Tuesday's Tunes Dar Williams

Day 2 of Spring:  SNOW!



Hey Guys, today's Tuesday Tune is a wee late due to working overtime today.  The accounting office is slamming busy right now and I am STRESSED, one month left then I can get back into my creative groove!

So today's song is from a favorite artist of mine, Dar Williams, the song is called "When I was a Boy" and I am serious when I say it makes me cry everytime, just gets to me.  The lyrics are below.  Enjoy.



 "When I Was a Boy" by Dar Williams

I won't forget when Peter Pan came to my house, took my hand
I said I was a boy; I'm glad he didn't check.
I learned to fly, I learned to fight
I lived a whole life in one night
We saved each other's lives out on the pirate's deck.

And I remember that night
When I'm leaving a late night with some friends
And I hear somebody tell me it's not safe,
someone should help me
I need to find a nice man to walk me home.

When I was a boy, I scared the pants off of my mom,
Climbed what I could climb upon
And I don't know how I survived,
I guess I knew the tricks that all boys knew.

And you can walk me home, but I was a boy, too.

I was a kid that you would like, just a small boy on her bike
Riding topless, yeah, I never cared who saw.
My neighbor come outside to say, "Get your shirt,"
I said "No way, it's the last time I'm not breaking any law."

And now I'm in this clothing store, and the signs say less is more
More that's tight means more to see, more for them, not more for me
That can't help me climb a tree in ten seconds flat

When I was a boy, See that picture? That was me
Grass-stained shirt and dusty knees
And I know things have gotta change,
They got pills to sell, they've got implants to put in,
they've got implants to remove

But I am not forgetting...that I was a boy too

And like the woods where I would creep, it's a secret I can keep
Except when I'm tired, 'cept when I'm being caught off guard
And I've had a lonesome awful day, the conversation finds its way
To catching fire-flies out in the backyard.
And so I tell the man I'm with about the other life I lived
And I say, "Now you're top gun, I have lost and you have won"
And he says, "Oh no, no, can't you see

When I was a girl, my mom and I we always talked
And I picked flowers everywhere that I walked.
And I could always cry, now even when I'm alone I seldom do
And I have lost some kindness
But I was a girl too
And you were just like me, and I was just like you


Namaste to you and yours,
Karen

Spring is here..........

Happy first day of Spring.  I took the above picture today to document the first day of Spring, what a beautiful day.I have been seeing robins and even some bunnies so I am embracing Spring over here in my neck of the woods.  I love waking to more and more bird calls and having more light each day.

This winter has been really tough on my mind/body and spririt and I am so ready to leap into Spring.  I really feel like I am emerging from the dark night of my soul which I will write more about here when I can put words to it.

Enjoy this first day of Spring and may your and yours be well this day.

Namaste,
Karen

St. Patrick Day Goodies

Love the green color of mint, can't wait for this one to come back in Spring

An Old Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!  As a good Irish lass I will be celebrating later with a pint and some homemade soda bread (no corned beef for me).

I thought it would be fun to share some Irish/Celtic music.  I especially love Irish fiddle/violin playing. 







And here is a link discussing the great debate on Irish Soda Bread with some recipes included.

May you be safe and well this day and all the days to follow.

Namaste,
Karen

Wishcast Wednesday: What do you wish for the world?

The beauty of the natural world.. Love the twisty cloud column, taken a few weeks ago with camera phone.

Hi my fellow wishers and dreamers!  Today is Wednesday and we are sharing our wishes over at Jamie Ridlers Studios.

This week the wish prompt is:  What do you wish for the world?   I wish for the end of poverty, disease and war, these are the big ones that I will always be wishing for. 

There is not enough time and space for what else I wish for so for now I will also share what I have been wishing for myself this week, as these would be included in what I wish for the world:

I wish for the world to know and believe that we are all connected , we are not truly alone even though we may feel it at times.  Our actions can and do affect each other.

I wish for the world to know and believe as we send wishes for peace and healing throughout the world that there is someone out there doing the same for us.  I believe in the power of healing wishes.

I wish for the world to know and believe that WE ARE ENOUGH in each moment we are in.   I just shared my post on being enough over at Tracey Clark's, you can see it here:  I AM ENOUGH

As you are wishing for yourselves and the world today, I wish for you and the world also.

