Guiding ♥ Word 2017 ...

Every year I "choose" a Guiding word ...

truth be told ... it "chooses me".

I will see the word in the most unexpected places {over and over again}  & it will resonate with me. 

It happens every year. Some years I will wonder when my word will appear :-D.

This year it came to me much, much earlier than others.

In fact, there were two words that appeared before me - time and time again.

Opening ... and Open

I took my time knowing that the word would finally appear front and center, leaving no doubt.

♥

January opens the box of the year

and brings about days that are bright and clear.

And brings out the days that are cold and grey.

And shouts

"Come see what I brought today!"

~Leland. B. Jacobs~

***

Open heart* Open mind* Open arms

I'm no longer searching

I'm just opening

~Mark Nepo~

Looking with open eyes ~ { a bird appears even in abstract pieces} :-D

We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure.

There is no end to the adventure we can have if only we seek them out

with eyes wide open.

~Jawaharial Nehru~

Follow your bliss

and the Universe

will open doors

where there were

only walls

~Joseph Campbell~

Deep within your Soul

is a door

that opens into a world of wonder.

All we have to do

is open the door

and welcome the Magic

~Wild Woman Sisterhood~

***

Paper Roses ...

It is trying so hard to snow today.

The Red Cardinals were sitting quietly, feathers fluffed, waiting for the feeders to be filled.

That was the first thing on my agenda this morning. Feeders and suet baskets refilled.

I've been watching the snow flakes dance about outside my window and hoping enough of them will land. So far they are disappearing as fast as they fall.

A pretty pot of daisies sits on my kitchen table.

beeswax candles burning ...

fresh cup of tea made ...

thinking of Valentine's day ...

making some pretty wrapping paper,

cards & envelopes {like these}

all you need to make your own is :

acrylic paint

brown craft wrapping paper

celery core {yes ... celery core} :-)

Cut the stalks of celery from the core.

Blot core on tea towel to remove excess moisture.

Pour a small amount of white acrylic paint on to plate {you can thin with a bit of water if you want}

Dip core into white acrylic paint and stamp paper randomly.

create envelopes, cards, gift tags and paper

Hope you are having a wonderful Friday ♥

National Peanut Butter Day ...

Some peanut butter cookies

in honour of

National Peanut Butter Day

baked and wrapped with love ♥

I think it's

National Peanut Butter Day

at our house

everyday

... just ask the squirrels

{peanut butter sandwiches are an every day treat}

peanuts for the Blue Jays

and chipmunks

~ enjoy~

The rhythm of the day ...

the textures and colour found on a January afternoon

I stop to take in their beauty

treasures to be found everywhere

Archer knows ...

the leaves that have hung on

and aged so well ...

and the trees ...

bark breaking free ...

a winter's lunch for nearby birds ...

How can you explain

that you need to know

that the trees are still there,

and the hills and the sky?

Anyone knows they are.

How can you say

it is time your pulse responded to another rhythm

the rhythm of the day and the season

instead of the hour and the minute?

No, you cannot explain.

So you walk.

~Unknown~

Thankful {things I love} Thursday

So grateful to have the front cover of the January/ February issue of

The Country Register of Michigan ♥

Featuring my Anticipation nest image

Nests * A New Year * January * Winter * Michigan

... some of my favourite things

~Thank you so much Leslie. ~

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

"Solo Swim"

Walks along the lake.

How grateful we feel to be blessed with Lake Ontario within walking distance of our home ♥

Each day we have the choice of the forest or lake to walk.

Each brings with it it's own beauty and blessings.

I am always filled with inspiration.

"Bear Necessities"

Muskoka love ... a slice of heaven to us,

and with it comes the beauty of wild wonderments ...

 bears and moose and foxes ♥

Wintertime in the Muskokas xoxo

"A gathering of precious things"

So many things I love in one painting :-)

Winter ... snow ... birds ... moon gazing ... squirrels ... rabbits ... fox ... badgers ... trees ... lanterns ...

velvet capes ♥

~Happy Thursday ~

Blessings,

deb

♥

Happy New Year ♥

It's not what you look at that matters.

It's what you see

~Henry David Thoreau~

♥

A lake is the landscape's most beautiful

and expressive feature.

It is earth's eye;

looking into which

the beholder measures the depth

of his own nature

~Henry David Thoreau~

***

A New Year. Welcome 2017 ♥

A beautiful walk by the lake.

Rain gently trickling down.

Hello January.

Reflecting xo