To the best of my ability, I try to live my life in a state of “Wonder”. I find that when I am still, and take a moment to breathe, and look around me in wonder, I am one with the moment. And in that moment, everything else fades, and I am one with my breathing, one with God, and everything is in divine order, as it was, as it is, as it should be and will be.
Now for the reality. Having moments of wonder is like a living meditation, but let’s face it, I can’t spend my whole day meditating. I have to go to work. I have to talk on the phone. I have to sell (although I prefer to say people buy from me) and do what I do to create the means by which I live, eat, pay my bills, support my hobbies, all that stuff. I’ve learned, after many years, that when life gets hectic, the stress starts to pile up, deadlines loom, commitments become a means of suffocation, it helps to take just a few moments to quiet my mind, savor an image, or dream of far away places (like Tuscany or Greece) that I long to visit and photograph…and try to let the pressure release.
This is one of those images. I see this image as an angel, although you may see her as something else. She appeared to me after I loaded the photos on my computer. She seems to be holding a dove…freely in her hands…and the dove is free to fly…away…or stay…and there is a sense of peace, of love, of patience, of serenity, like I am loved for no reason at all other than for being me.
My dear friend Kathy wrote to me…”Michelangelo always said the form of the statue was already in the block of marble and he just sculpted away to expose it. You are also exposing the forms within the flowers, whether it is the awesome angel holding the doves . . . or bringing out for all to see, the beautiful secret that each flower holds. You go girl!” I wish Kathy would start her blog soon…her wisdom and writing is a treasure.
What is your marble? What holds your dove? For many of my friends…it’s writing. I LOVE all your blogs. For some, it’s cooking…and I LOVE your delightful food photos and recipes. For others, and like me, it’s photography, and finding the composition that speaks a thousand words. The marble can then be seen as a passion…for isn’t it in passion that our souls become free to fly, to express, to become one in the moment, to create in a time and space that has no sense of time…where all that exists is God, and a sense of being one?
These moments come and go. It’s like the yin and yang of life. And without further ado, I will wrap this up…and wish all of you, my friends, a joyous day…interspersed with divine moments of wonder, and within the peace and calm that follows the energy to create the best life ever.
Cheers,
Cathy
I am one of those people who is equally left and right brained. Well, maybe a little more right brained, but nonetheless, I live in both worlds. I chalk up my “knowing something” in advance to intuition, and my creativity to soul longing. My left brain wants to analyze everything and attribute intuition to a statistical analysis, while my right brain just goes off on its merry way and takes my heart right along with it. Duality.
Enter Angels. I know they exist through personal experience, feeling and knowing (right brain). They are everywhere, literally. I have not had the pleasure of seeing an archetypal angel with my physical eyes (left brain…although I have had the experience of meeting what I believe to be an earth angel) but I feel their warm and loving presence in my heart and I’ve experienced their incredible gifts – from the time I screamed in despair to save my daughter’s life from drowning or to save my beloved little beagle when she got herself pinned under the wheel of a car to consistently finding me the perfect parking space. One thing I’ve learned with Angels is that when I specifically ask for help or guidance, they answer immediately. Oh, and they LOVE gratitude. a simple “Thank You” is fine. They are also there in moments of crisis and are prepared to perform incredible miracles whether you ask or not. It’s amazing. This is where my right brain tells me left brain to “hang it up” and accept what is.
A quick story. When my daughter Brooke was 4, we were at a family gathering with a pool. Brooke was swimming and adults were on watch, so I saw no problem with leaving for a few minutes. All of sudden, in the middle of my conversation in the front yard, I could feel a presence, a voice, an urge like I’ve never felt before telling me to race to the pool. I ran. There was Brooke, motionless, floating to the bottom of the pool. I screamed. My brother in law pulled her out, and began mouth to mouth. Someone called an ambulence. I felt as though I was in another dimension watching, powerless. I prayed. And I prayed. And I prayed some more. I even begged and pleaded. Please God, don’t take my daughter now. Brooke survived without a trace of harm. It was a miracle. About 4 months after the incident, I decided to ask her about it. “Booke” I said, “what happened that day in the pool?” She replied “Mom, I just wandered out to the deep end, and all of a sudden I couldn’t feel the bottom of the pool, and I started to go down to the bottom”. And I asked “then what happened?” In her little 4 year old voice she answered “Well…I saw a tunnel. And it was very bright. And at the end of the tunnel, I saw God. And Angels. And toys. And animals. It was so pretty”. I said, with a lump in my throat, “Well honey, if it was so pretty, why didn’t you want to stay there?” To which she replied emphatically ”because Mummy, the Angels told me to stay with you.” Wow. It blew me away, and everytime I remember this story, it brings tears to my eyes. Brooke is now a senior at Michigan State, majoring in Athletic Training, and just a wonderful person.