Namaste,
Karen

Tuesday's Tunes: Blackbird




love the beauty in gray skies and blue - love the trees against the gray sky today

 Hi...

Today's song is Blackbird by the Beatles.  I love this version  that Evan Rachael Wood did in "Across the Universe."

Lyrics:

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Black bird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
all your life
you were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise,
You were only waiting for this moment to arise,
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

My favorite line in the song:  You were only waiting for this moment to be free

I am also so excited to share my contribution to Tracey Clark's "I Am Enough" collaboration.  It is the first time I wrote for someone else and I was so nervous.   I will write more about it later, especially how while writing this piece I struggled with feeling like I was "enough".

Wishing you and yours a wonderful evening.

Namaste,
Karen

Wishcast Wednesday: What gifts do you wish to share?

soaking up the sun when it comes out

Hi my fellow wishers and dreamers, it's Wednesday and over at Jamie Ridler's Studios we are sharing our wishes.

Today's wish prompt is "What gifts do you wish to share?"  This is a tough one because I have a hard time seeing that I have gifts, but I know we ALL do, so I will try to own mine.

I think it was Danielle LaPorte that once said that to find your true purpose in life all you need to do is stop and listen to what people are asking from you, this will be where your gifts lie.
When thinking about what Danielle said here are some thoughts I come up with :

* I notice my friends come to me when they want to confide something or for advice and support, they know I am listening.
* People are always asking me to find something on the internet for them because I seem to find things easily and I love to do the research.
* I have been told my intuition is strong and I am very empathetic.
* When people see my dreamboards/vision board or collages they seem to really enjoy them, I have had compliments on the composition and the way I put things together.

Ugh.. this is very hard to do. I think I will stop here because I am noticing this is making me feel uncomfortable so for now I will look at these gifts and see how I can best share them with others, maybe I could do some intuitive art work/collages for others, hmmmm, something to ponder.

In other news I went from chest virus, to stomach virus to a tweaked back.  I threw myself a roaring pity party on Sunday and now I am ready to pick myself up and get back to healing!  Hey I even had some creative fun with my back x-ray presciption, pairing it with a art box  which has the words courage on it.  (by Kelly Rae)

I leave you with a picture of the daily amusing Bella Boo!

Bella guarding her bear, giving me the back away from the bear look ;-)

So friends what are the gifts you wish to share?  As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also..

Namaste,
Karen

Tuesday's Tunes: Fat Tuesday

Hi friends.

In honor of Fat Tuesday here are some Mardi Gras tunes for your listening pleasure, I have actually had the pleasure of seeing some of these artists live and they are all great fun.  I will be enjoying Fat Tuesday from the couch with my treaked back, but I am feeling better each and every day! 

Laissez le Bon temp rouler (Lazay Lay Bon Tom Roulay)

Let the good times roll

Been Following the Muse

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.  ~John Muir

Hi!

These last few weeks have been a bit busy at the accounting office as you can well imagine and I am finding it hard to fit in creative time when I get home but obviously the muse cares not for those excuses.

You see I have been quite obsessed with trees lately, they soothe my soul, always have.  I find myself driving to and from work looking at them and pulling over randomly to take shots either from inside through the sun roof or jumping out of my car.   Loving the way the tree branches look against the sky with the clouds and sun highlighting them.

It feels like I am compelled to do this if you know what I mean. I now see what people mean when they say they are following their muse, for me lately my muse is the trees, the sky, the clouds, nature in all her glory.

Where is your muse leading you these days?


And here is one of Bella just because she's a cutie pie.

Have a beautiful day..
Namaste,
Karen

Wishcast Wednesday: Setting Limits

tree in midday sun taken with iphone using instagram app

Good Morning my fellow wish-casters and dreamers, today is Wednesday and over at Jamie Ridler's Studio's it's a day for sharing wishes.

Today the wishprompt is "What Limits do you wish to set?"  I have to admit when I first read this I was hesitant, I mean setting limits seems so.................limiting, for a better word ;-)

The more I thought about this, the more the thought appealed to me, you mean I don't have to do it all?  WOW! this idea of setting limits can actually be quite freeing.

Here are some limits I wish to set:

* I wish to limit my online time and spend more free time outside taking pictures, lately I have really been into tree pics as you can see above.  I love the shapes that the branches make against the skyline and no two are alike.

