Five on Friday: January 2, 2015

I somehow don't find it hard at all to write 2015. Some years it takes me a long time to become accustomed to the new date but not this year, so far. I suspect that my limbo state of November that was consumed by knee surgery and recovery stretched into December when I did very little for Christmas. In fact, it almost passed me by unseen. A lot of my focus from Halloween on was how I would feel and what I would be able to do by January 2015.  Well, here it is and I can do most things I want to do.

Ok, I've yet to try getting up from the floor (as in Pilates or Yoga) nor have I attempted to get down on the floor. My physical therapist suggested 6 months. I can wait.

1. While I'm still not a knitter, yet, I think this is the coolest idea. Many times in my life I've had a lidless tea pot but just not now. But if you have one, give it to a knitter! or a crocheter.

2. Are you doing OLW this year? That's "One Little Word" a year long project that Ali Edwards does and it gives you a chance for a lot of reflection and potential for change and growth. I started one year and followed through. Started another year, 2013, and never did much of anything. This year? I feel the need for change and my word is space. Not the NASA kind but free and open space. This Virgo has hemmed herself in with too too much, too much physical and mental clutter. If you want to have a go with this project, click this link.

3. Though I have had a quiet December, I got the cooking bug on New Year's Eve, mostly as I had a 4lb package of ground beef that wanted cooking. After about 90 minutes in the kitchen we have a pot of chili-mac (sans the mac), a batch of meatballs in sauce, and a good sized meatloaf. I hold himself that if I croaked before 2015, he'd be good for meals for almost 2 weeks. He was impressed with the food and that I had been standing for that long. Actually, so was I.

4. Yes, I'm a bit late to the party but I have thoroughly enjoyed semi-binge watching Parenthood. Yes, it reminds me of Brothers and Sisters which I also loved via Netflix.  I'm only in season 2 so I have some fun ahead!

5. One of the things that was strongly suggested to me when I finished my knee physical therapy was to get back to the gym. Yep, the journey continues again but now I know how much a part my former exercising helped me during and post surgery. I'd still rather pretend I don't need it but I know. I really know.

OLW Blog Hop - August Edition

While I have been keeping my OLW, One Little Word, of  LEARN in my mind over the past couple of months, a lot of serious travel has kept me from keeping up with the monthly assignments Ali Edwards gives us. I know they are only suggestions of ways to keep that word present in all aspects of our lives but sometimes life does get in the way.  Even really good life. It is what it is, so maybe I'll get back to the assignments, maybe I won't.  You can't fail if you don't expect 'perfect'.

July's aspect of looking at that OLW was through music. This one really appealed to me as I had not made time for music in my life recently. Sadly, if I want to listen to iTunes, I can't be in PSE at the same time unless I want to watch the computer 'gears grind slowly', so to speak. I could listen via my iPod or iPhone but the earbuds don't really fit my ears well, and I spend more time shoving them in than being zoned somewhere by the music. But enough whining. I knew July meant I could also get up from my computer and do some straightening up and cleaning of my studio. That meant music could play! and iTunes could have all the memory it wanted, greedy beast that it is.

I also found that I could listen to one song which would make me think of another song and find the original version on YouTube where I could download the video as an .mp3 file. Woohoo! I spent one morning culling my list and there were old favorites as well as a new one or two. I like to listen to NPR All Songs Considered and BUTR, Bands Under The Radar, podcasts for exposure to a variety of music. That way I can - learn - new ways of hearing things in ways I had never imagined.


So what did I pick for my 9 songs?

paper - DHD-GenniferBursett-Gidget

Foo Fighters - Learn to Fly; Commodores - Easy; Sheryl Crowe - Every Day is a Winding Road; George Harrison - My Sweet Lord; Eric Clapton - Layla; Creed - Higher; Fitz & the Tantrums - We Don't Gotta Work it Out; Van Halen -Jump; Mungo Jerry - In the Summertime. I also picked a part of the lyrics that really hit me in particular this time.  Well, all except Layla - that song just gives me chills for the sound of anguished passion. Shiver me timbers!

Did I 'learn' something about me, my word, music - anything? Oh yeah, you betcha. I learned that I NEED music in my life, and that it's important to find the time for it. I don't have to justify what my taste in music is to anyone, and neither do you.  The other thing I learned was something that had been below the surface this summer. I needed and wanted to make/have a deeper spiritual connection and the music summed it all up in just a few lyrics. Insights can come to me/us in so many channels.  After completing the image above, I burned a cd of the music but did something so I'll try that again. Even better to me was that later that week I was told about another spiritual circle, another book, and reconnected with someone- all things that really compliment all that I want in my life.   Amazing Grace, isn't it!

Now I'm sure you want to see how others dealt with their One Little Word in July. Happy Blog Hopping!

