Signs You Are Doing Better Than You Think

Every now and then something is shared with me in an email,

or I see something on Face Book and think it's worth passing on.

This came from Face Book and The Mind Awakened.

19 Signs You Are Doing Better Than You Think

Ryan Maxwell

Even in uncertain times, it’s always important to keep things in perspective.

‘True wealth is the ability to fully experience life. ‘-Henry David Thoreau

1. You are alive.
2. You are able to see the sunrise and the sunset.
3. You are able to hear birds sing and waves crash.
4. You can walk outside and feel the breeze through your hair and the sun’s warmth on your skin.
5. You have tasted the sweetness of chocolate cake.
6. You didn’t go to sleep hungry last night.
7. You awoke this morning with a roof over your head.
8. You had a choice of what clothes to wear.
9. You haven’t feared for your life today.
10. You have overcome some considerable obstacles, and you have learned and survived.
11. You often worry about what you’re going to do with your life – your career, your family, the next step, etc. – which means you have ambition, passion, drive, and the freedom to make your own decisions.
12. You live in a country that protects your basic human rights and civil liberties.
13. You are reasonably strong and healthy – if you got sick today, you could recover.
14. You have a friend or relative who misses you and looks forward to your next visit.
15. You have someone with whom to reminisce about ‘the good old days.’
16. You have access to clean drinking water.
17. You have access to medical care.
18. You have access to the Internet.
19. You can read.

The truth is, you’re doing better than a lot of people in this world.  So remember to be thankful for all the things you do have.

*

Speaking of the good old days, a dear friend of mine from my university days (back in the middle ages) is coming to visit.

So, I'm going to take a short blog break.

Lots of museums to visit and walking to do.

I'll be sure to take my camera and I'll see you all again soon.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Camera Critters: All Grown Up!

When I visit the Houston Zoo, I always start with the Chilean Flamingo.

I've been watching the babies grow up.

From this-- 

Fluffy little grey balls.

To this -- almost all grown up!

Still grey, but beginning to get their pink coloring.

Very handsome!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Thanks to Eileen at Saturday Critters.

Thanks, Misty!

It Is Earth Day

Today is Earth Day.

To celebrate I'm sharing a few images from Musashi's Garden, the Japanese Garden and the Houston Zoo.

Don't you think every day should be Earth Day?

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

Little Things

A few little random things:

- I bought two four inch pots of basil at Trader Joe's several weeks ago.

They are ready to be cut and the first batch of pesto made.

Yum.

- Once I finished reading THOSE ANGRY DAYS by Lynne Olson (it was excellent),
I started to clean my reading palette by reading some chick lit.
JOY FOR BEGINERS by Erica Bauermeister
SHADOW SPELL by Nora Roberts
DEATH COME QUICKLY by Susan Wittig Albert
DAYS OF WINE AND ROQUEFORT by Avery Aames
I enjoyed them all and am now ready to take on another history book.
I just haven't decided which one.


- Early Saturday morning at the Farmer's Market
Smoked Black Pepper Chevre from Blue Heron Farm
Golden beets, turnips, cabbage, cauliflower
Apple cinnamon rolls
Fresh picked strawberries

- Another rose blooming in Musashi's Garden.

This one is Wild Blue Yonder.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Thanks, Kim!

Liberate Your Art 2014

Liberate Your Art 2014 has come to a close.

This is the second year for me to participate and I had a great time again.

It's always fun to see what surprises might be in the mail box.

Kat Sloma puts this swap together each year and it is because of her that it is such a big success and so much fun.

Last year, I made five different postcards to swap.

I only heard from two of the folks who received my cards and I was disappointed.

So, this year I picked one image and had Moo make the postcards for me.

They did a great job.

This is the image on the cards I sent to Kat for swap.

Two of my favorite things: the baby Buddha and Iris.

The first card I received was from Lynne Foerster of a lighthouse near Cape May.

She used the pallet effect on photoshop.

*

The cute little shore bird is a photo by Annie Kelleher of Crimson Cove Photography.

I love shore birds. They are very entertaining. So much fun to watch.

The second photo is by Eric Muhr. 

He was in the right place at the right time to capture the morning sun along the crest of the young fir trees.

Both of these cards speak to the beauty of nature, contemplation, quiet. 

**

The watercolor circles are by Carlyn Clark.

I love watercolor and the colors on this card are so bright. Cheerful!

The mixed media LOVE postcard is by Tina.

Clicking on Tina will take you to her Flickr page.

Unfortunately, I have not received Kat's postcard.

I'll keep looking and hoping that it is just slow or that the mail people

are enjoying it before they deliver!

I'm already looking forward to Liberate Your Art 2015.

I hope Kat will be able to put together a video of all the postcards like she did in previous years. This year she was unable to do so. 

See you next year!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Namaste

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