Love Love Love

"I'm Yours" Jason Mraz

The First Family

There are just no words.....we are so lucky:)

The Creation of Woman

A friend of mine e-mailed this to me and I thought I would share it with all of you. Thank you Shanda

Taken from a Sanskrit fable called "The Creation of Woman":

In the beginning when Twashtri came to the creation of woman, he found that he had exhausted his materials in the making of man and that no solid elements were left. In this dilemma, after profound meditations, he did as follows: He took the rotundity of the moon and the curves of the creepers, and the clinging of the tendrils and the trembling of the grass, and the slenderness of the reed and the bloom of flowers, and the lightness of leaves and the tapering of the elephant's trunk, and the glances of deer and the blustering of rows of bees, and the joyous gayety of sunbeams and the weeping of clouds, and the fickleness of the winds and the timidity of the hare, and the vanity of the peacock and the softness of the parrot's bosom and the hardness of adamant and the sweetness of honey, and the cruelty of the tiger and the warm glow of the fire, and the coldness of snow and the chattering of jays, and the cooing of the kokila, and the hypocrisy of the crane, and the fidelity of shakrawska, and compounding all these together he made a woman and gave her to man.
But after one week, man came to him and said: "Lord, this creature that You have given me makes my life miserable. She chatters incessantly and teases me beyond endurance, never leaving me alone; and she requires incessant attention, and takes all my time up, cries about nothing and is always idle, and so I have come to give her back as I cannot live with her." So Twashtri said: "Very well," and He took her back. Then after another week an came to Him and said: "Lord, I find that my life is very lonely since I gave You back that creature. I remember how she used to dance and sing to me and look at me out of the corner of her eye, and play with me and cling to me, and her laughter was music and she was beautiful to look at and soft to touch, so give her back to me."
So Twashtri said, "Very well," and gave her back. Then after only three days man came back to Him again and said: "Lord, I know not how it is, but after all I have come to the conclusion that she is more of a trouble than a pleasure to me so please take her back again." But Twashtri said: "Out on you! Be off! I will have no more of this; you must manage how you can." The man said: "I cannot live with her." And Twashtri said: "Neither can you live without her." And He turned His back on man and went on with His work. Then man said: "What is to be done? For I cannot live either with her or without her."

The Secret

Happy Birthday Elvis!

A tribute to the man who has been bringing the wild out of women for decades!

Happy New Year!!!

Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer of the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men. Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts. Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility.

(Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, CXXX, p. 285)
http://www.planetbahai.org/cgi-bin/articles.pl?article=217

Kamali'i O Ka Po (Child of the Night)

Sarah Smith posted this beautiful video for some of her friends wishing them a Merry Christmas from the islands. I was so taken with it, that I snatched it up to share with all of you. So get out your flower garland and grass skirt and get ready to be transported to a place far away......






(English translation)
Kamali'i O Ka Po (Child of the night) Song by: Antion Vikram Singh


Listen, child of the night, here I am child of the light.
The sky above is Wakea, Earth below is Papa.
The heavens above, the Earth below.
All in its rightful place, Ke Kuliana keia.

The kahuna received their enlightenment,
Their mana from our ancient gods.
They were the chosen ones.
They spoke the words of the ancient gods,
they taught our laws and maintained our traditions, all in its rightful place.

Ho'ohōkūkalani, the royal mother
Gave birth to Hāloa, the kalo, then to Hāloa, the man.
The elder gave life to the junior lineage
All in its rightful place.

Listen, child of the night, here I am child of the light
You have there with you the middle section of the fish.
But where is the head? And where is the tail?
Where did you come from? Where will you go?
Listen! Is all in its rightful place?

Listen!
Listen!
Child of the Night

Thank you Sarah!

A Winter Solstice Reflection

As the hours of daylight grow, so too, we can let our inner light of understanding, love and intuitions grow. Allowing both the dark and the light to resonate within us, for it is part of us, we can practice new beginnings of unity, compassion, empathy and global love.

Celebrating the Winter Solstice on December 21st with Meditations, Decorations, and Incense.
By Donna Oxley http://www.astrostar.com/WinterSolstice-Celebrations.htm

Now That's a Tree!!

