I Hardly Even Noticed

Until the idea was practically full blown I hardly even noticed all the elements sneaking up on me. It was just a couple of days before Christmas and I was beginning to contemplate doing something new and fresh. Literally fresh,  the greens and flowers - roses had to be fresh in order to engage me this close to the bewitching hour of Christmas Eve.

It didn't happen  by Christmas Day but the notion was still engaging me, so on Boxing Day I went to the local florist and purchased everything that would be needed to make a beautiful, fresh Christmas wreath.  Knowing the act of bringing the idea to a fulfilling conclusion was the joyful part of the whole process. What my brain failed to realize or what  I had consciously failed to appreciate is that it was an idea in the making. It was in  the rumination stage, as an old friend used to say " Just let the idea ruminate" and then it pops out full blown some time later. That is the experience for today suddenly the idea was fully present. I would expand the design aspect of Silver Lining Designs  business to encompass wreaths. Not just fresh, but fresh in the sense that they would be uniquely different and non- seasonal in part. Friends will say, "Where have I heard that before". My response - just paying tribute to an idea.
Deanna

Inserting Joy Into Life

Does it have to be an arduous task or does it happen more readily if you adjust the lens of your perspective? Someone said to me today, " Don't be so negative - I don't want to talk about the negative."  That was a wake-up call as I usually make substantial  effort to splice some  positive energy into the space that I occupy. The waning of Christmas does not help. Neighbors even took down their decorations today and they were particularly beautiful. Would love to have enjoyed them well into January.

Decided that I had better take down the Awakening Joy postcard which has been hanging on my door for several months and follow-up with research into the on-line experiential course. The course is of 10 months duration so expect I will have plenty to say and share here on my blog about this whole new exercise in living out loud.
Thankfully a friend sent ripples of joy cascading through cyber space today with the suggestion of a trip to Tofino in July. So the creation of a new story with a viable plot line, like a little trip to the mystical land of Tofino is sufficiently inspiring to keep us doing what we do to make the world around us a bit more habitable.

Photos taken on Dec. 28th at Deanna's place by Jacqueline Wang
Deanna

Not As Easy as Anticipated

 Thought, I  am always having new experiences. So why not have a resolution for 2011 to record a new experience on a daily basis that way encourage myself to have different experiences, experiences which stretch me.
 My new experience for yesterday was hosting a 65th birthday dinner party for two friends  turning 65 within a few months of each other.(hosting a dinner party is not unique for me but honoring two turning 65 was new). My thought was - life is uncertain do it now.
Looking forward to a new adventure today. But maybe I don't have as many unique or new experiences as I previously thought and I am going to have to work at this - well maybe that is the point.

Deanna

New Year's Night and First Day Into My Resolution

When I awoke today I knew that I would make one resolution for the coming year. It would be a daily commitment to doing something new each day - a new experience, sometimes a mini one, sometimes many new ones and sometimes it could be life changing (even though I may not suspect that would be the case at the time).

My first day fared pretty well in the new experience category. Went to a party in the West End - have never done that before sure have dined there but never a party and only knew one person upon arrival. Developed a new ice cream, pumpkin with ginger/apricot swirl and dash of cognac, it goes so well with pumpkin. Had a new drink today a Jamaican one called sorrel with lots of fresh ginger. Had a new dessert called corn cone also Jamaican made with corn meal, raisins, and molasses - very tasty.

Won't set the world on fire with the above experiences but I am in training and already feel my mind opening to all that the world has to offer in the way of new experiences.
Feel free to join me in my New Year's resolution and feel free to share your experiences here on my blog. Expect to be able to share my experiences on an almost daily basis. This blog will keep me honest in this resolution.
Deanna

What Excitement - A New Year Dawning

The first day of the new year, time of optimism and in my case beautiful sunshine - not a cloud in the sky - my kind of day. Some friends tell me they enjoy the serendipity which clouds provide as they float by. Not me, there would have to be a surfeit of sunny days to squander the luxury of unadulterated blue sky. This probably comes from living in the Vancouver environs.
Made pumpkin ice cream with pureed Australian ginger/apricot and a dash of cognac, as soon as I arose this sunny new year day. Also popped a chocolate chestnut gateau into the oven to accompany same ice cream. As a lover of pumpkin in almost all forms, couldn't resist creating the ice cream. My guests will determine whether it is a success.
Am going to include some photos from an earlier event this week - all photos taken by friend Jacqueline.

Happy New Year

New Year's Resolutions to Do or Not to Do

A friend asked me a few days ago if I had resolutions for the New Year. It caught me off guard as I had not made "New Year's Resolutions" for more than a dozen years. Surprisingly, it was the first year that I had thought of making some in many years.


Resolutions are always positive and motivating? Well the ones I make are to the best of my recollection.  Just the act of making resolutions; whether or not you ever manage to bring them to their conclusion, seems like the best possible reason for going through the exercise. Dredging up some positive ideas or notions about how you perceive the future can only be good for your serotonin levels. So filling my head with all sorts of thoughts and emotions regarding the coming year has become a lovely sojourn into the future over the past few days. No doubt a few majestic ideas will make it through the rigors of the coming months and bring forth some interesting events ... more than if I had never planned or made a resolution about anything at all.
Happy New Year!
Deanna

Christmas Night - The Time is Upon Us

Many will have been satiated with a fine dinner the kind reserved for this special day and time of year. Having been invited to join a friend's family I too dined well but in a very relaxed manner. Young children were tired from the extreme hype over the past few days. They were mellow but lively enough to fill me in on the fine art of constructing modern buildings with Lego blocks  - blocks that are so sophisticated as to be daunting.


All will sleep well knowing that once again the rituals which are created within families and cherished year after year, along with newly evolving ones, have been honored for another year.The evolving ones are all that is needed to keep creative Christmas inspiration alive.  Knowing that it will all come bubbling up to the surface again to be treasured and nurtured.
Have included a photo of dining room light festooned with delicate branches and Christmas balls, (Truly . the photos do not do it justice).

Good Evening.