one word . winter

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I am not a big fan of winter in Oregon.  I like to see the sun.
Winter here is very cloudy, grey and wet.  Chill to the bone kind of wet.
The season of winter is one that i spend looking for spring.  I have to admit, though, that
spring does come fairly early here in the northwest, taking a small share of winter, but sadly
it can go and steal some of the summer as well.  It’s the most greedy of seasons here.
Last year it rained every single day of June.  Greedy old spring.

Today, i visited the farmer’s almanac web page,
where i was informed that there are 55 days until spring.

I have even seen some signs of spring such as:

1. Teachers are starting to get crabby.
2. My neighbor was standing in his garden today.
3. There are a few dandelions in the yard.
4. The cat came out of the garage.

See, spring is just around the corner.

Though i am sure that there are many more cold, dark and wet days of winter yet to go,
I’m going to keep my eyes open for more signs of spring.

the one word carnival

in and around mondays . at seedlings in stone

5 Replies

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i woke up to look out my window this morning.  i could see as far as the garden as the rest of the world was swallowed in grey grounded cloud.   the yard has green grass right now.  it is so wet that the ground can handle no more rain.  some dark brown wet leaves still gather around the apple trees.  all branches and vines are dark and wet.  the douglas fir stand firm in their dark green prickly needles.  the wind has stopped and it makes it seem like everything is holding it’s breath in some kind of solemn grief.

later in the day the sun gave up some rays for damp bones to warm themselves.  and as a true oregonian, i went outside to catch some while the getting was good… and took a walk down the road and the nearest lane.  as i walked, the dog that barks was in the house, the three horses were out with their coats on, i saw buttermilk clouds with blue sky, and i saw one of the neighbors actually doing something in his his garden.

i am here at my computer now…thinking of all that i need to do, as i read blogs and check my mail.  i have label art to finish working on in the next few days, i take peter to the airport tomorrow…  i saw that l.l. has her “around monday” post (nice snow and long blue shadow photos) and decided to join-in.

chicken is on the weber, with forty-five minutes to cook, and there is some reading i would like to do.  i am going through “the knowledge of the holy” by tozer.  i think i will finish this in the next few days.

the grey sky is now looking like it’s getting ready to swallow up the day.  time to light the lamps.

so close

11 Replies

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aug 2007 nancy 2

i am beginning to accept what i am not,

and appreciate what God sees that i am.
~
i have gotten some good advice
from a very sweet person,
and i agree with the advice.

~

i would like you all to remember
that you are special and unique, 
and that God is using you now
as well as preparing you for more.
do not be sad in what you can’t do
because there are special things about
you that can be used every day.
special things that people need.
Love is in you and for you.
though it is not as the world gives.
this Love is so close and a part of
you that it is like seeing the tree
in the forest.  we don’t always
sense it if we are looking at the forest.
we must look for the tree.
the one small voice in your heart.
the few kind words from a friend.
the look in a child’s eyes.
one tree at a time.
one step.
one breath.
so close…
you are Loved so much,
that Love will become part of you.

~

classified information

13 Replies

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what is the difference between an amateur and a professional?  what are distinctions that the world uses to classify?  are they opposites?

two artists can be just as caring about their art, just as serious, just as hard working, the same in skill and taste.  they can be the same in all ways, and yet if one sells, he might be classified a professional, and if one does not sell, he is usually classified as an amateur.

both artist are making art, that is very much the same.  but, what about motive?  now, the one that sells as well as the one does not sell, can still both have the motive of doing art that they think is only worthwhile because it “could” sell.  or they could both be doing art with a motive that does not include the motive of worth being related to money.

if a person gets an idea that they like, and they don’t do it because they think it’s an idea that will not sell, they are passing up that idea because are deciding the worth on money.

my question is, does that make a  person a professional?  if someone gets an idea and does it because the worth is in the idea itself or in the doing, does that make a person an amateur?

if the person sells his work, no matter why it was done, does that make the person a professional?  if the person does not sell his work, no matter why it was done, does that make the person an amateur?

what if a person dedicates his life to God and the other dedicates his life to his art?  does that make a difference in the classification?

what if one person does his art three days a week and the other does it five days a week?  does that really make a difference in the classification?

if you saw art from two different people in the same place, if you did not think of it’s worth, or know if it was for sale or not, who did it, or why…  would you be able to classify that art, or the artist, as amateur or professional?

if not for money, would it matter?

what matters to you?