Merry Christmas!

I was looking for the perfect picture for my on-line Christmas card and a good friend of mine sent this beautiful photo in an e-mail. Thank you Melinda!
I have so enjoyed having this blog as a creative expression, a way to share a piece of myself with others and knowing the joy of meeting others from around the globe and taking a peek into their lives as well.
Women have so much power and joy and finding a way that we can all celebrate each other has really fed my soul and I am excited to see where the journey takes us next.
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and an amazing new year!!

Wishing you all abundant peace in the new year, Jesse

Happy Human Rights Day!

~~~~~TAKE A FEW MINUTES TODAY AND READ YOUR RIGHTS AND PLACE YOURSELF IN THE SHOES OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT AS FORTUNATE~~~~~

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
*Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, 'sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
*Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
*No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the salve trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
*No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
*Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
*All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
*Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
*No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
*Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
*1. Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
2. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.
*No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.
2. Everyone has the right to leave any country including his own, and to return to his country.
*1. Everyone has the right to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
2. This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
*1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.
*1. Men and women of full age, without any limitation die to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
2. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
3. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
*1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
*Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
*Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek receive and impart information and ideas though any media and regardless of frontiers.
*1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
*1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
2. Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secrete vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.
*Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
*1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
3. Every one who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
*Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
*1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including foods, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection. *1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
*1. Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.
*Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.
*1. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
2. In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
3. These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
*Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

Walk an online Labyrinth

This is an exerpt from the home page of my favorite new site.

The spiral is a universal symbol for the human soul. The labyrinth
has been a healing symbol to all walks of humanity for over 3,500
years. Through the labyrinth, the soul descends to earth
for the human experience, creating circumstances for
experiential learning of "life" lessons, manifesting
the transformational meditative tool of the labyrinth on earth to
assist with this process. Like the butterfly, most often the human
part of us first goes in one direction and then another,
learning the spiritual journey is most important and not the
destination. Understanding, growing, finding inner peace with
life issues, transforming the evolving human towards
True Wisdom – the soul ascending to its Higher Self once again.

The intent of this website is to bring the gift of the labyrinth to
you – through the virtual labyrinth walks, pages of
information, resource tools and links to other labyrinth
enthusiasts all over the world. Welcome, please visit often for
updates and additions... peace on your journey. Namaste.
The spiral is a universal symbol for the human soul. The labyrinth
has been a healing symbol to all walks of humanity for over 3,500
years. Through the labyrinth, the soul descends to earth
for the human experience, creating circumstances for
experiential learning of "life" lessons, manifesting
the transformational meditative tool of the labyrinth on earth to
assist with this process. Like the butterfly, most often the human
part of us first goes in one direction and then another,
learning the spiritual journey is most important and not the
destination. Understanding, growing, finding inner peace with
life issues, transforming the evolving human towards
True Wisdom – the soul ascending to its Higher Self once again.

The intent of this website is to bring the gift of the labyrinth to
you – through the virtual labyrinth walks, pages of
information, resource tools and links to other labyrinth
