Virtual Coffee Tuesday - Needing some warmth and cheer...

... so I'm choosing a steaming (and dribbling!) hot chocolate today...

It's a cold, grey, drizzly, bleak day in the UK, so I need as much comfort as I can get *sigh*

So, I'm so glad you've dropped by!!

What can I get you? More of the same? Or would you prefer a refreshing lemon tea??

I hope you've had a good week...

Mine's been mixed... fun and not-so-fun...

The fun, first...

Well, my beloved football team did it on Saturday - they knocked their fiercest rivals (Manchester United) out of the FA Cup - and the whole match was live on a terrestrial channel!! Bliss :)

Then, on Sunday, I entered the week's IA Challenge (you can see my entry here), and can you believe it (I couldn't!), it was chosen as the winner!! Here it is in the Red Carpet Gallery...

Such excitement over the weekend somewhat made up for the disappointing news on Friday - my hand seems not to be responding to the saeboflex... the two physio appointments last week were very painful...

But, I've just had today's session, where another physio massaged and mobilized my hand, which makes it feel wonderfully relaxed She has a theory, which she hopes to try out on Friday, so we'll see... all may not be lost...

One more but of fun to end with... I've finally got some boards up on

There's a little button on the left side bar (just under the clock), but I'm warning you, it's seriously addictive! And do let me know if you have boards up, and I'll check them out :)

Now, tell me about your week? Fun, or not so...? Either way, it's lovely to share our stories....

IA Challenge - Letters of the Alphabet

This week's  Inspiration Avenue challenge is all about art and words...

I know a picture is supposed to be worth a thousand words, but sometimes words add a further dimension...

I've always been highly verbal, and losing my speech after the stroke in 2007 was devastating...

But I was lucky and it slowly returned after many hours of patient speech therapy... At first I spoke with a Scandinavian accent - an unusual, but not unheard of, phenomenon - but this past year, I've come back to sounding  just like 'me'...

So words are very important to me - as is art! - and I was determined to participate this week. I got up even earlier than usual (admittedly, hubbie's snoring was a contriubuting factor!)...

This is so not what I intended to create, but here it is...

The stamp is from my Teesha Moore stash and basically says it all... Click on the photo for a close up to see the words more clearly...

Friday Fun - Things I'm loving...



This dvd, which I finally watched the other day - it's adorable, wonderful, and so, so true to itself... and, of course, I love the music...

and you can listen to a selection of other songs here :)

These wise words in my email, especially on the day The Royal Bank of Scotland (bailed out by tax-payers, I might add), awarded their chief-exec. a £1 million bonus... Here's the Guardian's take on it...

My beloved Liverpool (I've been a fan as long as I can remember, and have a signed photo of Steven Gerrard on the living room wall!), finally getting to a cup final (first time in six l-o-n-g years *sigh*, and first time EVER playing at the new Wembley) beating Manchester City on Wednesday *hooray*

Now all they need to do to knock Manchester United (their bitterest rivals) out of the FA Cup tomorrow lunchtime...

And finally, this book...

Every page is full of gentle wisdom - Jan speaks my language! - and I shall be mentioning it A LOT as I've signed up for Jan's year-long e-course, which starts in March... The book explores 12 spiritual truths - one a month on the course...

1. I am free to live a spiritual life of my own making.

2. I trust my body's divine connection.

3. I choose thoughts and feelings that honor my sacred self.

4. I engage in daily practices that nurture my spirit.

5. I cultivate compassion for myself

6. I experience the Divine in everything and everyone.

7. I know divine assistance is available to me at all times.

8. I acknowledge that difficult times bring healing and deeper wisdom.

9. I can create my life anew each day.

10. I trust the divine timing of my own unfolding.

11. I courageously speak and live my truths.

12. I open my heart to others and celebrate our Oneness.

I don't know what to expect, but I have faith...

This lovely is made by Rebekkah Griffin at Canyon Moon Designs...

Virtual Coffee Tuesday - Late again...

I simply cannot get it together for coffee while I have physio on a Tuesday, so here I am sending belated coffee love your way...


First of all, I must share this beauty with you...

Earlier this month I joined in with Micki's art swap over at The Secret Hermit. I sent her a little something, and she sent me this original piece of art. Around the face are the words 'When she sang her own song, the world stopped and listened'.