~
photograph “glass in pane”

pleasantly disturbed

14 Replies

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casey lips maui dec 2007

the third thursday of the month, that’s what it is, and not what i am.
though i have to admit, it is a part of me.

i miss some of the people in my life that are dead, or that i can not talk to
or be with, or in some way communicate with.
i miss being able to see them, talk with them, touch them, or share words and
thoughts.

sometimes i am doing something and for a flash of a moment i think of
how i would like to share it with my mom or dad, and within that flash,
the remembering that they are gone.
those flash moments lead to thoughts that are pleasantly disturbing in that i do
remember being able to share with them, even though i no longer can.

actually, i can see both of my parents to a degree whenever i look in the mirror.
bits and pieces of them are in me, along with the people that came before them…
many of whom i have never met.

i miss a few teachers, the good ones that were understanding.  they are like
shadows that follow me.  they became part of me.

family, friends, pets, created things.  there is a time that each is in my life and
becomes a part of me to some degree.  and how much a part of me it becomes
does not always match up to how much time is involved in the experience.
a connection can be made in a year, on every third thursday of the month, or
by just one word or one glance.

i know there are times that the connection seems only on my part,  i can
enjoy being present with someone or something and later miss it dearly.  or i can
take something for granted and not realize the connection until the experinece is past.
but, still, it has become a part of me, each moment, sound, and sight, each person,
every word, scent and touch, every smile, frown, hello and goodbye.

it’s all here within me, and is part of what is used to change me into what i am becoming.

~
photo . “cj’s lips”

everyone has a dream

5 Replies

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i have been
seeing
feeling
change
here
happening
gradually
yet surely
for months
friends
change
planning
moving
reasoning
commitments
moving on
moving over
change
moving up
letting go
joining forces
going alone
image
self
heart
change

and i know
nothing will ever
be the same

change

.

God be with you always

LOve
n

~

shining a new light . 5

6 Replies

 We can choose to do some things now.  like in the book “radical,” we can choose to do radical things.  fast and huge changes in our living style that will produce fast and huge results.  i have often thought of selling a lot of my stuff that i have kept over the years.  the money made in this way can be used to give to children, widows, the poor.   it could be used for radical change if many people did this, even to a small extent.
 Yet, what is even more radical is new life and the change that the Holy Spirit makes in the heart of the believer.  the Holy Spirit living in us and changing us, now that is radical.  they are changes that we can’t make ourselves.  these slow sure changes to the heart and mind cause the life of the believer to become different.  continually we see our life and what we do in a new light.  we do things that we would never have done before.  certain things are not as important or precious as they once were.  it can even get to a point that selling our belongings and living simply doesn’t seem radical at all.  i think that these kind of changes don’t come in a fast and huge way, they’re made over time and in what seems like small ways and not what would be called our ways.  i think the changes have to be made in us, before we do things more in the way of Love and less in the way of man.  it takes time to be shown Love and just what, and who, it is.  comes a time, though, we catch a glimpse of this Love in something that we do, or in something someone else does, and we are held in an instant of pure recognition.

shining a new light . 4

7 Replies

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can we do anything better than to Love God, and Love others?  if anything that we do becomes more important than that, i suppose that is where we get into trouble.  it may not look like trouble, but, your heart will be aware of it.

all of the other things that we do are to stem off of that most important thing.  if we are fretting or afraid or worried about something that we do…or that we want to do, then it takes that first place.  if we think about one thing over all the other things because we like to do it so much, or think that we would, then this could very well slip into that special first place meant for God.

we can keep God first in our love and in our fear of what we do.  we can be aware our feelings in each thing we do.  we can make sure that no one thing that we do gets to be most important in time or need or Love over the time, need or Love that we have for God.

if we get uptight, infatuated, fearful, worried, or stuck on something that we want to do, or that we already do, this thing takes center stage.

also… if we do not have that special Love, we gain nothing.  just sayin’.

so, if we want to do something, remember Love, don’t worry about the doing too much, don’t need to do it a lot more than other things you do,  do a number of things that you want to do and some that you don’t really want to do,  and do them all in Love.  and number One stays number One.

if you want to try something creative, go ahead, put that step in the dance, along with your other steps.
the steps will all blend together.  you can add steps and take away steps, and continue to do a dance of Love in God.

probably will be continued…

 ~