Thirst

I highly recommend this little-known Aussie film called, "Thirst." 

Such a great message in the film, and the acting is amazing. 

You will fall in love with the stories played out by the four characters brought together through a fateful series of events, as they learn to live fully, and remain positive and happy in the most daunting circumstances.  It can be purchased or rented on iTunes. Be aware that it contains strong language and content unsuitable for children. (I cut out the scenes I chose not to watch by fast forward).

Official Site

Anne - Winter

Christmas Blessing

It's (finally) beginning to look like Christmas outside. A very Narnia-like storm settled in overnight and left a covering of heavy wet snow on trees, roads, cars. Everything is white and crisp and new. A Christmas blessing, ...heaven falling down for every living thing below, at the most needed time. 

Heaven's Coming Down

by First Call 

Out in a field nearby

The humbled shepherd's heard
An angel's holy word
The night the love of God was stirred
For here in Bethlehem
A mother's heart stood still
Her fragile arms were filled with her child
The crowning of God's will

Tell all creation to sing
To worship the King
Heaven's coming down
Shout from the earth to the sky
The one reason why
Heaven's coming down
He'll save the world from dying
There will be no denying
Where our hope is found
Heaven's coming down

There in Jerusalem
The House of God was made
In a room above
They stayed the night
They waited, watched and prayed
Suddenly the sound of wind
Rushed up the stair
The Spirit filled the air with fire
And our Savior met them there

Tell all creation to sing
To worship the King
Heaven's coming down
Shout from the earth to the sky
The one reason why
Heaven's coming down
He saved the world from dying
There will be no denying
Where our hope is found
Heaven's coming down

Gloria, gloria, gloria

Tell all creation to sing
To worship the King
Heaven's coming down
He is the opening door forevermore
Heaven's coming down
Shout from the earth to the sky
The one reason why
Heaven's coming down
He'll save the world from dying
There will be no denying
Where our hope is found

Heaven's coming down
Watch and pray
Till you see heaven coming down 

 

Thankful, So Thank

 I am thankful for good times when the beauty of life cannot be hidden...it pours out so abundantly you can barely contain it, the cup is so full you can embrace it all so easily with a perfect and honest grace.

 I am thankful for hard times, when the reasons for fire are not apparent at the start but are revealed at last, ...after you have already walked through the fire, ...and the ease of that perfect grace you had been granted seems far far away.


I am thankful for the dance of life, whatever it may bring,
.....thankful for it all, so I thank..... the One who shares His beauty in so many ways, for I would not want to live in a world without it.
We are thankful, so thank. We are 'guided by love, so love."

"may the fragrance of forgiveness 

stay with ya all the day long,

may the taste of tender mercy, 

remain on the tip of your tongue,

you're guided by love, so be guided by love

like the stars shine right behind the clouds

you're guided by love, so be guided by love now,

may the freedom of obedience, 

be what leads ya when you can't keep your stride,

when the experience of driftin 

further in to the desert lasts forever,

know the rain will soon fall from the sky

you're guided by love, so be guided by love

like the stars shine right behind the clouds

you're guided by love, so be guided by love now"

---"Guided By Love", written by Mitch Mcvicker

A Hundred Lovely Lakes

I remember a hundred lovely lakes, and recall the fragrant breath of pine and fir and cedar and poplar trees.  The trail has strung upon it, as upon a thread of silk, opalescent dawns and saffron sunsets.  It has given me blessed release from care and worry and the troubled thinking of our modern day.  It has been a return to the primitive and the peaceful.  Whenever the pressure of our complex city life thins my blood and benumbs my brain, I seek relief in the trail; and when I hear the coyote wailing to the yellow dawn, my cares fall from me - I am happy.  ~Hamlin Garland, McClure's, February 1899

Half Sick of Shadows, More or Less

For such a time as this, now more than ever, ...I am craving a simplicity more Thoreau-like than I ever imagined. The kind of simplicity that begs for little to no television (easy), and asks for less computer time (not so easy). To turn down the noise from outside sources whenever I want to,
and to turn them completely off if I choose.

 I am 'half-sick of shadows,' half-sick of the trappings and restrictions heaped upon us in the name of necessity and power. I expect more, and more is to be found in less... to live with less, or rather to live with more,
...by my own free accord.

Stepping back to define your own boundaries is good, Thoreau did that, too, ...especially when so much else seems to be slipping out of your control. Take it back in your own way... I say, define for yourself what life means and how you will live it. It may be quite a journey through the noise,
but at the end peace awaits you.

 

Just Right

These little vintage rose gems have become my favorite cup of choice. They are just the right size for warm drinks or any drinks really, ...not too little and not too much, but "just right." I will enjoy my herbal tea all winter from these dainty vessels.

