It’s one more moment of walking in beauty!

remember this ugly spot…

it’s been transformed to this

Momm’s thotful spot has a brand new corner for reading and dreaming.

as you can see Ronnie agrees – he too is dreaming here, although I haven’t seen him reading yet!

Since even after much swearing, uh struggling, the couch refused to be moved out to the Den, it  moved to the other side of the room which is a bit of a nook. So, couch, windows, lamps and a wee shelf turned into a lovely spot.

Shelves between two windows hold current reading materials and interests with odds and sods of treasures collected over the years.  So much positive energy in this room.

My made to order desk is still in production out in the workshop so, for now, I’m using this wooden table which can be moved out into the centre of the room for art projects with friends. I like that idea a lot.

what could be more appropriate to place on my walking in beauty table than the stained glass house I purchased a few years ago. Best expenditure of a tax refund ever.

Inside the house is a collection of small stones and agates, dried roses from my wedding bouquet and a beautiful angel which my friend Marnie gave me for my 50th birthday.

I’ve framed my vision board and I also moved in one of my favourite pictures of my awesome daughter.

There are a few touches yet to be made. Like hanging the bell I bought to welcome in the new year. I’m thinking the corner above my desk will be a great spot. Oh and my sweetie thinks we should make a beaded curtain to hang in the doorway. Will wonders never cease?

I’m just thrilled at how this has turned out. The room is welcoming and energetic and is definitely  Joss’ Spot!

Here’s to much inspiration being birthed / walkin’ in beauty!

It was a lovely time to be out walking the property with Mirza, the English Setter, just soaking in the stillness and beauty all around.

Amazing how snow can make the world looks so pristine and no, these are not black and white images.

just thought you might like absorb some of the beauty around me today. And now back to getting my creative living room all set up!

If I could have one wish come true for you

What would it be?

Would I wish your life be filled with joy and laughter?

Would I wish for you to never know pain or sorrow?

Would I wish that all your needs and even your wants be met?

Perhaps I would wish that wherever you are, wherever you go,

there is someone at your side who says

“YES”.

Once I stopped shivering, I decided this quiet morning time was a good time to catch up on blog reading.  I have to take this moment to thank you. Those of you who follow here and comment, those of you whose blogs I read. Thank you for sharing bits of your life, your heart, your creative spirit, your longings, your desires for our world.  You, we, are an amazing group of individuals.  Thank you, from a full heart, for being a part of my world.

walk in beauty, dear friends, walk in beauty.

I was really excited a few weeks ago when Indigo Spider announced she was going to create a virtual writer’s group and having just spent some time on the newly revamped site, I am so impressed with how it’s set up.  The ease of navigation is outstanding.  This place is going to rock!

I don’t know about any of you who are writers or maybe you think of yourself as “someone who writes” but, for me, I’ve never had the opportunity to discuss my writing.  Actually I’ve rarely had the opportunity to discuss the fact that I write, even, well, until I started blogging daily last year.  Could it be I’m “a bit” of an introvert?  Or as my BFF sometimes says “it wouldn’t take much for you to become a hermit Joss”.

So, how does all this tie into the No Comfort Zone Challenge?  Well, this week I am stepping out of my zone by writing fiction and, hold on to your hats, then I’m going to submit it to the writer’s group for critiquing. Phew.

Many years ago, in another life, I started writing a novel and the adrenaline surge while writing fiction pretty much scared me away from doing it again.  Once in a while, I’ve put my toe in the river, like when I posted The Lady and The Crone, but fiction is something I have very much steered away from. Till now!

walk in beauty!

Today’s big job was working on the ceiling.  Last Spring we had a serious chimney fire which not only meant we had to replace the stove-pipe that runs from the furnace to the chimney and have a new chimney liner installed but we also had soot and dust everywhere in the house.  I did manage to wash every one of the damn walls, although the only reason I know they have been washed is because I did it.  I ran out of steam and honestly, got pretty discouraged about the whole mess by last Fall. So we have been living with clean but dirty looking walls and ceilings throughout our house for ten months now. sigh.

I can’t begin to explain how lovely it is to have fresh clean paint going up on this ugly ceiling.  And it is done, now, done!

We removed the ceiling fan blades, washed them and then…………..

doesn’t that middle part look much better painted the same colour as the ceiling instead of that horrid beige?