AUGUST 1 OLW Blog Hop Participants

Margie               http://xnomads.typepad.com/blog 
Nikki                        http://www.inkyart.com.au/
Monica B            http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com/
Cheri                         http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com
Jamie                        http://jmpgirl.blogspot.com
Jill                          http://jillconyers.typepad.com/
Monica B1            http://Scraplifters.blogspot.com
Lynn                        www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com
Melissa            http://blog.mshanhun.com
Sam                        http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com/
Jenn                        www.studiojenn.blogspot.com
Maureen   (me!)         http://cookingmylife.blogspot.com
Chrissy            http://getcraftywithchrissy.blogspot.com/
Jan                        http://mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com
Kimberly            http://foreverdaisies.blogspot.com/
Kathryn            http://www.katlodesigns.com
Lisa                        http://backtoallen.com/writers_blog
Amanda            http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com
Cassie            http://craftycassiescorner.blogspot.com/

OLW Bloghop - March Edition

Here we start the third month of our One Little Word class/project/adventure with Ali Edwards. My word is LEARN and it's still nudging about in my life. Kind of like a cat who you know is in the house but only comes out on occasion, and really isn't ready to jump up on you lap and nestle in. I know there are so many ways to learn, so many ways I can learn. I've tried my best to see what life brings as lessons, but so often when I'm in the midst of a lesson, I can't always see the point. It often takes getting through the lesson, the experience for me to get that aha! moment. I try to stay open to not killing the messenger as they say, but paying attention to the message. May or June may be the time it takes me to see the learning experience in January or February!

This month Ali asked us to come up with images, both literal and figurative about what our word means to us. Literal was easy. Figurative is much harder for my literal mind to grasp. This is what I had - On the top line the photos are

1. me learning how to spatchcock a turkey. Cooking is one my lifelong loves, and I always like to find a new way to cook something or a new recipe. These days I like to make it simpler and healthier. 
2. The bridge over the Patuxent River down near Solomons. I love the calm of the water and the idea of anything being a bridge to a new place - in my head, in my heart, or just on land.
3. The third is my initial, my name, who I am. Who I am learning to be as a butterfly learns to be more than a chrysalis.
4. 2nd row, the daily newspapers. One of the ways I learn about the world, but too often it's only learning about the negative part of life. There IS so much more and it's not likely I'll get in in those newspapers.
5. Joko Beck, Zen teacher, and one of my life guides in learning that we can't avoid, we can learn to live with...
6. The afternoon sun on a bookcase. Learning to see the light.
7. Bottom row - that butterfly again and words. Learning about the power of words, my words, my silences
8. My husband, a man with a heart burning with love
9. Me, both sides of me, taking time to think, to be quiet and listen for the lesson.

So there you have me and where I've been during February. I said Bloghop, didn't I. Here are the others in the class who have chosen to be a part of the blog hop. The first person, Margie, is the woman who set this all up and did all the work involved. Kudos to you Margie and thanks for your willingness and dedication to this.

All posts in the bloghop are scheduled to be posted at 08:00 PST March 1st. Take time to go through this list and read and see what other people did, learned, felt during the 2nd month of One Little Word. Lives change, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, sometimes reluctantly but if there's life, there's change.

The next person after me on the March BlogHop is Kristi over at  http://theprojectofme.wordpress.com She's #25, so head on over when you can.                              


1.    Margie                          http://xnomads.typepad.com
2.    Monica Bradford              http://scraplifters.blogspot.com/
3.    Jill C                      http://jillconyers.typepad.com/
4.    Miranda                 http://mirandasscrapsite.blogspot.com
5.    Donna                          http://www.donnabryantdurand.blogspot.com
6.    Lynn                                         http://crafty-creativity.blogspot.com         
7.    Stacey                        http://www.TheAcornGarden.com/blog
8.    Lisa                                    http://backtoallen.com/writers_blog
9.    Cassie                        http://craftycassiescorner.blogspot.com
10. Abbey                                    http://athomewiththerichardsfamily.blogspot.com/
11. Nicky                                    http://seejanebake.blogspot.com
12. Holly                                    http://lovingrobots.blogspot.com
13. Karen T                                  http://breathenowsmile.blogspot.com
14. Claudia                        http://creative-moms.com
15. Rebekah                        http://istampscrapcraft.blogspot.com
16. Kimberly                        http://foreverdaisies.blogspot.com
17. Kat                                    www.katswonderings.blogspot.com
18. Kristina                        http://ciqis.blogspot.com
19. Jan                                    http://mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com
20. Nikki                                     http://www.inkyart.com.au/
21. Amanda                        www.scrappnbee.blogspot.com
22. Lisa                                    http://luluoz.typepad.com
23. Sam                                    http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com
24. Maureen                       You're here! This is me.     http://cookingmylife.blogspot.com
25. Kristi                                      http://theprojectofme.wordpress.com
26. Tere                                    http://terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com
27. Karen                                    http://womenontractors.blogspot.com
28. Katrina                          http://k84mansramblings.blogspot.com
29. Monica Bergler            http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com
30. Mandy                        http://captureandcreate.wordpress.com
31. Lisa                                    http://makeyourownescape.blogspot.com
32. Chrissy                        http://getcraftywithchrissy.blogspot.com
33. Lee                                     http://thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife

34. Jen                                    www.byjen.com
35. Sylvia                                    http://baxtersmom1.blogspot.com/
36. Christianne                        http://christiannemarra.blogspot.com/
37. Cheri                                    http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com
38.  Joy                                    www.undiscoveredjoy.blogspot.com
39.  Beth                                    http://justbebeth.wordpress.com/
40.  Jennifer L                        www.studiojenn.blogspot.com
41.  Kathryn                        www.katlodesigns.com
42.  Heather                        www.scrappyhare.blogspot.com
43.  Cindy                                    http://seriousplay.typepad.com
44.  Cynthiau                        http://paperpapereverywhere.blogspot.com/

Now if this has whetted your appetite to try this out yourself, it isn't too late to sign up for this class. Go over to One Little Word at Big Picture Classes and join us. We'd love to have you!

Me and my One Little Word - Learn

Poor old literal minded me is having a bit of a go with my word I'm afraid.

Geeze, word, it's been a whole month. You have to be a bit clearer with me. Subtle often alludes me. I did learn one thing last month. I learned that my parents really were in love, long, long ago.  It's been so long since each of them died that it's easier to see the people they once were rather than the people I 'knew' growing up a child and a young-ish adult. I mean both of them were dead by the time I was in my mid-30s.  I had so much life learning to do. So, ok word. I was just a slow learner. Maybe you are doing as much with me as I'm letting you do. I'll be patient. Ok, I'll try to be patient. Is that better?

 

 

I hope you get a chuckle about how I see myself and you. Maybe at the end of February, it will all look different. Bye for now Little Word. I know you're around, and I'll keep an eye out for you. Oh yes, I'll keep and open heart too. Cya!

One Little Word Blog Hop

Hop hop hop. I decided to join in this one which is unusual for me but thought what the heck. Try something different. I think I am about one of the last ones to join in but we all get there in the end.

I've done One Little Word two years ago and my word was RELAX.  I found a wooden Relax and liked having my word up in my studio to look at all year. That was really all I did to incorporate it into my life. It was a good reminder to slooooow down. Take it easy. I was retired and didn't really need any 'have-to's' in my life.

Last year there was no word. A lot of our life and thoughts were taken up with our little granddaughter who was dying from aplastic anemia. We also had that Snowmagedon. I had other things on my mind and occasionally missed having "A" word.

This year Ali Edwards has a class on incorporating your chosen word in your life. Who doesn't love Ali's way of teaching the profound through simple scrap booking. I glammed onto this.

My word wasn't one that thrilled me at first. You know, you think about a word, roll one or two around in your head and heart and somehow one just fits. You'll know it when you feel it.  I waited for one to come to me and thought, I want to be open to what comes. Well the word that kept coming was LEARN. I didn't like it, but darn you word, you just wouldn't let go, would you?!?!  So I accepted that God/the Universe had a plan for me for this year, and I would learn what it was in time. I would LEARN.  I don't know now because I have to...learn.

me and my word book

Now that you've read all about MY word, how about going and seeing Cheri. She's the next on on the bloghop list so go on...pay her a visit! (That's me, number 27.) Cheri is just after me below at number 28.

Then you may want to see all the other OLW'ers who are playing the bloghop?

1) Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com
2) Jill Conyers http://jillconyers.typepad.com/life_as_i_see_it/
3) Monica http://scraplifters.blogspot.com
4) Lynn W http://crafty-creativity.blogspot.com
5) Miranda http://mirandasscrapsite.blogspot.com
6) Mandy http://captureandcreate.wordpress.com
7) Kathy http://katswonderings.blogspot.com
8) Lisa http://makeyourownescape.blogspot.com
9) Donna http://donnabryantdurand.blogspot.com
10) Abbey http://athomewiththerichardsfamily.blogspot.com/
11) Sam http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com/
12) April http://capturethememories.blogspot.com
13) Nicky http://seejanebake.blogspot.com
14) Rebekah http://istampscrapcraft.blogspot.com/
15) Relly http://rel.ly
16) Nancy http://goshery.blogspot.com
17) Cynthia http://paperpapereverywhere.blogspot.com/
18) Kathryn http://katlodesigns.com
19) Nikki http://www.inkyart.com.au
20) Heather http://scrappyhare.blogspot.com
21) Gayle www.lifeonlilypadlane.blogspot.com
22) Kristina http://ciqis.blogspot.com
23) Debra http://blakleyhomeplace.blogspot.com
24) Becky http://beckyandjames.com
25) Amy http://reflectivesnapshots.com
26) Marlene http://moore-fun-in-the-sun.blogspot.com/
27) Maureen http://cookingmylife.blogspot.com
28) Cheri http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com
29) Monica Scrapmom http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com
30) Jan http://mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com
31) Junelle http://yesandamenblog.blogspot.com/p/contact-me.html
32) Margaret http://www.gutsymom.blogspot.com
33) Sharyn http://www.analteredlife.com
34) Tere http://terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com/