Torrents of Spring Followed by Sunshine

This time of the year I always get into Spring Overwhelm. The weather seems to be in a similar state. The view from my kitchen window shows the turbulence

What a difference a day - and a New Moon- makes! Today is sunny and calm and the flowers are recovering from the stormy weather. The stream is now gently flowing...
I am beginning to feel the same way. After a tumultuous April , I am calming down into a more balanced routine. I have missed posting on this blog. I just had too many things to attend to in last month.

I love this viburnum "snowball bush". This year it is so heavy with blooms! It has been a very fast and beautiful spring.

These oenothera speciosa are my favorite spring flowers. I first saw them growing wild on the levee in New Orleans as a child. We called them "pink primroses". I now know that they are not botanically primroses, but the true primulas have a hard time growing in subtropical New Orleans!
I hope all of you are having a beautiful spring and that it is really easy for you to Appreciate Beauty Everyday!
I LOVE to read and reply to your comments! Are you having a beautiful spring? Do you experience Spring Overwhelm? Do you have special favorites among the spring flowers?
Thank you for stopping by! I would love for you to post links to your blog and Pinterest Boards. You can see mine at https://www.pinterest.com/colleen2322/

Ballet for Beauty, Grace and Alignment.

I have always loved ballet. I took lessons from the age of 4-14. At 15 I was told that I should find another performance art, because whilst I had magnetic stage presence I was becoming too tall and I was developing a very obvious hour glass figure unsuitable for the standards at the time. I was heart broken.
However, I continued to be an avid balletomane and I enjoyed season's tickets to the ballet for several decades. I have been fortunate to see so many fabulous dancers many times. As a youngster I saw Margot Fonteyn - to me the Queen of Beauty and Grace even to this day. I still  love watching film clips of her dancing.
I also continued to collect many books about ballet and, of course, I had (still have😉 ) many ballet themed paper dolls as well as about a dozen multi-jointed ballerina dolls (some with their original costumes and shoes!).
It was with great joy that I discovered Tiekka Tellier and her Everyday Ballet study programs and blog. After all these years (decades), I am having fun dancing again. True, I sometimes do what for me are some  high impact practices on my mini-trampoline! Recently Tiekka's blog was about Happy Healthy Knees. I thought I would share this because I have a sister, a cousin and some friends who are experiencing knee pain. I have occasional pain myself if I am not aware of my alignment. I found this blog very helpful. Also I am practicing my pliés and relevé's regularly.
I hope you will check out Tiekka's blog and perhaps-(if you love ballet) take a lesson or two or become an Everyday Ballet member. Here is the link to the blog
http://www.everydayballet.co/barre-essentials-healthy-happy-knees/
and here is a link to her Youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZpxhej9uvM

I am not in any way affiliated with Tiekka Tellier or Everyday Ballet. I am spreading the good news because  ever since I saw her first videos I have been enjoying ballet again and developing my "Poise-Posture-Power"as well as experiencing more Beauty, Grace and Alignment. Everyday Ballet is a major component now  for me to Appreciate Beauty Everyday

PLOG: Picture Blog - First signs of Spring! Part 2

Pink Wild Cherry and Forsythia

Daffodils are everywhere!

The trees are not awake yet.

Daffodils from England brought by the people who built the stone house (ruin in the background) in the 1710's - 300 years ago!

Lovely early white double spirea

The early promise of blueberries this summer! Bee boxes in the background.The bees have been out and about every sunny day!

The promise of hazelnuts-at least for the squirrels and chipmunks!

I really am enjoying photographing the unfolding of Spring this year. Thank you for stopping to look at my little world. Are there signs of Spring where you are? Please leave a comment. I LOVE your comments and I welcome links to your blogs and Pinterest boards!

PLOG: Picture Blog - First signs of Spring!

I am overwhelmed with many things right now- mostly good😌. I do want to share what is going on in my little world outdoors.  "A  Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words!"

