Teapots stitchery

These adorable teapots remind me of summer, and sweet iced tea, and heat - too much heat... Check out "Birdhouse Teapot" and "Watermelon Teapot", then tell me what you think :)

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Soul nourishment

Do something silly today, the pure act of being silly can reset our serious nature and help create the shift we need.


Children appreciate all that is silly as a matter of course. Their grasp of humor is instinctual, and even the smallest absurdities provoke joyous gales of earnest laughter. As we age, this innate ability to see the value of silliness can diminish. Work takes precedence over play, and we have less incentive to exercise our imaginative minds by focusing on what is humorous. When we remember childhood, we may recall the pleasures of donning funny costumes, reciting nonsense poems, making up strange games, or playing pretend. This unabashed silliness nourished our vitality and creativity. We can take in this nourishment once again by giving ourselves permission to lighten up and be silly.


Too often we reject the wonderful silliness that is an inherent, inborn aspect of the self because we believe that it serves no purpose or is at odds with the grown-up culture of maturity. We play yet we do not lose ourselves in play, and our imaginations are never truly given free reign because we regard the products of irrational creativity as being valueless. Yet silliness itself does indeed constitute a vital part of human existence on a myriad of levels. Our first taste of ethereal bliss is often a consequence of our willingness to dabble in what we deem outrageous, nonsensical, or absurd. We delight in ridiculousness not only because laughter is intrinsically pleasurable, but also because it serves as a reminder that existence itself is fun. Skipping, doodling, and singing funny songs are no less entertaining than they were when we were children. We need not lose all interest in these cheerful and amusing activities, but to make them a part of our lives we must be ready to sacrifice a little dignity and a lot of fear.


It is precisely because so much of life is inescapably serious that silliness should be regarded as a priority. Through the magic of imagination, you can be or become anything—a photographer, a professional athlete, a dancer, a pilot. Whether you take hundreds of silly pictures, revel in the adulation of your fans as you make the winning catch, boogie down rock-star style in front of your bedroom mirror, or turn your desk into a cockpit, the ensuing hilarity will help you see that lighthearted fun and adulthood are not at all incompatible.

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New Zodiac cards

In the last couple of weeks I have decided that I needed to re-do all my photos in my Etsy shop. As I could not afford a lightbox at this time, I've improvised a bit. Although I am pleased with the way the new photos turned out, I know I am far, far from taking perfect photos. I'll keep working on it :)

Cancer Zodiac and Virgo Zodiac have been added to my cross-stitch Zodiac cards this week; a couple more Zodiac cards are ready to be photographed, resized then listed. However, this terms' classes are sapping all my available time. Working overtime this weekend - although a welcome from a financial standpoint - is not helping me with doing my new listings. I have got to learn the wonders of Time Management...

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Do not...

Do not...
undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Do not...
set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

Do not...
take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

Do not...
let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past not for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Do not...
give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying. It is a fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Do not...
be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Do not...
shut love out of your life by saying it is impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give love; The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly.

Do not...
dismiss your dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope. To be without hope is to be without purpose.

Do not...
run through life so fast that you forget not only where you have been, but also where you are going.

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Car woes - Life's answers

There has been a lot of news coverage on a particular car maker's woes with their cars suddenly accelerating. SUA or Sudden Unintended Acceleration is actually nothing new. It's been going on for decades and not just in cars. We have SUA in our lives when things speed up out of control.

Experts suggest these steps if you experience SUA. As I analyzed the suggestions, they don't just apply to uncontrolled and unintended car acceleration, but these steps apply when things speed out of control in all areas of life.

1. Practice Deliberate Calm
Survivors of major disasters had this one trait in common. They didn't panic. This is the first major rule; stay calm, think and don't do something rash and unwise. Practice deliberate calm.

2. Don't turn off the engine.
The engine provides power to the power steering and brakes. If you turn off the engine, braking and steering become much harder. In life, when situations suddenly change speed, we can be tempted to simply turn off the engine. If something happens at our job that we don't like, we quit. If something happens in our marriage that we don't like, we quit. If something happens in our church that we don't like, we stop going to church. We turn off the engine.

3. Carefully press and hold the brakes.
Do not pump the brakes; press firmly with both feet on the brake. Changing speed and direction often takes time and considerable steady effort. The results of panic or emotion can be inconsistent stops and starts. When we have a health scare we start to eat right and exercise, then a few weeks later we stop. We pump the brakes but don't apply steady and consistent pressure and effort.

4. Shift into neutral.
Disengage from the thing that is causing so much havoc if possible. So many negative situations would be eliminated by the simple act of saying "No!"

5. Move safely into a side lane.
Many situations do require that we exit them when it is safe and wise to do so. When you practice deliberate calm, you can best determine when that time comes for you to shift lanes.

Follow the five rules above whenever you experience Sudden Unintended Acceleration - your life will Thank you for it!

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