Monday, June 30, 2008

Speaking of animals my book, Her Godmother, has two colorful animals as main characters! Copy and paste this url into your browser OR scroll to the direct link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfTF9xhiuLc

It's A Dog's Life

Finally! After a hectic day of barn work and exercising my horse (some of my readers know my husband and I have a small farm with horses) I was finally able to consider laying on the sofa for a good movie.

Ice tea in hand I waltzed over to the sofa to find my preferred space already occupied by two big dogs, a beagle mix and two cats lying all comfortable-like as if to say "Okay. What's showing?" As I cook dinner on any given day the dogs will saunter in and sniff the aroma in the kitchen and give me a glance as if to say, "What are WE having for dinner?" This is when they get the command, "Out of the kitchen" which they woefully obey.

Sometimes I think about their life. I get up and the first order of business after coffee is taking them out for their constitution. I often refer to this as "reading them their rights." While out, I feed the horses and put out hay for them (pasture puffs on a year round vacation-another yarn for another spin of words for another time....).

This taken care of we all come inside where they get their feet wiped by me. You would think they would bother to wipe their feet on the rug mat by now! Then of course I "cook" for them--adding a juicy tidbit concoction to their food while praying the little one, Marilyn, will choose to eat rather than sit, guard her food and growl at the other dogs that are paying her no mind whatsoever as they eat their food.

It would be unthinkable for us to leave the house without leaving music on for them to listen to. We do not want them to be bored. My husband prefers to play country and just doesn't believe me when I tell him they really like soft rock and light jazz...

When we come home I am grateful that they leave their creature comforts of recliner, sofa and love seat to greet us at the door. I think this is really thoughtful of them.

Animal lovers will understand why we are the way we are with our animals: they are family. They are loyal and offer the wondrous lesson of unconditional love and non-judgment that would transform a global community.

My favorite coffee cup is one that has a picture of a dog sitting on a chair watching TV, eating chips. His legs are on a hassock and underneath it says: What your dog does when you are not home.

As I said before, our dogs are very thoughtful and it is clear when we get home that they have clean up after themselves and put the empty bags in the garbage.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Rediscover Enchantment With....

It's All About The Journey!

I could not even begin to describe the life experiences my journey has sent my way. Does intensity and challenge create or trigger creativity? What role does nurturing play? Or naturing for that matter? Is it fifty/fifty?

There was a time I would have said nurturing (or environmental factors) was the main factor in life outcomes. I no longer believe that. I have come to believe that it is the person's nature that impacts on choices, successes, chaos and even "failures", what ever that means for as long as we move forward there is no such thing as failure-just growth.

This is not to say we are not affected by sorrowful or traumatic events in our lives but rather that these events may divert us off track until we come to terms or peace with how our experiences affect us.

To play with an old example that was discussed when I was in school-someone's fascination with knives could create a butcher, a surgeon or a murderer. Aside from congenital organic deficits as exemplified in the sociopath if we look at our challenges and how we have conducted ourselves chances are we will find how courageous we all really are.

What brings me to this topic today? Simple. My cup of coffee came out awful this morning. Now, since I only drink one cup a day that perfect cup of joe is REALLY IMPORTANT! Well, my mood did a light switch to the bad side of my mind which I have had to work on modifying for the last hour.

Environmentally speaking, the conviction that a horrible day will ensue would be a simple tenet for the day. But my NATURE dictates that this is a ridiculous thing to do- having my whole day be framed around a cup of coffee!

So, instead I trip my mind (not too fantastic) and allow the domino effect that is the quirkiness of the poetic to pen these free flowing mental meanderings.

Sometimes I like to imagine that there were more people just like me but on second thought--there would go the neighborhood!

Website: quantumspirituality.tripod.com

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Magic in the Midst...

Sometimes it can be very hard keeping connected with the magic in the everyday happenings. Thunderstorms and lightening can be an inconvenience-rain, sometimes hail, lights flickering and so on. Then there's getting soaked walking the dogs and having to wipe mud off the mutts that, of course, just LOVE romping through the deepest puddles they can find. It is not unusual for this to be irritating.

Today was such a possible day but the truth is there is excitement in a storm. The sound of the branches and leaves crackling in the wind, the cool sting of wet darts on the skin is invigorating and the sheer mindless glee dogs experience splashing around in the mud is like a turn table-time trip to younger days when rainy days meant soaking sneakers and water squishing in between the toes. Mom of course would always get furious but it did not matter for I knew the ire was just worth the sensation of warm, dry feet becoming wet and cool. Umbrellas? Pfft. There was nothing nicer than feeling the cold rain tapping on my dry shirt or blouse. Chances are you remember those days too. And then there is the smell of rain. Yes, for those who may have forgotten, rain has its own smell. But in the bustle of being all "growed up" we somehow lose track of the lighter side of inconvenience.

Children love inconvenience. It's all an adventure and, if we let ourselves pause just long enough, a rainy day's inconvenience can bring us full circle into our natural state of still being kids but only in adult bodies. Now...where did those dogs go? Bye for now. Going to look for them in the biggest puddle.

Her Godmother-A Magical Adventure for Children; Book trailer



To watch video click here:

Allie begins her magical adventure as her mother takes her to her Godmother while she works out the issues in her life. Surrounded by woods, Allie finds new adventures and a path to healing as Aunt Bridget shows her how to find the magic not only in herself but miracles in the world around her. Harry Potter was taken to a world separate from the mundane; Allie learns that magic is not only real, but is part of every day life.