Angels work in magical ways. They want us to be happy and fulfilled. Take a moment to look at “Lisa K’s Spirituality” website…the link is in my blogroll over to the right…Lisa is a gifted angel therapist, healer, and spiritual counselor, and also has a wonderful radio program. I encourage you to browse her site. I am forever drawn to the mystical.
Have a wonderful day. Ask the Angels for guidance and help. They LOVE us humans, and their joy is bringing us JOY!!
Cheers,
Cathy
I have to end with one last photo of Zoie. Zoie has had at least 20 lives so far and must have an exceptional guardian angel. She came to us at a difficult time in our lives and she has given us nothing but unconditional love. Beagles are destined to go wherever their noses lead them and devour as much trash as they can find. Two years ago at the age of 10 she ran into the road and got nailed by a car. That she survived and is here to eat two boxes of truffles on Christmas (and survive that too) is a miracle. Zoie is a special little beagle. She knows more people in the neighborhood than I do. Ohhhh Zoie. She is still with us because I believe the angels watch over her, daily!!
When I was in first grade, Mom bought me a brand new pair of red rubber boots. They were beautiful and smelled so good coming out of the box. I LOVED them. The first day I wore them, it was raining and the playground was nice and muddy. Yes!! In my typical fashion, I remember wandering off by myself, and noticing a gap under the wire fence. Hmmm. Wonder what happens if you stick your foot in that hole. Well, what happens is, you get a big old gaping hole in your new red boots. Oooops. Shoot. Not good. 1) Mom will be angry with me. 2) now my boots have a hole and are imperfect. 3) I feel guilty 4) will I get punished? All the above. I did get in trouble, and of course, was destined to wear those boots til I COMPLETELY outgrew them. So where am I going with this? Here’s where.
I’m guessing we all have a red boot story. You know, a memory that gets buried, and when recalled, brings forth a myriad of emotions from sorrow, to joy, to guilt, to “whatever”. Recently, I have met a group of wonderful new friends in the blogosphere, from artists, to photographers, to writers…all of whom inspire me. Bonnie’s recent post on ”Mud-Happy-Writing” in Windshield Thinking (inspired by Maryse’s post on “happiness” in BluAmaryllis) brought up this memory for me, and I decided to expand on it here at Truffles and Tea.
As children, we are meant to be children. We are curious. We are inquisitive. We are open to our imagination. We have imaginary friends. We are innocent. We know angels exist. We are unaware of the trials and tribulations awaiting us in life. We live in our precious little worlds, and as far as we are concerned, we are the center of the universe. Then all of a sudden, we learn about guilt. We learn about responsibility. We learn that actions have consequences. Ahhh…the journey of life. Sometimes I choose to retreat to the world of childhood “wonder” and weave that innocence into my adult life. It allows me to forgive, to live in nonjudgement, to accept everyone for who and what they are. The older I get, it seems sometimes, the more childlike I become. Maybe that’s why grandparents have such wonderful relationships with their grandchildren (I am not a grandparent yet, but look forward to it). My children are exceptionally close to my Mom and Dad. My Mom who made me wear those “ruined” boots 
. But alas, I was no different raising my children. It is our responsiblity as parents to raise our children to know and understand responsibility, kindness, thoughtfulness, independence. That “tough love” thing. And then as we age, it seems, we get to be who we really wanted to be, who we really were, all along.
Anyway, I updated my blog roll. Treat yourself to a wonderful exploration in life through these blogs. All inspire me…from photography, to essays, to writing, to angels…and I am grateful these friends have appeared in my life, as well as for those friends I’ve known for years (and for everyone here reading this)!!
