"March"-ing On

Well, it seemed like January lasted for 75 days, February lasted 2 and now March is here. My town didn't get a lot of snow this Winter, but the temps were simply brutal. I can handle cold; that's what they make the 'big coat', lovely squishy warm scarves and cute gloves for. Folks complained like it was something new. 😖

I've been reading over @ "Substack" a lot lately and today I created a profile. I don't know how often I'll write over there since I love my space here and have had it for-ever. But I was moved by the positivity and community and felt like I wanted to be a part of it. Then the introverted part of myself told me to post here. My fave writer there (so far) is "Alex Elle" and she's created a challenge called "joy spotting." I think it's the coolest. I didn't commit to join in but the idea is novel. 

I've been off work for 3 consecutive days (forced vacay) and it's so nurturing. Days off are usually Thursday/Sunday so it's nice to wake up on my own, sit in the quiet (TV rarely gets turned on) and let my mind wander. I've been trying to give my place the love it doesn't get when I'm working and I definitely feel like it's giving me a hug back. 🤗

Here're some 'joy spots' from this morning.

New diffuser. Me & the plants love it.

Yes, it's crooked. Lol. I fixed it, but you need much more than love.

"The Coffee Station." Coffee sign is placemat from Dollar Tree.

I don't know why I love things that SAY what they are.

Seeeee???????

Love how the rising sun lights up 'the jungle.' So do they.

Forgot I had this. Putting it to work.

I hope you find your spots of joy daily and embrace them. Gratitude is an amazing feeling.

Until next time ... 💋

Hey! It's November Already!!

Hey folks. Yeah... I'm still here. I've been to this blank page more times than I care to count so let me try to catch up.

I can't begin to put into words how fast time is flying. It really messes w/my head some days. Working crazy shifts back and forth; I usually don't know what day it is, nor the date. Everything is a blur.  AARP Mag. says this:

As I get older, time seems to just fly by. Every year seems shorter. Am I normal? 

That's normal. Blame it on how your brain marks time — through novel experiences that create memories. Growing up, you’re learning and changing and making memories. Then, as an adult, you settle down into a routine, which makes the days, weeks, months and even years start to blur. “When those days don’t change, they meld together until something — such as seeing a friend’s grown child you haven’t seen since age 2 — shocks you back into memory mode,” says British psychologist Claudia Hammond, author of Time Warped: Unlocking the Mysteries of Time Perception. To keep time from flying by, you need to deliberately create new memories, Hammond explains. “Go somewhere different and do new things this weekend. On Monday, when you look back, the weekend will feel as if it were a longer period of time.” 

Got it? ✔

The summer for me truly flew by. I worked straight thru without vacation. I grew lovely flowers, herbs, tomatoes and sunflowers in pots. Things didn't quite work out like I wished, but I'll try again next year, God willing.

Then it seems the Fall came and went so quickly. We didn't even have Indian Summer!!!! This year we had beautiful color, but lots of wind/rain, so the beauty didn't last for long. I caught what I could.

Fall is my most favorite season to shoot for obvious reasons. 😉

Still working @ and loving the store. June made a year, I got raise. 👍 I have quite a few favorite customers, especially the elderly. I love giving them time and attention. #priceless

Mom entered memory care on August 1st. Still emotional about it even though it is for the very, very best. She has adjusted; it's a nice place for her. We've been going through the process of breaking down her home to put on the market. The sibs and I already have established homes, so we didn't have a need for much of mom's stuff. And I mean she had STUFF! An entire house full of her life to be dismantled. I give ALL props to Sisters #1 and 2 for their hard work on this. We would be lost without them.

This makes me think of my own house full of STUFF! If someone had to do the same for me, they would catch the same type of hell we're catching right now! I think my books and craft things would be enuff to make someone want to strike a match. Oy vey ....

... which brings me to this book I picked up the other day from the library. I'm afraid I "keep" too many things for various sentimental reasons. I really need to let go. In gathering things from mom's, I tried to keep it "down" - only taking what I could use around the house but I took a lot of her books, etc. Just because they once belonged to her.

Alzheimer's is a bitch of a disease. It totally robs folks of their lives & memories. I don't know what stage of life mom is trapped in right now, but she's NOT in the present or even the past few years. We don't know what to talk to her about. The most we can do is listen to her talk of times we know nothing of and agree. We "lost" her nearly four years ago. It's hard. But it's life.

"Better Days"

What else?? 🤔

OH! Remember the Arbor Day Tree Photo Contest I mentioned in my LAST POST OF APRIL? (Sheesh...), well... I WON FOURTH PLACE!!! I was on a natural high for sure! I left the gallery, went straight to bar down the street, bought myself a celebratory drink, sat outside on the patio & enjoyed my few moments of fame. I was SO happy! I looked like this: 😀

Otherwise, that about sums up the past few months. Nothing exciting on the horizon; I wish I could change that but... it is what it is. I've been practicing being ' present in the moment' for the past few days; not racing ahead in my thoughts - not looking back, but being right in the moment. It's a hard practice but it's where God said to meet him - right here/right now. It feels strange, yet peaceful.