I added the silk ribbon and she's hanging on my art cupboard to remind me I can only truly sing my own song...

I just love Micki's soulful artwork. I already have this lovely on my mantelpiece...

and this little Soul Searcher hangs on my lamp

And now I MUST draw the winner of my giveaway...

I only had a few comments on the blog, but several non-blogging friends asked if they could join in...

So, in good, old-fashioned style, I put all names in a coffee cup...

... and drew this one...

So congratulations Rachel, I'll be contacting you through Etsy to get your address :)

Now I'm parched and need to make some real coffee and join the others hanging out at Amy's...


Many thanks for dropping by xx

Mindful Monday

(picture copyright lakedistrict.gov.uk)

You are that which you are seeking...

St Francis

Deus meus et omnia (My God - and all things)

Franciscans' motto

Just pausing... to ponder... and prepare for the week ahead...

Reading this book...

Richard Rohr is becoming a virtual spiritual director for me... his words are wise and gentle... they arrive in my email box daily... this is today's...

And just to say, i'll be drawing the winner of my giveaway tomorrow... last week rather passed me by with physio appointments and seeing friends...

Here's a reminder of the goodies...

.
.. a bit of bohemia... a handmade drawstring bag (roughly 8" x 5"), a handmade blank, coptic stitch book (the bohemian storm one), and a small, lined moleskine cahier painted by Cara Buchalterat Octavine Illustrations.

Wishing you moments of mindfulness today... xx

A Psalm for Martin Luther King Day

Psalms 15

Lord, who can be trusted with power,
and who may act in your place?
Those with a passion for justice,
who speak the truth from their hearts;
who have let go of selfish interests
and grown beyond their own lives;
who see the wretched as their family
and the poor as their flesh and blood.
They alone are impartial
and worthy of the people's trust.
Their compassion lights up the whole earth,
and their kindness endures forever.

(A Book of Psalms, translations by Stephen Mitchell)

In my email box today from Panhala...

Friday Fun...

Well, having tackled a real bookcase, I decided to do it virtually....

How do you like the new, streamlined blog??

I decided the bookshelves in the background were just tooooo busy and distracted from the important stuff....

I also updated my Goodreads shelves and I'm loving this

I love seeing the creative spaces people work in :)

And as I am writing this, another book arrived in the post...

Sophie's first book is one of my favourite cookbooks, and I can't wait to see what wonders she's created for this one, and I just love her little biographical snipbits along with the recipes - and the photography is just delicious :)

Well, this is just a wee, end-of-the-week chat. One of my intentions for 2012 (I'm not a great resolutions person - too much Anglican guilt when I 'fail'...) is to blog more regularly, and comment more on the blogs I read...

And if you have a moment, do comment for my giveaway...

And here's one of my favourite songs to enjoy - I just love Birdy's album, and can you believe the girl's not yet 16???? What a voice to be blessed with, what depth of expression *sigh*

Virtual Coffee Tuesday - Belated Greetings and a New Year Giveaway!!

Sorry it's a day late, but I soooo wanted to share coffee with you to celebrate the beginning of 2012 and the end of the demon cold *hooray*

Finally, I'm feeling almost human again...

This has been an important part of my recovery...

... homemade Christmas chocolate - 71% cocoa content packed full of healthy fruit and nuts - I've left you a few pieces - help yourself :)

The reason I missed coffee yesterday was a physiotherapy appointment...

I'm now getting physio twice a week for the next few weeks to finally get a good go with the saboflex...

It's very demanding - physically and mentally - but the hope is regular use will 'remind' my brain what my right hand's for...

It's an exciting way to start a New Year!!

As is the renewed energy after the horrible cold... and I'm tackling my bookshelves...

There's a pile for the charity shop, and I've listed a number on Amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/shops/storefront/index.html?ie=UTF8&marketplaceID=A1F83G8C2ARO7P&sellerID=A37YXMO5UEZA90

So stop by for a browse when you get a few mins....

During my cull, I've found a number of pretty things, so I'm offering these as a giveaway...

... a bit of bohemia...

There's a handmade drawstring bag (roughly 8" x 5"), a handmade blank, coptic stitch book (the bohemian storm one), and a small, lined moleskine cahier painted by Cara Buchalter at Octavine Illustrations.

Just leave a comment saying hello and I'll put your name in the hat :)

And do drop by the other lovely coffee people gathering over at Amy's...