catching dreams ...

Walking through the woods with Archer ... on a very cold January afternoon, the beauty of our surroundings kept me from thinking of the cold {although I was thankful for my warm jacket, hat, gloves and boots which allowed me to stay out longer}

"Like walking a dream" crossed my mind amongst the tall trees as snowflakes danced in the air.

Each snowflakes pattern could be seen on Archers beautiful black fur...

Oh how I adore January and this sacred walking space ...

I held my hand out, palm up to gather a scattering of falling flakes ... dream catcher ...

& then I thought ...

How often do/have  we place our dreams in the hands of others?

Here's to being our own dream catcher!

***

Little girls with dreams

become women with vision

"Your dreams are a poetic reflection

of your soul's wishes.

Be courageous enough

to follow them"

~Dr. Steve Maraboli~

If your dreams don't scare you

maybe they're not big enough!

"Never settle.

Fight for 

the life

the career

the dreams

the love

that you deserve"

~Mandy Hale~

Happy Dreaming!

d x

New Year ... New Painting ...

Happy New Year 

***

I have so many ideas for paintings

{and like my guiding word, they are just waiting to flow ...}

I am so  looking forward to painting my thoughts & dreams & visions

& seeing them come to life on paper.

Santa knows me well {and I must have been on his 'good girl' list

as lots of new brushes, paints and paper were under the Christmas tree for me this year.

~Walking Hibernation~

the first painting of 2018

polar bear & yearling cub, trees, ice & frosty branches, moon wisdom, nature loving woman, cloudy blue skies ...

mixed with lots of love and gratitude

"Silent world,

I find myself,

glad no one hears my thoughts.

In dark cocoon, I hibernate,

yet spirit spills every thought.

A second chance to try again.

The risks I know too well.

Two sunsets

turning into six~

awaits tomorrows will"

~Giroge Leedy~

the woods, the wind & the wild ...

With all the busyness of this magical season,

I need to carve out time for a few things ...

time to paint

& my time in the woods  :-D

Not surprisingly, the two go hand in hand for me as most of my ideas come to me as I walk quietly and mindfully  with my sweet lab Archer. Both taking in the serenity of the woods and Archer enjoying off leash time where he can walk and wander {though he never strays too far from my side}.

Time with the trees, the birds {such sweet bird song being the only sounds heard}, a gentle breeze on my cheeks, crisp ground under my feet, and when I am really lucky, the occasional rabbit and deer

~ bliss xo

As I walked the woods the other day, I could picture in my mind this painting ...

I was walking the painting ...

and feeling the words ...

She needs this quiet time. Bringing her thoughts & worries to the woods 🌲the wind * the wild 🍃🌿. With each gust of wind & drift of snow ❄️she feels the cobwebs 🕸loosen & clear from her mind. Her eyes watering from the cold, she closes them, each blink bringing clarity 🙏🏻. The trees stand strong. The birds sing. The animals rest. She feels at peace. Surrounded by love and her connection to the woods, the wind & the wild. x ~ my love for the woods, wind & wild in a painting

peace & love,

deb

thankful {things I love} thursday ...

"I love getting older.

My understanding deepens.

I can see what connects.

I can weave stories of experience and apply them.

I can integrate the lessons.

Things simply become more and more fascinating.

Beauty reveals itself in thousands of forms"

~Victoria Erickson~

Sparrow Studio Altar

~thankful {things I love} Thursday ~ 

music 

a gentle smudge of sparrow studio

candles lit

... tons of ideas & projects floating around in my head

my little studio altar

grounds me the moment I walk into my little sparrow studio

I light candles

put on music

and spend a few moment to settle in 

before I begin

I make a few changes seasonally

but some things remain the same, like my gratitude jar

... a small slip of paper is added daily of one thing I am thankful for that day x

painted leaves, bark and feathers

anyone who knows me 

knows how much I adore quotes.

I had the idea for a while to paint a little quote keeper box.

smudge sticks created from my own garden

have dried beautifully

treasures to watch over me

for the secret of the sea ...