We are spiritual beings having human experiences.

Peace.

*All photos by Cuppa"T" Photography (aka: me)

Feelin' Me

My Collage

So.... one day I realized when removing my head scarf from the night before, that I look rather 'regal' with this thing on. This very thing that I've worn since childhood (don't forget your HEAD RAG!!); this very thing that I see women sport on the regular thinking I would never dare try....

I took it a little further and added some sparkles from crafting down my forehead/third eye and added a touch of lip stick.

And Queen Makeda arrived. I'm not real fond of photos of myself, especially when I try taking a 'selfie' with a full scale DSLR (I don't own a smart phone), but here, I feel.... pretty.

Someone told me I looked like Maya Angelou.

I replied: "AND STILL I RISE." :-)

A few things I'm loving right now

Google Image

Online Reading:

1. Souls of Society: I love "Dijon." 
2. The Humans of Josephine
3. Necessary Fiction
4. The Elephant Journal
5. Medium: Always SO many great perspectives to think on
6. Shining Stars Magazine: Brings me comfort

My image: on my desk

Creating:

1. Bleeding Tissue Paper: WOW, this ain't your mama's tissue paper!! haha
2. Canvas Panels: (various sizes): I chose the panels because they stack against each other w/taking up much space. I'm truly addicted to these; when I sit down in front of a blank, my creative juices SOAR
3. Acrylic Paints
4. Watercolor Paper
5. Mod Podge: This stuff ROCKS!!! In fact, here's a couple of Fall leaves I captured in time courtesy of 'the Podge'

It's the simple things in life. :-)

God's Pallette

Hey there! It's been a little while. I cannot believe we are on our 11th day of October!!! Time truly does fly. Such a cliché phrase, yet so apparent.

We're having color changes here in Ohio; some trees are brilliant, yet some still hold onto their summer greens. I am fascinated each year at God's Pallette.

Peaceful, bright Westlawn Cemetery. Bliss.

Amazing!!!

Things going on in my life right now:

• Been on a few job interviews to no avail :-(. Trusting in God and practicing patience
• Praying on doubting myself. After each failed interview, a little piece of my 'worth' feels stripped away
• Praying strongly that my mortgage company can work w/me on keeping my house
• Praying strongly that we can find a soft place for my mother to land. Her house is being sold,  she has to be uprooted. This is such a tender matter for me. I'm more worried about her well-being than I am for myself. She is 81 years old, after all. I never imagined dealing with this and seeing the truly 'elderly' in mom. Makes my heart ache
• I haven't been able to get to stylist in months!!! Trying not to look like 'Grandma Moses'; Lol!!

"Changes"

Mini 'Burning Bush'

And that is about all I have going on. I'm 'living the dream'. :-)

The August Break/Day 5

The August Break prompt: "three"

Oh, how I love summertime; shooting all the various flowers that God blesses us with is surely a treat for the eyes. I'm not limited to my own surroundings - oh, no!! I'm the person who knocks on a door & says:

"Hello, I live here in the neighborhood & I shoot pictures all around the city; would you mind if got a shot of your ___________ in your front yard?" (fill in the blank).

And believe it or not, the answer is always "yes - of course."

It's the little things in life, isn't it :-)

The August Break 2014

2014

Live your life like no one is watching you. Live beyond expectations. Live like you are totally free to be anything & do anything you choose for yourself. Live from your innocence. Live from a sense of equal satisfaction with who you are & what you have available to you. Let yourself dream like nobody can stop you.

Let yourself sing like nobody is listening. Let yourself dance like nobody is watching. Play dress up! Talk to yourself. Tell yourself something that you would never repeat aloud. Let yourself be exactly who you are & live like it is okay - because it really is.

I will gain more understanding when I realize ... where I am is exactly where I need to to be

Living, learning, light, luminosity, law. Opportunity, oneness, openness. Vastness, versatility, virtue, victory. Enlightenment, eternity, endurance, endeavor

  These quotes are from "Until Today" by Iyanla Vanzant. Sister, S got it for my birthday a few years ago.Good lessons with a side of food for thought.

Summer Update, Part IV

I took a chance and entered three photo contests at the branches of the library I frequent. At one branch, my photos were displayed & I only ranked as 'participant.' The next branch, I took SECOND, even though at first they told me I won third. My 'prize' was a stack of new books!!! And lastly, at the next branch, I took third place. I was humbled and honored that folks gave my pictures some love. The librarian said if she saw my work at any local shop, she would definitely buy them. I wanted to ask her why wait? You can buy them right now! Lol.

A Spring Walk

Well, imagine our surprise waking up to a winter wonderland Monday morning!!! It was soooo beautiful; you couldn't help but be thrilled even though everyone's awaiting "Spring" weather.

I grabbed the camera & walked until my shoes, socks & jeans were soaked. I still could've kept going, but I was starting to lose feeling in my toes! (LOL!)

God's work is beautiful, indeed. He will bring on "spring" weather exactly when it's time. Not one before. And certainly not one minute after.

Happy Spring, my friends.