Hug A Tree!

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.
The next best time is now." ~Chinese Proverb

On this Arbor Day I want to remind you to not only PLANT a tree, but also to hug a tree! This beauty is standing in Glacier National Park in Montana. I gave it a big hug before I snapped this photo. There is nothing like the peaceful energy of a tree.

Danielle LaPorte Says It Best

Found this little gem in my inbox this morning. All I can say is Wow and Thank You Danielle.

Homekeeping Dreaming

I spent some time tonight paging through Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook. It is a book filled with information about ANYTHING you ever wanted to know about "keeping house". I have a fascination with "keeping house". When I was in the 8 to 5 world, I would daydream at my desk about organizing, cleaning and repairing whatever needed to be fixed in my house. Sometimes I would even come home at lunch time and clean out a drawer or organize a corner of the garage, pull weeds or clean a bathroom. I also talked to my co-workers about the joys of laundry and ironing and gave them helpful hints like not adding fabric softener while washing towels (the towels dry your body better that way).

As I was cleaning under and around the stove yesterday, I thought of Martha. I remembered I had this book and pulled it off the shelf.

Martha writes in the opening paragraph that she started to research and compile information many years ago when she realized that homekeeping, homemaking and housekeeping were her favorite subjects. Since leaving the 8 to 5 world I had forgotten that they are some of my favorite subjects as well. Thanks for reminding me. I didn't (and still don't) have a "routine cleaning" and "periodic maintenance" list as Martha does in the book. Hmmm - I think I want one.

Northern Minnesota

This is where I spent last week. Ever been to Northern Minnesota? I highly recommend it. The air is fresh and clean, the skies big and blue, the lakes are clear and clean and I promise you will sleep like a baby. And the best part, the call of the loon to wake you up each morning so you don't miss a minute of the best summer days you will ever experience.

Costa Rica Yoga in 32 Days

Here I am, 32 days before the Costa Rica Yoga Retreat. It is -14 degrees at my house right now. It is 73 degrees in Costa Rica right now. Where would you rather be?

Laura and I have been preparing for our adventure for many weeks now. Which travel yoga mat to purchase? Which pair of yoga shorts? Water shoes?

Of course we always talk about the yoga. Can you imagine yoga in the jungle, with monkeys watching? Sign me up! Oh, wait - I already have my ticket. What about you?

Related Posts
Do Some Yoga In Costa Rica
Yoga Retreat In Costa Rica

Sweetheart

My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet. ~Edith Wharton

For me...

Inspiration, beauty, grace, radiance, strength, movement, joy, peace, happiness, connection.

Learning to walk set you free. Learning to dance gives you the greatest freedom of all: to express with your whole self the person you are. ~ Melissa Hayde

A Magical Event

"The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event" ~ Unknown

My new "real" Minnesota winter coat and new boots. The mittens are not new, I just threw them in the picture because they are cute :-) I could stay warm outside forever.

While the "fall of snow" today is not the first this season, it certainly has been a magical event. Walking down the street tonight with everything covered in a beautiful layer of white I think that nothing could be more beautiful. Not only to the eyes, but to the nose and lungs with the most pure and crisp air to breathe. To the ears, with the complete silence except for the sound of the boots against the snow. Everything is calm and peaceful. You can feel the relaxation of the ground and the trees and shrubs - the energy of all is relaxed.

I wish for every winter evening to touch me in this way. It is magical and so beautiful.

Gratitude Inspiration

How is your gratitude practice? Do you need a little inspiration? This video will help. It is the Karma Tube video of the week. The message is wonderful and the pictures are beautiful - too beautiful not to share.

Enjoy!

A Single Candle

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared."
~ Buddha

In fact, you will receive more!

My Pup

To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace. ~Milan Kundera

Dream Expansion Inspiration

STREAM OF LIFE

The Same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.

It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.

It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth and of death, in ebb and in flow.

I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life. And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.

~ Rabindranath Tagore

I was introduced to this beautiful poem when I saw this video today. Wow, right? Toward the end of the video I realized that more than anything else, the music was moving me. This voice, while singing in a different language, was so beautiful and the music was so upbeat. What is this song and who is singing it? I so appreciate Google each day for answering so many of my questions! The song is called "Praan". It is the above poem put to music by Gary Schyman. The voice is that of Palbasha Siddique, an 18 year old woman originally from Bangladesh who now lives in Minneapolis. Here is a link for more information on the video and Palbasha.

As I watch this video and see all of the wonderful locations, all of the people, the music and the wonderful message and I can't help but think - who's dream was this? Did it start small and grow? What was the inspiration? How many people told him that it wasn't possible or that it was crazy. Look how big this dream became. How can I use this as inspiration for my own dreams?

What are your dreams? How big are they?

Use this video as inspiration and then I ask you, how can you expand your own dreams?

Finally Sun

on the deck, in the sun
a few Muses were musing
a call from Ron
"big storm headed your way"

really?
tv turned on
weatherman says take cover!
clouds more ominous
tornado sirens blaring

last Muse arrives - big hugs around

then the hail, BIG hail
off to the basement
dirt, clutter, dogs and all

finally sun
and food
and laughter
and connection

Tree and Sun

This little tree is in the far corner of my garden. Each spring it produces these beautiful and very fragrant flowers. Many pictures were taken on this evening, just at the sunset. Can you see the light between the branches? It was stunning.

After spending the whole day outside - pruning, planting and watering - what a gift it was to have time to spend with this tree, smelling the sweetness, and watching the spectacular performance put on by the sun. After the show, I slept like a baby.

Today's Meditation...

Squeeky Sand

Open

We are all too much inclined to walk through life with our eyes shut. There are things all around us, and right at our very feet, that we have never seen; because we have never really looked. ~ Alexander Graham Bell

Someone asked me the other day what they can do to become more present - how to slow down and just be. My answer is very simple - look for beauty. When you see it, really look at it, appreciate it. Ask yourself, why do I think this is beautiful? Notice how this beauty makes you feel when I really see it?

I love to photograph beautiful things. At first it was like an adventure and I was a detective. I was taking pictures of obvious beauty, like flowers. Once I really started to open my eyes and see EVERYTHING, I realized that beauty is everywhere. When I am with my camera, I am lost in the moment, fully present and fully alive. I photograph this beauty as my evidence that it is all around me and with that, so is my ability to keep myself grounded in the present moment.

A Beautiful Poem...

Here it is.

Peace.