My Grama's Soul

I have spent most of my adult life trying to find silence within....that calmness we all seek...free from anxiety and worry.  This 71st year of my life I am going to focus on just that!   It seems as though I am not alone in this endeavor as yogis and meditators seem to lurking around every corner in social media.  I know this is certainly not a new situation in our society....in fact it has been around since the beginning of man only their anxiety came from a different source...(not getting eaten alive by predators);  although some would say that situation exists today, as well.  :) Each one of us approaches this area of our life in our own way, for me it is starting a yoga class.   Over the years I have neglected my self care always focusing on my husband, worrying about my adult children or fussing with my home.  This year is going to be a year of self care and hopefully I will continue this for the remainder of my l...

"THE ART OF WISDOM IS KNOWING WHEN TO SPEAK YOUR MIND....AND WHEN TO MIND YOUR SPEECH." Don't know where I found this, but I think it could certainly apply to the world of today. Just saying' Me

Life keeps moving on at it's normal pace....... with events happening that are totally out of our control, but one thing we can control is how we take care of ourselves..which is needed especially during difficult times. I am a  big fan of organic and natural skin care, and since good cosmetics have become so very expensive I often come across something I can make myself that I believe has a wonderful effect on one's skin. This skincare recipe is from the above publication.  I had not seen it before so I picked up a  copy to see how I could incorporate some of these items in my personal care. It is such a simple concoction and so very easy to make.   3/4 cup chopped cucumber..no need to peel 1/4 cup liquid coconut oil...I personally use organic 1 cup white sugar Basil leaves as much as you like .. mine are from my garden out back I chopped cucumber and basil.   Put them into my blender, added the sugar, then the coconut...

My daughters CT scan came back with positive results......yeah..... She still does have some health issues but it is not as serious as we feared......Thank you GOD. We all can now breathe a sigh of relief. hugs, Jo

I don't recommend many books on my blog, although I am a voracious reader. This is one book that I felt should be shared with all of you in blog land. THE UNTETHERED SOUL.....by Michael A Singer...this small book  takes you right to the heart of mindfulness and the yoga of the mind.   Because our world is getting more complicated all the time and all of us just trying to cope with this;  I feel each of us  is searching for that place inside where peace and calm resides.   We aren't looking for a temporary fix....but a permanent solution.  The message delivered in this book can provide that if you are just willing to open your heart to the wisdom that is shared here. Managing our thoughts is difficult in the best of times...but by attempting to put some of the ideas into practice as explained here each of us will be building mental muscle that will carry us for a lifetime. It is a simple read and right to the point. I th...

My husband and I have only been in our new spot since August of this year...and with family happenings and just life in general...we have not been able to finish  some of the projects we want to do around here.  One of them is our little back yard. I love to garden and aim to have a wonderful garden in this house as well. I garden in pots for the most part as our soil here in AZ is so bad....although, we have made a small raised bed in the yard. It is visible in the above photo.  We have not decided what to plant yet but that will be done by the end of the month or early March.  Many of these plants were brought over from our big house and have managed to survive our hot, hot summer so I think they will survive in this new spot. I'm trying vegetables for the first time this year.  I have never attempted to grow then in pots so we will see what happens.  Above we have strawberries and red swiss chard along with oregano, thym...

Dusk is the most perfect time of day... The bees have done their work The birds have temporarily ceased  their songs The ripples in the bird bath have faded to just a stir It feels as if the earth has just taken its last inhale of the day and let its breath out slowly and ever so silently..as though to say.  Ahhhh...all is well Now the night can do the work it does while the sun does its work somewhere else. Rest will come knowing rhythms and cycles continue on  Day to night Night to day Nothing complicated....just simplicity... and continuity Be restful sweet friends Jo

What do you see when you first open your eyes in the morning?  Is it a chair full of clothes and clutter....things stacked everywhere, or do you see something pleasing to the eye. Since having cataract surgery on both of my eyes this last few months (hence my absence from blogging).....the window to my world is much improved.    Instead of seeing the world as a constant blur...I see everything crystal clear.  All the pretty and the not so pretty. However, one thing I do believe is a necessity in life is to make sure the first thing one looks upon when waking up to greet the day is beauty!  It does not have to be something costly or precious...just something that brings a smile to your face and makes you glad to be alive.   This is my bedroom garden with a few of my buddhas, a small stereo and some of my playful hats.  Of course the sunshine here in AZ doesn't hurt...but even on a cold cloudy day it still brings a s...

For as long as I can remember I have been searching for Grace. It has been right here all along...not something to be plucked up somewhere along this ever-winding trail we call life. But right here~~just waiting to be found.....With a racing mind it will forever elude me. A still mind offers up the prize.  Calm thoughts always have a beginning and an end. It is the space between the end and the next beginning where Grace is offered. I pay attention..... I find Grace........ Have a beautiful day. Jo Photo:  WISE WOMEN

Who says you can't have a rainforest in Arizona? I am out to prove them wrong.  These are pics of my front court yard this summer.  Full of palms, trees, shrubs and flowers..... The spider plants you see in the foreground....are mostly volunteers.  I started with one plant about three inches tall....and they just keep multiplying over the years. The huge ferns in back I have had for over 20 years. What always amazes me is how with ll5 degree summers and freezing winters these things just thrive and multiply. Another peek through my palms....painted the chairs this summer...fun...fun colors. This little sign is always on my porch.  It hangs about my fountain that runs 24/7....maybe it helps...who knows?  LOL LOL I hope everyone is having fun with their summer gardens this year....you know what they say...."more is more". hugs, Jo

Have you ever considered the fact whether you were an extrovert or introvert?  I have....and I am so pleased that some kind soul finally wrote a book comparing the two styles. I have always considered myself....shy.....or in other words an introvert.  Oh....don't get me wrong....I can carry on lengthy conversations if required....but I much prefer listening to talking.  By doing so, I can interject comments occasionally if appropriate...or keep quite if I so desire. Often, if we are attending a social gathering I will size up our companions and decide which one, I believe, will carry the evening so to speak.  Or, I will ask my wonderful soul mate if he is in a "chatty" mood....his comment usually is we are going to see "so and so" so he doesn't need to be.  LOL LOL I always believed there was something wrong with me because I was not more of a "chatty Kathy"....but now....I realize there probably are a lot more folks out there...

Do you have ungrateful people in your life?  I know I do.  Some of them are more in my life than I desire...but I do try to weed them out as I can. It does seem that a sense of entitlement goes hand in hand with a lack of gratitude.  I believe we American's as a whole believe we deserve the PERFECT life....since we believe we live in the perfect society...or so we are told in every way possible.  There has never been the perfect life.....nor will there ever be. Life is difficult at best and at other times it seems as though events are insurmountable...as the recent Boston Marathon can attest to.  Our  country is one of the few in the world who don't have to live every day with a constant threat of danger.....I MEAN CONSTANT....examine Israel....for just a small example So...on this day.....after yet another tragedy.....I vow to up my gratitude quotient....by focusing entirely on what I have instead of what I don't have.  A...

I believe in the "Kiss principle"..... "Keep it simple silly".... hugs, Jo

It is a cold and rainy day here in AZ.....this is a cheery thought.  Let's all stay warm this weekend. hugs, Jo