Monday 31 January 2011

She sells seashells.....



.....and I buy 'em ;-)

Isn't this little shell purse sweet, my loves? It is now sitting on one of the shelves in my bedroom with some other little purses :-)



I just couldn't resist this pretty vintage shell necklace, sweetie~pies! I rather think it is safe to say that my attempt at the The Challenge is busted.....



Still, at least I didn't buy these gorgeous little fabric flowers you'll be amazed to hear ;-) Oh no, my loves, I won them in a giveaway that JoAnn was holding on her YouTube channel! Aren't they sweet?



I didn't buy this cute little blue and white clog either LOL It was a gift from my girlie :-) She saw it when she was out shopping the other day and thought of her dear '0le Mum. It will tuck into my china cabinet very nicely indeed :-)

Sunday 30 January 2011

It's that time of year again.....



.....when Tesco have daffodils available for home delivery ~ and as usual, I add a couple of bunches to my shopping. Oh okay then ~ I added four but who's counting ;-)



Please excuse the washing-up ~ I didn't get round to putting it away the previous night!

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

Friday 28 January 2011

Watch this.....



.....and be amazed!

How can it be possible.....



Oh my goodness ~ how can my cute little babies be 20 years old today ~ it doesn't seem like five minutes since you were born!

Happy 20th birthday, my lovlies ~ Dad and I love you both so much!



It does feel a little weird that we're not all together this year for your birthday but that's just how life goes, isn't it. I'm sure you'll still both manage to have a fab day ;-)

ooodles and ooodles of love and kisses to you both, Sam and Beverly!

Thursday 27 January 2011

The Thursday Poem


Young Woman Reading by a Window by Delphin Enjolras


Spleen

I was not sorrowful, I could not weep,
And all my memories were put to sleep.

I watched the river grow more white and strange,
All day till evening I watched it change.

All day till evening I watched the rain
Beat wearily upon the window pane.

I was not sorrowful, but only tired
Of everything that ever I desired.

Her lips, her eyes, all day became to me
The shadow of a shadow utterly.

All day mine hunger for her heart became
Oblivion, until the evening came,

And left me sorrowful, inclined to weep,
With all my memories that could not sleep.

Ernest Dawson
(2nd August 1867 - 23rd February 1900)

from the book: Poem for the Day One

Wednesday 26 January 2011

I've 'adopted' a sister for Baby Jane!



Meet Ginger ~ isn't she lovely! I know, I know ~ The Challenge has gone right out the window but we'll just gloss over that methinks ;-)

I was looking on Ebay at Rosebud dolls and in amongst the offerings was the cute little face of Miss Ginger. The seller wondered if she is a Pedigree doll but I'm not sure that she is to be honest. To my mind, she isn't quite the same quality as Jane, who is a Rosebud doll. Nevertheless, Ginger is still a lovely little dolly ~ well, not quite so little as she is almost the same size as her new sister, Jane :-)

She came with the extremely grubby little jacket she is wearing ~ actually, Ginger is very grubby herself and will need a jolly good session in the dolly spa. Somehow I think this should be done sooner rather than later, otherwise I don't think Jane will want to share her clothes with her sister LOL



This vintage baby nightgown came with Ginger and is just as dirty as the jacket! I'm hoping that at least some of the stains will come out when I wash it.



Yes, I've been tempted by some new Sindys too! This is Angela :-) I think she has a rather sad look, don't you?



And another Sindy ~ this is Verity :-) She is in pretty nice condition and her vintage outfit is lovely.

I've been doing a lot of thinking these past few weeks about all my collections and have finally come to some decisions. As you already know, I've collected a lot of 'fashion dolls' but sadly they are mostly stored in boxes as I simply don't have enough display space. So, I have decided to downsize my collection and will gradually be finding new homes for many of the girls.

I have decided to concentrate on my collection of Sindy and Sindy clone dolls, along with Rosebud dolls. I have such a soft spot for the Rosebuds because, of course, Jane is a Rosebud herself :-)

So look out for dolly photos over the coming weeks, as I shall post them here on the blog as I list them on Ebay :-)

Sunday 23 January 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

Friday 21 January 2011

Farewell, my hardworking loyal servant!



Miss Washing Machine finally conked out yesterday *sigh*

Admittedly she hadn't been well for a little while so it came as no great surprise that she finally gave up the ghost. How thoughtful, though, of Miss WM to manage to finish the load she was doing first :-) How optimistic of me to strip off beds in the hope that she would be able to cope with it all ~ we now have a pile of yet-to-be-washed bedding decorating the floor of Beverly's bedroom LOL

I opened Miss WM's door to be greeted by a plume of nasty acrid smoke ~ which got me leaping up to uplug her pronto and also open the kitchen window! The duvet cover and sheet she had just washed smelled rather awful, which was a tad annoying, but I plonked them into the tumble-dryer anyway in the hope that the smell would go. Thankfully it did as I didn't really fancy having to wash such big items by hand!