Cheers,
Cathy
It’s January 2nd and I’m tackling the basement. I don’t know about you, but my basement is like world war III. Seriously. Junk and more junk. It’s where we stash everything we really don’t want to throw out, but know it should get thrown out. A hoarders paradise (only the basement that is) but hoard no more. My daughter Kenzie and I went down there to tackle the jungle and, by the way, made a really good dent in restoring order.
When I begin to go through stuff, it’s like I’m discovering things again for the first time. Like this frog treasure. I have no idea where it came from, but decided on the spot to spare its fate from “Purple Heart”, at least for the moment. He was all wrapped up like new in his white box, and I just HAD to set him free. As I rescued him, I started to think about weeding out my own inner personal basement, my psyche, and what should be rescued from the mire, and what should get discarded for the new year. My enthusiasm for new year resolutions has waned dramatically over the years as they typically last no longer than merely a week or two, then go down to my inner “basement” waiting to be re-discovered. How many times have I promised to work out on a regular basis, give up sweets and carbs, hang up my clothes every night before I go to bed, open the mail and discard junk mail and not let it pile up on the stairs, and on and on.
Frogs are the sign of fertility and rebirth in Native American culture (I’m too old for fertility!) but I’m not too old to experience a rebirth within myself. I’m going to keep this little guy in my living room as a symbol of awareness to continually release that which no longer serves me or others. A reminder to keep my thoughts fresh and productive. To keep my dreams alive within and without. To recognize the good in everyone and everything. And that in each and every moment I have the ability to renew and refresh my soul through acts of kindness and pure intentions.
I keep saying this, and I will say it again. 2010 is going to be a great year. It’s a year of rebirth and renewal. It’s time to release the stress and tension of recent years and years past and welcome in this refreshing new energy and live each day as though it was my last.
Cheers!!
Cathy
I’m excited about the new year and all the opportunity a new year brings. What better way to bring in the new year than with a GAZING BALL!! I love gazing balls. In the summer they are in my garden. In the winter they come inside. The ball in Times Square is a great big gazing ball to bring in every new year. I actually went to Times Square one year to celebrate New Years back in my college days. It was glorious pandemonium. Tonight I was so busy taking pictures of this ball that I almost forgot to turn the television on to watch the ball drop, but was able to catch the 15 second count down. People were kissing and celebrating and cheering and I felt a wave of joy come over me as though I was right there. Something tells me, deep inside, that 2010 is going to be a great year for many people.
So many exciting things to come this year. For one, Truffle and Tea is going to get more “delicious” as the year unfolds. I’m starting an “Etsy” boutique and will keep you all posted on the progress.
Go out and get yourself a gazing ball. They are truly magical. Put it in your garden and expect some really good vibes! Everyday can welcome in a new year. (And maybe the gazing ball thief in Lansing will return the gazing ball they stole from my friend Mary Lou!!)
Happy New Year’s everyone!! May it be the best year ever!!
Cheers!
Cathy
Apple crisp. Comfort food. The smell alone of apples baking makes me smile from the inside out. Here is a recipe for apple crisp that I use alot. I combined several recipes and came up with my own version. It’s simple to make, and tastes divine. Give it a try.
APPLE CRISP
7-8 med/large apples, peeled
1 stick salted butter (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup unbleached flour
1/2 cup uncooked oatmeal
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
cinammon
lemon juice
Pam baking spray
Peel and slice the apples (I usually several varieties) and place 1/2 the apples in a greased baking dish (12×10 glazed stoneware is what I usually use). Sprinkle with cinammon and lemon juice. Place the rest of the apples on top, and again sprinkle with cinammon and lemon.
In a medium bowl, crumble the butter, flour, oatmeal and sugars with your hands. Crumble the mixture on top of the apples.
Bake 45 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
That’s it. So easy. Delicious!!
Cheers!! Cathy
My wish is that I live every moment I have left, for the rest of my life, wisely. In balance. In peace. In wonder. In acceptance. To live each moment in awareness is my prayer.
I am a free spirit at heart, which is both a blessing and a curse. I wander with persistence and always find myself exactly where I need to be. Sometimes the path I travel is quiet and solitary. Other times, the path is a parade. Sometimes, the most subtle shift in thinking creates a whole new avenue to travel. Opportunity.
