mind.
We pray for the multitudes of refugees, forced from their homes to alien places through war or through the utter destruction of their environment.



We pray for suffering animals everywhere, for an end to the pain caused by scientific experimentation, intensive farming, fur farming, shooting, trapping, training for entertainment, abusive pet owners, and all other forms of exploitation such as overloading and overworking pack animals, bull fighting, badger baiting, dog and cock fighting and so many more.



We pray for an end to cruelty, whether to humans or other animals, for an end to bullying, and torture in all its forms.
We pray that we may learn the peace that comes with forgiving and the strength we gain in loving;
that we may learn to take nothing for granted in this life;
that we may learn to see and understand with our hearts;
that we may learn to rejoice in our being.



We pray for these things with humility;
We pray because of the hope that is within us, and because of a faith in the ultimate triumph of the human spirit;
We pray because of our love for Creation, and because of our trust in God.
We pray, above all, for peace throughout the world.

prayer for world peace ~ dr jane goodall

Thursday 26 May 2011

The Thursday Poem





















Woman Work

I've got the children to tend

The clothes to mend
The floor to mop
The food to shop
Then the chicken to fry
The baby to dry
I got company to feed
The garden to weed

I've got shirts to press
The tots to dress
The can to be cut
I gotta clean up this hut
Then see about the sick

And the cotton to pick.


Shine on me, sunshine
Rain on me, rain
Fall softly, dewdrops
And cool my brow again.


Storm, blow me from here
With your fiercest wind
Let me float across the sky
'Til I can rest again.


Fall gently, snowflakes
Cover me with white
Cold icy kisses and
Let me rest tonight.


Sun, rain, curving sky
Mountain, oceans, leaf and stone
Star shine, moon glow
You're all that I can call my own.


Maya Angelou
(4th April 1928 - )

Monday 23 May 2011

Start the week with a quote...



















image from The Graphics Fairy



Nobody stands taller than those willing to stand corrected.

Sunday 22 May 2011

Prayer for World Peace



















Dove of Peace ~ Giclee print


We pray to the great Spiritual Power in which we live and move and have our being.

We pray that we may at all times keep our minds open to new ideas and shun dogma;
that we may grow in our understanding of the nature of all living beings and our connectedness with the natural world;
that we may become ever more filled with generosity of spirit and true compassion and love for all life;
that we may strive to heal the hurts that we have inflicted on nature and control our greed for material things, knowing that our actions are harming our natural world and the future of our children;
that we may value each and every human being for who he is, for who she is, reaching to the spirit that is within, knowing the power of each individual to change the world.


We pray for social justice, for the alleviation of the crippling poverty that condemns millions of people around the world to lives of misery - hungry, sick, and utterly without hope.
We pray for the children who are starving, who are condemned to homelessness, slave labour, prostitution, and especially for those forced to fight, to kill and torture even members of their own family.
We pray for the victims of violence and war, for those wounded in body and for those wounded in mind.
We pray for the multitudes of refugees, forced from their homes to alien places through war or through the utter destruction of their environment.


We pray for suffering animals everywhere, for an end to the pain caused by scientific experimentation, intensive farming, fur farming, shooting, trapping, training for entertainment, abusive pet owners, and all other forms of exploitation such as overloading and overworking pack animals, bull fighting, badger baiting, dog and cock fighting and so many more.


We pray for an end to cruelty, whether to humans or other animals, for an end to bullying, and torture in all its forms.
We pray that we may learn the peace that comes with forgiving and the strength we gain in loving;
that we may learn to take nothing for granted in this life;
that we may learn to see and understand with our hearts;
that we may learn to rejoice in our being.


We pray for these things with humility;
We pray because of the hope that is within us, and because of a faith in the ultimate triumph of the human spirit;
We pray because of our love for Creation, and because of our trust in God.
We pray, above all, for peace throughout the world.


prayer for world peace ~ dr jane goodall

Thursday 19 May 2011

Ron Gutman: The hidden power of smiling

The Thursday Poem



















Young Woman Reading by a Window by Delphin Enjolras


The Greater Cats

The greater cats with golden eyes
Stare out between the bars,
Deserts are there, and different skies,
And night with different stars.
They prowl the aromatic hill,
And mate as fiercely as they kill,
And hold the freedom of their will
To roam, to live, to drink their fill;
But this beyond their wit know I:
Man loves a little, and for long shall die.