Photos by M. Woodruff

Rosey and small

Cheerful and bright.

A warm welcome sight on

This cold autumn night.

Victorian Halloween

A Victorian Halloween is the one for me~

You Had to Be There

They are May-December,

True loves on the spectrum.

A month called October,

Thirty days named June.

'Divinely beautiful' Anne would say.

Words may not exactly describe,

How they have become so dear.

You had to be there I guess.

 Photo Credit - Partners For A Better World

These Are My Sidewalks

"These are my sidewalks, they wound around the neighborhood, always led me straight and safely home," --Christine Dente, Becoming

For whatever reason, I am still considering on, I have randomly assigned names or characterizations to my neighborhood paths, walks, houses, nooks and crannies, as I walk.

Pathway to Bronte Moors (BronteFamilyorg)

There is the secret garden, that I've mentioned before, and a quiet row of houses a few streets away, where one house in particular makes me think of Poe. I can see him there in my daytime walks, walking the sidewalks at mid-night.

Near Poe's neighborhood are the moors, which is a plowed field that the neighbor's cattle roam in. At twilight the field is very moor-like, deserted and windy, if I plan it right.

A little to the south of the moors lie the woods or Walden, a long path of very tall trees near a river, where you can walk to your heart's desire. Above the tall trees, hawks ride the wind on stormy evenings, in no man's land, or you might call it fairyland. Winged creatures gather there often as the trees blow softly.

There is the Netherfield neighborhood where the finest homes in the area sit, though I've yet to find a Longbourn. In the same neighborhood is the Bronte Parsonage with it's own 'graveyard' on the left, (a lot converted into a Victorian garden with benches, stones, and statues that make it graveyard-like, just like the real Parsonage has.

Finally, there is a secluded row of homes on two parallel roads where I imagine Eponine might walk late at night to escape her dreary world. These are my sidewalks and I adore them.

Anne - Autumn

 

 

Bales of Hay

Harvest time is here. I've always loved bales of hay bundled up like these ones are. Ample spools ready to be dried and stored for winter feeding.
Where I come from, bales are bundled quite differently... in long rectangular cubes. Still lovely, but not quaint and pretty like these.
These are farmhouse and picturesque, almost french-like and definitely spool-like. Like a giant dropped her sewing basket, and it spilled all over and must be picked up.

Photo By Slawek Staszczuk

Into the Woods

Into the woods...

Picture by Leisa Collins

A picnic or stroll in the woods is delightful.

A wedding in the woods, dreamy and romantic.

Photo by Amber Tamblin

Anne's 'delicious' woods, perhaps best of all.

I'd take any or all on any given day.
Just add wind.

Head in the Clouds

I've got my head in the clouds.
Just two steps and I'm there
Draped and drenched in purple elegance
Moors in the sky made for me.

Photo Source - You'll want to read this - have you ever seen clouds like this?!

Were I a cloud I'd gather
My skirts up in the air,
And fly well know whither,
And rest I well know where.

~Robert Seymour Bridges

Reading is Boring

Autumn Stirs

Photo by Angelita Surmon

Les Miserables Teaser

Wow, this is going to be good.

Bluebird on My Shoulder

Photo by Riikka Sormunen

The Bluebird carries the sky on his back  ~~Henry David Thoreau

So Close

Not quite the same thing, but oh so close. 

I love this little red suede necklace pouch that must be based on Waterhouse's "The Flower Picker."

After all, a girl must be able to walk and gather flowers hands-free.

“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,

old Time is still a-flying. 

And this same flower that smiles today, 

tomorrow will be dying.”

   --Robert Herrick

Photo Credits:

"The Flower Picker" by John William Waterhouse

Red Suede Necklace Pouch - Let's Track Back

One Man Les Miserables

Playing Fall Cards

Summer days are hibernating days for me because of my work schedule. My hibernation time has come to an end with the end of summer. Even while I mourn the end of these hibernation days for this year, I know good things, better things, are coming...the chill in the night air and the evening thunderstorms that come each night tell me fall will soon be here. The mountains are already playing the fall card...changing from their glorious summer purple to the wonderful and warm autumn shades a few weeks early this year, (usually this starts two weeks into September and is a rite of passage from one season to another).
So fall is almost here and I anticipate her with bated breath. I will play every fall card that I have;  

I vow to... 

...collect leaves for bouquets, walk more and wear jackets on my walks, drink hot chocolate and herbal tea, watch more sunsets, notice star changes in the sky, and make my evenings all about reading and writing. 

(May be a bit early for blowing leaves, but this is the first card I play)

"Blowing Leaves," by Arthur Rackham

Steel Myself With Words

Guts don't come so easily to some of us as they do to others.
I wish I had a stomach of steel, and courage as strong and wide as a bridge.
Since I don't, I have to steel myself with words meant to spur me on.
 Stretching your wings outside of your comfort zone is not easy in real life. It takes fortitude. The heart to act is inside all the while, but you have to take that very first step, which for me is the hardest part.