* I wish to limit the time I spend worrying about just about EVERYTHING.  Maybe I can start a worry journal practice where I sit for a few moments each day and just let the worry flow out, and then be done with it for the moment. ( I know what you're thinking, good luck with that one Karen, well it's worth a shot)

* I wish to limit the time I spend reading fiction books and throw in some non-fiction books here and there.  I have been on a fantasy/sci-fi kick lately and I have so many good books waiting on the sidelines.

* I wish to limit the number of e-courses I sign up for.  I just can't do as many as I want and they start to add up financially, even the less expensive ones.  I have come to realize paypal is NOT using monopoly money (lol).  Seriously watch out guys, e-courses are addicting!

* I wish to limit or suspend rather the disbelief in my skills as an artist/writer.  I am a beginner and there is nothing wrong with that. 

So my fellow wishers where are you willing to set limits and as always as you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also.

Have a beautiful day.

Namaste,
Karen

Tuesday's Tunes

more fun with instagram app white trees

This is one of my all time favorite songs, always will be.  When I was a teen I imagined myself as Stevie with her flowy skirts and smoky voice.   Please click on the below link to get to the video.

STEVIE NICKS:  LANDSLIDE

Here are the lyrics:  the line that gets me every time:  I've been afraid of changing, cause I built my life around you.

Took this love and I took it down

Climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
Till the landslide brought me down

Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
And can I sail through the changing ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life?
Oh oh I don't know, oh I don't know

Well, I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older I'm getting older too
Yes I'm getting older too, so

I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I, I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older
I'm getting older too oh yes
I'm getting older too

So, take this love, take it down
Oh if you climb a mountain and you turn around
If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well the landslide will bring you down, down

And if you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well maybe the landslide will bring you down
Well well, the landslide will bring you down

Namaste,
Karen

Monday Musings:

cloud column and blue skies Feb 27, 2011

Good Evening.  This was meant to be a morning post but work  kicked my butt today, returning after being out sick a few days left me little time for breaks.

I was going to talk about stress and the way it can effect our mind, body and spirit but ironically I am tired from the stress of my day.  Instead I'm posting some pics from my weekend.  It was so soothing to my soul to see blue skies and sun that I couldn't help taking some pics.   ( I threw a Bella pic in also cause she's just too cute)

Enjoy your night.

Namaste,

Karen

Haiku Friday

Unconditional

her sweet eyes look up at me

with love shining through

I am a bit under the weather with a virus and have been spending time home with my pup Bella so when  it came time to think of a Haiku for today she was my inspiration. 

You can join in the Haiku fun over at Corazon's blog.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful weekend.

Namaste,
Karen

Wishcast Wednesday: what do you wish for your home?

this is my magic ornament by Laini Taylor, it reminds me magic is real!

Hello my fellow wishers and dreamers, today is Wednesday and over at Jamie Ridler Studios it's a day to share our wishes and dreams.

Today's wish prompt is:  What do you wish for your home?

What I wish for my home:

I wish my home to be a place of peace
where you rest your head safely at night
I wish my home to be a place of love
where you share your heart with another
I wish my home to be a place of trust
where you are always true to yourself
I wish my home to be a place of warmth
where you welcome all with open arms
I wish my home to be a place of laughter
where you sing aloud while dancing
I wish my home to be a place of hope
where you know each day you belong

What do you wish for your home?  As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also.

Namaste,
Karen

Tuesday's Tunes

I Heart this woman BIG TIME.  Love her spirit, her words and her style.  This song "Rolling in the Deep" off her new album, "21" is part funky, part disco and  part gospel.

Adele - Rolling in the Deep Lyrics


There’s a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch, it’s bringing me out the dark
Finally I can see you crystal clear
Go head and sell me out and I’ll lay your shit bare

See how I leave with every piece of you
Don’t underestimate the things that I will do

There’s a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch
And its bring me out the dark

The scars of your love remind me of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love they leave me breathless
I can’t help feeling
We could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
You had my heart and soul
And you played it
To the beat
Baby I have no story to be told
But I’ve heard one of you
And I’m gonna make your head burn
Think of me in the depths of your despair
Making a home down there
It Reminds you of the home we shared

The scars of your love remind me of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love they leave me breathless
I can’t help feeling
We could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
You had my heart and soul
And you played it
To the beat

Throw your soul through every open door
Count your blessings to find what you look for
Turned my sorrow into treasured gold
You pay me back in kind and reap just what you sow

We could have had it all
We could have had it all
It all, it all it all,
We could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
You had my heart and soul
And you played it
To the beat

She sings for all of us who may have been burned by this kind of a relationship.  Enjoy and have a great day.