Their kind across the desert range
Where tulips spring from stones,
Not knowing they will suffer change
Or vultures pick their bones.
Their strength's eternal in their sight,
They rule the terror of the night,
They overtake the deer in flight,
And in their arrogance they smite;
But I am sage, if they are strong:
Man's love is transient as his death is long.

Yet oh what powers to deceive!
My wit is turned to faith,
And at this moment I believe
In love, and scout at death.
I came from nowhere, and shall be
Strong, steadfast, swift, eternally:
I am a lion, a stone, a tree
And as the Polar star in me
Is fixed my constant heart on thee.
Ah, may I stay forever blind
With lions, tigers, leopards, and their kind.

Vita Sackville-West
(9th March 1892 - 2nd June 1962)

from the book: Poem for the Day One

Tuesday 17 May 2011

A deluge of Daisy photos!













Little Miss Daisy is certainly discovering the best spots to snooze ;-)

Monday 16 May 2011

Rearranging the dining room ~ once again!















I am in the midst of rearranging the dining room yet again, sweetie~pies! Since I need the side table in the living room for my new dolls' house, I had to move the dolls which were on it and so decided that I would bring them all into the dining room and have another downsizing session at the same time ;-)


I also took the opportunity to rearrange my vintage kitchen cabinet, my loves, and have finally set out the two "new" shelves I have had up on the wall for absolutely ages! The pine shelf and the wooden brackets beneath the white one will all eventually be painted ~ probably cream or soft white. Sweetie~pies, I'm sure you will not be surprised to hear me say that this is most likely not the final arrangement ;-)  I have some little shelves in the hall to display things on too, plus I shall be rearringing the display on the dresser out there at some point LOL


I still have my blue-and-white china cabinet to sort out ~ in recent months I have added a few items to my collection, which I don't think I have shown you, so I will try to remember to photograph the new bits 'n' bobs before I rearrange the cabinet :-)  I am also going to rearrange the sideboard.  That is  plenty to keep me out of mischief don't you think my loves ~ then I will be starting on some rearranging in the living room!
 










I changed Jolly Molly's outfit ~ she looks nice and summery now in her pink vintage hat and rather swish feathered bolero.


I decided it would be a jolly good idea to sit Ethel~Maud up here with JM, Belinda and Bertie as Daisy has been knocking her about during the night!













The shelves in my vintage kitchen cabinet have been rearranged.  Really, all I have done is swap the shelf displays around although I have added a couple of my dolls to the cabinet too, behind the Willow Tree ornaments.  I do so love Willow Tree!  I bought the sister and brother ornament as a memento of Sam and Beverly turning 18 back in January 2009 and gave them one each, too, as part of their birthday gifts :-)    



I think the top shelf needs more "height" at the back, so I think I will look through my collection of pretty plates and place a couple  behind the saucers at some point.

















One side of the cabinet.....


















...and the other :-)

















With the cabinet doors closed.  The photos are not terribly good, I'm afraid my loves!











I had one of my "ruthless sort-outs" of my dollies!  I have had to be a bit sensible about what I have space for, especially now that I am building this new dolls' house.  Sadly my home is not like Dr Who's Tardis LOL


















I have had this little pine shelf for a number of years.  It used to hold my CD collection but wasn't really suitable, to be honest, as the CD cases were deeper than the shelves!   It also wasn't big enough to hold all my discs so they are now stored in baskets :-)  I will paint the shelf ~ at some point!















My little collection of Rosebud dolls.  You all know what a soft spot I have for Rosebuds, so they couldn't possibly be downsized :-)


















And these are the dolls which used to be in the living room ~ well, some of them anyway.  I took a deep breath, my loves, and downsized this collection by almost half.  The dolls I have weeded-out will eventually be gently cleaned and put up for sale in my ebay store. 