So last night we had the 'joy' of searching out the best deal for a new washing machine. Well, I say we but really it was Adrian ~ I sat and watched a programme about Jack the Ripper :-D Men seem to like all this research stuff, don't they?? Still, at least he managed to sort it out in a couple of hours or so, unlike the research saga of the new television which seemed to drag on for weeks.....

Hopefully a new Miss Washing Machine will be taking up residence in the kitchen sometime next Wednesday. If she is as long-lived and hardworking as her predecessor then I shall be a very happy bunny :-)

Amber: Queen of all she surveys (or so she believes, anyway!)


"Yes, I am quite aware that you are taking my photograph ~ how could you not since I am such a beautiful creature. However, I shall remain in this prone position as I am too modest to make a fuss about such things..."

Thursday 20 January 2011

The Thursday Poem


Young Woman Reading by a Window by Delphin Enjolras


From Adonais
An Elegy on the Death of John Keats, Author of Edymion, Hyperion, &c.

He is made one with Nature: there is heard
His voice in all her music, from the moan
Of thunder, to the song of night's sweet bird;
He is a presence to be felt and known
In darkness and in light, from herb and stone,
Spreading itself where'er that Power may move
Which has withdrawn his being to its own;
Which wields the world with never-wearied love,
Sustains it from beneath, and kindles it above.

He is a portion of the loveliness
Which once he made more lovely: he doth bear
His part, while the one Spirit's plastic stress
Sweeps through the dull dense world, compelling there,
All new successions to the forms they wear;
Torturing th' unwilling dross that checks its flight
To its own likeness, as each mass may bear;
And bursting in its beauty and its might
From trees and beasts and men into the Heaven's light.

The splendours of the firmament of time
May be eclipsed, but are extinguished not;
Like stars to their appointed height they climb,
And death is a low mist which cannot blot
The brightness it may veil. When lofty thought
Lifts a young heart above its mortal lair,
And love and life contend in it, for what
Shall be its earthly doom, the dead live there
And move like winds of light on dark and stormy air.

Percy Bysshe Shelley
(4th August 1792 - 8th July 1822)

from the book: Poem for the Day One

Sunday 16 January 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

Friday 14 January 2011

A bit of Mad Men fun!


Thursday 13 January 2011

The Thursday Poem


Young Woman Reading by a Window by Delphin Enjolras


First Fig

My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends
It gives a lovely light!

Edna St Vincent Millay
(22nd February 1892 - 19th October 1950)

from the book: Poem for the Day One

Tuesday 11 January 2011

Books, glorious books


photograph by Catherine Hadler


One of the items on my 101 Things in 1001 Days list, my loves, is to start reading fiction again ~ along with setting up a page on the blog to catalogue what I'm reading/have read. Well, I have set up the blog page but have decided to use it for all the books I read, not just the fiction ones. I'm also going to quite blatently and shamelessly copy the layout which Frogdancer uses on her blog as it is just so sensible and logical ~ qualities I'm sometimes lacking or so I've been told ;-)

I used to read a lot of fiction and as a youngster would often find myself at the receiving-end of a telling off from my Mum because I hadn't done something she'd asked me to or I had ignored her ~ simply because I was so engrossed in my book that I wasn't aware of what was going on around me! I still read a lot of fiction right up to when I had the gruesome~twosome but after their arrival on the scene, sweetie~pies, my reading just seemed to come to something of a halt. Well, other than the obligatory Thomas the Tank Engine, Beatrix Potter, etc :-)

Once the children went to school, though, I had a little more 'me' time and so started reading once again. I also discovered the wonderful world of crafts round about the same time and so these were the books which I began to read. Fiction was forgotten as I found myself bedazzled and bewitched by the most wonderfully scrumptious selection of things to make! This has been true for many years now, with only the odd fiction book being read here and there. I also must confess ~ hanging my head in shame ~ that I haven't made use of our local library for many years. I can easily rectify that situation, though, by adding it to my 101 Things list ;-)

I think I shall most likely start my foray back into the world of fiction with the two The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books which are gifts I have yet to read, and I may just have to re-read ~ for the umpteenth time ~ my by-now battered and dog-eared copy of The Lord of the Rings. I also have a nice little pile of new craft books to peruse and delight over. Oh, don't worry, my loves, The Challenge pledge is still intact as I bought these with money I had for Christmas!