That’s the message I got today. I began experimenting with this photo I took of a lilly in photoshop. With one click of a button, the lilly transformed into this art nouveau poster print. My photo. The same lilly, but a whole new rendition. It got me thinking that in every moment, in every situation, I can change my perspective, my thinking, and create new opportunity.
Every morning I talk with my Dad on the phone. Today he said, Cath, something really great is going to happen this week. I don’t know what it is, but it’s something really good. I smiled. Almost every week Dad says the same thing. And I love his optimism. And something good always happens.
Love to all. Look at life with a new perspective today.
Nature. Perfection. DNA. A sequence with a purpose. Alignment. Somewhere a beginning. Somehwere an end. Or is there? Ahhh. The million dollar question that keeps the human brain searching, researching, hypothesizing. And really, when you think about it, where does this searching lead?
I have the greatest respect for both the scientific as well as the spiritual communities. Personally, I think on some level they co-exist in harmony and synchronicity. For me it’s not an either/or, it’s a magical blend of truth and faith. Either way, all I know for sure is that I have this moment, just this single moment, to be. And while my DNA creates the structure in which I am in this moment, my faith and spirituality become the zone for my existence, so I can go about being in the world effortlessly. For me, effortlessly means in a state of grace. Accepting what is for what it is. Realizing that I have free will, and when my will is in alignment with the highest will, my life flows and I am able to handle the hurdles. Ohhh, non-resistance. That’s the word.
Life can be challenging. Life is challenging. But there is perfection in these crazy times. All I need do is look at nature. Look at this leaf, which through my lens, became a symbol of an intelligence far greater than my brain can begin to fathom. And therein lies my faith.
If I leave this world now, in seconds, I leave with peace. If I leave this world in 20 or 30 years, my prayer is that I leave it a better place.
Enjoy this holiday season. And if it seems to get chaotic, just remember there is order, there is peace, there is love!!
I see the world through rose colored glasses. Always have. Always will. In my world there is always a way. Always a possibility. Always a dream to come true. Yes, there are those who doubt my intentions. Those who say nay. Days and moments where I become haunted by others truths or negativity… temporarily. I am naive. But inherent in my naivety is my own truth. That all things are possible. That good always wins. That bad passes after leaving a path of destruction. That the sun will rise every day and the moon will rise every night.
There is a story about a market. In the market, a man left his ox in the middle of the road. The ox caused anxiety and frustration because it blocked the street. Then the Zen Master appeared and everyone was happy for surely the Zen Master would solve the problem. Just as quickly the Zen Master disappeared. Everyone was dissapointed. Soon he appeared again down the street. He chose to move past the obstacle by going around it. The ox did not stop him. He did not engage with the ox or the owner. He simply chose another path. Sometimes in life, you just have to move past the drama without creating more drama.
I am not smart but I have earned a little wisdom along the way. I care about others. I want to help make the world a better place. My day today led me out of my comfort zone of naive bliss and the wonder of possibilities into drama. As I write, I am centered again.
Life happens. Life is Good.
This is how it started out. “Gosh darn it, I have to go out and rake leaves. What a thankless job and complete waste of time”. Grabbed my new rake, and got to work. This is boring and my arms hurt. When all of sudden, I stopped and listened. The wind was blowing gently. The leaves were rustling. The sun was shining. It was warm, breezy and absolutely the most gorgeous of days. The word GRATITUDE permeated my whole being. And suddenly I got it. Be thankful Cathy. You have a home and yard with trees, without which, you would not be raking. The leaves provide jobs (yes, believe it or not in Grosse Pointe we have
city employees who drive a leaf vacuum truck that literally sucks up leaves off the street). The leaves make the fall the most beautiful time of the year…the colors are amazing. Leaves provide shade in the summer. Photosynthesis. Life. I am healthy and able to work. What a blessing to be out raking leaves on a gorgeous day. When I finished the front yard I decided to reward myself with a photo session and then it was time to tackle the waves of leaves in the back yard. But this time I went out with a smile. Leaves are my friend. Leaves are my friend.
The next time I feel burdened by a “thankless” chore, I’m going to turn it into a time of gratitude. It’s amazing how feeling deeply grateful and thankful for and keenly aware of all the blessings I have makes all the difference in the world. Life is a blessing, and even the most mundane of chores have their charm.
As always…have a great day and feel the ATTITUDE of GRATITIDE!!!!!