I thought I would finish off this post with a few photos of little Miss Daisy.  She certainly likes her basket :-)


















Daisy doesn't spend all her time snoozing in her bed ~ and she is getting more sociable about coming out during the day :-) She was watching Adrian making the first of the doors for the bin-store he has recently built ~ and studiously ignoring me ;-)

(You will have to excuse the grubby patio doors and sill, sweetie~pies ~ I'm afraid that I haven't got that far in my dining room project yet!)

















In the end her curiosity got the better of her, so I was able to snap a photo of her pretty little face :-)

Start the week with a quote...



















image from The Graphics Fairy



Great art picks up where nature ends.

Sunday 15 May 2011

Prayer for World Peace



















Dove of Peace ~ Giclee print


We pray to the great Spiritual Power in which we live and move and have our being.

We pray that we may at all times keep our minds open to new ideas and shun dogma;
that we may grow in our understanding of the nature of all living beings and our connectedness with the natural world;
that we may become ever more filled with generosity of spirit and true compassion and love for all life;
that we may strive to heal the hurts that we have inflicted on nature and control our greed for material things, knowing that our actions are harming our natural world and the future of our children;
that we may value each and every human being for who he is, for who she is, reaching to the spirit that is within, knowing the power of each individual to change the world.


We pray for social justice, for the alleviation of the crippling poverty that condemns millions of people around the world to lives of misery - hungry, sick, and utterly without hope.
We pray for the children who are starving, who are condemned to homelessness, slave labour, prostitution, and especially for those forced to fight, to kill and torture even members of their own family.
We pray for the victims of violence and war, for those wounded in body and for those wounded in mind.
We pray for the multitudes of refugees, forced from their homes to alien places through war or through the utter destruction of their environment.


We pray for suffering animals everywhere, for an end to the pain caused by scientific experimentation, intensive farming, fur farming, shooting, trapping, training for entertainment, abusive pet owners, and all other forms of exploitation such as overloading and overworking pack animals, bull fighting, badger baiting, dog and cock fighting and so many more.


We pray for an end to cruelty, whether to humans or other animals, for an end to bullying, and torture in all its forms.
We pray that we may learn the peace that comes with forgiving and the strength we gain in loving;
that we may learn to take nothing for granted in this life;
that we may learn to see and understand with our hearts;
that we may learn to rejoice in our being.


We pray for these things with humility;
We pray because of the hope that is within us, and because of a faith in the ultimate triumph of the human spirit;
We pray because of our love for Creation, and because of our trust in God.
We pray, above all, for peace throughout the world.


prayer for world peace ~ dr jane goodall

Thursday 12 May 2011

The Thursday Poem



















Young Woman Reading by a Window by Delphin Enjolras


Little Elegy
for a child who skipped rope

Here lies resting, out of breath,
Our of turns, Elizabeth
Whose quicksilver toes not quite
Cleared the whirring edge of night.

Earth whose circles round us skim
Till they catch the lightest limb,
Shelter now Elizabeth
And for her sake trip up death.

X.J. Kennedy
(21st August 1929 - )

from the book: Poem for the Day One

Monday 9 May 2011

Start the week with a quote...



















image from The Graphics Fairy


Every man dies...

Not every man really lives

Sunday 8 May 2011

Prayer for World Peace



















Dove of Peace ~ Giclee print


We pray to the great Spiritual Power in which we live and move and have our being.

We pray that we may at all times keep our minds open to new ideas and shun dogma;
that we may grow in our understanding of the nature of all living beings and our connectedness with the natural world;
that we may become ever more filled with generosity of spirit and true compassion and love for all life;
hat we may strive to heal the hurts that we have inflicted on nature and control our greed for material things, knowing that our actions are harming our natural world and the future of our children;
that we may value each and every human being for who he is, for who she is, reaching to the spirit that is within, knowing the power of each individual to change the world.