enthusiasts all over the world. Welcome, please visit often for
updates and additions... peace on your journey. Namaste.
The spiral is a universal symbol for the human soul. The labyrinth
has been a healing symbol to all walks of humanity for over 3,500
years. Through the labyrinth, the soul descends to earth
for the human experience, creating circumstances for
experiential learning of "life" lessons, manifesting
the transformational meditative tool of the labyrinth on earth to
assist with this process. Like the butterfly, most often the human
part of us first goes in one direction and then another,
learning the spiritual journey is most important and not the
destination. Understanding, growing, finding inner peace with
life issues, transforming the evolving human towards
True Wisdom – the soul ascending to its Higher Self once again.

The intent of this website is to bring the gift of the labyrinth to
you – through the virtual labyrinth walks, pages of
information, resource tools and links to other labyrinth
enthusiasts all over the world. Welcome, please visit often for
updates and additions... peace on your journey. Namaste.

www.labyrinthonline.com

Moon, Venus and Jupiter

The crescent moon is accompanied by planets Venus, bottom, and Jupiter, right, as evening sky clouds stream by the trio in this 15-second time exposure made from Stedman, N.C. Monday night, Dec. 1, 2008 using a telephoto lens. The striking grouping was widely observed from the eastern US. Earlier in the day observers in England saw the moon completely cover Venus.
(AP Photo/The Fayetteville

Thank you Shanda!

Community for Women Who Blog

I am a firm believer in the idea that the global communion of women--lovers, wives, matriarchs, women artists, spiritual sisters--is what can bring joyful change and peace to this world. Seeing the many ways we are finding to reach out to one another via the internet makes me hopeful...

If you are not already a member, check out http://www.blogher.com/ The Community for Women Who Blog I just found this resource and am overjoyed at seeing the vast array of topics and projects women are working on :)

I blog, therefore I am.....? Rachel's new blog

I have three children. My youngest is two years old. We homeschool. Hmmm...I don't always have a lot of time available to create ;) Shutting myself up in my "studio" for hours is pretty much never an option. But it has to happen. I've struggled with how to balance it all, but I can feel the need for it to become a priority rising within me. Are there other artist/moms out there struggling with this? I would love to here from you!! Come along with me as I try my damnedest to make it work...

http://www.thischromaticlife.blogspot.com/

Let it Snow!

Soooo hard to roll out of my warm bed this morning when this was my view on both sides! King Winter has come early this year. I'm not sure I am ready, but he does do beautiful work!
The children are enchanted by the winter wonderland and can't wait to make snow angels. I however will be making extra Yerba Mate and snuggling on the couch with my warm dog and a good book:)

Submit Your Favorite Tea Blend!!

Herbal Tea

This week I am going to work on making tea blends for the winter season. Some for giving, but mostly for my own drinking.

I use re-usable muslin tea bags and seal-your own bags. I buy loose tea in bulk from a local health food store. About twice a year, I spread all my herbs out on my harvest table, get out my favorite mortar and pestle and make all my favorite blends.

This year, I am asking for your help. I want to know what your favorite blends are. What are your favorite spicy teas? fruity teas? medicinal teas? teas for detox? teas for clarity? sleepy teas? teas for energy?

PLEASE leave your favorite recipe in the comments section and I will add them to this blog post.

What is your favorite tea for zen-ness?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is a recipe for Chai Tea submitted by Earth Mama from http://www.chailatterecipes.com/

Chai Tea Ingredients:

Black Tea 10 teaspoons (25grams)(I prefer using Formosan Tea)

Cardamon Seeds (5 grams)

Cinnamon Sticks (2-3 sticks) or Cinnamon Ground 2 1/2 teaspoons (8 grams)

Ginger Powder (1 teaspoon)

1 Clove Ground

How to Make Chai Tea:
Please note there are many ways to make Chai Tea and this is one which I prefer. Listed below are other tips and variations you can try.

Step 1: Using a coffee/spice grinder or mortar and pestle, grind up spices.

Step 2: Add tea to spice mixture. Fill tea pot or coffee plunger with boiling water and add spice mixture. Use 3/4 cup boiling water and 4 teaspoons of tea/spice mixture per serve. Let stand 3-4 minutes. Heat milk using stove top, microwave or even better use a coffee machine so you can produce frothy milk. This gives a cafe style chai tea latte. Add heated milk and sweeten to taste.

Tips and Hints for making Chai Tea:
If you don't have a grinder, you can use a mortar and pestle, however you should grind the ingredients separately to avoid mix becoming too fine.
This recipe is unsweetened so you can add sugar to suit your taste.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Granny Sue said...

My favorite is orange spice tea. I used to make a blend of raspberry leaves, orange peel and rose hips that was fruity and delicious.

Thank you, sounds wanderful!

It's America Recycles Day!

America Recycles Day - Nov. 15