I’m not sure but I think that this is King Henry’s (my daughter’s cat) “I am so not impressed with all the commotion around here” look!

Stay posted, tomorrow the walls get painted. I can hardly wait, sore arms and shoulders or not!

I was listening to a lecture today and wouldn’t you know, the instructor mentioned that he teaches his clients a little trick to tune in to what they are worrying about.  You won’t believe what he suggested.  It’s simply this – rub your open hand back and forth across your abdomen and ask what is going on in there!  Does The Divine have amazing timing or what?

So I did just that, sat quietly, took a few deep breaths, rubbed my hand gently across my tummy back and forth a few times, asking “what is going on in there?” and just sat, emptying my mind and waiting. And this is what rose to the surface: “you’ve been stepping out of your comfort zone a lot the past few weeks, are you sure you want to be doing this?”

Wow.  Who knew?  It does make sense, however, that stepping out of my comfort zone is going to bring with it some anxiety.  Am I having fun?  Do I want to continue with this challenge? Yes and yes.  A number of times, this past month, I have asked the question “who will I be at the end of this year?” and that, perhaps, has contributed to my anxiety. The fear of the unknown.  The worry about changing.  The answer, of course, is that at the end of this year I will be me and I’ll be so pleased that I greeted the No Comfort Zone Challenge with enthusiasm and energy.

I also spent time today looking at my self-care habits and noticing that I have been lax in some things.  My self-care includes things like regular time alone, meditation, journaling, walking outside every day.   In the midst of this challenge, when I am stretching beyond my self-imposed boundaries, I need to be extra gentle with my self.  It’s like I often tell others; “sometimes you need to just sit by the side of the road a bit and let life go by”.  So that’s my plan for the rest of the week. Other than chores and work commitments that need to be fulfilled, I am going to be a bit more still than I have been lately.  I’m going to light a candle each night after supper, listen to a relaxation cd and just allow my mind and heart to float.

It turns out that those of us who regularly step out of our comfort zone also need to regularly be still.

walk in beauty dear friends.

“Curiosity killed the cat”, they taught us when we were children.  And we, being innocent, took this as a warning that being curious is not a good thing and ultimately leads to your death.  So we learned to not ask questions and to not poke our nose in where it didn’t belong.  And truly, teaching us THAT was bad enough. But what if the lesson was really “don’t be like the cat”?

What would you be like if you were The Cat?  You would give your complete attention to what you are doing at this moment.  No letting your thoughts or your eyes wander the room looking for the next attraction.  Focus would be your first and middle name and you would be present at every moment of your life.

If you are The Cat, you purr when someone you love is nearby.  Not just once in a while, but every time they are near – you purr and purr and let people you love know it again and again.

If you are the Cat, you put your mark on the things that matter to you. You never act as though something isn’t yours or isn’t important to you.  You mark your territory. You announce “this is mine and don’t you forget it”.

If you are The Cat, you never lose your excitement for a new toy.  The simplest of things brings you joy, even a small ball of tin foil is worth running through the house chasing and makes you smile and laugh.

If you are The Cat, you know who you are. No wondering if the dog looks better than you or if the hamster is someone’s favourite. You know that you rule!

If you are The Cat, you have expectations and you’re not shy about letting it be known that you have needs and you expect them to be met without argument or delay.

If you are The Cat, you know that self-care is number one.  You never neglect your own needs for those of others.  You groom and groom and forget anything else even exists.  You know that you matter to yourself.

If you are The Cat, you go after what you want and don’t care what anyone thinks or says.  Let them laugh!  Having trouble catching birds? Hell, sit in the damn bird feeder.  That’ll show ‘em.

If you are The Cat, you never pretend – you just are.  Is someone invading your space?  You don’t pretend to not notice. You hiss and spit before they even get a chance to push you away.  You know you are important and you don’t look around or wait around for someone to tell you so.

If you are The Cat, you eat when you’re hungry, you sleep when you’re tired, you purr when you’re happy and you never ever pretend to be other than who you are.

Don’t be curious?  Hell, they weren’t worried about curiosity; they were worried you’d be The Cat.

Be The Cat, damn it, BE THE CAT!

I especially wanted to share her post “Be not careful” with you as she does a beautiful job of expressing what so many of us are longing for lately.

Wander over, you’ll be inspired and impressed.