We pray for social justice, for the alleviation of the crippling poverty that condemns millions of people around the world to lives of misery - hungry, sick, and utterly without hope.
We pray for the children who are starving, who are condemned to homelessness, slave labour, prostitution, and especially for those forced to fight, to kill and torture even members of their own family.
We pray for the victims of violence and war, for those wounded in body and for those wounded in mind.
We pray for the multitudes of refugees, forced from their homes to alien places through war or through the utter destruction of their environment.


We pray for suffering animals everywhere, for an end to the pain caused by scientific experimentation, intensive farming, fur farming, shooting, trapping, training for entertainment, abusive pet owners, and all other forms of exploitation such as overloading and overworking pack animals, bull fighting, badger baiting, dog and cock fighting and so many more.


We pray for an end to cruelty, whether to humans or other animals, for an end to bullying, and torture in all its forms.
We pray that we may learn the peace that comes with forgiving and the strength we gain in loving;
that we may learn to take nothing for granted in this life;
that we may learn to see and understand with our hearts;
that we may learn to rejoice in our being.


We pray for these things with humility;
We pray because of the hope that is within us, and because of a faith in the ultimate triumph of the human spirit;
We pray because of our love for Creation, and because of our trust in God.
We pray, above all, for peace throughout the world.


prayer for world peace ~ dr jane goodall

Saturday 7 May 2011

Ebay store ~ new listings!

The downsizing continues, my loves!  This time it is mostly sewing patterns.  None of these patterns have been used, so they are all uncut, but the envelopes are a little bit creased in most cases.  As usual, if anything catches your eye just click on the photo to be taken direct to the item in question or click here to be taken to my ebay store ~ and remember that 10% of the sale price is being donated to Hillside Animal Sanctuary :-)













Feeling flat



















I realise, sweetie~pies, that I have been somewhat conspicuous by my absence here ~ well, with "proper" posts at any rate.  The truth is that I have been feeling so very low again these past few weeks with a just-can't-be-bothered attitude *sigh*  I found myself crying over Amber this morning; I miss her so much and even though we have Daisy, the house still feels strangely empty. 

Any thoughts I had about losing weight have flown out the window, along with the get-up-and-go I had been feeling about getting the house and garden straightened out.  It seems that the closer I get to my 50th birthday (on 6th June), the worse I am feeling ~ how daft is that!  It's just a number after all but somehow everything feels horrible, to be honest.  I feel like I have wasted so many years of my life and realistically I know that I have far less left ahead of me than have already passed by.  You'd think, wouldn't you, that would be the spur to get on and "live" my life but instead I'm still sitting around moping and brooding over all that's gone wrong or been unpleasant in years past.  I don't like it here in this self-made rut but somehow it's more comfortable than climbing out into the unknown.      



















On the other hand, the thought of spending the next 10, 20, 30 or however many years I have left living like this fills me with even more dread!  The question is, though, just how do I get myself out of this hole that I have dug?  You see, the picture above is how I would like to picture myself ~ happy with who I am and skipping through whatever life throws my way.  Unfortunately, I seem to have cultivated a persona of depression and low self-esteem.  Looking back with honesty, I can see that the low self-esteem is something that started way back in my childhood but I have allowed myself to let it take over my life and dictate the way I live.  Which is how I believe the depression has arisen.  Feeling that you are a horrible, fat, worthless person simply does not go hand-in-hand with being a happy, jolly and contented woman! 
  


















One thing is for sure: if I am ever to live a happy and contented life, then it is all down to me and my attitude.  I can choose to carry on the way I have done for these past many years ~ in which case I will continue to feel like crap for the rest of my life.  Or I can give myself a bloody good shake, pick myself up, dust myself down and make a concerted effort to change how I think and how I live. 

It's not going to be an easy ride, I know, because old habits are so very hard to break.  But I simply have to get stuck in and start that climb up out of this unhappy place in which I am currently living.  I have come to the conclusion that actually, I want to live my life rather than just exist in it. 

So the approach to my 50th birthday is indeed a turning point on my life-journey ~ and I am choosing to follow a different path.....