Hellebores!

Pink Perfection Camellia

Purple Dawn Camellia

Blue flowers-unknown

Wild Pear Tree

Wild Pear Blossoms

 More next week! I LOVE your Comments. Is it Spring yet where you are? Any signs of Spring? Please share -and Appreciate Beauty Every Day! Thank you for stopping by.

My First Completed Project 2017!

 Ever since I saw this sweater on Ravelry I have been wanting to make it. I finally got going on it! I am very happy with the fit and the pattern was easier than I anticipated.
I did have trouble figuring out the sleeves...Not the fault of the designer!😉
 I photographed the steps once I figured them out. I am making another sweater from this pattern now.

 Here is my video of the sweater https://youtu.be/0fYSpzS1sLo
And here is the link to the pattern! I added the roses and the peplum. 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chevron-stripes-3-season-sweater
 Have you started or finished any projects yet this year? Please share links to your blog / Facebook/ and or Pinterest page! I love your comments. I really do appreciate it that you stopped by to read my blog /view my video.

When a "win" can look like a "loss"

This week I was encouraged by my accountabilty partner and the Passion and Purpose Mastermind  I am in to post a video about an idea I have for a new career.  It was quite an adventure and I got some more practice shooting a brief video.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxL5slv1MTY

So far I have not  had the response I hoped for.  I am wondering if I need to rethink what I want to do next. It really pains me to see so many women not fully enjoying their lives, feeling tired,  and/or overwhelmed. I would love to use all my education and training to inspire open minded women to become fully embodied as the unique gifts they are to the world.
 Maybe I need to take a different approach? Several of my friends have pointed out that I do not spend much time with people who are low on energy😕. Also some have pointed out that I am much more enthusiastic about inspiring people to fulfill their dreams😄. I do like to see people light up!

As much as I enjoy a retired life in the country, I would like to have another career. This time for the pleasure of inspiring people to live their best lives possible.
I am open to suggestions. I do know that I have a gift for helping people to feel seen and heard. I am finally acknowledging and accepting my intuitive gifts (developed at a very early age as a necessity). I seem to be able to see other people's gifts and talents and how they can use them. I will be checking in here on this subject from time to time.
So, the loss is my disappointment at the response to my video- but the  win is that perhaps I am slowly gaining clarity!

Meanwhile, progress is being made on the new greenhouse! Also, I am almost ready to post a crochet update. See you maybe next week- I am having a root canal done😨...
Thank you for stopping by! Please leave comments, suggestions, constructive criticism - also links to your Blog, Facebook group, and Pinterest boards. I love your comments and I will reply asap.

Winter Contrast

Happy New Year! I am getting off to a slow start-not such a bad thing, actually.
So far, it is a time of what Abraham-Hicks calls "Contrast"for me. Yes, I am coming out of the closet - I read and listen to Abraham -Hicks and I even belong to a couple of Abraham- Hicks Facebook Groups.

My view of Contrast (just as I understand it!) is that things in my life are not so much what I wish for.
My ruined greenhouse, the necessity for a root canal next month on a tooth that was apparently injured during my adventures in orthodontistry - no one's fault and I am delighted to have my childhood smile back!😄 An ice and snow storm at the beginning of the year set me back considerably ... I do not thrive in cold weather.

Ice masquerading as snow

Only birds are venturing out

The only tracks anywhere on the property for days!

In my room all is well -one of my Calla lilies!

My cyclamen continues to bloom-over a year! and

 these lovely pink begonias!

The garden room is crammed with plants from the greenhouse

A view of greenhouse ruin and most of the plants safely stowed.

All in all life so far this year is giving me time to reflect. I am happy that I can appreciate beauty everyday - even when I am iced in!
Please leave a comment and tell me how your year is going so far. Did you make resolutions? Is 2017 looking like a good year for you? I hope so! I LOVE your comments and also links to your own Blogs, Youtube channels , and Pinterest boards!