One foot in front of the other
If you have the guts to try
The whole wide world is waiting
From the russet earth to the blue sky
Time to stretch your wings and fly high
~Bookishkind

Beata Beatrix by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

After too long in the nest, in this case, my comfort zone, the wings are restless and unproven. Stretching is long overdue, but made awkward from disuse. I will find the strength to act somehow. I know I will for endurance is my stronghold.

Not A Single Rose

The rose bush that survived from two years ago is growing like a weed in the backyard. But other than a first bloom in the spring, there has not been a single rose bloom all summer. While I have the love of the bloom part down, I am still figuring out the ins and outs, temperaments and whims of the rose bush. There is one thing known for sure however, ... it's just not right to not have roses blooming in the summer.

These will do just fine.

From OpenMintNet

John William Waterhouse

How cunningly nature hides every
wrinkle of her inconceivable antiquity
under roses and violets and morning dew!
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Copying Emily

I've been reading a book about Emily Dickinson in which it tells how she loved nature like she loved words, which is not surprising to anyone who reads her poetry, but what struck me was that she had a little book she collected flowers in that she came upon during her walks. They were tucked inside and labelled with thin cuts of paper, the name penciled in on the strip.
It's not the most original idea, but, I am in the mind of copying Emily with her little nature book. I have been searching for the perfect little book to start my collection, and I think I have just found it here.

Photo by BonnieMommy

Here is a link to the darling shop I bought it from. 

She is also having a free shipping sale through July, 

so it's a fun time to be buying from her.

"I pull a flower from the woods, ----

A monster with a glass

Computes the stamens in a breath,

And has her in a class.

--Emily Dickinson

London Olympics

I am 100% American. I am at least 30% British, (maybe a little more). So, this Olympic thing is pretty exciting on it's own, but the fact that it's showing in London, just makes me happy. Six years ago, I was in London, ...that 30% of me is still there, and I am going to love these next two weeks. I even found a cute little British bag at Goodwill, just what I have been looking for, ...which is sort of a mini celebration since I cannot be there in person.

So Cute, huh!

Let the games begin! Go USA!!!!!

Etsy Love - Favorite Things

You might know I love Etsy and the amazing & unique things for sale there. Not only am I a seller on Etsy, but also a shopper. I buy most gifts, things I need for home, and best of all things I never knew I needed or wanted there. You can find almost anything, and if you have never visited the site before, I highly recommend that you to try it out. Here are a few of my current favorites.

From CraftSoo

From DreamsCatcher

From CatchingWaves

From OdeToJune

From GrammaLea

 SHOP!

CraftSoo - Leather Journal

DreamsCatcher - Journal Band

CatchingWaves - Ocean Frame

OdeToJune - Marble Bookends (I bought these a long time ago!)

GrammaLea - Ladies Slippers (I bought some of these in red!)

A Beauty

On Saturday, while out treasure hunting, I came upon a certain yard sale, but was mostly drawn to their next door neighbor's yard which housed two gorgeous horses on their property. Even in the city, horses are allowed in some places, and I was especially taken with the lighter colored of the two who resided there.
She, or he, was a beauty, the kind of horse you connect with immediately. She let me stroke her head and just looked at me. I looked right back into those stunning dark eyes and wished she was mine. She did the same, or at least that's what I like to think. It was only a minute or two, but it's a moment I will always remember because she was mine for a time, however short it was. Sometimes certain minutes in your life end up being the ones you treasure and hold on to, ...this was one of those.
I did not get pictures of her, and may not even remember where I saw her, to go back. Here is another beauty that looks similar. She was a little darker than this one, and wore no bridal. There was a worn area on the fence she kept gnawing at, and I know she was telling me she wanted to escape and run in a meadow full of summer.

From RockyMountainca

From IdaSchoolsOrg

She was very similar in color of this gorgeous girl. 

I am smitten. I hope to go back and visit her.

Girls and their horses should be together.

Victorian image

Fairy Garden - Children At Heart

One of my neighbors has created a fairy garden in her side yard for the children in the neighborhood to visit, in the vain of the secret garden. It is a delightful little spot, and I often see children walking through, or reading a book. Sometimes they bring a parent with them, and sometimes they are on their own.










Fairy statues are allowed to be moved in the garden once each visit. Strawberries are available for the kids to pick and eat, and they are encouraged to pull a weed or two while visiting, after being shown how. Such a beautiful and sweet place.

 

Photos by Carl Larsson

Fairies are magical and charming, just ask any child and they will tell you so. 

Even children at heart agree.