America Recycles Day (ARD), held every year on November 15, is a national campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of recycling and buying products made with recycled materials. Buying recycled is the step that "closes the recycling loop." Both Kansas and Missouri are official partners in this national effort and host events to help spread the message.

Each year, the MARC Solid Waste Management District, in cooperation with local governments, businesses and non-profits, coordinates the regional celebration.

How to get involved:

Visit and promote RecycleSpot.org – RecycleSpot.org is the region’s one-stop spot for recycling information. It lists everything that is recyclable in the metro area and where to take it. Post RecycleSpot.org flyers, stickers and magnets. to help promote the Web site.

Take the ARD pledge – Make a personal pledge to recycle, buy recycled and spread the word about recycling. Pledge online at America Recycles Day.

Get youth involved - This ARD kids activity (pdf) is designed to encourage children to be more involved in recycling and to care for the environment. By completing certain activities, a child can receive an America Recycles Day prize.

Indie Craft Contest!

Indie craft contest!

Allison Adoff of CHA emailed me last week and asked me to blog about a wonderful new contest and booth they are putting together for January's CHA in Anaheim. They are launching a new booth celebrating indie crafters and artists and are looking for 30 exceptional pieces to showcase in their Indie Craft booth!She says, "The purpose of the Indie Craft booth is to introduce Indie Crafting to the general craft industry and to get them excited about this growing movement. The highlight of the Indie Craft booth will be a display of the 30 Indie craft project winners submitted for the CHA Indie Crafting Contest which I am announcing this week. This contest is open to all crafters.
Here are the nitty-gritty details!

If you’re interested in sharing your crafts with the world this is your chance!
Just send us a photo and description of your work and we will select the top 30 projects and display them.
Guidelines:- Project must be innovative and creative. This contest is open to ALL crafters
Completed winning projects must fit in a 1 ½’ wide by 3’ high by 1’ deep space or 3’ wide by 3’high by 1’ deep space.
You may enter up to five projects.
How to Enter- Email a photograph and description of your project(s) to aadoff@craftandhobby.org.
Entrants have until November 21, 2008 to submit original ideas to be considered in the contest. We will notify you if you are a winner by December 19, 2008.
Winners will be chosen from entries received based upon quality and originality. Winners are responsible for shipping projects to CHA. Projects will be returned free of charge.
Opportunities for Winners
1. Extensive visibility and promotion. Projects will be displayed in a showcase located in the Indie Craft section of the Innovations booth on the Show floor. Over 15,000 show attendees will have the opportunity to view the winning projects
.2. Selected winners will have an opportunity to provide individual promotional sheets that will be available at the booth for attendees to take.
For more info please visit the CHA site!

Happy Birthday Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

(November 12, 1815 - October 26, 1902)

When Elizabeth Cady married abolitionist Henry Brewster Stanton in 1840, she'd already observed enough about the legal relationships between men and women to insist that the word obey be dropped from the ceremony.
An active abolitionist herself, Stanton was outraged when the World's Anti-Slavery Convention in London, also in 1840, denied official standing to women delegates, including Lucretia Mott. In 1848, she and Mott called for a women's rights convention to be held in Seneca Falls, New York. That convention, and the Declaration of Sentiments written by Stanton which was approved there, is credited with initiating the long struggle towards women's rights and woman suffrage.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony(click image for a larger version)Courtesy of the Library of Congress.Modifications © 2003 Jone Johnson Lewis. Licensed to About.com.
After 1851, Stanton worked in close partnership with Susan B. Anthony. Stanton often served as the writer and Anthony as the strategist in this effective working relationship. After the Civil War, Stanton and Anthony were among those who were determined to focus on female suffrage when only voting rights of freed males were addressed in Reconstruction. They founded the National Woman Suffrage Association and Stanton served as president.
When the NWSA and the rival American Woman Suffrage Association finally merged in 1890, Stanton served as the president of the resulting National American Woman Suffrage Association.
In her later years she added to her speech- and article-writing a history of the suffrage movement, her autobiography Eighty Years and More, and a controversial critique of women's treatment by religion, The Woman's Bible.
While Stanton is best known for her long contribution to the woman suffrage struggle, she was also active and effective in winning property rights for married women, equal guardianship of children, and liberalized divorce laws so that women could leave marriages that were often abusive of the wife, the children, and the economic health of the family.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton died in New York on October 26, 1902, with nearly 20 years to go before the United States granted women the right to vote.