I do have some 'fessing up to do sooner rather than later, though, I must admit ~ The Challenge has taken a teensy wee bit of a battering these past few weeks.....

Monday 10 January 2011

101 Things in 1001 Days

{{{ 101 in 1001 }}}


I have finally started to add things to my 101 Things to my list, sweetie~pies ~ although so far, I have to confess, I only actually have 23 Things listed LOL I am sure, though, that it won't be long before I have thought of many more things I would like to accomplish over the next 2 3/4 years ;-) (Goodness me, could I write 'things' any more times in one small paragraph!)


You will see that I have already managed to cross-out two items on the list! Adrian and I spent a good few days sorting out the loft during the New Year period and yes, we were ruthless up there, my loves. It's very much a mixed blessing having a loft with a good, solid, boarded floor. On the one hand, it's lovely to be able to keep things up there which aren't used that often, or only at certain times of year, but on the other hand it is awfully tempting to keep things "just in case they may come in handy" simply because we can shove them into the loft! And then, of course, there are the mountains of boxes. I swear that they reproduce all by themselves in the darkness of that loft!



I am not joking when I say that we managed to completely fill an old builders' bulk sand bag just with flattened boxes of various descriptions! We had boxes up there for some items that we didn't even have anymore. For once, it isn't me and my hoarding instincts which creates the 'box situation' ~ it is Adrian. He always wants to keep the box-to-the-applicance/whatever "in case we have to have it repaired". Naturally, if something is going to go wrong, it almost always happens just after the guarantee has run out ;-) He was very good, though, and discarded many of the boxes; those that are left up there are now neatly stacked in one, easily accessible, corner :-)


We hadn't had a proper clear-out up there for a number of years so there were plenty of things we decided it was time to discard. Some things have gone to local charity shops and everything else is now sitting in a mega-sized Hippo Bag, waiting for me to arrange collection of same.

When it's quite obvious that one of these humungous clear-outs just can't be put off any longer, I find myself quietly despairing about my hoarding tendencies. It all seems such a good idea at the time to keep this and that, but more often than not those items-kept-just-in-case are forgotten about. Before you know it, the loft has become a place where it is virtually impossible to actually find anything ~ and with the piles of boxes and 'stuff', somewhat dangerous as well!

I really wish that I had thought to take some before-and-after photos of this loft-clearing exercise, as the difference is quite amazing ~ Adrian and I can now see, and safely get to, everything we have stored up there :-) As usual, it turned out to be a much longer job than I had anticipated, and was very tiring and dusty too, but I feel soooo much better now it is finally done.....plus I now have a designated space to store my fabric stash!

Ah yes, my loves ~ the fabric stash. Well, that is turning out to be quite a revelation! I have waaay more 'stash' than I had realised for a start, with some really lovely pieces of fabric I had completely forgotten about, including lengths of fabric plenty long enough to make curtains. I also have a rather large amount of what I call 'base fabrics', i.e. muslin, calico, old white cotton sheets, etc. I don't think that I have rounded up all the fabric lurking in The Shed but I will gradually find the waifs and strays ;-) All the fabric in the loft is now stored in lidded plastic crates, except for the base fabrics. I'm storing those pieces in the dresser in the hall, which I'm planning on making into 'sewing central' to free up some more space in The Shed ~ but that, I think, is a tale for another day my loves.....

Sunday 9 January 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

Saturday 8 January 2011

Ooops, I tell a lie.....

.....it seems I did take some photos over Christmas ~ precisely two!



A silly father-and-daughter moment :-)



Who needs silly furry reindeer antlers when you can have your favourite piggy sitting on your head ;-P

Friday 7 January 2011

101 Things in 1001 Days

{{{ 101 THINGS }}}


~ in ~


{{{ 1001 DAYS }}}


I expect you've noticed the new page at the top of the blog entitled 101 Things in 1001 Days, sweetie~pies.....which has remained empty and devoid of information for a good number of days up to now! Well, I really do think that 'tis only good blogging manners that I explain myself, don't you think.....

It was quite some time ago when I came across this idea and of course now I just can't remember where I first spotted it ~ I've since seen it mentioned a number of times here and there, though. When I read about it, I was very taken with the idea but just left it simmering away on the back-burner of my mind. However, since 2011 already has the distinct feeling of change and progress about it, methinks the time is now right to get the ball rolling on this one :-)

My 1001 days will run from 1st January 2011 up to 28th September 2013 ~ gosh, that seems like such a very long way off doesn't it, my loves! It's about 2 3/4 years and I'm pretty sure that I can achieve quite a number of things during that time. I've started making my list ~ although I haven't thought of 101 things just yet! ~ and will be posting what I've thought of so far in the next day or two. The list will be added to as the various ideas come to mind, so it won't be in any particular order ~ no one thing will be more important than any of the others, instead I will be dipping into the list somewhat like the pic 'n' mix on the sweetie counter ;-)

Actually, it's just occured to me that you may well not find this latest little exercise of mine interesting in the slightest, sweetie~pies LOL It's always possible, though, that something will appear on the list that sounds like a good idea to you too!