"Till my soul is full of longing

for the secret of the sea.

And the heart of the great Ocean

sends a thrilling pulse

through me"

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~

***

I think my heart skips a beat when I find heart shaped sea glass ... it is like stumbling upon a love note washed up and waiting for you to find xo

Walking along the lake this past weekend, gathering sea glass as I walked and thought, this came to me ... Each piece of sea glass makes me think ... 

What man has discarded, nature heals and returns. It may take years and many ebbs and flows,  but when it returns, it is more beautiful than ever!

Reading Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindberg again.

One of my favourite books.

"Patience, patience, patience

is what the sea teaches.

Patience and faith.

One should lie

empty, open, choiceless as a beach -

waiting for a gift from the sea"

~Anne Morrow Lindbergh~

"Because there's nothing more beautiful

than the way the ocean

refuses to stop kissing the shoreline,

no matter how many times

it's sent away"

~Sarah Kay~

*the black blotch in the photos is my lovely lab Archer's head ... my Velcro dog & beach walking partner  ... I could have edited the photos, but I think he adds to the lovely~ness * xo

~hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday~

and just like that ...

and just like that...

the leaves changed colour

"Listen to the trees

as they sway

in the wind.

Their leaves

are telling

secrets"

~Vera Nazarian~

"I would rather be amongst forest animals

and the sounds of nature,

than amongst city traffic

and the noise of man"

~Anthony Douglas Williams~

autumn

~my favourite season~

wildflowers ...

I have a large clump of cosmos growing in my little country garden.

They are closest to the driveway and the first flowers to greet me as I get out of my car.

I love this time of year {for so many reasons} ... the cosmos {which began many years ago from gathering dried seed pods in the Muskokas, brought home and scattered in my own garden}still have lots of pretty pink blooms, but there are lots of dried seed pods too ♥

I've been running my hand over some of them and sprinkling those back into the earth & gathering up others. 

This Thanksgiving, a little seed package will sit next to each plate :-D

You are ...

the Sun

the Water

the Air

Wings

Roots

... the Earth

I was made to be Wild

***

She felt most herself when in the woods with the animals, trees and wildflowers

where she could be *wild* and *free*

♥

Ah, September! ...

hello September...

so happy to see you

loving the change in the weather

and evenings that are drawing in ...

walking through the woods

visiting with some of my ... do I dare say ... "favourite" trees

the ones that are unique and twisted and filled with personality and life ♥

{the same qualities I am drawn to in people} :-D xo

putting my hands on cool bark ...

both energy boosters and soul soothers

some with little doorways ... "Welcome Home"

***

"Ah, September!

You are the Doorway

to the Season

that Awakens

my Soul ..."

~Peggy Toney Horton~

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

"You know that moment

first thing in the morning

and you open the window,

and you are flooded with the senses

of life,

birdsong,

fresh air,

sunbeams,

nature in all her glory...

it's just so sacred.

It's the life-bird

and she's singing the sweetest song.

She's reminding us

of what it is like to be alive.

Don't forget her song today.

Don't become so busy you can't hear it anymore.

Feeling alive today,

make that your focus.

Because we deserve to dance our days away.

Because we deserve to feel alive"

~S.C. Lourie~

Sunday Serenity

"I like to walk.

Touch living Mother Earth ~

bare feet best,

and thrill

every step.

Used to envy

happy reptiles

that had the advantage

of so much body

in contact with earth,

bosom to bosom.

{We} live with our heels

as well as head

and most of our pleasure

comes that way"

~John Muir~

... a mish mash of photos from my week ♥

after a very busy day, I stumbled across this sweet turtle

who was basking in the sunshine.

he would lift his little head up to the sun, eyes glistening, in pure bliss.

I found a nearby rock at the edge of the pond and sat just watching him and smiling.

he stretched out one arm ... then another ... and slid into the cool water.

beautiful blooms

hello

stopped to listen to a sparrow serenade ♥

such beauty!

do you see the butterfly?

~happy Sunday~

xo d