Namaste,
Karen

Monday Morning Musings

To add some fun to my Mondays I am going to do a musing post, just thoughts on whatever.   This is just a way to get me to write and to pep up my Mondays!  Since these posts will just be random thoughts I give fair warning that they may not have much structure.



Just when you thought it was safe to start day dreaming of spring we wake up to 4+ inches of snow, I guess winter's not quite ready to exit stage left!

I just found out that I was Vitamin D deficient and by the looks of the above picture I am sure you can see why, so I am on a nutritional quest to add more Vitamin D to my diet via natural food and supplements.  At least now I know why I am so darn tired lately. 

I dream of working in a field that combines art and healing, but does not require going back to school for a million years, maybe I will pioneer a new field, but alas first I must get back to creating which has gone by the wayside these past months.  Winter has had a hold on me and my creative juices froze a bit.  But people I can tell you I am feeling the thaw despite the snow around here.

Have a beautiful Monday and check out my friend Lisa (Dandelion Seeds and Dreams) for some Monday inspiration, she is my inspiration for this Monday!

Namaste,

Karen



Haiku Friday



taken with camera phone

 I happened on to this Haiku prompt over at Corazon blog through a new classmate (Deb) over at Vivienne McMaster's Muse class.  I love any poetry prompts so I am jumping right in.

she held on to faith

for she knew it to be true

her heart opened wide

T.G.I.F friends.

Namaste,

Karen

Wishcast Wednesday

Hi my fellow wishers and dreamers, today is Wednesday and over at Jamie Ridler's Studio it's a day to share wishes.

The wish prompt for today is:  What aspect of your personality do you wish to express more of?

As some of you know the end of December and all of January have been tough for me, the good news is that I am feeling the spark of spring in my spirit and it's leading me out of the darkness and back to the light.  Together the darkness and the light teach us so many things about ourselves, for me I am still processing this time of darkness but I do know I am stronger for going through it.

So back to the wish prompt, the aspects of my personality that I wish to express more of are those of freedom, lightness, creativity and whole heartedness.   The image I hold in my mind when I think of these aspects is that of the 20 something year old me who wore indian skirts and ran barefoot through the grass, singing and dancing to the Grateful Dead (see one of my favorite songs above), during that time of my life I fully embraced those aspects of my personality that I wish to reclaim.

I am slowly getting back to creating and believe it or not my iphone is getting me back into it.  I LOVE my new phone.  The below is a slideshow of my instagram app pictures, this app allows you to take photos and then add different filters to the picture.



As you wish for yourself so I wish for you also.

Namaste,
Karen

Self Portrait February 11, 2011

Dreaming of Spring and taking a much needed sunbreak at work.

I am slowly emerging from the darkness of winter.  This year the darkness hit me hard, mind, body and spririt.  I've been going with the flow over here even when it doesn't feel so flowy, if you know what I mean.

Yesterday I felt that spark of lightness and hope, I KNOW Spring is right around the corner, I can feel it and I am ready for it.

Today I took a sunbreak at work and soaked in the rays that have been so sparse here these last few weeks.
May you always know that when the darkness comes the light isn't far behind, they both make us who we are and there are lessons to be learned within both.

Namaste friends,
Karen

Pieces of Me

Mirror fence at Storm King

I feel like I'm in pieces
scattered around the floor
trying to pick one up
and then another falls
holding on to hope
I let go and let them be
curious to see what's to become
of these pieces of me


I am trying to process through words, the way I have been feeling, with the hope that i will pull myself up and out of this stuck place I have been in...no energy for classes or comments.  I am here checking in and roaming around the web sending you love, trying to find my way back to myself, rooting and grounding as I go.

May this day find you well.

Namaste,
KAren

Wishcast Wednesday:What burden do you wish to put down?

Hi.  Today over at Jamie Ridler's Studios the wish prompt is:  What burden do you wish to put down?

I wish to put down the burden of worrying what the future holds, it keeps me from living in the moment.

What you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also.

Namaste,

Karen