If you decide to do your own 101 Things in 1001 Days, do please leave a comment as I'd love to have a little looksie at your list, my loves ~ who knows, you may have thought of something that I'd like to add to my own list :-)

Thursday 6 January 2011

Candlelight.....



.....we had a power-cut earlier this evening!

Finish each day.....


Photographer: Evgeni Dinev


Finish each day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities have crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day.
You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
(25th May 1803 – 27th April 1882)

The Thursday Poem


Young Woman Reading by a Window by Delphin Enjolras


From To His Coy Mistress

Had we but world enough, and time,
This coyness, Lady, were no crime.
We would sit down and think which way
To walk, and pass our long love's day.
Thou by the Indian Ganges' side
Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide
Of Humber would complain. I would
Love you ten years before the Flood:
And you should, if you please, refuse
Till the conversion of the Jews.
My vegetable love should grow
Vaster than empires, and more slow.
An hundred years should go to praise
Thine eyes, and on they forehead gaze.
Two hundred to adore each breast:
But thirty thousand to the rest.
An age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart.
For, Lady, you deserve this state;
Nor would I love at lower rate.
But at my back I always hear
Times's winged chariot hurrying near:
And younder all before us lie
Deserts of vast eternity.
Thy beauty shall no more be found;
Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound
My echoing song; then worms shall try
That long preserved virginity:
And your quaint honour turn to dust;
And into ashes all my lust.
The grave's a fine and private place,
But none I think do there embrace.
Now therefore, while the youthful hue
Sits on thy skin like morning dew,
And while thy willing soul transpires
At every pore with instant fires,
Now let us sport us while we may;
And now, like amorous birds of prey,
Rather at once our time devour,
Than languish in his slow-chapt power.
Let us roll all our strength, and all
Our sweetness, up into one ball:
And tear our pleasures with rough strife,
Through the iron gates of life.
Thus, though we cannot make our sun
Stand still, yet we will make him run.

Andrew Marvell
(31st March 1621 - 16th or 18th August 1678)

from the book: Poem for the Day One

Tuesday 4 January 2011

I'm back.....



.....have you missed me, sweetie~pies?? LOL ~ I'm pretty sure you've all been waaay too busy to have been wondering why I've been awol! Do you like Miss No-Nonsense, by the way?? I spotted her on The Graphics Fairy site and it immediately struck me that she looked just how I've been feeling lately! And since I have absolutely no photos whatsoever to show you of Christmas and New Year ~ nope, nary a one, I'm afraid ~ I decided to plonk her at the top of this post instead. Hope she didn't scare you too much ;-)

So did you all have an absolutely fab Christmas and New Year, my loves? I do hope so :-)

To be honest, I found it all a bit hard-going this year for some reason; I just couldn't seem to get into the Christmas spirit *sigh* As you already know, I left making my puddings right to the last minute.....and I did the very same with wrapping gifts, tidying away all my 'stuff' so that we could actually sit at the dining table and setting out a few Christmas decorations! I'm sorry to say that the spirit of the season was noticeably absent in my heart this year. I can't pin it down to any one thing, either. I've not been feeling 100% though, and that combined with the fact that I'm going through a not-sleeping-at-all-well phase again at the moment probably didn't help! Oh well, that's just the way it was this year and there's really no sense in brooding about it ;-)

Despite 2010 ending on a rather deflated note, my loves, I really do feel that 2011 is going to be a year of progress and change! I'm not sure exactly what is making me feel that this is so; perhaps it's because I will be turning 50 in June and almost certainly, I am now more than halfway through my life. Oh don't get me wrong, I don't mean that to sound morbid or depressing, sweetie~pies ~ it is merely a statement of fact :-) To be frank, what I really want is for the second half of my life to be filled with less depression and pessimism, and more happiness, optimism and life-satisfaction than the first half!

So let's raise a glass of good cheer to 2011 ~ may we all enjoy an absolutely fab year!

Sunday 2 January 2011

Prayer for World Peace



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.

Saturday 1 January 2011

Happy New Year!





Happy New Year, sweetie~pies! May 2011 be the most wonderful year for you all!